Line jumping is not a sport.

Race has nothing to do with it; it's just that most of the younger folks would do just about anything--including risking ejection from the park--just to get back with their friends.

Before the loose article policy was changed, and we turned someone away for backpacks, etc. we often asked their entire group to wait behind until they were done putting the items in a locker. Since we never really had much of a wait at that point, I'd tell them "I highly recommend your entire group wait for them because I guarantee they'll be cutting line to get back with you." Usually they had no problem doing so.

Jeff, would you consider it a racist comment if Benjamin were black? I don't understand how it's racist if you are just stating an observation over the course of many trips to the park. He wrote that preface so that people wouldn't jump all over him for the comment.

It's like when I said I wasn't trying to stereotype with regards to saying that teenagers were the most prevalent line jumpers. I was just stating my observations after two seasons working at the park. I'm not saying that it's only limited to teenagers or that all teenagers do it--if that were the case the park would be a mess since that is one of the core targeted audiences.

We all know that is what halltd was alluding to at the end of his post, but he didn't come right out and say it because that wouldn't be "PC." In my story earlier about the line jumpers in Magnum's line, I didn't mention their race because I figured it was irrelevant.

I actually wasn't referring to race in my post. I was referring to quality of people. A certain class of people just know better than to cut in line, regardless of race. Unfortunately, that's a big part of where a park is geographically located and how much admission costs. I think SF parks have more line jumpers because their admission costs less. I bet Geauga Lake has a higher percentage of line jumpers than CP too.

I too am Boris, Vince and TTD being in the 16 gonna be 17 area, and personally I hate when people cut in line. I haven't had this problem or really seen it happen for that matter, but im bust trying to entertain myself. (Oh and thanks to the stupid sterotype, im not supposed to ride with newer teenage drivers, and i cant to concerts.)

I don't really know how you can line jumping a "class" issue. I mean, isn't it the more "comfortable" people that think they shouldn't have to wait? and the "poor" feel they have suffered enough and shouldn't have to wait either. Am I correct?

Race is another thing that has nothing to do with anything. In another thread someone was talking about a white kid in a doo rag and the whole "black" get-up. I have also seen African Americans in the "punk" get-up. SKin color has nothing to do with how a person is.

I personally stand there with my arms on the bars on either side of me, leaning on one side and stretched to the other, or in a big huddle with my friends. I will let someone thru if they are right in front of me and its not a whole herd of people, but if they want to be with there friends that bad, they should get in line with them or have there friends let others pass.

I guess I should've made it more clear when I posted back on the first page, but it's not like I flash my ID around in line and take care of everything, I only showed them my ID because they said that. I usually just tell one of the ride ops and go about my business not even informing them I work there (which I did yesterday in line for magnum). I can see how some employees would use that as a power trip but that was in no way how I was using my ID.

I don't like people knowing I work at the park when I'm off the clock. When I come to the park on my days off I come to have a good time like everyone else. Not spend my time busting line jumpers.

If someone happens to cut in front of me in line I merely use it as a topic of conversation with my friends. If a ride host is readily available I'll let them know, but I won't go out of my way to if they're not.

FluffyliketheForce said:
I too am Boris, Vince and TTD being in the 16 gonna be 17 area, and personally I hate when people cut in line. I haven't had this problem or really seen it happen for that matter, but im bust trying to entertain myself. (Oh and thanks to the stupid sterotype, im not supposed to ride with newer teenage drivers, and i cant to concerts.)

I'm a new teenaged driver and lovin it! Can't wait to get my own car so I can go to the Point whenever I can/want because my parents don't approve of me taking their cars across the border on the two hour trip to the Point, and I don't even know if it's allowed. Do you have to be 18 to cross the border?

Sorry, back on topic. I usually stand with my arms across the queue on both of the bars but akward moments have come of that. People will walk up and say excuse me, and I kind of they give them a look, and they say "my family is up there." I never know what to say to that. Single people cutting and heading up to their family or friends don't bother me so much but I wouldn't let a whole group go by.

CP_bound said:
I don't understand how it's racist if you are just stating an observation over the course of many trips to the park.

Then tell me, if the intent is not to stereotype race, what is the point? What possible reason is there to bring it up? If the point isn't to equate line jumping with black people, then there is no point.

Vince982 said:

I'm a new teenaged driver and lovin it! Can't wait to get my own car so I can go to the Point whenever I can/want because my parents don't approve of me taking their cars across the border on the two hour trip to the Point, and I don't even know if it's allowed. Do you have to be 18 to cross the border?

I too am a new teenage driver, I doubt that you cant legally drive in other states if you arent 18+, besides if you are a careful driver its not like the cops are hunting for you (unless you are a black Illinois state senator driving in Chicago, then the cops will hunt you).

The only time Ive let someone who's "group is ahead of me" was when I was in line for TTD and a 10yr old kid was spaced out inline ahead of me and I saw him fall behind his group.

And multiple times I have had smokers in line with me for MF, its really annoying, but the ride ops didnt stop then even when they went past the Freelane op.

And anyone with the "my group is upahead " line usually has no group and is just a little sob who wants to go on the ride now and has no group. The best line to stop these guys is the old "let them come back to you" and dont ever let them past you. *** Edited 8/1/2005 5:31:06 AM UTC by SFGA=toilet*** *** Edited 8/1/2005 5:31:59 AM UTC by SFGA=toilet***

SFGA, his question wasn't about crossing state borders, but crossing international ones.

As far as I know, there should not be a problem with you coming across. Just make sure you have appropriate ID (birth certificate and DL, or a passport).

No, I don't think you can pass the border under 18 without parental consent. I think he'd have to have a note from his parents at the very least, and possibly have his parent(s) with him.

I am pretty sure when I gave this thread a name I called it "line jumping is not a sport"

not,

"im in high school, lets go wild cats! I am 16 my parents said I could drive to the store today and pick up my brother after clarinet practice, how about that crazy canadian border? Did that guy cut in front of me?"

Now. Yesterday (7.31.05) was pretty relaxed as far as line jumpers. But I found one of their (line jumpers) secrets. Take the magnum maze for a example. The line was mainly situated on the platform and a little way down the stairs. But just in case the park had you walk through the maze about 3 rows if it did get busy enough.

As everyone else walked through the maze about 6 people just walked through, under and over the chain and rails. They entered behind us and I swore they would be behind us when I approached them at the stairs. As we got to them I just walked past them and stood in front of them.

This guy asked me what I was doing and I told him what he just did and where my place was. He then started getting really lippy and ignorant. Telling me "so what?" and "big deal". At this point the op at the top of the stairs and the freeway op had come over. He did not notice as he was too busy telling me he was going to kick my ass if I did not move. I had about 8" inches on him.

The op told him to get out of line and start over. My new way of handling this is to not cause a scene myself. But let them cause one. It looks that much funnier.

Yea I did mean International border. Thanks Jugga, I'll have to give it a try some time.

i have encountered line jumpers at both CP and SFGAm....

SFGAm was at Fright Fest and we had about 6 African American teenagers cut in front of us on three different rides. different kids each ride, but same age and race. looked like gangbangers too. once again, not racist, just describing what happened and with whom.

we went to Park ops to complain. i told them i would rather drive the five hours to CP than come back to their park where line-jumping is so rampant and unregulated. the girl blanched and gave us each three passes to go up the exit ramp of any three rides we wanted. so, you give us permission to do the EXACT same thing we complained about?? no thank you.

next time was at CP in line for MF> this family started just cutting through the line. i tried to stop them, but the mom said the "rules" were that as long as two people were in line from your group, you could join them whenever. BULL-PUCKEY.

i believe those were the rules for the line along the fence OUTSIDE the queue for Dragster, in the days when it would be an all-day wait just for it to open.

i tried to make a scene, but my fiance said not to. so i quietly reported them to a ride op as soonas i saw one. they were not allowed to ride at that time. thing is, from the size of them, they wouldnt make the cut anyways now....

why oh why do people think they deserve to wait less, especially now, withFreeway, Fastpass and Q-bot??

if you dont want to wait, get to the park before opening or wait til the crowds clear out. simple.

Jeff, when I read his post I felt as though he was trying to respond to the discussion with his own experiences on the subject, not to make accusations. Had he said that a bunch of white gothic teenagers started cutting in front of everyone, would you have ripped him for grouping all goth kids as line jumpers? I would have just taken it as a description of those cutting in line; nothing more.

I just get annoyed when the race card is pulled out during online discussions when the poster's intent is by no means malicious. Why is a white person deemed racist if they bring up any negativity involving another race? We aren't allowed to comment on someone breaking the rules if they are of a different race than us? That's absurd.

Not in this 'Non offensive' politically correct world.

A better question would be, what if he said 'nascar fans' or 'rednecks'? Or even 'Poor White trailer trash'? Then what?

Or how about this one... Christians.

Stereotyping is how a person survives in day to day life. You don't worry about a mother of 4 robbing you at the ATM. You worry about someone scruffy looking (regardless of race). If a big, scruffy person comes to your door you will be on higher alert than if a girl scout comes to your door to sell cookies.

Stereotypes are made on these very message boards many times each week, and I am guilty of it as much as everyone else. We make judgements on intelligence based on how well someone writes on here. How is saying a group of black people any different than someone calling a poster who is making a fool of themselves a stupid teenager?

I'm gonna try and stay away from the race debate and just say that due to my age (16, not close to 17) when I try to not let people pass they just ignore me. They think that I'm some stupid kid who doesn't understand the rules (I too have heard that line about if there's 2 in the group you can meet them).

I like my Uncle's line though. "Um, excuse me sir (or ma'am). There happens to be a sign at the front of the queue detailing how line jumping is illegal and will get you expelled from the park. If you are unable to read it, I'm sure a ride op would be more than happy to help you out."

It doesn't matter who you describe... if it's anything other than "people," you're associating the act with the group of people. It's no better than making generalizations that Jews are cheap or Latinos have huge families.

Generalizations about people based on their ethnicity or whatever always make you look stupid. It's not about being politically correct, it's about having a little respect for the creatures that share your DNA.
*** Edited 8/2/2005 8:10:16 PM UTC by Jeff***

Let me throw this one at everybody. Say i run to MF in the morning to wait for the front car, and my wife just walks fast and joins me in line for the front car, would you consider that line jumping? I dont think that qualifies, but who knows. Just wondering what everyone thought.

The only way that wouldn't be line jumping is if there are no other single riders waiting for the front behind you when she comes to join you in line since you are essentially pairing yourselves up.