Rude Enthusiasts

Some people could use to be a bit more aware of just how high they fly their freak flags...

^^ True that.

Signed, the resident roller coaster, Star Trek, Ros Russell, miniature grocery carts from Japan, Food Network freak :-)

We all have flags we just need to be aware of the proper flying of them. I don't hoist up my roller coaster, station wagons,land yachts, Weird Al Yankovic, matchbox car collecting, occasionally reads the cyclopedic dictionary of medicine when bored and knows the names and purposes of all the parts inside my piano flag for just any occasion.

I would answer you but I'm busy re-organzing my miniature grocery carts. :-p

I'm always flying my Goodyear Blimp and coaster flags.

Weird. DMB Warehouse literally just sent all their members a flag as the membership gift this year...

Luckily I've not had the pleasure of running into these rude enthusiasts. Last year when I was at Kings Island my group of 3 decided to do white water canyon (hope I got the name right), we all changed into clothes that we could change out of easily after. It was raining so there was no line whatsoever, so when we came back to the loading platform we asked if we could ride again, we were pleasant and kind but got a pretty rude no from the operator. I honestly would not have cared except its a really long walk to go back on it, we just left and left it for another day. I didn't really understand it as they were sending raft after raft out empty but it was the parks rule so I went with that. There's nothing I hate more than someone who feels entitled for anything, not just roller coasters.

e x i t english said:

Weird. DMB Warehouse literally just sent all their members a flag as the membership gift this year...

Did they now? I still haven't gotten my package yet.

I'm gonna have to give them a call tomorrow, thanks for the reminder :)

I can't say I've had any real issues with rude enthusiasts. However, I've seen the "it only takes a few people to ruin it for everyone." happen at many other parks, sadly.

Anyone on this board a member of recognized organizations like ACE or DAFE? I've always wanted to become an official member of an enthusiast group but horror stories like in this thread always push me away. Is it worth it?

And stories like that played into why I left ACE over 16 years ago. Was not worth it for me anymore, especially for the cost when compared to other clubs like Coaster Buzz.

I've been a member of ACE since the1980s.

As noted, I've never noticed any issues with rude enthusiasts. I wrote an article for the club's magazine some years ago; one person said ACE events were like family reunions, and that's my experience. A lot of people who know each other well coming together.

That said, I hang out with people I know in the club, so maybe I'm just missing these rude enthusiasts.

Cp 6092 said:

Anyone on this board a member of recognized organizations like ACE or DAFE? I've always wanted to become an official member of an enthusiast group but horror stories like in this thread always push me away. Is it worth it?

My wife and I have been members of ACE since the early 1990's.

We were also charter members of Coaster Zombies,when that club was in existence.

We joined because back then most people hadn't heard of the internet, so ACE was the only way to find out about new rides and park events.

Parks also liked the fact that ACE'rs spread the word about their new rides,especially during the "Coaster Wars".

Back then,especially when they started broadcasting shows shows about roller coasters ,people thought ACE'rs were "special".

We got asked a number of times "how hard is it to get accepted into ACE ?"

Guess all that attention went to some people's heads.

Today ACE is like any other club,

Most of the ACE'rs we've met either at parks or ACE events are just "regular" people.

There are ,however,some members who act like parks owe them something or they're entitled to special treatment , just because they belong to a club.

A couple of years ago,because of time limitations,we took a V.I.P. tour of a park.

When we were about 1/2 way through the day,our guide said that when he saw our ACE shirts he was concerned ,because some Coaster Enthusiasts are _________ (insert whatever derogatory word you'd like).

He said its those people that give the entire club a bad rap.

But,to be fair,when we go to parks,we see a lot of people,not affiliated with any coaster club,at least not wearing any "coaster gear" acting as bad or worse then any club member.

Does membership with coasterbuzz "entitle" one to participate in the enthusiast events put on at cedar fair parks, such as cedar point's coastermania? If so, the nominal $25 fee seems more than reasonable. I find that, like pointbuzz, it is a well run forum that attracts interesting and knowledgeable characters.

It does. There is a list of upcoming events on the CoasterBuzz Club page, and one of them was last months CoasterMania! at CP.

noggin said:

That said, I hang out with people I know in the club, so maybe I'm just missing these rude enthusiasts.

Likely because when I was a member it was usually a small group of people every now and then we would run into that gave the group as a whole a bad name. I have been on both sides of this as a member and as the event holder. It wasn't until I worked in parks and helped host events that I saw it on more of a broader scale. Really unfortunate too because I enjoyed the group and I really liked its history but with the cost compared to other groups, it just wasn't worth it.

Çp4€và04 said:

Did they now? I still haven't gotten my package yet.

I'm gonna have to give them a call tomorrow, thanks for the reminder :)

No problem! It's a full-sized grey flag with the warehouse/firedancer logo in orange. Did you get in touch with them?

rpbobcat said:
Most of the ACE'rs we've met either at parks or ACE events are just "regular" people.

There are ,however,some members who act like parks owe them something or they're entitled to special treatment , just because they belong to a club.

I think where I drag my heels about entitled coaster enthusiasts is that entitled enthusiasts exist in any enthusiast community. Goes with the territory.

Most of our superfans at the show are wonderful people. Not normal people who would think driving from Chicago to Maine to ride roller coasters with a side trip to Niagara Falls makes perfect sense*, but wonderful people :-p

A few aren't.

My experience with ACE is that the people I hang with are "regular" people.

*That's me, just to be clear. We also stopped at SFNE and Canobie. And also Salem to visit the Bewitched statue. And diners. Lots of diners.

If you drive from Chicago to Maine and don't visit Niagara Falls it's a shame. But I've met plenty of people here in Rochester that have never been either. Always stuns me, it's only couple hour drive!

Exit, yes I did and got a response the next morning. Impressive, but without a tour going on I guess not much is going on. Thankfully they still have some packages left and one is on it's way to me :) Thanks again, I owe you a drink if we ever cross paths at a show or the park!

Because I'm very old, the previous time I was at the Falls, the American Falls were shut off for maintenance work. (Turns out they can actually shut the falls off upriver.) So I was very determined to see the falls in all their glory.