In My Opinion: Enthusiasses - R.D. Dewberry

A word or two on being an enthusiast...or an enthusi-assholes.

I'm writing this today after hearing and seeing some rather nasty behavior among our own community. In fact, having witnessed it in person, it is degrading to so many people - including yourselves who are doing it.

Let me be clear here: The majority of our community are well behaved. They know not to do stupid shit such as 'selfies' on ride, or their own private POV videos for YouTube, etc. They're smart enough to figure out that they cannot jump over a fence to get their hat when it is dropped off on a ride.

​ Or are they?

Recently I've seen reports from close friends & other people that behavior at some of the enthusiast events is... deploring. No, I take that back, it's downright rude, arrogant and cruel. Of people getting pushed out of their way because somebody was racing to get on the waiting train FIRST. Even when broadcasts of "We're holding the train for you" were being heard, they still pushed somebody out of the way.

And then rude, cruel comments on the operating crew of a particular ride for not moving fast enough for their own liking. Insulting operators, being belligerent towards them, and degrading them.

​Seriously, folks?

Believe it or not, those people are earning a reputation in the theme park/hospitality industry. They might think they're anonymous... they are not. And for those who think they're immune to the consequences: Wake up time. You're not.

Let me be CRYSTAL CLEAR here: Ours is a secret society that has no secrets. Everybody in this business, from the park operators to the ride ops to the enthusiasts SEES AND HEARS EVERYTHING. There are no secrets. And names do get passed around. Your facebook comment about a park or their management? It's seen. It's passed around. It's shown to others.

This isn't to mean there's a big, beautiful conspiracy going on, but let's face it: Gossip fuels the business. Whether it is a new coaster going up at (Choose your park here) or somebody is doing something at (Choose your park here), everybody hears the gossip by the time the "SEND" button is pressed on a mobile device. And it gets around like wildfire; entire websites are set up to discuss the latest rumors, gossip and such.

And if you think for one second that a given person's rude criticism of a park or a ride isn't seen by management - you're wrong. Parks and their staff read up too. Every crack made at a park is watched (Even I've been hit with this shit stick before) and is discussed.

​Not to mention: Your name is attached to it - and is seen. Nothing is private in the digital age - nothing. You trash one enthusiast's view - odd are, people are watching. There is <ZERO> trust between media forms.

All of this bad behavior is getting around, it is seen, it is being discussed. Parks see the assinine behavior and attitude, and it is NOT working in our favor. In fact, it's putting a bad image in their heads. And as a whole, we will be the ones to suffer.

We, the majority, are being punished by they, the minority.

It's time to stop this. It is time to put the bad boys/girls out to pasture - and to let them know: Your bad attitude, bad behavior, and personality defects aren't welcome here. We're a community that goes for decades in any direction, and the misbehavior of some will not be tolerated by the majority.

• First rule: If you have nothing nice to say, shut the hell up. The parks know if a ride has problems. They did not build it for you, the jackass Enthusi-asses. They built it for their own needs, wants and desires. They do NOT need to hear your constant bitching about their rides, or how much better they would be if they'd gone with (Insert ride builder here). And for F***S SAKE, quit your bitching about whether a ride needs to be renovated by another company. The parks aren't blind. They know what they're doing. In many cases, they've been doing it since before you were even thought of.
• Second rule: If a park gives you ERT, say thank you for it. Your complaints aren't warranted, desired nor needed. In short, if something isn't going right: SHUT THE F*** UP. You're not their boss. They're doing something for you. And that is above and beyond what the HAVE TO DO. It's a courtesy, not a right.
• Third rule: YOU ARE ENTITLED TO NOT A GODDAMN THING: Just because being a theme park or coaster enthusiast grants you absolutely ZILCH among the parks. You make up an extremely small part of the theme park dollar. Thus, you are entitled to NOTHING. The parks do not owe their existence to you; you owe your existence to THEM. Stop acting like you are their most important client. Stop pretending like you're a big fish in a small pond. You're a minnow like the other minnows in the park.
• Fourth rule: Treat other people with respect & dignity: Trashing one person because you don't like their opinion is not only cruel & mean, belittling them in public because you don't like what they think or speak? That makes you an asshole. The same goes for trashing others because they don't support your opinions over one park or ride company vs. another. Guess what? People see that shit. And they do pass it along. Ride companies & parks distance themselves from people like that for obvious reasons. They will not want to have ANYTHING to do with you for treating others badly.
• Fifth rule: You are not a deity among us for your prowess at a game: Sorry, kid. Just because you're good at Planet Coaster or RCTII, or NoLimits/NoLimits II does NOT make you the next Alan Shilke. It doesn't mean that you have RMC knocking down your door to join them. MACK is not having you design the next coaster for Europa Park. S&S is not relying on your skills to build a new version of the Free Fly. In short: STOP LYING TO YOURSELF AND TO OTHERS. You are NOT the next builder the world bows down to. Why? It takes 20-30 years... YEARS... to build up a battery of knowledge, engineering skill, prowess and for that matter mistakes to be a designer of note. Notice that for the most part, every single coaster designer & builder is over the age of 40? It's not a coincidence. It's EXPERIENCE, something you do not have. And just because you went to a community college and got your pre-engineering degree does not mean you're going to be building coasters next year either. You still have a long way to go kid. Until the day you cut the ribbon on your own first coaster, you are not a coaster designer or engineer.
• Sixth rule: Be honest about yourself - and about the coaster world: Stop lying to others that you know EVERYTHING - that somebody told you in confidence that YOU KNOW. YOU DO NOT KNOW. Sorry, kid. Again, you're lying to yourself and to others that YOU KNOW. And after a while, people will see this as your mistakes keep piling up and people will stop believing you. You will have a reputation for being a liar, and that's not good. Parks see this as well, and they will be sure NOT to hand you anything as they can see you're spreading around manure rather than keeping quiet. Confidentiality is something that people in the business know, and know who to talk to about. You, dear child, are not one of them. Stop acting like it.
• Seventh rule: Your actions towards others in how you treat them will come back to haunt you: That guy you trashed on Facebook for their opinion? They know people. They know a LOT of people. And you never know WHO they know - or how well. Or how well connected they may be. Drunken ranting on somebody for their own thoughts? It can easily be copied, sent to a company anonymously... and follow you for the rest of your life. Attempting to try to be a big-shot when you're a have-not? They see that too. And they're watching. Remember: It is legal for a company to look at your resume as well as your facebook page (There's no existing law to stop them) and that shitty crack you made at somebody could mean your dream job just became working at a McDonalds someplace. In short: Be nice, be respectful... and you may find yourself in a better position than you were before.

​We are a group of people who all love and cherish the same thing: Parks & their rides. It is what draws us together every year for our vacations, our rest, our relaxation. And for many events too - whether group led or park led. At the same time, a small group of enthusi-asses are jeopardizing our good times the parks give us. It's time to take a stand, tell these people to stop their bad behavior - and to distance ourselves from them. We do not need to lose what we have because of their asshole actions and thoughts towards parks - as well as towards our own community.
​
R.D. Dewberry 9/13/18

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Related Updates: 

• September 14, 2017 - X Atencio and Me (RD Sussman-Dewberry)
• August 28, 2017 - Six American Flags Over Texas (Andrew Cunningham)
• June 11, 2017 - The Gayest Hobby Around (RD Sussman-Dewberry)
• March 18, 2015 - Line Jumping & other Park sports (RD Sussman)
• February 9, 2015 - American Idiot(s) - RD Sussman

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