DILinator

I've kept quiet on this whole topic, since I don't really know the full story, or the full details of the Haunts in question. However, as a Mental Health Worker, and somebody who has worked with Adults with Mental Illness for over 10 years, I have a qualified perspective on the matter, from somebody who works closely with the population, and against stigma. There is no doubt a lot of stigma about Mental Illness from outsiders, and the general public. Heck, I've run into it within the Community Mental Health agency I work in, when talking to those working with other populations. I think one example is that people with Mental Illness are inherently dangerous, which is patently untrue. I experienced much more violence and danger back when I was working with the Developmentally Disabled population. Another common misconception is in regard to Schizophrenia, which is often confused by the general populace as being something closer to Multiple Personality Disorder, which is untrue. Not having any experience with FEARVR, or the other Haunts in question, I don't know if they perpetuated either of these myths about mental illness, but if so, I could see there being some reason for concern from those trying to promote understanding, and the removal of stigma about conditions that affect a huge segment of the population (much more than most people in the general populace realize, since privacy is of paramount concern when dealing with these matters). Having said all that, however, and again, not knowing precisely what the removed Haunts entailed, I must agree that I feel that this is likely an overreaction by NAMI, and Mental Health Advocates. Simply depicting an assylum in a Haunt, in the particular context and setting that it is in (celebrating things scary and Halloween related), is a fairly common, and to me, fairly innocuous attraction. It's a tough call, because of the things I mentioned before, and the fact that presenting people with mental illness as inherently dangerous is a direct contradiction to what is actually true. Still, I am disappointed that NAMI "went there" regarding these Haunts, and I'm disappointed Cedar Fair relented, though I understand from their perspective, because we are dealing with sensitive issues here. I agree that there is too much pandering in our culture today to PC interests, and while I understand, and respect the work NAMI typically does, and believe in promoting the tearing down of stigma regarding mental illness on a larger scale, I think this is an overreaction, and an overstep on their part.

Kanonen 2018 transplant CONFIRMED!!!

"B&M's are so 'meh'"... Surefire sign you're talking to an "intensity snob" enthusiast. GP don't get off B&M's, certainly not massive thrill coasters like GateKeeper and Valravn, and say they're "meh"... (Neither does this well-rounded enthusiast, for what it's worth...)

Terelle Pryor is such a d-bag, I intentionally avoided him on all my Fantasy Football teams, just out of principle! (I don't have Dez anywhere either, FWIW)

Not after you rated TOP 6/10! For shame!!! Oh, that's not me upset... You'll know when I'm upset!

Wow... During the time since I last checked this forum, BOTH the "B&M's are forceless" and the "B&M Rattle" myths have come out! Seriously people, look up the word "Force" in the dictionary, and then get out of here with that garbage! As for the "rattle", I admit that in the rear of some B&M's, there's a shudder sometimes, but an audible rattle? No. Let me get a baby rattle and shake it in your ear, and THEN you'll understand what a rattle is!

Hi guys. Long time coal miner and lurker here. I felt compelled to make my first post after more than six years of just reading to say coal miners are nearly impossible to offend. We are aware of the jokes and stereo types. Hell, we make them ourselves. Anyway, I'll be at Kings Island Saturday with my 9 year old son, enjoying the crap out of the offensive haunts. Now back to my hole in the ground.

^Hey, to each their own! I don't agree about B&M's being forceless (I just got a ride on Diamondback last Friday that was one of the most exciting coaster rides I've EVER had!), but that's the great thing about this hobby - we are all different, and there's enough stuff out there to excite each of us! I'm just saying that there is no denying that the GP loves Dive Coasters, and that's the demographic CP, and SFMM, are building coasters for!

Not after you rated TOP 6/10! For shame!!!

^Well, my 66 year old dad who loved it, trumps your 50 year old Uncle, so YOU get out of here! Additionally, I've been to CP with no less that 15 GP this year, and they all thought it was great! Not "better than Maverick or MF" great, necessarily, but certainly a "very exciting and worthwhile investment" great! It would appear you are somebody who has an axe to grind with B&M's in particular, and THAT is what is the most enthusiast thing ever!

This is one of the most "Enthusiast" things I've read ever! Valravn wasn't built for overly particular, and snobby enthusiasts like you. Nor was it built for CP "Fanboys". It was built for the people of the world to be awed by, and enjoy, and that's exactly what has been happening all year long at CP. I've been to CP with a large number of non-enthusiast GP this year, and to a man (or woman), every one of them loved Valravn, and was visibly impressed by it! It is a mega-hit coaster addition for CP, and SFMM would be very wise to add something like it in the near future!

For me, it has nothing to do with past additions being stale, or feeling entitled, or not having places to visit. It just makes the off-season more exciting to follow the construction and general unfolding of an impressive new ride. I, too, realized recently that this was an off-year. It struck me as odd because it's the first year I remember in a while that none of the major US chains/parks have announced a huge new project by this time, but like others said, it gives me next year to catch up on recent additions I haven't been able to ride yet. While even with construction, enthusiasts still get into the most effing obnoxious conversations, at least there's some new obnoxiousness to chuckle about. This is where I come down on this as well! I think sometimes it's easy to take pot shots at "enthusiasts" in general, but there are plenty of people who enjoy following new coaster announcements, who aren't spoiled, or entitled. Me, for instance. It's just fun and exciting to see, regardless of whether it's a place that I'm even going to be able to go any time soon! Also, I HAVE to come to the defense of my fellow Kraken lover! Kraken is a Top 10 coaster for me (Out of 230), and is better, in my opinion and preference, than 1) any coaster at Busch Gardens Tampa (another park I love), and 2) better than all the coasters at Cedar Point except Millennium Force and Maverick. BOOM!!! I too, am disappointed about the addition of VR, primarily for the effect on the line, but it will probably be cool, given the theme of the coaster. If I make it down to Sea World next year, I'll probably give it a try, at least once.

With 35 States visited, I'm another who finds it easier to list where I still need to go... Alaska Arizona Hawaii Idaho Louisiana Maine Mississippi Montana Nevada New Mexico New Hampshire North Dakota Oregon Utah Vermont

Listening to (and enjoying) Owl City music!

8/10 Twenty One Pilots

Hey! I know a small-ish park in Michigan that would LOVE to have Kanonen there! It would be a fantastic, and affordable addition, too! (Hey, one can dream that MiA isn't owned by Cedar Point-er-Fair, right? )

I've been struck by the fact that there appears to be so few new coaster additions for 2017. However, after thinking about all the fantastic additions of 2016, more than in most years here, I'd realized that a "down" year was almost a certainty. I think we'll see another banner year in 2018, that may rival 2016, potentially!

This seems to be the case with all standups. Strangely I hate every standup I've ever ridden with the exception of the Carowinds Vortex which basically everyone BUT me hates. This is SO true! I would ride ANY other Standup (even though I'm not a big fan of them) TWICE, before I'd ride Vortex at Carowinds once again! Vortex is the only standup that never caused pain to me Although I don't find it as intense as Green Lantern, I would ride it more than two times in a row if I could Vortex is the only standup I wanted to get off of half-way through the ride. Although its line isn't ever as long as Green Lantern's, I would still ride that coaster two times in a row before riding Vortex once! (Isn't making random contrary statements before punctuating them with emoticons sticking out their tongues fun??? )

This seems to be the case with all standups. Strangely I hate every standup I've ever ridden with the exception of the Carowinds Vortex which basically everyone BUT me hates. This is SO true! I would ride ANY other Standup (even though I'm not a big fan of them) TWICE, before I'd ride Vortex at Carowinds once again!

This was exactly my response as well! Makes you wonder...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As long as they still allow you to ride it without the VR, I guess it's not the end of the world (though, it'll be the end up walk-on rides, most likely), but I really wish they wouldn't do this to my beloved Kraken. At least the theme will lend itself well to a VR type of experience.

The Beast, front row, after Midnight!

This is pretty much how I look seeing the direction this thread has taken...

9/10 (Yeah, what are you going to do about it! ) Phantom's Revenge

I'd actually take Siemian over Osweiler at this point anyway! Siemian has really impressed me with his poise in the pocket, and his unflappable demeanor, while Osweiler's timidity was on full display last night. Even though Manning's skills had declined dramatically last year, there is no way the Broncos win the Super Bowl if the switch back to Manning from Osweiler wasn't made. Brock just doesn't have that "it" factor you need to win in the clutch.