Need for Speed

[D1993]

Hi, i am a student in Australia doing my last year of schooling. In order to complete the HSC course (which is like equivalent of the SAT's) I have to complete a major research assessment on something that i am passionate/interested about.

 

Naturally i thought of roller coasters straight away, but wasnt entirely sure how to fashion an assessement around it!

Basically, my assessment topic is on the experiences that roller coasters produce and the areas around that, such as adrenaline rushes. Also i am looking at how a need for speed can cause people to participate in forums (i know myself i look at tons of videos every day

 

I have made a quick questionnaire and if you wouldnt mind it would be greatly greatly appreciated if you could take some time to complete it. They are completely anonymous and wont take too long. If you could just reply with the answers in your own post that would be greatly apprecaited and if you want you can send me a personal message.

 

thank you so much for your time!

 

1. Gender

2. Age

3. What was your first roller coaster experience?

4. At what age did you begin to love roller coasters?

5. How many times do you look/watch at roller coasters online per week?

6. For what reasons would you buy roller coaster merchandise?

7. How many times do you visit theme parks in a year? Why?

8. If you could briefly describe why you love roller coasters what would you say?

9. Do you find it hard to go long without riding a roller coaster?

10. Do you feel a need to duplicate the speed of roller coasters in your ordinary life?

11. Do you believe that the adrenaline produced whilst riding a roller coaster is addictive?

12. If yes, how do you satisfy this ‘’addiction’’

13. Do you dislike that the roller coaster experience is only quick?

14. Do you turn to chat forums to replicate the experience for a longer experience?

15. How often do you participate in roller coaster or theme park forums per week?

16. Do you turn to roller coaster videos to re-experience the feeling of adrenaline?

[mightbeawannabe]

I'll bite.

1. Gender

2. Age

3. What was your first roller coaster experience?

4. At what age did you begin to love roller coasters?

5. How many times do you look/watch at roller coasters online per week?

6. For what reasons would you buy roller coaster merchandise?

7. How many times do you visit theme parks in a year? Why?

8. If you could briefly describe why you love roller coasters what would you say?

9. Do you find it hard to go long without riding a roller coaster?

10. Do you feel a need to duplicate the speed of roller coasters in your ordinary life?

11. Do you believe that the adrenaline produced whilst riding a roller coaster is addictive?

12. If yes, how do you satisfy this ‘’addiction’’

13. Do you dislike that the roller coaster experience is only quick?

14. Do you turn to chat forums to replicate the experience for a longer experience?

15. How often do you participate in roller coaster or theme park forums per week?

16. Do you turn to roller coaster videos to re-experience the feeling of adrenaline?

1. Male.

2. 15.

3. When I was about 4...possibly 3.

4. Probably 10 or 11.

5. So often is it nearly impossible to count. Say: practically always.

6. Case sensitive. I'd buy DVDs to have physical copies of the POVs, so that they will work when the internet won't. But I'd buy a shirt just to wear (not really just to parks).

7. 4-I never have the opportunity to go more often, and it's mostly because my parents are always busy during spring/summer/fall when any park near me would even consider opening. They own an agriculture business...

8. Not only are they great to look at (some would say sexy, myself included), but they're great fun! Unless the ride experience is unbearably poor, due to roughness, design, comfort, etc. etc.

9. It's not extremely hard to go long periods of time without riding, thanks to TPR, I can live vicariously.

10. Somewhat...

11. What a strange question. DUH! haha

12. Nolimits if it must be constrained to coaster related stuff. Music can really pump out the same level-if not more adrenaline than a coaster for me. No, I am not crazy. But it must be rather deep, emotional, striking, or be able to connect on a personal level-e.g. It nearly HAS to be of the mid/late romantic period of a composer proficient at being able to translate their feelings directly to the score.

13. Not really. A ride can be extremely satisfying at any length. Some coasters can do with 3000' (or less) that others couldn't do with 6000'. And vise-versa.

14. I'm not certain what's being asked...If it means what I think it does, then no, TPR chat doesn't make me relive a coaster high-it creates its own. If you've ever been on it, then you know it is something else. And not lightheartedly either-most of the time it's not related to or barely related to theme parks.

15. See answer to question 5.

16. Sort of... but not really-sometimes it works and others it doesn't. I seek it, but very few can bring something reminiscent of them back. I'd say no.

Edited June 7, 2011 by mightbeawannabe

[The SETGO Guys]

1.Male

2.16

3.My first coaster experience was the Barnstormer Coaster at Walt Disney World. However for unknown reasons, I became scared of coasters for a good several years. I rode the Comet at Hersheypark that sparked my interest in actually riding coasters.

4.I had always loved coasters, but I did not start riding them until I was 12/13

5.Too many to count

6.To show off how much I love coasters, to advertise for the park my favorite rides and show appreciation to the Engineers and designers for doing such a great job

7.Probably 10, I would go more often but I am unable to get rides

8.I think Coasters are one of the greatest engineering feats that have ever been created, they give us a chance to push engineering and human emotions to a limit, and manipulate emotions.

9.Yes, I really do love riding Coasters

10.No, I really don't think that it is possible with regular daily activities to replicate the forces found on a Coaster, a Coaster is designed for allowing you to feel forces. Objects are usually made to give us a confutable unexciting use.

11.Yes and No, I think that my Love for coasters stems from the technicality of them, not so much from the forces produced, that being said, biologically, yes they have a impact that we cannot ignore.

12.Obviously we keep building bigger and faster rides, we repeat rides multiple times and we visit new rides.

13.That would depend on the nature of the ride, quick is a time sense, not a ride. However I believe the wait time plays a big impact on this. I wouldn't be as willing (Happy) to wait for a shorter coaster (Unless it was VERY unique). However if the wait time is short, you will usually find that your ride will be much more enjoyable, and the re-ride factor will ultimately be much higher.

14.To replicate the experience, No. I turn to forums to be able to meet and discuss with other people my interest.

15.Daily

16.While Mirror Neurons in our heads replicate to a minimal extent some of the feelings, I do not believe you cannot replicate adrenaline. I think we turn to Rollercoaster videos to be able to analyze what we have rode, or to be able to look over elements or engineering/design work that we find interesting and or appealing .

[VinTheAttendant]

1. Male

2. 19

3. Most likely the Dragon Wagon at our town's annual fair when I was maybe 3 years old.

4. 12 is when I turned enthusiast, but I'd ride from age 8 upwards.

5. At least twice a day. So a minimum of 14 times.

6. I buy a lot of T-shirts, so I guess it's a trophy reminder of the milestones achieved of roller coaster nerditude.

7. Up to twenty times a year. I guess the reason is because there is never a complete trip to an amusement park. There will always be something you missed or something you have yet to try. On the other hand, you may have had such a great time at a particular park that returning is something to look forward to, and the cycle continues.

8. I love roller coasters because of the feeling of being in danger while not being in danger. You can go fast, high, and upside down all in complete safety. Also, the rides themselves are a feat of engineering. There are so many different kinds, and each has its own personality that just screams, "Give me a try!"

9. I actually do react to long periods of not riding a roller coaster, albeit it won't kill me. I just get a crave during the off season much like an ACEr craves a buffet.

10. While driving? No. When walking? Yes.

11. While it isn't addicting, it's more of fulfilling. Adrenaline glands are natural and roller coasters help put them to use.

12. I guess the best way to settle the addiction is to keep riding.

13. The thrill a coaster produces varies greatly with time. You can have a short roller coaster that offers a powerful thrill or a long coaster that offers a mild thrill. Both of those easily quench satisfaction. However, there are some coaster experiences that are over too quick, and those are only mildly disappointing.

14. Forums aren't really essential to coaster buffs (I only have 99 posts), but the networking is a great way to meet awesome people and check out exclusive trips. So while it isn't necessary, it does make the experience longer.

15. I don't post often, but I am almost always checking out TPR for updates and experiences.

16. Yes and no. Half the time I am looking at a video, it's of a ride that I have never ridden. It gets me excited to ride the actual coaster. I hardly ever look up videos of coaster I ride often.

 

Hope this helps good luck with your assignment!

[D1993]

hi, thanks for those that have completed my questionnaire. For those who have viewed the post or thinking about doing it, i would really appreiate if you would be able to do it in the next couple of days as its due very soon.

thanks for your time ...

[CoasterCrazy88]

Ok, this should be fun!

 

1. Male

2. 18

3. My first roller coaster experience was Space Mountain at Disneyland in California. I was three years old.

4. I honestly began to love roller coasters that very day, at age three. As soon as I got off Space Mountain, my parents took me on Big Thunder Mountain, Gadgets Go Coaster, Matterhorn, etc. I have never been able to get enough coasters since then.

5. I look at roller coasters every day for a little while at least, so I guess 7 times a week.

6. I rarely purchase roller coaster merchandise. It would have to represent a very important coaster. (Eg. my 500th credit)

7. I visit theme parks TONS in a given year. I'll go to my home park about 12 times in a year, plus my trips. This year I'll probably go to a theme park about 30 times, and that doesn't include water parks. I go to water parks almost weekly, all summer long.

8. I love roller coasters for tons of reasons. I love the feelings of weightlessness, freefall, positive G's...I just love it all. Most importantly though, Roller coasters give me feelings nothing else can provide. They are totally unique and wonderful experiences and I truly love them.

9. I do find it difficult, yes. Roller coasters are one of my biggest passions in life and I feel incomplete without them.

10. I don't feel a "need", but I do love the feeling of speed. If I could legally drive my car 130 miles per hour on the freeway, I would.

11. I completely feel it is addictive.

12. I satisfy the addiction by riding roller coasters whenever I can. I have had season passes to my home park (Six Flags Magic Mountain) for 14 years. Plus, I take roller coaster trips in the summer.

13. That is a difficult question. There are many roller coasters I wish were longer, but I think they are fine as they are. If they were too long, they would either become boring or nauseating!

14. I would say no, not really. I guess if you go down to the very bottom of things though, I do..... After all, I'm on this forum and I am going on TPR trips! That creates an experience of more roller coasters.

15. I'd say about twice per week in the winter months, and 7 - 10 times per week in the spring and summer months. That's because I need to be in the trip forums to keep up with the info about whatever TPR tour I am on that year.

16. Sure! Every once in a while, I'll watch some POV's of roller coasters I really love, especially if they were on a TPR trip. It brings back memories and makes me happy.

 

I hope I helped you!

- Antonio

[D1993]

thanks again. i hope i posted this in the right section, i just thought to put it into a random thread would be best.

[triggernel]

1. Gender- Male

2. Age- 16

3. What was your first roller coaster experience?- Mild Thing at Valleyfair! at the age of 3

4. At what age did you begin to love roller coasters?- I've always loved coasters; I never had an epiphany

5. How many times do you look/watch at roller coasters online per week?- Everyday

6. For what reasons would you buy roller coaster merchandise?- I used to love Sports Jerseys, until I saw Coaster Shirts lol

7. How many times do you visit theme parks in a year? Why?- 20+ I spend a good time at my home parks, and I love to travel

8. If you could briefly describe why you love roller coasters what would you say?- The feeling of being Free

9. Do you find it hard to go long without riding a roller coaster?- Not like I feel the need to, but I still get giddy the night before a visit

10. Do you feel a need to duplicate the speed of roller coasters in your ordinary life?- Not really

11. Do you believe that the adrenaline produced whilst riding a roller coaster is addictive?- Yes, very!

12. If yes, how do you satisfy this ‘’addiction’’- Coaster Marathons

13. Do you dislike that the roller coaster experience is only quick?- No, it keeps me yearning for more

14. Do you turn to chat forums to replicate the experience for a longer experience?- No, I just enjoy good discussions.

15. How often do you participate in roller coaster or theme park forums per week?- Everyday

16. Do you turn to roller coaster videos to re-experience the feeling of adrenaline?- No, I watch them to see what rides I have not experienced are like.

 

Good Luck with your Project!