Six Flags Over Georgia (SFOG) Discussion Thread

[pacoasterrider]

^ Your analogy was perfect!

 

It all comes down to the greedy, f***ed up American court system.

 

As heartless as it sounds, I feel no sympathy for the kid or his family. The kid had it coming.

 

I agree, if you have money, you can do anything in America.

 

I agree with you're "heartlessness" but maybe (and hopefully) the family will be real and not blame anyone but the child. We don't know what there intentions are yet.

[Goliath513]

^ Unless the kid was adopted, he obtained his parents' genes and his parents are just as dumb as he was and will do all they can to screw over Six Flags and give amusement parks a bad reputation.

 

 

 

Who's up for mandatory sterilization of dumb people like this in case we aren't lucky enough for their stupidity to kill them before they get a chance to reproduce!?

[pacoasterrider]

The news already gave Six Flags a bad rep, but they showed some sick Goliath shots .

 

Really though, I think the damage has already been done, a lawsuit wouldn't paint much worse of an image. The GP knows that a Rollercoaster killed someone, and that's all they need to hear.

 

I've heard more so now that the kid just wanted to avoid the "re-enter" lines, so he decided that going through the coaster was better then waiting in line.

[AllenA07]

My guess:

 

The family will file a wrongful death suit seeking unspecified damages with Six Flags, B&M and the Christian Church/Group responsible for the trip all named as co-defendants.

 

Six Flags' insurance carrier will settle for nuisance value just to avoid trying the case ($30k?), B&M will get dismissed out or win on a motion for summary judgment, but that Christian Group has some serious liability for not supervising the kids. Remember, he was a 17yo minor in their custody for a trip. Oops, that's about a $1M mistake.

 

Of course, if it turns out there was inadequate fencing or it was left open (which it doesn't sound like so far), then Six Flags could have much greater liability.

 

I would agree with what you said, Six Flags is going to want to avoid having to deal with a trial, and it is one of those situations where just paying out a few thousand will be a lot less of a blow then a public trial. Six Flags isn't going to want more bad press, especially after what happened at SFKK. B&M has nothing to worry about, it is the church group however that I agree is going to get slammed in this situation.

 

I personally do feel bad for the families and the riders on the train who had to witness that. I am very interested to hear what would motivate somebody to do something so incredibly stupid!

[Goliath513]

^ Six Flags should sue the church group and the family for giving them a bad reputation.

 

 

Really though, I think the damage has already been done, a lawsuit wouldn't paint much worse of an image.

With the financial troubles Six Flags is already in, a lawsuit could be a death sentence for the company as a whole if they lose. Imagine - all Six Flags parks having to be sold because they had to pay so much money to the family of a moron to cover a lawsuit that they could no longer afford to operate any parks.

[pacoasterrider]

^ Six Flags should sue the church group and the family for giving them a bad reputation.

 

 

Really though, I think the damage has already been done, a lawsuit wouldn't paint much worse of an image.

With the financial troubles Six Flags is already in, a lawsuit could be a death sentence for the company as a whole if they lose. Imagine - all Six Flags parks having to be sold because they had to pay so much money to the family of a moron to cover a lawsuit that they could no longer afford to operate any parks.

 

 

the way things have been looking, that might happen no matter what.

[sixflagsjunkie88]

I have a feeling drugs were involved in this "decision" of his...

[Rollerman87]

Honestly, with all the buzz, it makes me really, truly sick to my stomach. With this, the family will sue. When that happens, Shapiro will be in ddep crap trying to make the parks family friendly with a nonexistent budget. Poor SFMM might have it the worst, only because we already have a bad rep. So much Six Flags getting their overall rep back. See, this is where companies like Six Flags, Cedar Fair, and Disney need to team up for a brief second and truly expose this crap. This lawsuit will have major side effects on Cedar Fair as well.

[tkkyj]

^^ i was thinking the cause was either video games, popular music, movies, maybe a dare on MySpace, a posting on Craigslist, a pregancy pact, pressure from his overbearing sports dad, or one of the other usual network news favorites.

 

 

It is a bizarre and unfortunately entertaining story, but I don't think it will have as much negative impact as the SFKK incident. The park's preventative measures and the ride operated flawlessly... the only malfunctioning part here was the brain inside this kid's head.

 

 

More groups should arrange their trips on Physics Day...?

[tkkyj]

Shapiro will be in ddep crap trying to make the parks family friendly with a nonexistent budget. Poor SFMM might have it the worst, only because we already have a bad rep. So much Six Flags getting their overall rep back.

 

Yeah, it does seem like Six Flags is a bit of a house of cards right now. They seem to have gone "all in" in the past couple years (with great results, IMO) and may not have the capital to endure a backlash... if there ends up being one.

[Rollerman87]

Not sure if anyone's read this, but they have discoevered the identy of the idiot. Still no idea who the friend was, which is weird

 

Fox Atlanta

 

That had to traumatizinf for those girls.

[Goliath513]

Not sure if anyone's read this, but they have discoevered the identy of the idiot. Still no idea who the friend was, which is weird

 

Fox Atlanta

 

That had to traumatizinf for those girls.

The link doesn't work. Can you quote the story here?

[Rollerman87]

Sure

 

COBB COUNTY, Ga. (MyFox Atlanta) – The teen who was decapitated during a tragic accident at Six Flags Over Georgia Saturday was identified Sunday as 17-year-old Asia Leeshawn Ferguson. Investigators said Ferguson was struck by the Batman ride after he climbed inside a restricted area.

 

"You heard a big pop and he just laid there," said park visitor Nadege St. Fleur.

 

 

"One of them ducked underneath the ride. And the ride just picked him up and threw him over the fence," said witness Pascale St. Fleur.

 

A spokesperson for Six Flags Over Georgia said paramedics arrived a short time later, but Ferguson was already dead.

 

Police said Ferguson was visiting the park with a church group from South Carolina.

Cobb County investigators said the two teens ignored several warning signs that should have alerted them to the potential danger.

 

"The gate which actually leads into the immediate area of the ride was secured, it was locked. So, not only did they have to jump over the perimeter fence but they had to jump over the fence immediately surrounding the ride," said Sergeant Dana Pierce.

 

Police are investigating reports the teens may have been trying to retrieve a hat or other items they lost while on the ride, but a park spokesperson said their motive for jumping the fences remains a mystery.

"A sign on a locked gate read, 'Danger Zone: Do Not Enter, Authorized Personnel Only.' It's still not clear why they two men were trying to gain access into this unauthorized area," said Six Flags Over Georgia spokesperson Hela Sheth.

 

Park officials said the Batman ride was shut down, both for the investigation and out of respect for Ferguson's family. The ride is scheduled to reopen Monday.

[Carnage]

They should now wrap all support columns in bubble wrap.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=6874628&version=1&locale=EN-US

 

 

http://www.myfoxatlanta.com/myfox/MyFox/pages/sidebar_video.jsp?contentId=6872566&version=1&locale=EN-US

[RIP Psyclone]

[dammie16@vt.edu]

^^LOL

 

 

Just saw the 5'Oclocker on FOX and the guy called Goliath Gladiator.

 

Stupid media knows nothing!!

 

Anyway, If SF went under and was bought by say Cedar Fair, what do you think they would rename the rides that are WB named?

 

Batman --- Nighthawk

Superman's --- Falcon

Kingda Ka --- Super Top Thrill Dragster (just cus they could!

)

[coasterdude5]

^ Thinking a bit too far ahead I'm afraid.

 

The only people I feel sorry for in this situation is Six Flags and the people who were on the train. That image isn't going to go away for a while.

 

The parents were obviously were not capable of raising a child and teaching them right from wrong.

[dammie16@vt.edu]

^^Yeh I know but it was just for fun

 

Anyway, I had Six flags stock and sold it last week and I'm glad I did because it'll probably go down this week.

[odene497]

While reading through I got to agreeing that the church group could be blamed, they were responsible for an underage child, and he was killed. But then I thought, He's 17, they're not gonna keep him tied to a leash. I'm sure kids were allowed to go off in groups, because, as 17 year olds, you'd think they're smarter than to do something like that.

 

I mean, I'm going on the East Coast Trip. I'm 17, so I'll be under R&E's care. But It's not like I'm staying with them for the entire trip. I'm able to go where I please, It's on me to not make an idiotic decision like that.

 

I really don't even see this as the group's fault. It's all on the kid.

[coasterdude5]

While reading through I got to agreeing that the church group could be blamed, they were responsible for an underage child, and he was killed. But then I thought, He's 17, they're not gonna keep him tied to a leash. I'm sure kids were allowed to go off in groups, because, as 17 year olds, you'd think they're smarter than to do something like that.

 

I mean, I'm going on the East Coast Trip. I'm 17, so I'll be under R&E's care. But It's not like I'm staying with them for the entire trip. I'm able to go where I please, It's on me to not make an idiotic decision like that.

 

I really don't even see this as the group's fault. It's all on the kid.

 

That's what I was thinking. 17 = almost an adult. I'm sure they were allowed to go off into groups. But usually there is a chaperone. I'm sure that'll be brought up.

 

How come this stuff never happens to Cedar Fair? Six Flags has gotten this and then last year's incident.

[ParkTrips]

If the kids parent's were on the trip with him, which the media has reported, I believe that should alleviate responsibility from the church group.

 

Not that I agree with blaming anyone but the kid to begin with..

[Medusa1861]

So, according to this ultra-reliable book I read, This "accident" is REALLY a cover up for a zombie infestation. If you ever hear about someone getting shot in the head or decapitated, it could possible be a zombie infestation cover up story...

 

I'm also holding out opinion on this, naturally, i'm against the kid for being stupid, but what if, now this is a big if.. he had a legitimate reason for going there? This is also assuming that this isn't a cover up story

[TheHulk]

It's because of Idiots like this that coasters and parks get a bad name. Wish it would have severed an arm or something instead, that would he would've learned his lesson.

[n7]

As I read the eyewitness reports, I could vividly see the situation play out in real time in my head...it was.. ...unsettling.

 

I find it really hard to empathize for the kid - although I know I should do so. Living through my teenage years I was constantly tempted to do stupid things. I always had the ability to say no though... And I would if the dare was too extreme - it didn't make me any less of person or any less of a friend, and most often that "no" equalized the situation and stopped the escalating list of dares. It's not hard when you have a clear head to know that a certain action is going to have a clearly bad consequence.

 

Of course my list of "dares" in my invincible years never EVER came close to playing chicken with a gigantic steel machine. (playing chicken in a shopping cart, yes). All in all it was a horribly misguided error of judgment that resulted in a traumatizing tragedy for the people that witnessed it, and for the family that has to live with his poor decision.

 

I have hope that this Christian family will not sue the park for wrongful death. If they do, we'll know where their heart lies. It's not really our business though - they'll eventually have to take it up with you-know-who.

 

But I still have hope.