K1ngdaKa88 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) I was wondering if you're counting alpine coasters as a credit or not? I don't count them, but is it ok to count them? Edited January 5, 2015 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) I personally wouldn't count them, but there are no rules for what you count on your list. I've known people who count log flumes, dark rides and cycle monorails as roller coasters along with Aline Coasters and other things that aren't actually roller coasters as a way to "pad their count" (I see it as a sign of insecurity), so if you want to count them, knock yourself out! Edited January 5, 2015 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
K1ngdaKa88 Posted January 5, 2015 Author Share Posted January 5, 2015 ^ ok thanks, so I don't count them, only the "real" ones. What? Some people are counting log and dark rides as a credit?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GwaziBSRider1 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 There are a few dark rides out there with drops to gravity power them. I know several people who count the two at Camden Park in WV and Conneaut Lake as coasters. As Robb said, how you count is entirely up to you. Personally, I do count Alpine coasters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 What? Some people are counting log and dark rides as a credit?! Yes, some people count dark rides like the Ghost Train at Blackpool or Calico Mine Train at Knott's because there is a point where they either have a "drop" or coast on gravity for some time. Other people I know also count Splash Mountain because of the part that has a drop that goes uphill. I personally don't count Alpine Coasters for several reasons: 1. It's just simply not that important to me to have a bunch of questionable rides on my list to increase my number by the small amount of Alpine Coasters that I've ridden. 2. While yes, they may have a lift hill, operate on gravity, and have a break run, to me they aren't "roller coasters" in the traditional sense, they are more like an "xtreme activity" like ziplining or bungee jumping. 3. The fact that you can control your own speed and come to a complete stop if you wanted to kind of kills it for me. Yes, people have said "But what about the Scenic Railways with the brakeman?" But in those examples, YOU don't control it, the ride operator does. 4. When it comes down to it, I find it's easier to NOT count something than have to count something and come up with all kinds of excuses of why you do. End of the day - If you find yourself having to explain WHY you count something, you probably shouldn't be counting it. And the most IMPORTANT thing to remember... YOU WILL NOT GET ANY MORE OR LESS BLOW JOBS BECAUSE OF YOUR COASTER COUNT!!! It's really not that important. What is more important? HAVING FUN! Stop worrying about how many coasters you've ridden and focus on the fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cfc Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 End of the day - If you find yourself having to explain WHY you count something, you probably shouldn't be counting it. And the most IMPORTANT thing to remember... YOU WILL NOT GET ANY MORE OR LESS BLOW JOBS BECAUSE OF YOUR COASTER COUNT!!! What? Base treachery! I have been deceived! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PVA62 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 End of the day - If you find yourself having to explain WHY you count something, you probably shouldn't be counting it. And the most IMPORTANT thing to remember... YOU WILL NOT GET ANY MORE OR LESS BLOW JOBS BECAUSE OF YOUR COASTER COUNT!!! What? Base treachery! I have been deceived! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 I personally don't. I'm sticking to RCDB's definition, whatever's in that website is a credit for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) I personally don't. I'm sticking to RCDB's definition, whatever's in that website is a credit for me. Right, but even that has it's flaws. For example, RCDB does not list Olympia Looping or Alpina Bahn and I'm pretty sure this should count as a roller coaster. I don't follow anyone else's list but my own. I also stopped counting in 2012 which makes things even easier now. I just ride stuff for fun and not worry if it's a credit or not! Edited January 5, 2015 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 ^ Oh right! Thanks for mentioning that. I forgot how much of a pain it is trying to find info about traveling coasters, it feels almost as bad as Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GwaziBSRider1 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 I use CoasterCount to find traveling coasters, as they have been the best source I've found so far. It's also helpful for finding alpine coasters. I haven't seriously searched for many rides in either category, personally, but I probably will at some point... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gerstlaueringvar Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 ^ Thank you so much! Finally I can search about those traveling coasters and Alpine Coasters. Are those powered Alpine Coasters considered credits? They aren't controlled by the rider, they have full circuit and they are somehow gravity driven. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlahBlahson Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 For me, counting alpine coasters comes down to a single aspect of them: Do you think the ability to self-brake makes them not a rollercoaster? And for me, it doesn't. You can quite easily perform the entire attraction without ever once touching the brake. That includes the operator starting your ride, the lift hill dragging you all the way to the top, and the series of downward spirals and turns while coasting 100% of the time on steel rails powered only by gravity. It feels much more of a coaster than any wacky worm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shivtim Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 I think it just depends on how it feels to you. I've only been on one alpine coaster, and it definitely felt like a roller coaster, so I count it. I don't count log flumes, alpine slides, dark rides, non-permanent traveling/fair coasters or powered coasters. I also don't count moved or re-themed coasters as a second credit, or racing coasters as two credits. Overall I'd say my count is more "strict" than most people, but to me an alpine coaster is definitely a roller coaster. In the end, as Robb said, it doesn't matter what someone else counts or doesn't. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) I've only been on one alpine coaster, and it definitely felt like a roller coaster I totally agree with this on multiple levels. Yes, they do actually *feel* like a roller coaster, in fact, in this video, you can even hear my say how I think this particular one is better than most of Six Flags coasters (true story!) BUT...like you've said "I've only been on one..." I, too have only been on a handful, maybe 10 at the most. So I err on the side of not counting them only to not have to explain it later. And it's not as though counting it or not counting it is really going to impact anyone's list that much. I kind of wish in a way there was some rules for counting and it would kind of make things a lot easier. But then that would mean everyone would have to agree on said list, and I know for me, that list would not include any stupid kiddie coasters! Edited January 5, 2015 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) On that note, this would be my list of "counting rules" if I was in charge of the world. (Which would probably be a bad idea) - No powered coasters - No Alpine Slides or Alpine Coasters - No Log Flumes, Free Falls, Cycle Monorails, or Dark Rides. - No Kiddie Coasters (Wacky Worms, Dragon Wagons, Miler "Taxi-Jam Sized" Juniors, Miner Mike's, Butterflys, crappy Chinese sliding dragon coasters, etc.) - No Re-located Coasters (you can count them ONCE) - No "Backyard" coasters (if you DO count these, come by our house and I'll roll you down a hill in a shopping cart for $50! Each ride is a new credit!) - Oh, and just to annoy people, no "Half-Pipes or Superman: The Escape" While I realize the "No Kiddie Coasters" thing is a grey area, I would draw the line at a Vekoma Roller Skater. If it's that sized or bigger, fine. And the "rule of thumb" would be - "If you have to question if it's a credit, then it's probably not." I sort of think this would make things more fair and would get rid of all this awful "credit whoring" and force people to focus on quality over quantity, which has been kind of a thing of mine lately. I have far more respect for someone who is all "I've ridden all the B&Ms in the country" rather than "I flew to some foreign country just to ride crappy coasters to prove I don't have a small penis." Thoughts? --Robb Edited January 5, 2015 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GwaziBSRider1 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Robb, I totally I agree with the Alpine Slides. For the life of me, I cannot think of a way to consider one as a coaster. I actually did debate this with myself to justify making a special trip to ride one about an hour away from where I live. As for credit whoring, I can't deny that I am one. However, I'm not dumb enough to drive 800 miles just for a damn Wacky Worm. My rule of thumb for that would be "It's here and they'll let me on, so I might as well ride it). I don't see the harm in it if you're not doing it stupidly, like flying all the way to Whatever-istan just to credit whore. As for this... - No "Backyard" coasters (if you DO count these, come by our house and I'll roll you down a hill in a shopping cart for $50! Each ride is a new credit!) You'd better be careful, you may have a bunch of ACErs lined up at your door! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
viking86 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Thoughts? I use RCDB as reference to my count + I count travelling rides that are "obviously rollercoasters". However I have pretty much stopped caring about my count and while I do add new credits to my coastercount account (I think I'm around 140), I will not go on any rides just to get the credit, and kiddie coasters I will walk straight past. When I go on a coaster its because I want to go on it, not because I need it on my list. Its the same with parks, I will not go to any parks to get a credit, I go to a park because I want to go there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) You'd better be careful, you may have a bunch of ACErs lined up at your door! I will GLADLY take their money!!! Edited January 5, 2015 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skiburkesurfjay Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 Yes, they do actually *feel* like a roller coaster, in fact, in this video, you can even hear my say how I think this particular one is better than most of Six Flags coasters (true story!) You can't judge a coaster by the park... Even if the park isn't as good as others.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robbalvey Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 (edited) You'd better be careful, you may have a bunch of ACErs lined up at your door! I will GLADLY take their money!!! I'm not dumb enough to drive 800 miles just for a damn Wacky Worm. My rule of thumb for that would be "It's here and they'll let me on, so I might as well ride it). I don't see the harm in it if you're not doing it stupidly, like flying all the way to Whatever-istan just to credit whore. I do agree with this as well. I think all the kiddie coasters I've been on in recent years have been when we were on a trip with a group and there was a kiddie coaster not far out of the way. That being said, outside of the TPR Tours, I don't think I've personally gone out of the way, even just a few miles, for a "credit" in years. Case in point, even our last trips to India and Japan we were within 10 or 15 miles of some crappy kiddie "credit" that we skipped just because we wanted to focus more time on quality or doing other things in said country rather that riding some crappy coaster just to pad the count. Edited January 5, 2015 by robbalvey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GwaziBSRider1 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 I'm not dumb enough to drive 800 miles just for a damn Wacky Worm. My rule of thumb for that would be "It's here and they'll let me on, so I might as well ride it). I don't see the harm in it if you're not doing it stupidly, like flying all the way to Whatever-istan just to credit whore. I do agree with this as well. I think all the kiddie coasters I've been on in recent years have been when we were on a trip with a group and there was a kiddie coaster not far out of the way. That being said, outside of the TPR Tours, I don't think I've personally gone out of the way, even just a few miles, for a "credit" in years. Case in point, even our last trips to India and Japan we were within 10 or 15 miles of some crappy kiddie "credit" that we skipped just because we wanted to focus more time on quality or doing other things in said country rather that riding some crappy coaster just to pad the count. Makes perfect sense to me. I'm sure after the 500th crappy kiddie coaster, the idea of kiddie credits starts to lose its appeal. There have been plenty of times where I've also skipped them for various reasons. When my friend and I were planning our upcoming trip to the UAE, I debated on getting certain credits or seeing the cool sights. Obviously, the culture is going to be a much better choice than driving to some goofy city just to ride a bloody Zamperla mouse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
azza29 Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 While I realize the "No Kiddie Coasters" thing is a grey area, I would draw the line at a Vekoma Roller Skater. If it's that sized or bigger, fine. The Roller Skater is a good benchmark. I don't mind admitting that my count probably includes a dozen or so "questionable" credits. I tend to count every coaster I've been on, but the only time I've ridden anything smaller than a Roller Skater is on a TPR trip, and generally during some kind of ERT. I mean, I can't not count the Dog Fart coaster! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenbowl Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 I do not count powered coasters, but I do count traveling, water, and alpine coasters. I don't care if it's self-braked on or, if it uses purely gravity, it's a coaster to me! But I do think that collecting all B&Ms or Intamins or RMCs is a much more impressive feat than having X credits! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
p-sychiatrist Posted January 5, 2015 Share Posted January 5, 2015 I really don't get why some people are so desperate to increase their coaster count, but I guess in that way it's a lot like penis size... but for me coaster credit is just a way to keep track of all the rides I've been on and remember which ones were amazing and which ones sucked. I think riding coasters should be all about having new experiences so I don't count clones or both sides of a racing coaster (unless their layouts differ). I'll occasionally go on a kiddie ride if I'm with other enthusiasts and there's no wait, but last time I went to Dorney I ditched my friends who were waiting a 20 minutes (the longest line in the park all day) for Woodstock Express just for the credit. As for alpine coasters, I've only been on one. It was kinda cool since it was along the Great Wall of China, but the person I was with had the brakes on the whole time so it didn't feel like a coaster at all and didn't count for me. But I would say an alpine coaster with the brakes off could definitely be fun with some nice speed like that video Robb posted above, and I think that would count. At the end of the day having a higher coaster count doesn't make you special or a more passionate enthusiast. One great coaster is worth more than 1000 mediocre coasters combined, and if you had fun on an alpine coaster, then it's more valuable than the rides you did for the sake of credit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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