Busch Gardens Williamsburg Social Media

[Applesauce]

I’ve noticed this too. I’m not part of many other diehard fan communities like the theme park community. Are other types of fan bases also typically this toxic?

It depends on the fanbase and how dedicated they are to it as well as the content it produces. But any fanbase can be toxic on both ends of the spectrum.

I've witnessed the purity police go after small otherwise harmless because they didn't like one thing about something somebody else created. I've had friends get told to kill themselves over fanfic.

I typically do my best to avoid fandom. It's so much less of a headache.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

I’ve noticed this too. I’m not part of many other diehard fan communities like the theme park community. Are other types of fan bases also typically this toxic?

Gaming (my other main hobby, so fuck me) has always had a problem with gatekeeping and superiority complexes that resembles theme park fandom. To put it in an incredibly simple way, you have the hardcore fans of specific games/genres/brand/ect. There are any number of these groups that will react incredibly poorly if they see something that challenges what they like. So yeah, there are a lot of similarities between toxic park fandom and toxic game fandom.

As far as Reddit goes... I was called a "f--" for speculating something about Twisted Timbers. Fun fact, they're active on these forums as well.

 

[Zachary]

So yeah, there are a lot of similarities between toxic park fandom and toxic game fandom.

Similarities? Sure. Let's not mistake some similar behavior for actual polarity between the toxicity of two fandoms though.

People have a tendency to stand around flogging themselves on the back in the amusement industry enthusiast community—trying to make the case that the community is poisonous and enthusiasts are just hateful know-it-alls. Are there bad apples? Yes. In my opinion, overall, the amusement industry enthusiast community is actually really great though.

We have many well-managed online communities consisting mainly of fairly normal, well-adjusted folks. We have a few clubs based around in-person events with a long history of inclusion. At least according to BGWFans stats, diversity in the community has been increasing notably and consistently over the last decade as well (in particular the female:male ratio has changed dramatically for the better over the last ten years). Despite all this progress, we haven't seen communities splinter down ideological lines as has been occuring in other fandoms lately.

There are bad apples. There always will be. But as a general rule, the bad apples don't run the show in the roller coaster fandom. We're really a better group of people than we typically give ourselves credit for.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

Bad apples don't ruin the fandom, no, but it's enough that it gives me pause. While this community isn't bad, there is still a noticeable presence of gatekeeping by a few active members here. So much so that I would not tell my friends who are interested in the park to come here at risk of associating the park with those assholes.

You're right in that the fandom is largely diverse and welcome. I personally just don't think it's better than any other nerd (and I use that term lovingly) community.

 

[..…]

I bet a nickle he is still invited to BGW next big event.

Remember his view. It is important that people not block his view.

I’ve never been one to put my hands up on coasters, but if I found myself in front of this guy I’d be waving them all over the place.

 

[The Quist]

Remember his view. It is important that people not block his view.

I couldn't agree more. I don't think any views should be censored or blocked. It helps everyone to know exactly what type of idiot this person really is.

I have seen the Biggerstaffs on multiple occasions and I never knew this guy was such an asshole. I think it is also worth noting that if this is what he says to a (what I assume is a) stranger on social media, there is no telling what this guy says when he's not in public or on a public platform.

 

[Ghost of Pretzel Kaiser]

I read that he wanted Pokemon Go banned from the park.

 

[horsesboy]

I couldn't agree more. I don't think any views should be censored or blocked. It helps everyone to know exactly what type of idiot this person really is.

I have seen the Biggerstaffs on multiple occasions and I never knew this guy was such an asshole. I think it is also worth noting that if this is what he says to a (what I assume is a) stranger on social media, there is no telling what this guy says when he's not in public or on a public platform.

Disclaimer I do NOT know the guy and to the best of my knowledge have never met him. A lo so what I am about to say in mo way should be interpreted as approval or as an excuse for those comments they are beyond horrible.

All of that said there are some cycologic studies that show that people will post bc things on social media and online in general that they would not say in person. Basically in comes down to two things the lack of a instant negative feedback or in other words you don't see someone hurt when you say it. The other main factor is the rapid nature of it read something you don't like type up a nasty reply hint send done all without ever really stopping to think.

Does this excuse his comments and behavior of course not.

 

[The Quist]

I get where you are coming from and if he had said "Fuck you - you're an asshole" and that was it, well okay, still not a great way to express yourself but so be it. However, if the first thing that comes out of your mouth is "liberal gay prick" then that tells me where your heart is.

 

[Mushroom]

Damn, I always thought the story of him and his wife getting married on Apollo’s lift was such a remarkable story. Sucks that it’s been ruined by the fact that he’s a dick.

 

[Jonesta6]

Good friends of mine got engaged on the top of Griffon if that's any consolation

 

[Crunchewy]

I don't know this guy, presumably because I'm not a member of that group and I haven't been to BGW in a long time due to distance. Tell me more about his thing with not wanting people to raise their hands?

 

[Applesauce]

I don't know this guy, presumably because I'm not a member of that group and I haven't been to BGW in a long time due to distance. Tell me more about his thing with not wanting people to raise their hands?

You'll have to click the post, but here:

Goodness...I'm afraid to raise my hands again on a coaster!

View attachment 11083

 

[Crunchewy]

You'll have to click the post, but here:

That's hilarious. I'd love to see some of the replies to that.

 

[halfabee]

Biggerstaff has been a willing verbal combatant since the Usenet days. He came off more clueless than belligerent back then, but maybe I just missed or ignored the worst of it.

The Usenet group (grandpa story time) also was far more personally connected than we generally experience today, with a large percentage of active US-based participants seeing each other in person at multiple events per season. So you would get far more direct and indirect feedback in response to stupid asshole insults; there was -- for a time, anyway -- a tendency to simply pocket the worst insults you had in hand, despite the total lack of moderation on most of Usenet.

All of which is just to say, I completely agree with @horsesboy's post regarding the social media effect. Spot on.

 

[RKRCC]

It’s sad in 2019 people still feel this way....

 

[Nicole]

I think it speaks well of the community that there was such passionate backlash against his revolting remarks, and that there were repercussions.

 

[Zimmy]

i miss usenet... alt.overclocker was my jam!

 

[GrandpaD]

i miss usenet... alt.overclocker was my jam!

Heck, I miss IRC, too. But I don't wanna go back that far in time. ?

 

[Zimmy]

/kick gradpaD