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Death to "The General Public"

Hey, what about a nice, simple "service users".
Technically correct, and appropriate...though more for thoosies than others!
 
We seem to have forgotten the executive elite class of enthusiast:

Loves theme parks, will even travel to other countries to visit them. But doesn’t watch vlogs, doesn’t count creds, throws sharp objects at anyone who uses the term “thoosie”, wears Merch sparingly if at all, can watch Wardley or Roland walk by without having kittens and is happy to have a couple of goes on coasters and then chill with a beverage of choice.

Not everyone achieves this higher state of being but don’t worry if you don’t, nobodies perfect.
 
GooseOnTheLoose said:
On a scale of @Sazzle to @Poisson / @MattyH obviously.
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I’m teary eyed at having been recognised for such a key defining point in an enthusiast debate. Having just returned today from a European trip, taking in multiple parks where I can confidently state no butterfly coasters or wacky worms were sought out, I am true to my morals and invite wider community members to join me.

Dave said:
Loves theme parks, will even travel to other countries to visit them. But doesn’t watch vlogs, doesn’t count creds, throws sharp objects at anyone who uses the term “thoosie”, wears Merch sparingly if at all, can watch Wardley or Roland walk by without having kittens and is happy to have a couple of goes on coasters and then chill with a beverage of choice.
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Too specific dear. I fulfil most but not all and therefore am definitely somewhere around here, despite having a spreadsheet for my creds and doing a little squeak when I see the aforementioned figures.

I suggest we start drawing up a points based classification tool and make this official.

Maybe there’s a corresponding reward depending on your diagnosis achievement affliction passion level? I’ll leave that out there for consideration.

…and on topic…

As with any self-identified group or community, it’s easy to create an “us & them” view and this is somewhat based on a perceived power share around “I / we know more than you do”. So therefore anyone else is given a “general” sweeping category rather than a specialist label.

I don’t think I’ve ever used general public as a derogatory term, rather as a way to refer to guests who are not otherwise known as enthusiasts. Not a bad shout to consider casual guest as an alternative.

Interestingly I was having this debate recently around how being passionate around themeparks and coasters has become more accepted and accessible than it ever has been. It used to be a niche, and sometimes stigmatised, passion.

“Back in my day” etc…
 
Maybe the term "general public" is tainted for me, as it's almost always used darogatraily at work. Usually for people who throw things on the floor, dump stuff, damage stuff, ask where things are as soon as they set foot through the front door, say phrase's like "sorry to ruin your display" whilst exhibiting zero behaviours whatsoever to suggest that they are genuinely sorry, and those that demand to "speak to the manager".
 
Could I add that being an enthusiast...of anything...is generally a very healthy thing to be.
It literally makes you live longer, but you have to keep at it.
No quitting in your sixties.
Literally doctors orders for me.
Excellent excuse when I want to skive work/hide from my wife.
 
I can see how calling everyone else the "general public" could be seen as slightly derogatory, which is why I much prefer the term "peasants". Especially as I flaunt around Europa-Park brandishing my gold rimmed Gold Resort Pass. It just works...!

In all seriousness, I think the GP has always just been an easy go to for people when trying to distinguish between enthusiasts and non-enthusiasts. I don't think it is used as a derogatory term, but I can see how it could create a them and us sort of feeling. As you say, we are all the general public in the eyes of the theme park, just some of us happen to know a bit more about said parks and visit more often.

I think it is fair to distinguish between different sorts of guests, and the term casual guest does seem to work well when speaking about those who are not enthusiasts. And it is these casual guests that parks need to cater to the most.
 
Sazzle said:
I’m teary eyed at having been recognised for such a key defining point in an enthusiast debate. Having just returned today from a European trip, taking in multiple parks where I can confidently state no butterfly coasters or wacky worms were sought out, I am true to my morals and invite wider community members to join me.
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I echo to teary eyed sentiment.

I haven't done a Wacky Worm in a month and a half and am having the shakes. Send help.
 
Dave said:
We seem to have forgotten the executive elite class of enthusiast:

Loves theme parks, will even travel to other countries to visit them. But doesn’t watch vlogs, doesn’t count creds, throws sharp objects at anyone who uses the term “thoosie”, wears Merch sparingly if at all, can watch Wardley or Roland walk by without having kittens and is happy to have a couple of goes on coasters and then chill with a beverage of choice.

Not everyone achieves this higher state of being but don’t worry if you don’t, nobodies perfect.
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How about those of us that just moan on the internet, and only bother to go to a park when beer is promised?
 
I'm getting rather weary at some of the discourse, within our TST community, around "MAP culture". I believe it resonates somewhat with my original reasons for encouraging the adoption of the term "casual visitor", over "general public".

Many of us who stalk these pages are MAP holders ourselves, but we attempt to distinguish ourselves from *those* MAP holders:
  • They're entitled because they wear their lanyards around their necks; we're better because we keep our passes hidden in our wallets.
  • They're cheapskates because they use their passes to visit regularly and don't spend on F&B; we visit often and bring our own food because Aramark.
  • They use Facebook pages to swap tips and tricks about how to game/abuse systems within the park; we have a discussion board about how to get the best out of your visit, and keep others up to date about changes which may impact them.
  • They use RAP the wrong way and take advantage of it; we're either entitled to RAP and don't use it, or we use it the right way and don't take advantage.
  • You'll always see them queuing up at Guest Services to complain about something; we'll email guest services to complain about something.
  • You'll see them arguing with staff when asked to do something they don't agree with, because they don't understand the rules; we'll wait for a manager to tell us to do something, because the staff don't understand the rules, or processes.
  • Their children are wild and out of control, because they're bad parents; our children are never overly excited about visiting a theme park, and are never high on sugar.
Honestly, it all comes across as rather classist, elitist, a bit hypocritical and I just don't like it. Maybe people have their reasons for wanting to other others, I just don't quite understand them.
 
I mean why else would you wear your MAP on a lanyard on full display if you're not attempting to show that you're "better" than other guests.

Like with most things, these stereotypes aren't without examples of all of those events happening. I've seen a certain popular vlogger kick off at staff because they wouldn't let him do what he wanted.
 
Benzin said:
I mean why else would you wear your MAP on a lanyard on full display if you're not attempting to show that you're "better" than other guests.

Like with most things, these stereotypes aren't without examples of all of those events happening. I've seen a certain popular vlogger kick off at staff because they wouldn't let him do what he wanted.
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Why wear mouse ears when you're at Disneyland? For some people it's part of the tradition of going to their favourite park, or place, especially if they have a collection of pop badges too. It has the added convenience of being right there for the discount. It's no different from wearing any other merch. Merlin provide the lanyards as part of their welcome packs, they want people to wear them, or even to buy ride / park specific branded ones. It's only weird because, in some form of reverse elitism, people are distorting their own dislike for the practice into some sort of sinister meaning.

If you're putting your MAP card in your wallet, in defiance and in direct opposition to the behaviour of those you think are trying to signal superiority, you're engaging in the same sort of behaviour. Just because stereotyping isn't without an example, it doesn't mean it's always the case.

I often wear my old very warm and thick university hoody when I'm out and about, it's from a Russell Group institution. I don't wear it because I think I'm better than others, because I attended a prestigious university. I wear it because it's warm, has positive feelings for me, and there's still a lingering feeling of school spirit for this alumnus.

We're projecting this perception we hold onto others and I don't think it's healthy, or even very nice.
 
Sorry on this one I am happy to have disdain for the lanyard brigade. It’s not 100% but generally there is a correlation between “rude to staff and other guests” and “wears their MAP on a lanyard”.
 
My dislike of lanyards is firmly rooted in my not wanting to be used as a walking advert for Merlin. I dislike pop badges for the same reason - they only exist to encourage people to walk around showing off the passes whilst at the parks.

My dislike for both of these things is, naturally, dwarfed by my total disdain for the existence of MAP branded clothing. To me, a merlin pass is just a tool or a means to an end. I don't see it as something someone should feel any passion about, loyalty towards or pride in owning that would warrant displaying in public in that manner.
 
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