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I was bullied in elementary school and into the first half of Jr. High. I became overweight in second grade and also grew up in a single parent home where money was tight. I never had the latest fashions or the coolest haircuts. It didn't help either that I was shy and not very athletic. Kids used to call me fat and tell me to lose weight. In Jr. High kids used to hide my books all over the school and run up behind me and pull my pants down in the hall. In my opinion I had it pretty bad. I can sympathize with kids who are bullied. However, I don't understand why kids would take their own life because of it. What good did that do? You just let the bully win and not only that, you've caused a lifetime of hurt to your friends and family. As bad as I was bullied and as much as I dreaded going to school and no matter how sad or depressed it made me, I never once considered suicide. It's really not an escape. I feel sorry for the kids who feel like it's their only option.

See also Kings Dominion....

I took this back in the paramount days......

Fast Passes are free with Disney park admission.

Since it opened.

Heres a pic! It looks like SOB is wearing camo. Pictures 084 by KIC-Original, on Flickr

^What makes Double Loop and Tennessee Tornado? Also, ones favorite ride may not be another's. Some loved Son of Beast, some loved The Crypt, some love Firehawk, others The Monster. No attraction NEEDS to be taken out (maybe Backlot--but that should be moved to Action Zone and replaced with our rightful replacement of the Flying Eagles), as each fit this park very well. My point is, just because you don't like a ride, doesn't mean it should be ripped out, because it is bound to be someone's favorite.

I was once the victim of a bully while in Jr. High. I got sick and tired of his antics that finally had enough of his BS and flatten him. He was never a bully after I laid him on the ground and he became best of friends. Bullys only bully people that do not put up with their bull. They tend to pick on the weak and are part of a crowd. When they are by themselves, they are the coward that they are.

More Flags More Fun!

Oktoberfest...the German-Themed area of Kings Island featuring an Indiana-Jones themed mine train coaster (there are ancient lost temples in GERMANY!?!?), ride a Viking Ship (what do Vikings have to do with Germany, either?), get launched 275 feet into the air on a unthemed Sling Shot ride, watch a BRITISH INVASION show in the Festhaus (the look of this building is pretty much all that Oktoberfest has left going for it, but on the inside even it is the "wrong" theme!), and eat Burritos. Well, at least they still have beer... Poor Oktoberfest sure isn't what it used to be, eh? And it was like this BEFORE Cedar Fair even came into the picture, too...and some of it even came pre-Paramount! (Viking Fury, which did not match Oktoberfest, opened in 1982, 10 years before Paramount bought the Park!)

Congratulations, and welcome to the family of Scareactors! Even though I wake up sore the next morning, it's the funnest job I've had. Have fun!

No news on anything new for next season at Coney. I do know that plans can and do change from time to time...

I wonder if those deer could be the basis of the "eyes glowing at you in the woods of The Beast" legend. Now we must fear the Tower Deer.

A Norwegian ship? Oktoberfest as a whole is lost, sadly.

Great trip reports. Thanks for sharing. I missed my trip to Hershey last year because of the floods and I'm not making it this year either so I'm definitely look forward to your 3rd installment.

My girlfriend and I were sitting in the theatre for Hunger Games and about halfway through she leaned over and said "Wouldn't this make a sweet area at Islands of Adventure?" That's when I knew she was a keeper.

thanks, i am soo excited

I got the job (:

I'd imagine video sales would do far better if the video was already in a format you could easily upload to facebook/YouTube (versus a DVD) and if the video was affordable. Getting off a ride, still on an adrenaline rush, I could foresee a lot of guests watching their video, laughing, and being willing to make an impulse purchase of a few dollars to email it to themselves. Somewhat unrelated, but I think it'd be a very cool feature if rides with on-ride photos/videos had the option to email it to yourself for only a couple dollars (and without needing to buy a package or combo first), and you could potentially even buy a season pass / ticket add-on which gave you unlimited on-ride photos/videos for the season/day. Just some day dreaming here though

Thanks! I'm looking to see if I have any more that might be unique to share with you all. Edit: Ta-Da! The group shot from Ride Warriors (2009 I think?) And one of a snow covered Kings Island (Sorry, I couldn't find the original file, so you get the edited black and white version.)

Here's a few from KIC Day in 2008: And this one that we took of our about 6 week old son in front of SOB during a Haunt Sunday last year, because I really thought it would be gone come Opening Day this year:

I'm a ginger, so I think I know a few things about bullying. I've never understood those kids who take it so seriously.

note: double post! sorry in advance. It's been a long, long time, but I finally got around to uploading some pictures from the trip, along with a video I took in AE's station when the fireworks started at 10pm. EDIT: The video won't post! This one was taken when my three friends and I were watching Thunder Alley. I'm on the far right. IMG_2560 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr IMG_2566 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr IMG_2567 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr IMG_2575 by KIC-Vortex_BFF, on Flickr Enjoy!

Last time I was at KI, I asked for (3) waters. This was at the fry place outside of the train station. They gave them to me in 20 oz cups. I don't know if that person was just generous, if they didn't give a flip as it was at the end of the day or if it was new part of KIs policy on distributing water. From a cost standpoint, I would think giving away the 20oz waters could save them money. the cost difference b/w the 20 oz paper cup and the 8 oz plastic cup can't be much per cup, if anything. Top that off, that even w/ the 20oz paper cup filled with water, you're still capable of slapping a Coke (or Pepsi) logo on the side that you don't get w/ the 8oz plastic cup. How many people go up and order 2 waters for each person in their group? I know I often do, but would get 1 if it was in a 20oz container. So if the paper cups costs a bit more, how much of that is offset by people going thru 2 plastic cups of water each time when they might have asked for 1 20oz paper cup? Finally, the hidden costs of using multiple sizes of cups. You have to have a back of store place to store extra inventory of each, you have to have a front of store place to store extra inventory of each, you have to have workers pause to think about which cup to grab, you have to keep track of all that inventory, place seperate orders for each amount needed, etc.... Having 1 size cup for both pop and the free water handout becomes much a much easier task to handle than having 2 different sizes, not to mention the larger sized cup for the large pop.

Cedar Point has been selling tickets that include unlimited soft drinks for only a couple dollars more than a regular ticket recently, so I presume that they have many more drink wristbands than normal. This might make them a bit looser with the inventoried cups than they're supposed to be. Each time I was there this season, I got small cups with water identical to KI's.

It bothers me that people assume WOF is in Kansas.

^Used to love the Metts at Bier Gardens.

Back in the hay day, what is now Hanks, used to be the Bier Gardens and they really served German food and beer to wash it down. There was also a German band that entertained the guests and all the employees were dressed in a German style uniform. The Festhaus had Germand food in addition to other fare.

Viking Fury really is the only attraction left showing evidence of Oktoberfest existing.

Well, Taft did the same thing with International Street. Why would the place an early Ohio settlement behind International Street? So out of touch! Each sector of the park has its own identity. Think of how vastly different Action Zone is than Oktoberfest. I think they could add more on to X-Base, so much so that it is has a full identity as a full fledged area, not just a sub section of Coney Mall. EDIT: It hurts me to see that at least one person would rather an Oktoberfest attraction ripped out. ... Unless it's Slingshot. EDIT 2: It further hurts me to find many saying Oktoberfest should be axed.

Sounds like a great adventure has been saved by Flash Pass! Each of these systems have their flaws, but they do serve excellent purposes. Glad you could implement it on your relatively short stay! Glad you and your father had a Six Flags day, and I, too, await your Hershey installment.

Thanks for the great report. I so miss Great Adventure. In the next few days, I may well have to plot a trip there! I look forward to your Hershey installment!

Son of Beast. It needs to come down. Oh, wait.....

Congratulations! Enjoy!

What does C. S. Lewis have to do with this?

So am I. And my evil alter-ego... I think his name is Ashy. Or Sooty. Or Fiery, or Devily, Or Evily, or Deathy, or Ytsorf, or.. I'll go with Ytsorf. Now how do you pronounce that? We can always ask rotag. He's a backwards kind of guy. treat the "Y" as though it were silent (ex: "K"now), the "ts" is like it would be in the word knot"ts", then just slap on an "orf". hope this helps.

Here's my view of what could possibly happen. Even though the plan stretches out til 2021 I think this would be a bit ambitious as other park areas would likely need attention during this time span. My thought process comes from how they created the loop at Dollywood however.

So now it's time to evolve, and go from being an "energetic Kings Island patron" to a more mature, educated and responsible patron. It's time to let go of the junior-high mentality of getting overly emotionally reactive when a ride breaks down at an inconvenient time for you. There is, and never will be, anything more the park employees can tell you. Once you make this leap, your enjoyment of parks everywhere will increase exponentially. No need to "fire away" at all. I hope you got it out of your system, and are ready to move on.

Welcome to KIC! I would answer to your topic, but I think those three have it covered. So, here is a welcome picture! P7213166 by KIC-Original, on Flickr

Like Hufflepuff? Or Ravenclaw?

Darndest* sorry, I just had to:) It's a KIC thing. TAER IT DOWN! That was a RRC thing. Must be before your time.

Maybe that is why there was damage to the FOF building. They wanted to run old SOB one last time and the train derailed and flew into FOF, and it is sitting inside the building, explaining why there is a hole in the building. lol

Please don't start a rumor avalanche. Run! That thing would be a disaster to transport. Alaska may be a more fitting destination.

At least then someone would have fun in the rosebowl.

Was this Pepsi Guy the 4 cousin, twice removed from the Dippin' Dots family?

Ironically, I find ginger jokes funny. I think the world would be a better place if people just learned to laugh at themselves and not take things so personally.

I can remember a less sensitive time when bullying consisted of mother jokes, and ended up with two people becoming friends because they settled it on the playground.

It could potentially hurt Kings Island if parents see an anti-bullying campaign and interpret it to mean that they're specifically having problems with bullying in the park.