How would you...

[McSalsa]

OK, here's something new: A poll that some of us might have actually dealt with in real life in one way or another!

You and some of your friends are hanging out. Someone mentions Kings Island, and one of your buddies says "what's Kings Island?". You respond: "An Amusement/Theme Park in Ohio." The person then responds: "Is it any good? Why should I go there?"

Now, things branch out. You can choose which person this guy/gal is, and how you "sell" KI to them:

#1: This person has been to several amusement/theme parks, but somehow has never heard of KI, and has ridden and is not afraid of big roller coasters.

#2: This person has never been to an amusement park in their life and might be horrified of The Beast, Vortex, or Diamondback...how do you sell KI to this one?

You can also do both if you wish. So, how would you do it? Enjoy the poll. If you dislike...I will fire my Beam O' Mass Doom!!! Just kidding, if you dislike, click back.

[The Interpreter]

Group #1 will need no convincing, I'd just take them!

Group #2 I'd sell them on the incredible food choices, the safari, the Broadway level entertainment, the bread baked right in the park....oh, wait...no seriously, I'd take them, too, and let them decide what we did all day...days like that have been some of the best ones I've ever had in the park. I actually once spent an entire Sunday in the park at the fountain, talking about life, parents, illness, philosophy, the park business, the future of Paramount Parks and Six Flags in particular, and the future and watching people, admiring the trees and falling leaves, and just taking in Kings Island in general with a very good friend from the Northeast. We made plans to come back for Winterfest that year....the first one the park would have in many a year. One of the best days I have ever had, and one I do not in any way regret having not ridden anything, not seen a single show, and actually not even have eaten very much.........That December, I did not go to Kings Island, but rather to Carowinds. You see, I lost my friend just a couple of weeks after that conversation.

As I have said before, as you get older many of you will come to realize, and I have watched many here come to realize, and some already know, the time spent in the park with friends and family is or will become far more important than what you do there, what coaster is built, who owns the place or whether or not somebody jumped a line or forgot to say thank you.

As Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas and the New Year comes, cherish what you have. Tell those who you love that you do. And take them to Kings Island. Or the mall. Or go build a snow man. And if you can't or can't afford to do things like that, don't worry...do what you can. It's that you do, not what you do, that matters.

Most importantly, do this on June 18 or March 3, not just at Yuletide or Thanksgiving. Live each day like it may be one of your few left...or that of your friends, family and associates. That Beam O' Mass Doom really does come to get us all eventually.

Terp, trying not to be preachy, but caring...

[windshawne]

Group #1 will need no convincing, I'd just take them!

Group #2 I'd sell them on the incredible food choices, the safari, the Broadway level entertainment, the bread baked right in the park....oh, wait...no seriously, I'd take them, too, and let them decide what we did all day...days like that have been some of the best ones I've ever had in the park. I actually once spent an entire Sunday in the park at the fountain, talking about life, parents, illness, philosophy, the park business, the future of Paramount Parks and Six Flags in particular, and the future and watching people, admiring the trees and falling leaves, and just taking in Kings Island in general with a very good friend from the Northeast. We made plans to come back for Winterfest that year....the first one the park would have in many a year. One of the best days I have ever had, and one I do not in any way regret having not ridden anything, not seen a single show, and actually not even have eaten very much.........That December, I did not go to Kings Island, but rather to Carowinds. You see, I lost my friend just a couple of weeks after that conversation.

As I have said before, as you get older many of you will come to realize, and I have watched many here come to realize, and some already know, the time spent in the park with friends and family is or will become far more important than what you do there, what coaster is built, who owns the place or whether or not somebody jumped a line or forgot to say thank you.

As Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas and the New Year comes, cherish what you have. Tell those who you love that you do. And take them to Kings Island. Or the mall. Or go build a snow man. And if you can't or can't afford to do things like that, don't worry...do what you can. It's that you do, not what you do, that matters.

Most importantly, do this on June 18 or March 3, not just at Yuletide or Thanksgiving. Live each day like it may be one of your few left...or that of your friends, family and associates. That Beam O' Mass Doom really does come to get us all eventually.

Terp, trying not to be preachy, but caring...

Well said. In my family we no longer exchange gifts due to the times, and it has taken me a long time to break that tradition. The dinner we have and conversation is more enjoyable to me than any material gift I could receive. In the past year, I have come to realize how short life is and that every moment should be cherished. That is my "gift".

[CoastersRZ]

Excellent post Interpreter! It sums up my feelings pretty much as well.

[rotag]

if you go into history of the park. make sure you do it well to where they know that what used to be is no more. due to it being things of the past, & there visiting a "Cedar Fair" park & not one of "paramount" or "taft" standards.

[Troikafan]

That's really deep Interpreter. Very nicely said.

[BoddaH1994]

Group #1 will need no convincing, I'd just take them!

Group #2 I'd sell them on the incredible food choices, the safari, the Broadway level entertainment, the bread baked right in the park....oh, wait...no seriously, I'd take them, too, and let them decide what we did all day...days like that have been some of the best ones I've ever had in the park. I actually once spent an entire Sunday in the park at the fountain, talking about life, parents, illness, philosophy, the park business, the future of Paramount Parks and Six Flags in particular, and the future and watching people, admiring the trees and falling leaves, and just taking in Kings Island in general with a very good friend from the Northeast. We made plans to come back for Winterfest that year....the first one the park would have in many a year. One of the best days I have ever had, and one I do not in any way regret having not ridden anything, not seen a single show, and actually not even have eaten very much.........That December, I did not go to Kings Island, but rather to Carowinds. You see, I lost my friend just a couple of weeks after that conversation.

As I have said before, as you get older many of you will come to realize, and I have watched many here come to realize, and some already know, the time spent in the park with friends and family is or will become far more important than what you do there, what coaster is built, who owns the place or whether or not somebody jumped a line or forgot to say thank you.

As Thanksgiving has passed and Christmas and the New Year comes, cherish what you have. Tell those who you love that you do. And take them to Kings Island. Or the mall. Or go build a snow man. And if you can't or can't afford to do things like that, don't worry...do what you can. It's that you do, not what you do, that matters.

Most importantly, do this on June 18 or March 3, not just at Yuletide or Thanksgiving. Live each day like it may be one of your few left...or that of your friends, family and associates. That Beam O' Mass Doom really does come to get us all eventually.

Terp, trying not to be preachy, but caring...

I think that a new TOS rule should be that any time anyone complains about anything stupid, this should be posted.

[The Interpreter]

And there is a God, who sometimes has a sick sense of humor. The first person who will need it posted would doubtless be...me. We are humans. We err. We whine. While we are here, we should do good for others and loosen up and enjoy life from time to time. Others of us need to get more serious. Such is life.

[Thrill_Biscuit]

I wanted my own beam o' mass doom, but settled for a small, green laser pointer.

Terpy: Inspiring! I don't know how else to put it.

Maybe I'm biased, because the park is in my hometown, so there's that much more wistfulness in my heart for it. Anyway, as for what what I'd say, I guess I'd brag up how Kings Island has been on two classic TV shows, with entire episodes written around it; the legacy of the Knievels; How it's been mentioned on Glee, CSI, etc. I'd talk about the park's pioneering superlatives (the new-coaster-era-kick-starting Racer, the door-kicking-down- for- record-breakers Beast, the push-the-inversion-limit Vortex), among many others.

Introduce them to the park like they're about to meet a legendary figure. In some ways, it really is.

For group #2, I'd just say, "Well, you've come to the right place! Let's start earning your coaster badges with a pleasant little stroll through that little path to the right of Slingshot..."