Do your friends/family know about your coaster obsession?

Seen this type of thread on a few other coaster forums, so I thought I'd start it here. Basically, do your family and the people that you know have any idea that you're a coaster nerd, and what do you do when coasters come up in casual conversation? For me, my direct family are the only ones that truly know that I'm a coaster enthusiast. A few close friends and my extended family know that I like roller coasters, but they don't know that I'm a nerd about them. If coasters come up in a conversation, I'll give a general opinion on the matter, but I will not go far in-depth about it. I do have several coaster t-shirts but will never wear them out in public or to park, I only wear them around the house. Also, when I'm actually at a park, I act like a normal park guest, so you'd probably never guess I'm a coaster nerd unless you knew me. I kind of wish I didn't have to downplay my coaster enthusiasm, but I don't want everyone to view me as loser.

Yup, my friends and family all know. I don't really hold much of anything back, and if I do, it's probably something that is gibberish for the average Joe. I believe I've even taught at least one of my family what B&M coasters tend to look like. When there's a new coaster coming out anywhere near, I'm generally the first to tell everyone I know about it waaaay before advertisements first come on the TV.
It's happened before that someone shows a picture of a coaster or describes one at a park that they don't remember the name of, and I can usually recognize it instantly, even if I haven't been to the park, which is most of the time.

[mkingy]

SkyArrow wrote:

It's happened before that someone shows a picture of a coaster or describes one at a park that they don't remember the name of, and I can usually recognize it instantly, even if I haven't been to the park, which is most of the time.

This happens to me too!

All my friends are well aware of my enthusiasm - most people know I use NL aswell! Going to sound really "emo" but if they can't deal with me liking rollercoasters more than the average joe then probably not worth being friends with anyway! Girlfriend is well aware that my preference for holidays is somewhere near a theme park.

Yeah my friends and family know. I've also even tried to convince some of my steam using friends to try NL2

[Paradox]

My family knows, but I don't like to tell my friends as they really can't relate. I have friends who love riding coasters, but not rollercoasters as a whole. That is why I basically live off of this site outside of school.

My family is fully aware of my obsession and my aim for a job in the future

And yes my also do. I??????ve been camping for a whole week with my best friend near Heide Park when it was nearly freezing outside and we did the 500km trip by public transport. To keep it short: He??????s a just as bis roller coaster enthusiast like myself

I drive my girlfriend crazy, but I'm slowly converting her. I convinced her to buy a Coaster Crew membership, she'll occasionally ask me about Thunderbird and random coasters. "I think it's, I think it's going to work this time."

[Dirk_Ermen]

Pretty much everyone knows it from me:
- My mom is just as crazy as I am.
- The rest of the family knows it and stay amazed in what crazy contraptions we're riding.
- My work colleagues think it's awesome and they end up poking me for recommendations.
- Friends are pretty varied in opinion. Some think I'm a complete lunatic. (Pssst... Don't tell them I really am! ) Others are just jealous that I travel so much around the world for coasters.

So yeah, everyone knows. One half thinks I'm nuts, the other half thinks it's awesome.

[Paradox]

Der LK 7531 wrote:

My family is fully aware of my obsession and my aim for a job in the future

I too want to pursue a career in the rollecoaster business. I just don't know where to start right now.

[Dirk_Ermen]

Paradox wrote:

Der LK 7531 wrote:

My family is fully aware of my obsession and my aim for a job in the future

I too want to pursue a career in the rollecoaster business. I just don't know where to start right now.

Do as a friend of mine did: Start working for yourself, create computer models of trains, work out new concepts for the industry and when you've got something intersting to show: Start promoting yourself on stuff like IAAPA.
He now has a lot of contact in the industry and he's actually being hired for certain jobs. Took him a bunch of years but now he's doing what he loves.

[Mr. Freeze]

More than definitely. When you work at a theme park to get free rides on roller coasters

[TTD03]

Oh yes, they know.

[Mr. Freeze]

And also when they let you skip school to go to a theme park. Those are the best kind of days

Sort of surprised that you guys are a lot more open about being a coaster enthusiast than I am. If I really won't embarrass myself very much, then maybe I should stop being so tight-lipped about it.

[Paradox]

Dirk_Ermen wrote:

Paradox wrote:

Der LK 7531 wrote:

My family is fully aware of my obsession and my aim for a job in the future

I too want to pursue a career in the rollecoaster business. I just don't know where to start right now.

Do as a friend of mine did: Start working for yourself, create computer models of trains, work out new concepts for the industry and when you've got something intersting to show: Start promoting yourself on stuff like IAAPA.
He now has a lot of contact in the industry and he's actually being hired for certain jobs. Took him a bunch of years but now he's doing what he loves.

While that is great I would love to get into an already established business (i.e. Gerstlauer, RMC, B&M) because I am not creative at all. I prefer to do something in a more engineering/architectural aspect.

[Dirk_Ermen]

Paradox wrote:

While that is great I would love to get into an already established business (i.e. Gerstlauer, RMC, B&M) because I am not creative at all. I prefer to do something in a more engineering/architectural aspect.

I think if you want to roll in immediately in a company would be even harder. Most companies have only a few staff members thus having not many vacant job offers. Also, you'd still have to prove yourself worthy enough for them to choose you. That's why an interesting and good portfolio would help a lot.
Other ways to get into certain companies might be through an internship. From conversations I've had with bigger companies like Vekoma, you'd need at least an University type of level to get even qualified for such thing. But the same problem is that spots are limited and only few (big) companies take interns.

Maybe a good tip for you would be actually attending IAAPA. Get presentable and when they have a bit of free time at stands. Ask around for more information about getting into the business. The best way is to hear it from the experts themselves. I know I have been twice to the EAS (European smaller version from the IAAPA) and did some small research on stuff that sparked my interest. So you'll easily pick up information about such thing.

^I'm confused about iaapa I want to go but I don't feel like it's for everyone even though fox 35 advertise it

I've started to be a little less secretive about being a coaster enthusiast since I originally started this thread. I guess I've realized that there are other significantly more embarrassing hobbies out there than roller coasters.

My friends and family not only constantly tries to test my knowledge, they invite me to parks with them for unofficial private tours haha. Especially since they know I'm a passholder and they gt the perks too XD. But yeah, not a person I have ever met has any doubt I'm a coasterhead. Especially since 80% of my summer clothes are park related \o/

Cedar Point shoelaces ftw!

Now my family knows it. But I don't think my friends do.
My family didn't know it tills they asked if I knew the name of a coaster. It was shambala on a picture. Then they started to ask more and more.
I don't think they know that I love coasters as much as I do now.

If my friends talk about coasters so do I always enjoy listening to them. They are so stupid sometimes. It's so fun

I tend to keep quite because in the past I have found that I either get made fun of or nobody gets it. I like to eavesdrop on conversations when I'm at parks and if I hear real enthusiasts talking then I politely jump in to exorcise my demons and fulfill my need to talk.

[Turbo]

Yes, and friends too. No ridicule, no humiliation. If it comes up in conversation then cool, if it never does then that's fine too Though the shirts and the fact that I have an assload of pics on my phone from trips might be a signal that I'm not normal lol

what solidified it for my friends is how much traveling I do haha. While they "tolerate" my coaster banter, they love the fact I'm awesome at ttrip planning because of it and use me for that as well. It's super expensive to be a coaster fan >_<

[Coasterkidmwm]

Just your daily reminder that I own a B&M seatbelt buckle and you don't.

[mkingy]

CK is that from Mantis?