Older Ride Ops

Sandy W · #1 02-13-2005, 06:17 PM

I was just sitting here mulling stuff around in my mind. Which can be dangerous. I have worked with many folks young and old. How does say the twenty and younger feel standing next to someone who could be your ma. I have had wonderful experiences and dreadful ones. I just can't stomach kids/adults that act like there so great that they think they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. I just just can't wrap my brain around a superior atitude. Do you somewhat younger folks feel this way too. I guess I just pick up on this vibe because its a pet peeve of mine. Now you guys here in TN do not seem to carry that attitude. I may be out of the spin but another thing. I hate hearing all night about how waisted someone got. Gee I hope there is more than getting drunk in folks futures. I hope I have not offended. I just felt like saying that for years now. Ok I will now shut up at least for now

hulkrider04 · #2 02-13-2005, 06:59 PM

From my expierences, I think old ride ops are jerks but that is just my expierences.

incitehawaii · #3 02-13-2005, 07:02 PM

Being 21 this next month, I actually enjoy workin' with everyone. Needless to say it CAN be awkward at first when you start workin' in rides with someone that's a lot older than yourself (my thought was ride operations was always a teen/young adult job). One of the best people I ever worked with, funny and all, was old enough to be my mom, and sure acted like it. Kind of made that homesickness go away that I get at CP because she just reminded me of how cool parents can be. You do have the occasionally scary creepster, but most of the older ride ops I've come across are some of the most awesome people in the world. I usually have the problem with people my age or younger that have it in their head that they know all so they must control all. When they start goin', it just pisses me off because these kids are my age and yet they have no respect or professionalism at all. I'd rather take an older ride op than an immature young ride op any day to work with.

***Steven*** · #4 02-13-2005, 07:14 PM

You know, you have a lot of legit gripes here. When I worked at Michigan's Adventure, I would get that attitude from the 16-17 year olds who worked as attendants, like they knew the entire ride. Here I was... 22 years old, and was qualified to operate every aspect of the rides, and they're acting like they can do whatever they want.

Another thing... I didn't drink on the nights before I worked... simple as that. My pet peeve was when others slacked because they were out drinking the night before and were so hung over. Plus, I know I feel like crap if I had to work the next day so I avoid it.

Lastly, there were older people I worked with. One of my most memorable was a lady who joined a few weeks after I started. She was at the park supervising some of the teens who were there as part of a job partnership, and the group that did it laid her off. Her first day there... I was a bit surprised, but I treated her with respect, and I did joke with her that since she was walking around supervising 16 and 17 year old sweeps and what not, she was already trained

.

I also worked with someone who was at least 10 years older than me on Magnum (for a bit, because he was on loan from Power Tower). He wasn't able to do much (like work the unload side or controls because of bad knees), but I still respected him.

PGH_Steeler · #5 02-13-2005, 08:49 PM

well i worked with a couple older ride ops, one only works there because he likes to be around people. He doesn't even want to get paid i heard. oh and he's rich, so he really doesn't need the money they pay him. he was nice and all but annoying. he liked his job a little tooooooo much. He was too friendly to me. Another older person i worked with was aight he just talked too much. thought he knew so much about specific rides and stuff like that. that got kind of annoying. And during fright nights, there was this older lady in the cemetery some nights and she could not scare anyone if her lif depended on it. She was nice though. But sometimes working with older people is annoying. I guess older people just like to talk a lot and that gets kind of frustrating at times.

Sandy W · #6 02-13-2005, 10:35 PM

PGH_Steeler You gave me helpful insight here. I guess we old folks like to talk. I noticed somedays kids would walk by and say hello. Then the same person the next day when greeted would walk right buy and seem zoned out and not even nod a hello. When you say the guy enjoyed his job too much was he just gung-ho or do you mean he crossed the line and was weird?

Tbakmtown2006 · #7 02-14-2005, 12:46 AM

I dont have any problems working the older ops because I am more a serious employees, i know when and where to have fun, and they tend to be more serious so i get along with them perfectly fine. Now some of the other younger ops dont get along with the older ones quite as easy.

Hector · #8 02-14-2005, 06:21 AM

^^^^(That means four posts up) Mark was awesome, I got to work with him most of the summer, very unfortunate circumstances, but he was always was a fun guy to be around, never complained much and did his job very well.

Most of the people I've worked with are around my age, but the older employees I've worked with were all great. Luckily, I've never really had a problem with most of my fellow co-workers. Some complained to much, and I'm sure two or three were hypochondriacs, but those were rare.

PGH_Steeler · #9 02-14-2005, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sandy W

PGH_Steeler You gave me helpful insight here. I guess we old folks like to talk. I noticed somedays kids would walk by and say hello. Then the same person the next day when greeted would walk right buy and seem zoned out and not even nod a hello. When you say the guy enjoyed his job too much was he just gung-ho or do you mean he crossed the line and was weird?

he was gungho and just plain weird. i mean he was a nice person never got mad at anyone, i never had any problems with him. he was the type that if someone didn't have a break yet, he would let them go and he would go last. Thats nice. but working with him and hearing the way he talks to the guests was too weird for me. he seems like the type to be on broadway or something. Always smiling and stuff like that. that just creeps me out when someone is that happy all the time. like i said before he's a nice guy just a little weird.

Coasterholic · #10 02-14-2005, 01:50 PM

I'm 17 and I'm a Lead (I'm the youngest lead this season, too) and I don't think it will be awkward at all. One of my Leads last year was 17 too. Yeah, he sucked and got demoted, but still. That wasn't because he was young, he was just horrible at what he did. Needless to say, age was never an issue with him, and I don't think age will be an issue with me and my crew this year, either.

Coaster Freak · #11 02-14-2005, 04:35 PM

When I worked at PCW, although not in rides, I was an Assistant Manager in the merchandise stores when I was 18 & 19. Both years, I was typically one of the younger staff at the locations and also one of the youngest supervisors in the park. Sometimes, I intentionally kept myself out of conversations that would allow for my age to brought to light because I had times when it created problems. So typically most of my staff was older than me and for the most part, it didn't create problems.....until it was time for employee evaluations.

Tbakmtown2006 · #12 02-19-2005, 06:02 PM

Im going to be a lead next year at 18 (the youngest you can be a lead) but there arent many problems because most of the leads at Hershey are just out of high school or college kids. Not many of them are older.

Alpengurl · #13 02-21-2005, 04:26 AM

I think it just depends on where they/you are working.. On my crew this year.. we don't have anyone over 30.. i think it just has to do with the motions you have to do as a cast member (walking/hiking to your location.. being out in the sun all day..).. as well as the nature of the ride.. i love seeing young and old working at the park.. some of them can be.. difficult.. to work with .. but overall they're the ones us youngins (is going on 19 and in my 3rd season) look up to for work ethic once our parents let us out into the big bad workplace

Carowinds 73-03 · #14 02-21-2005, 11:38 PM

I acually had a 76 yo co-worker on Vortex in 1999. He was even better that some of the younger guys.

Tbakmtown2006 · #15 02-25-2005, 08:34 PM

This year is going to be interesting because I am kind of in a supervisor position (trainer) at only 17 (3rd season). I am going to be training people that are twice my age at least and some who are 1-2 years younger than me.

Sir Willow · #16 02-26-2005, 02:26 PM

Some of the best ops I've seen are the older ones. Want a great example of how well older and younger ops work together? Look at the ops at Silver Dollar City and Dollywood. A great mix of young and old, and easily some of the best, as well as most entertaining, crews out there who obviously enjoy their jobs.

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