Superman Inspires Fear in Agawam

by Max Stein-Golenbock 9/3/05

Throughout life, we face challenges and hardships.  From mere bumps in the road to imminent dangers, we all face challenges every day.  It is commonly believed that once we can overcome an obstacle and can make it through the storm, the rest of the way is smooth sailing.  Often, if we courageously confront these obstacles, we can surpass them and never have to worry about them again.  However, occasionally, braving the elements and facing a challenge does not make the situation any easier after that.  For me, this circumstance took place during the Six Flags trip, as the roller coaster, Superman, stood ominously in the distance, flooding my ears with the terrified shrieks of its intrepid riders and quaking the very ground I walked on.  Going on a roller coaster for the first time does not make the next ride any easier.  The news media, the nature of memories and the conditions of the ride itself all contribute to making the next ride just as hard if not harder.

The media influence aids in making the second, third and fourth rides just as distressing as the first.  While it is common knowledge that the media often blows stories out of proportion, their scandalous reports still greatly influence and shape the way people think and act.  It is quite difficult to ignore a story about a death on a roller coaster.  When contemplating whether or not to take on a roller coaster, such depressing and upsetting stories are always resurrected.  Any doubts concerning the true safety of roller coasters, which were nourished and fed by the media, sat, stewing in my mind as I waited to face Superman, wiping the sweat from my clammy palms.  The media gave credibility and real evidence to my worst fears, increasing my stress and apprehension about the ride.

Additionally, the nature of traumatic memories makes the second ride just as harrowing as the first.  It is human nature to feel fear and anxiety before facing a challenge.  The memory of the acute anxiety, which filled my first ride on the massive coaster, loomed in my mind.  Sensory recollections of the first ride, all tainted with the feeling of dread, were vivid and lifelike.  The heavy moistness of the air was pressing against my chest, making my breaths short and raspy; the distant and faintly recognizable aroma of grease battered food was all but lost amidst the sordid smell of sweat and grime.  The intense apprehension and terror of my first experience was magnified in my memory.  The feeling grew and grew until the coaster no longer became just a memory, but a fear-inspiring symbol.  With time, the symbol grew out of proportion, making my next encounter with the ride even harder than the previous.

Finally, Superman’s fear-inspiring atmosphere made the second ride just as if not even more difficult than the first.  Just the thought of the roller coaster built up apprehension and anxiety in me.  As I approached, the coaster stood before me, teetering and wobbling in a jumbled heap of steel.  I was forced to make a conscious decision to enter the gates, within which a massive line had formed.  The dense apprehension amidst the crowd took shape in the form of nervous jittering, fidgeting and chattering.  The air hung heavy with anxiety.  Upon entering the gates, I was filled with doubt and unease as the monstrous coaster roared and shook directly overhead, the sound reverberating through my bones.  This feeling of disquietude did not subside with time, as I moved painfully, slowly through the line until I reached the first step leading up to the top.  A funereal pilgrimage to the summit stood before me: one more step and I would have to commit myself to this demon they called Superman, edging ever closer one step up at a time.  About three quarters of the way up, staring down to the ground, I began to realize that that teetering structure I had gazed upon from ground level was but a shadow of its true self.  This massive creature stood there extending into the clouds like a mythical titan, as I, insignificant and unsubstantial, stood there next to it, shivering with frenzied fear.  When, finally, I reached the top, I was fastened tight in its carriage and the ride began.  The final jolt of anxiety came as the coaster began a slow and tedious climb to the top of the first loop from where it would drop its riders, stealing the air from their mortal lungs and churning their stomachs.  As it slowed for a split second at the pinnacle, all practical concerns dropped from the radar.  All that mattered was getting out of here safe and sound.

Many may attest to the fact that once you “make it over the hump,” it is all downhill after that.  However, in truth, overcoming a certain challenge does not necessarily make the subsequent challenges any easier.  This is true for me in the case of Superman.  My second experience with Superman was just as formidable as the first.  While for most things the first time is unequivocally the hardest, riding Superman only gets harder.  Yet, with each successful ride, I can feel myself edging closer to slaying this beast and conquering my fears.