How We Roll

“When riderless testing began last month, residents in nearby Toluca Lake were delighted, with several calling the attraction ‘whisper quiet.’ Then came the riders. Every 30 seconds or so, for 10 hours straight, according to interviews with more than a dozen homeowners, the air is now filled with the sound of humans who fear they’re in mortal peril.” Universal’s New Coaster Is a Scream. That’s the Problem.

+ Those who haven’t blocked out the Covid year know there’s a pretty simple fix for this. In July of 2020, the Fuji-Q Highland amusement park outside of Tokyo reopened under tight pandemic rules: riders of the park’s famed Fujiyama Roller Coaster were required to wear face masks and were advised not to scream to avoid unnecessary germ spread. When park attendees complained that being told not to scream on such a scary ride was an impossible demand, the amusement park released a video of two park executives in suits, and without a hair out of place, who sat completely stone-faced through the entire roller coaster ride. The video, which went viral, ended with the message: Please Scream Inside Your Heart.” The moment was so notable that someone even used that phrase as the title of an excellent book.