Dealing with egotistic chasers?

[Shawn Gossman]

How do you all deal with egotistic chasers? These are the chasers who think they are "pros" at chasing and that everyone else is a n00bie. Have you ever ran into these types of mental patients?

I have met a few but usually ignore them because they seem to fuel off the drama they want to create. Chasing is not a professional business, its a hobby more than anything else... so anyone who is interested and uses common sense can be one, at least that's how I feel about it.

 

[Jason Boggs]

Chasing is not a professional business, its a hobby more than anything else... so anyone who is interested and uses common sense can be one, at least that's how I feel about it.

This was the case back in the 80's and 90's. In today's age, chasing is a big business. It makes money, and people take advantage of that. Nothing at all wrong with making money, as I do since I chase for a tv station. It's more of a hobby to me than anything else, but getting a little something back is nice.

To your original question...We all run across a know it all every once in a while. Heck, we have some on this board. You just have to deal with them the best way you can.

I think a bigger problem is that sometimes the noobs think they know it all.

 

[Wes Carter]

I have met a few but usually ignore them because they seem to fuel off the drama they want to create.

LOL, I think you just fell off the "usually ignore them" wagon since you started a thread about them.

But seriously, chasers are just people. You'll find almost every personality type represented in the mix. And I'll have to agree with Jason for the most part. I started chasing in 2006 and didn't start chasing in the Great Plains until 2008. And since I have to chase as my work schedule allows, in my four years of chasing I probably have less in the field experience than many first year chasers. So realistically I'm still a noob.

That said, I've never had a single problem with someone talking down to me or making me feel like an idiot. It's not happened yet. Every chaser I've met on the road has been super helpful and courteous. I know there are some real "Richard Craniums"* out there, but evidently they are fairly rare.

In my opinion, your question has little to do with chasing and more to do with life in general. I think much of it comes down to just dealing with people in general, not chasers per se.

*Borrowed the Richard Cranium name from a post by Lanny Dean.

 

[Kris Hair]

How do you all deal with egotistic chasers? These are the chasers who think they are "pros" at chasing and that everyone else is a n00bie. Have you ever ran into these types of mental patients?

I have met a few but usually ignore them because they seem to fuel off the drama they want to create. Chasing is not a professional business, its a hobby more than anything else... so anyone who is interested and uses common sense can be one, at least that's how I feel about it.

It's pretty easy actually...

If I dont like them, I stay away from them.

 

[John Erwin]

By and far I've found most people I've had interactions with to be very passionate and enthusiastic about what they do. Personalities will always come into play no matter what the field of interest is.

I simply avoid getting entangled in most "negative" situations since it's not productive. I also don't try to be something I'm not which helps.

 

[Rob H]

I know people that have several accounts ignored on ST. I also know people that don't come to ST anymore because of ego/drama. I've seen chasers talk smack about each other for a minor transgression that happened 6 years ago. You'll have to make a choice if certain people get to you too much. I don't get burnt out about anything online, because usually the people are 100% different in real life.

Playing a little bit of devil's advocate here... but why were you prompted to make this post? As Wes said, chasers aren't some sort of inhuman mechanical construct - they're normal people. Communication is a two way street, so while someone with an ego might be rude, there may be a better way of trying to communicate with them on your end.

I'm still very inexperienced. This is my first real year chasing out of state, and 7 tornadoes later I'm still trying hard to correct mistakes and do better in the field. I've seen well-respected chasers that had bad luck in OK this year catch some amazing storms in SD. We did extremely well on the OK storms, and made mistakes in SD. Everyone out there from Joe Rookie to Chuck Doswell still has something to learn about storms. For someone to think that they're beyond learning or that they're better than a new chaser just because of experience would cause me to think that person has some personal interaction issues.

 

[Grady Joslin]

Shawn,

The best thing you can do is just ignore them. Find the ones who treat it as a hobby and ignore the ones who treat it as a business. I for one do it for a hobby and to study the weather doing my own research.

Let the others say what they want. It doesn't change anything for you. If it helps, you found another person who treats it as a hobby. Nice too meet you by the way!

 

[Shawn Gossman]

It just seemed like an interesting subject to discuss, there is really no reason for it I get into message forums so I am always looking to make interesting topics associated with the forum's niche.

Apology if it offends anyone

I know people that have several accounts ignored on ST. I also know people that don't come to ST anymore because of ego/drama. I've seen chasers talk smack about each other for a minor transgression that happened 6 years ago. You'll have to make a choice if certain people get to you too much. I don't get burnt out about anything online, because usually the people are 100% different in real life.

Playing a little bit of devil's advocate here... but why were you prompted to make this post? As Wes said, chasers aren't some sort of inhuman mechanical construct - they're normal people. Communication is a two way street, so while someone with an ego might be rude, there may be a better way of trying to communicate with them on your end.

I'm still very inexperienced. This is my first real year chasing out of state, and 7 tornadoes later I'm still trying hard to correct mistakes and do better in the field. I've seen well-respected chasers that had bad luck in OK this year catch some amazing storms in SD. We did extremely well on the OK storms, and made mistakes in SD. Everyone out there from Joe Rookie to Chuck Doswell still has something to learn about storms. For someone to think that they're beyond learning or that they're better than a new chaser just because of experience would cause me to think that person has some personal interaction issues.

 

[Erik Perozo]

Yeah this can be a touchy subject as most have already stated it boils down to the person in general and not the hobby or business. I have been chasing in the Plains for 10 yrs now and have ran into some really great chasers who I could hang out with outside of chasing and have also ran into some that seem a little on the cocky side. Those type people you just ignore them and go about your way. I have also ran into chasers who I thought would be a little egotistical but have actually turned out to be directly opposite of that. As far as a hobby, chasing storms is a passionate hobby of mine. I actually wish I ran into more chasers in the Plains....not chaser convergence of course. Kinda hard when you live in South Carolina.

 

[John Mullen]

I think anyone can be looked at as egotistical by different people. I agree with Jason and Kris. If you don't like the vibe you get from'em, just stay away. That's exactly what I would do. Why add fuel to the fire, you know?

And like Jason said, it's the "noobs" with the egos we need to worry about. I don't mean guys that are "fresh" or "green" chasers, I have no problem with them... it's the guys that have no interest in learning anything related to meteorology and head out simply because "it's cool" or they wanna see a tornado up close because everyone on TV does it... and maybe, just maybe they'll get lucky enough to get some footage worth a few seconds of airtime.

I don't know, I just say to hell with'em.

 

[Jason Foster]

It can also be when you run into someone as well. You meet them while they are focused at the task at hand, and some folks will come off as arrogant, or rude, but they are just focused.

This was the case when I saw Lindsey Vonn and a few others each morning when I was at Ski Portillo in Chile this past September. Catch her in the morning and she was super focused so a quick hello was it. But later, she was really nice.

Bottomline...one encounter or example is not what should judge a person. Hell, we all have our moments. Also...it is always important to meet someone face to face if possible. Videos, pictures, forum posts/threads are only part of the story.