Disgruntled Chasers...... Got to love them.

Joe Acord

EF0
Joined
May 22, 2007
Messages
29
Location
Oklahoma City, OK
Does anyone know that guy that is unable to chase an event and tries to tell everyone that nothing is going to happen. These type of people annoy me beyond belief. I think people get so pissed that they are unable to go out and chase they don't want anyone else to go.

Am I the only one that thinks this?

Joe
 
Um, I never understood why something like this matters. There will always be people like this out there, you just have to ignore them and go chase! I specifically remember on the morning of March 8 this year, about 80-90% of my friends on facebook or whatever who are chasers were saying I was out of my mind for going out, heck I even thought I was out of my mind for going out! But I knew if I didn't go out and something happened in my target area I would really regret it, boy am I glad I didnt listen to others( or myself for that matter) that day! Its kinda like one of my chaser friends always says, "You can't win if you don't play the game." There's another one that someone else introduced to me the other day and I like it, "You're not guaranteed to see something if you go out, BUT if you dont go out your guaranteed not to see anything."

But, getting back to the topic, I try not to let these people bother me, I just let it go in one ear and out the other. :)
 
I find nothing wrong with critiquing models and pointing out the negatives on why an event may not happen. One should not base a forecast on when or where they chase either. You should always use an un-biased opinion when doing a forecast using the information and experience you have available.
For example...nothing is going to happen on Thursday along the dryline or WF or anywhere for that matter...which is fine by me. I can't chase anyways.
 
It personally doesn't bother me since I don't rely on others to do my forecast for me. If someone has a hissy fit because they can't chase is of little to no concern of mine. If you are relying on others to forecast for you then really you need to find a new hobby or take the time to educate your self enough that their whines and moans about not being able to chase don't dictate whether or not you head out.
 
I enjoy the naysayers when they talk and talk about all the negavtives only to miss a great chase day. That way I can enjoy it even more. Nothing like showing people video of days they either downplayed because they couldnt go or chose not to chase. There are times I am stuck at work or dont feel a setup is worth chasing but I wont chastize those that choose to go out and take a chance.

Otherwise I could care less what others think. I chase for myself on my own forecasts. I would rather look at all the positives about a setup than the negatives. there will always be negative things about asetup but if you dont ttake a chane on something happening you will miss nmost of the action waiting on that "perfect high risk setup". I actually prefer the quiet slight risk days. Not near as many folks out. No huge 200 car convergences.
 
the only thing that is better are the people who hold out hope on a chase when every parameter screams BUST! As far as naysayers go, I have to agree with those who have posted before me. I forecast and chase for me. If someone gets awesome footage or great stills on a day where I'm not out, more power to them :)
 
I'm sure this isn't true for everyone, but I've noticed that the more one chases the more of a pessimist they become towards setups. This isn't a bad thing necessarily. The more you chase and forecast, the more things jump out at you quickly that have ruined past chases. I remember when I first started chasing I was overly eager about every setup and every tornado watch. I hadn't learned to pick out the negatives yet, and couldn't recognize what was more likely to bust and what wasn't. Now chasing has become a question of economics. "Is it worth driving xxxx miles knowing I have xx% chance of busting?" Whereas when I first started I would just be out there chasing when and if I could and hoping that x% tornado prob would verify and the naysayers were wrong.

Also, when reading the pessimists' forecasts its often pretty easy to pick out their biases and take that into consideration. Your thread is about one of the most common ones I see, "This setup looks like crap .... but I can't chase." The other big one I see is, "This setup looks like crap in this state (the poster's home state) ... so I won't be chasing." That poster completely neglected a better looking target because it isn't close to home for them.
 
I have my own forecast ideas and stick to my guns. I have learned to drown out all the other noise. Pattern recognition...that is my forte. Other's opinions are going to be out there. Ones that matter most to me are in my head and point me in the direction I need to be. Time to put that into action on Friday...
 
It personally doesn't bother me since I don't rely on others to do my forecast for me. If someone has a hissy fit because they can't chase is of little to no concern of mine. If you are relying on others to forecast for you then really you need to find a new hobby or take the time to educate your self enough that their whines and moans about not being able to chase don't dictate whether or not you head out.

Very well stated. If you depend on the advice of others you are going to miss out on some interesting sights. Earlier this year everyone I talked to said they wouldn't bother with storms just a few counties away. I ventured out anyway if only to get a few lighting shots (and cure my ever-hurting SDS). I didn't get a tornado but I did see some neat features illuminated by lightning.
wx01232010lightningf.jpg

It's like the lottery. The chances may not always be in your favor but you won't win if you don't play.

Ric - the happily-gruntled chaser
 
Obviously everyone is going to do their own thing, including myself. All I was inquiring about is if you have seen the same thing. I have seen it a lot. Not like I care, for example Thursday when I got out to the panhandle. I think it is funny that people's attitudes change when severe weather is expected, yet they are unable to chase. However, these are the same people that when able to chase, are arguing that a slight risk should be moderate risk, and try and compare their chase date to another significant date when there was a amazing outbreak.
 
I don't let that bother me. Of course unless that person is may chase partner for the day :( I have chased several events that people have told me that nothing would happen. March 8th of this year is one. I didn't even think much would happen, but I was dying to go out and I am sure glad I did.

I have told people (jokingly) that nothing would happen on day when I couldn't go out. It was obvious to everyone that something but could happen.
 
The thing I think is annoying is what I call "neighborhood" chasers. Everything comes together over let's say the OK/TX panhandles, but someone from say Illinois posts how terrible the setup actually is and that they are "playing the warm front" or whatever it may be because it just looks great (really it's only because it's in their back yard). Even more annoying is when someone says "Mods please add Alaska to this thread". No CAPE, shear, or anything else there but they have decided they are gonna chase around their town and adding their state to the title somehow justifies their decision to not chase the real event but to go chase some crap locally.

I mean if you're not gonna make the drive to go chase that's fine. But don't waste everyone's time about your gonna chase the low shear, zero cape garbage five states away. I don't think sups read the states in our thread titles and say "dayum! someone added Iowa I better put down a couple tubes!"
 
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