I know this is probably a dumb question, and many of you don't recommend it, but chasing is about living on the edge, right?
Just so the rest of you know, Neal clipped that phrase from a comment by Chris about chasing at night - so that is the context, and he made a new thread on just that idea.
Chris (fairly new to chasing I believe) assumed that chasing was about living on the edge, so the question is do we think that's what it's about?
For me to some degree that is true, but not for the purpose of putting my life at risk. I love my life and never have any intention of sacrificing it just for a thrill, or to put on a show, or to prove something to someone else. There are inherent risks with chasing, but it isn't risky all the time. It's probably difficult to put into words exactly why I chase, but I think mystery and wanting to fully experience life are part of it. Tornadoes are things which kill and which most normal people are terrified of and hide from. Instead we as chasers come out and actively look for that which would kill us. I think I do it because I want to understand these very rare, unique, and beautiful forces, and I am drawn to them because they seem very unreal - as if you are entering a new dimension of reality. Truth is we are all here living, but someday we will all die. Death is a part of life. Perhaps we want to stare that abyss in the face. We wish to look into the deep pit, the taboo, and walk away and perhaps try and understand what it is we see. So if by that you mean 'living on the edge' then yes I'd say that is partly it.
With that said, that isn't the whole part either. There are countless ways that chasing for me has become one of the best possible hobbies & endeavors totally unrelated to risk. Chasing comprises (or can comprise) auto mechanics, photography, meterology, computer (creation repair configuration), amateur radio, spotting / emergency services, forecasting, nature and the outdoors, travel to unknown new areas, community and comaraderie with others on the road and through internet forums, competition, adventure, the unknown. I'm sure there are other things as well. Some of us (such as myself) are pretty much involved in all of these things and others are involved in a smaller subset. I think one reason I am into it so much is that it challenges me at so many levels and ties together so many of my other interests listed above (scratch radio, and emergency work for me). Sometimes it is so much, and I get into it so much and want to spend so much time on it that it is a bit overwhelming. It can really take over for some of us if you aren't careful. I often hear of the chase divorce and that sort of thing.
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It can be tough on the family life.
I remember a line that my friend Geoff Mackley of Discovery Channel fame (aka Dangerman) always used: "If you're not living on the edge, you're just taking up space". I think he means life is short, we only have so much time, and there is so much to do. We will only be here once. Life isn't all about the day to day and 9 to 5 to be taken for granted as so many do. It's a very rare gift and we have the mysteries of the universe to discover together.