Is storm chasing like a video game to you?

[Jeff Hawkins]

Although you can chase on a shoe string budget, I feel as though I have a small fortune wrapped up in my chase gear.

Reliable transportation, Jotto desk, laptop, DC adapter or power inverter, Cradlepoint router, internet connection with data service, cellular amplifier, Smartphone, iPad, DSLR with lenses, HD camcorder with extra goodies, software such as Delorme, GRLX, PYKL3, and Radar Scope, and Allison House for data. I'll stop there as I'm only 1/2 way done, and if you have HAM radios and scanners that's even more money! Maybe I should just leave it all at home and go back to the basics one day.

We can leave it here for the time being Jeff. It's an interesting theory and generated some good discussion.

OK, thanks Mark for that determination. I'm enjoying the responses and dialogue. The topic is meant to be educational for storm chasing, which is why I thought initially it would be more helpful to put it here than in B&G, but I wanted to get some confirmation/feedback.

As far as equipment, I also have a lot invested, but the reason is why I have invested. When I realized storm chasing was something people actually did as a hobby, one of the first lessons I was taught by an experienced chaser is 'safety first'. So any equipment I buy and use is with that in mind. If it enhances safety, I want it. In regards to this topic however, I wonder if having tons of equipment also contributes to detachment in some way? Like having all that stuff puts you 'above' the weather and things going on around you?

 

[Jake Orosi]

So after reading your responses and thinking a bit further, I will try to clarify here. Part of the challenge with this topic is that it is rather abstract, delving into the areas of emotion and psychology. What I was trying to describe is the idea of 'detachment', which could be defined as 'indifference to or remoteness from the concerns of others' or 'The state of being objective or aloof', and wondering what elements contribute to that being a chaser's mindset when seeing things happening before their eyes in real-time (as opposed to on TV or or a video game)? Jake mentioned "tourism mentality" which I agree is one element...you have no prior knowledge of or connection to that building you're seeing being blown apart, nor the people in it, so it's natural to be detached in that fashion. I'm wondering what other factors might also contribute? Do some chasers react to real-life the same as if it were a movie? Do they watch TV shows with storm chasers going nuts at seeing tornadoes and think that's how all storm chasers react or should react? Do some chasers see chasing the same as playing a video game? I hope that clarifies the topic a bit more.

I get what you're saying; but I don't think the rabbit hole goes that deep. People storm chase for personal enjoyment, which is the same motivation that leads people to watch movies or video games; and as such they are excited when their expectations are met or surpassed and disappointed when that doesn't happen. But I think that's about as far as we can take the comparison. I don't think it's particularly more like watching a movie or playing a video game for storm chasers than it is for people who, for example, visit the Grand Canyon or take in a museum or day hike in a national park.

Having said that, I sincerely hope that at least a significant number of them only act the way they do because videos they've seen have convinced them that storm chasers are "supposed to" act like that, because I shudder to think that we're sharing public roads with so many people who really are reduced to hysterical, gibbering morons by a tense situation. I understand getting excited, but cheese 'n rice, people. There's some videos I can't watch unless I mute them. It's one of the reasons I'm so reticent to take someone storm chasing with me - I can just see myself getting the perfect video, only to have it ruined by my "chase partner" howling a stream of expletives because he's "excited".

 

[John Bowles]

I get what you're saying; but I don't think the rabbit hole goes that deep. People storm chase for personal enjoyment, which is the same motivation that leads people to watch movies or video games; and as such they are excited when their expectations are met or surpassed and disappointed when that doesn't happen. But I think that's about as far as we can take the comparison. I don't think it's particularly more like watching a movie or playing a video game for storm chasers than it is for people who, for example, visit the Grand Canyon or take in a museum or day hike in a national park.

Having said that, I sincerely hope that at least a significant number of them only act the way they do because videos they've seen have convinced them that storm chasers are "supposed to" act like that, because I shudder to think that we're sharing public roads with so many people who really are reduced to hysterical, gibbering morons by a tense situation. I understand getting excited, but cheese 'n rice, people. There's some videos I can't watch unless I mute them. It's one of the reasons I'm so reticent to take someone storm chasing with me - I can just see myself getting the perfect video, only to have it ruined by my "chase partner" howling a stream of expletives because he's "excited".

The overexcited style is a fairly common thing in youtube streaming. Many people do it intentionally. It does annoy a lot of people, but it sells to many more and that's the important part when it comes to making money. No one wants to be "boring".

 

[Jake Orosi]

The overexcited style is a fairly common thing in youtube streaming. Many people do it intentionally. It does annoy a lot of people, but it sells to many more and that's the important part when it comes to making money. No one wants to be "boring".

I guess; but how cynical does someone have to be to feel they need to add artificial drama to a video of a tornado?

 

[John Bowles]

I guess; but how cynical does someone have to be to feel they need to add artificial drama to a video of a tornado?

When there are 20 other people with video of the same tornado. Chasing has become commercial, and that means competition. People try to "stand out" somehow. The general public is much more likely to watch, and direct other people to, videos where someone is losing their mind, screaming over nothing than one where someone is calmly describing an actually impressive tornado/storm structure.

 

[Jeff Hawkins]

I get what you're saying; but I don't think the rabbit hole goes that deep. People storm chase for personal enjoyment, ...

That's why I posted this topic, because not all do (some do it as a job, for instance), and I would suggest the rabbit hole does go deeper than you think here. There are lots of factors that influence why people chase, but the topic relates to how people view the weather phenomena they see that are in real-time destroying strangers' lives or even killing them and how they might distance themselves (i.e. 'detach') and why they do that.

Having said that, I sincerely hope that at least a significant number of them only act the way they do because videos they've seen have convinced them that storm chasers are "supposed to" act like that, because I shudder to think that we're sharing public roads with so many people who really are reduced to hysterical, gibbering morons by a tense situation. I understand getting excited, but cheese 'n rice, people. There's some videos I can't watch unless I mute them. It's one of the reasons I'm so reticent to take someone storm chasing with me - I can just see myself getting the perfect video, only to have it ruined by my "chase partner" howling a stream of expletives because he's "excited".

"Cheese 'n rice" I like it ... so I think you are getting the direction I'm thinking about this topic...at least in part.

 

[Jeff Hawkins]

When there are 20 other people with video of the same tornado. Chasing has become commercial, and that means competition. People try to "stand out" somehow. The general public is much more likely to watch, and direct other people to, videos where someone is losing their mind, screaming over nothing than one where someone is calmly describing an actually impressive tornado/storm structure.

Interesting thought. This portion satisfies the minimum 20 character length requirement.

 

[Shane Adams]

When there are 20 other people with video of the same tornado. Chasing has become commercial, and that means competition. People try to "stand out" somehow. The general public is much more likely to watch, and direct other people to, videos where someone is losing their mind, screaming over nothing than one where someone is calmly describing an actually impressive tornado/storm structure.

The main cause of this IMO is there are a fairly large number of chasers who clearly don't want to work for a living.

 

[Taylor Wright]

Haha never thought I'd hear someone say cheese 'n rice on here. Nice.

I definitely get excited, but I try to contain myself as much as possible. The more I see, the better I get at it. Above all I try to maintain a professional stature in the presence of other chasers. Seeing someone young out there in a Honda with no indications of being an "experienced" chaser (no stickers, antennas, anemometers etc.), I'm sure I'm assumed to be one of those crazy kids. However, I'm just out there for myself. While I strive to be respected by my peers, I don't need to prove anything to anyone.

You can compare anything to a video game if you make it general enough. I would say chasing is more like a sport, without as much competition. As far as being desensitized by video games, I played plenty of GTA, COD, etc. in my time, but that doesn't mean I would be completely emotionless and continue driving if I came across a town that just got hit while I was chasing. That being said, I'm not an EMT (yet), so I don't see myself being much help unless I was directly behind the tornado when it went through the town. We tried to stop by Orrick earlier this year when it was hit, but they had more help than they needed. I assume more often than not this is the case. I guess I would handle it on a situation by situation basis. I've yet to have to deal with that, but inevitably it will come when I have to do search and rescue. Definitely not looking forward to it.

Shane, that's a good point. I can't imagine being financially dependent on something as erratic as storm chasing. It must be a nightmare. What do you tell a customer on years like 2012 when there isn't a setup for the entire month of May after they just paid $3000?

 

[JamesCaruso]

I'm a little offended that since I'm a 25 year old chaser that I'm rolled into this niche of chasers that spend their lives trying to become (let's just say it since everyone else is thinking it) the next RT. When I started chasing 6 years ago, I had a few things in mind. I wanted to travel across the country, see some amazing storms, learned to forecast, and one day become respected by my peers. Through a lot of hard work and disappointments, I've accomplished the first 3 goals for the most part. But it seems that I'll always remain a noob or "one of those young chasers" all the veterans seem to talk about. There was no tv show or video game that I'm trying to emulate with chasing. I think I made my mom rent me the "Fury On The Plains" video about 100 times in my childhood. I wanted to do nothing more. But because of my age, I really couldn't chase until 2008 after I got out of high school and went to college. Which is about 4 or more years after I could legally say that I chased the hard way. So because of my age and lack of chasing the old school way, it seems I'll never fully be respected in this community. Shame, because I respect a ton of people, young and old. Of course I'm not demanding respect from anyone, but for those that I've had the pleasure to meet, I sure hope you don't see me as just one of these "young chasers".

Marcus, when I read your post, I thought, don't worry, it's not just young people, it's guys like me (46) that just coincidentally happened to start chasing in 1996 (the same year Twister came out) even though that was 18 years ago!

And then Jake beat me to it!

It's not us young peoples' fault that information is so easily available, but it won't matter to some. Heck, there's some people who believe that nobody who started after the movie Twister came out is a "real" storm chaser - they were "into it before it was popular".

Yes Jake, exactly!


It was refreshing to see, in a separate thread, Warren Faidley ask for input from "veterans" with "15+" years experience. I thought, holy cow, that's me, I finally made the cut Although I think the term "veteran" should be reserved for the true pioneers of our avocation...

 

[Paul Knightley]

The way I see it is that chasing should be conducted in a manner no different to the way one conducts their every day life.

Chase responsibly and with respect for the law, residents, and other chasers/road users, and conduct yourself online (e.g. on social networks or in your posted videos) in the same manner. You don't deserve respect, you earn it (if you feel you need it), but at the same time you should have respect for others - and not just other chasers as I've mentioned.

Hopefully most people don't need to be told how to act in a pleasant manner in their life in general - just do the same in chasing!

This is now probably O/T from the original post!

 

[Taylor Wright]

I don't care if you've been chasing for ten or twenty years. If you're out there babbling about "We're gonna film this b***", acting like a complete redneck idiot throwing your "company" logo everywhere in front of the camera, then I'm going to think your IQ is about as high as the number of years you've been chasing. It's not always about how long you've been chasing. There's plenty of idiots out there that have been doing it for decades. Rant over.

 

[Dave C]

Speaking for myself, I chase storms because they are beautiful and me and friends want to see them. I don't care how extreme my video isn't. I don't care about competition, in fact I avoid most other chasers. I hate damage and am prepared with equipment and knowledge to be an effective first responder. I don't play video games often so I cannot (and would not wish to) relate that to chasing at all. Actually video games are everything that chasing isn't to me, boring, predictable, artificial, etc. I'm not sure it even makes sense to waste intellectual time wondering why some chasers are the way they are, but what would make you go blaming video games? They have been blamed for everything else I guess. Most things people are doing wrong are just directly their fault, and looking at accessory causes is not always productive.

When I chase I don't take unnecessary risks. I can enjoy a small storm as much as a mean one. I wish that extremist elements within chasing were more respectful and more safe so as not to impact the activity in a negative way. In summary - the nicest way I can say it: there are a lot of chasers who bring a lot of nonsense into this hobby that I could do without - understanding why they do this won't change their behavior. I just want to see natural beauty and power of weather with my friends, and that really is the whole story for me. I don't find a lot of benefit in wondering why other chasers do what they do, although I am willing to air my complaints against them when I feel they are negatively impacting the group. Unfortunately the celebrity status society gives morons (I am NOT thinking of anyone specific here, more a style of person) means they keep on keepin' on.

~D