Lessons Learned, Irresponsible Chasers, Ethical/Moral Responsibilities

[Eric Matthews]

I am glad to see this thread has stimulated the discussions of each of our roles and responsibilities. They are different for every person and certainly different with each scenario.
To quote President Theodore Roosevelt, each of us has a duty to,
"do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

I would like to hear more people sharing suggestions on how we can minimize our risks, whenever possible. What were some things you've done that you looked back and said, "wow, that was bone-headed. I need to make sure I never do that again"?

What are things you're seeing in videos that we can use to learn from? Pitfalls to avoid? Easily overlooked hazards?

This is a great board and I applaud everyone for keeping this thread focussed on educating each other and stimulating the way we think about chasing and our individual roles in it.

 

[Warren Faidley]

I am glad to see this thread has stimulated the discussions of each of our roles and responsibilities. They are different for every person and certainly different with each scenario.
To quote President Theodore Roosevelt, each of us has a duty to,
"do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

I would like to hear more people sharing suggestions on how we can minimize our risks, whenever possible. What were some things you've done that you looked back and said, "wow, that was bone-headed. I need to make sure I never do that again"?

What are things you're seeing in videos that we can use to learn from? Pitfalls to avoid? Easily overlooked hazards?

This is a great board and I applaud everyone for keeping this thread focussed on educating each other and stimulating the way we think about chasing and our individual roles in it.

I agree. This is a timely subject and of great importance to anyone who wants to chase now or in the future. I understand some chasers have different opinions, don't care, or fully support some of the questionable individuals, but at least allow others to chime in without hatred or attacks. This freedom is what makes ST a viable chase forum. I only wish some of the veteran chasers would return and join the discussion. No offense to younger chasers, whom I fully support, but the guys and gals who have been chasing for 15+ years are likely better able to see the contrast of how chasing once was and where it's going. It's a difficult argument unless you have some base to reference from.

And although this discussion has been covered in the past, the players, media and ethics change every year. Unfortunately, some chasers have developed an immunity to criticism, by either cult-like fan bases who are quick to attack anyone who disagrees, or a by a news media who cares less as long as they can generate viewership from the lunacy. I know multiple chasers who are disgusted with the current behavior, some more than me, but they are afraid to say anything because of ridicule from supporters of such antics.

W.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I simply wish that everyone would make this issue about the certain chasers causing the problems and creating the controversies rather than making it about storm chasing itself. Out of all longtime chasers, the controversies consistently involve what - maybe 6-7 people? Out of a thousand or more of us?

I understand that there are new chasers entering the fray without the positive influence of the vets like we enjoyed, and we need to do what we can to steer them in the right direction. But throwing ourselves and our fellow colleagues under the bus by making this a storm chasing issue does us no favors.

 

[Mark Blue]

We've had countless threads on this in the past, here's yet another one. I could just go back and copy-paste what I typed in those other threads, but I don't think it would matter.

Well stated Dan. This type of thing makes me thankful that my wife and I chase for personal enjoyment period. I could care less about selling photos, followers on FB, a huge web presence, etc., etc. If you fly under the radar so to speak, then you don't have to worry about criticism from others on a regular basis. I figure if I mind my own business in the field I'll be doing myself a favor in the long run, because my business is under my control and what other people do is outside of my control so why bother? I understand where everyone is coming from and the actions of others may wind up trickling down to all of us, but if Chuck Doswell and Chris Novy haven't been able to get through to these fearless chasers, no one will.

 

[Rob H]

what other people do is outside of my control so why bother?

The moment you believe that your actions can't change the world, you fulfill that self-defeating prophecy. If the only chasers getting their names out there and interacting with the media and the public are the hook-slicing rock stars, should we really be surprised or upset when that's what the hobby is dominated by one day?

 

[Mark Blue]

I'm neither surprised nor upset at the new breed of chasers. I'm choosing to do my own thing and not concern myself with them or what they do. If you believe that's a defeatist attitude then that's your prerogative. At least I'll have one less issue to worry about, as if I don't have enough to worry about anyway.

It certainly doesn't mean I like what they're doing, it's just a personal decision to not involve myself in a controversy that's toward the bottom of my priority list at this juncture in my lifetime.

 

[Bob Schafer]

I'm going a bit OT, so I apologize in advance, but this reminds me of something.

On May 21, 2011 I filmed the Emporia/Reading KS tornado, and it killed a man in Reading. Now, I have posted a bunch of--excuse my lack of modesty for a sec here--really kick-butt, fabulous videos on YouTube over the years, but never once did I get contacted by the media. The 110521 tornado was the first killer tornado I had ever witnessed in my entire career, and on top of that I seemed to have been the only chaser to have been there. (As I learned only this year, D. Hoadley also filmed it.)

Later that night I got an email from Good Morning America asking if they could use my vid. I was outraged. A person got killed, and now the media wanted the blood and gore... whatever they could get. I told them no.

In the intervening years I have come to realize that tornadoes like Campo simply aren't news. If nobody dies, it just ain't news, sweetie. Side note: As it turned out, my vid would have had a very short shelf life, because the very next day was Joplin.

The moment you believe that your actions can't change the world, you fulfill that self-defeating prophecy. If the only chasers getting their names out there and interacting with the media and the public are the hook-slicing rock stars, should we really be surprised or upset when that's what the hobby is dominated by one day?

 

[Rob H]

I'm neither surprised nor upset at the new breed of chasers. I'm choosing to do my own thing and not concern myself with them or what they do. If you believe that's a defeatist attitude then that's your prerogative. At least I'll have one less issue to worry about, as if I don't have enough to worry about anyway.

It certainly doesn't mean I like what they're doing, it's just a personal decision to not involve myself in a controversy that's toward the bottom of my priority list at this juncture in my lifetime.

I wasn't judging you and I never implied you need to champion any causes. You're the admin on the only storm chasing forum, and you're participating in these discussions so you obviously care at least a little about the community! Post good things here. Post good things on Facebook. Take a noob under your wing. Don't post things like "I hope there's a disaster soon so I can make money" and then take pictures of a dying child. Don't pull back from the community and then bitch and whine all day like Doswell used to do, while saying he can't influence people. That's a load of crap Chuck - I chase because of you and Bluestein on the old NOVA documentaries.

I realized a while ago that it doesn't matter what the public, or law enforcement, or the media thinks of storm chasers. I'll never be persecuted, harassed, or unfairly treated (beyond maybe a speeding ticket) for taking pictures of clouds. What does affect us is when someone is introduced to chasing through videos where debris is hitting the car. Those people follow the social media pages/sites and learn how to chase like that. They're the ones setting up tripods in the middle of the road, passing on the shoulder, blowing through stop signs and driving 30mph over the limit in small towns just to get to a storm. All that crap just says "I'm selfish".

This affects us because eventually the roads will be clogged with these people and the storm will be less dangerous than interacting with them. In fact, I'm changing my prediction from earlier this year. The next chaser won't die from "just RFD". They'll be killed by another chaser driving like a moron.

 

[Todd Rector]

This affects us because eventually the roads will be clogged with these people and the storm will be less dangerous than interacting with them. In fact, I'm changing my prediction from earlier this year. The next chaser won't die from "just RFD". They'll be killed by another chaser driving like a moron.

THREE TIMES this season I have crested a hill at quasi-legal speed to find one or more people from a chase tour standing in the middle of the road taking pictures. At least twice I have had chasers pull out in front of me from their parked position when it was definitely and obviously unsafe to do so. (For the record, if fellow chasers are on the side of the road and we are all caught in a dangerous situation so they NEED to make an escape, I will always slow down and let them join in the mass exodus)

I know these are common occurrences; it just seemed timely to mention.

 

[Mike Johnston]

Since Dick McGowan's name was brought up at the top of this thread, I thought I would say a few words in his defense. Dick was formerly an active member here on ST and has been a fine chaser for several years. Whether he can be considered a "new breed" of chaser, I couldn't say. I chased with him on a few occasions - he was an excellent driver and seemed to have good chasing instincts. Whether he made a mistake in the instant case of the pipes on the side of the road, I don't know. What I do know is anyone can make a mistake. It's unfair to paint a good chaser in a bad light, though, and Dick is hardly one of those chasers that deserves to be called out. He was right there at Greensburg and, in general, a credit to storm chasing.

 

[Rick Schmidt]

I ditto Mike's comments about Dick. I have known him for a number of years now, and he knows what he is doing. IMO, you can't always anticipate every possibility when it comes to tornadoes, especially in the heat of the action.

 

[Mark Blue]

Thank you Mike. I'm glad someone else (before me) came to Dick's defense. He's a good guy that I like on the individual level and wish he would come back to ST. The whole nature of saying you're not singling anyone out, but they are the only one you mention is what was called throwing him under the bus. Getting thrown under the bus doesn't feel good if you're on the receiving end. You end up with more road rash than you know what to do with.

I don't want to leave the impression with anyone that I believe this issue is unimportant. There is an undeniable issue at hand as Warren (and others) described it in his first thread and here as well. I also understand the mess that has been created by social media and how it will eventually be a problem for all of us in one form or another, with so much on display for the insurers to see. Someone called these folks the "me generation" and that's a very good description based on what I saw at a couple of chaser convergences this year. Seems like these newer chasers are getting younger every year from what I witnessed on the road, but that's okay if they are chasing responsibly. Anyhow, I just wanted to clarify myself a little from yesterday.

 

[Warren Faidley]

To avoid any confusion, I know nothing about this event and I did not start this thread. I'm sure most people figured that out, but I want to make sure. I've also heard good things about him and his photography is impressive.

W.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I'll concur - I've never seen any example of irresponsible chasing by Dick McGowan. He gets close, but so do I. Most of his videos I've seen, I would do the same thing if I was in his position. Getting close doesn't *always* mean dangerous.

 

[Rob H]

If we're not ready as a community to criticize those we hold in high regards, or because "they were right there at Greensburg" whatever that means, are we ready to criticize the ones that no one will defend? Because all we ever seem to do is dogpile the unknown or unliked chasers. Is discussing Tim/Carl's mistake(s) at El Reno off the table? I didn't know Carl, but Tim was one heck of a nice and smart guy. I think Tim would be pissed if we didn't learn something from El Reno and discuss it in the context of aggressive chasing and mistakes made under the meso.

If Dick did something that was unsafe or made a mistake, we should discuss it (without ripping him apart as a person). If he cares what the members of this forum thinks, or wants to defend himself, he can always log in and post. This isn't criticizing someone's talent for the forecast or skill behind a camera. This is about being responsible in a 3000lb chunk of metal traveling at 60+ mph near swirling columns of air that can easily level commercial structures. No one is good enough or smart enough to mitigate all the risks in that situation, and we all roll the dice, some more than others.