Rant from a long time chaser: No lessons from El Reno?

[Shane Adams]

And I really need to say this for my own peace of mind. I think I understand why my original post was misunderstood, other than I was just wound up and not very "gentle". But I put in the "lol" and maybe folks thought I was lol at Randy or that he said that... But I was laughing because he said that about other chasers. He said that about me and most of you... I know I don't have what he has. I just don't have what it takes and I realize that... don't handle stressful situations so well. I found the whole video (It was their Pilger one I believe) to be very enjoyable. Everyone should look it up sometime if you haven't seen it. See most of yalls videos put folks to sleep... haha

So what you're saying is, risking life and limb is a necessary component to make anything interesting enough to hold your attention for longer than a few seconds. This makes excellent sense when dissecting your post above the one I just quoted, where you "gently" chastise the poster for calling someone who rides a motorcycle without a helmet "dumb" or "stupid." Clearly you value a person'a right to be "dumb" or "stupid" over human life, because your position not only endorses a person's right to do whatever, but you come down on criticism of said behavior.

Some things people do that are risky ARE stupid. They'e stupid because they needlessly risk a person's LIFE. To anyone who values an individual's right to do whatever over ANYTHING, this comes across as crass. To people who understand that it's anyone's right to do whatever but value HUMAN LIFE over all things, they can simultaneously acknowledge that (1) it's a person's right to do whatever but (2) sometimes what they choose to do is STUPID.

The last comment about most people's videos putting folks to sleep was the nail in the coffin for me; it has to be daring, dangerous, life-threatening, otherwise the storms themselves just aren't interesting enough. I see right where you're coming from. I agree that it's anyone's right to do whatever. I disagree that it's harsh to call it stupid. And I could really care less if anyone dies while exercising their right to do whatever they wish. The right to risk one's life doesn't include the right to anyone's sympathy.

 

[Joshua Nall]

I came back from my first hurricane (back when hurricanes formed in the gulf, lol) and was all excited to show my family some video one evening... I had some pretty cool stuff I thought. Put them all smooth to sleep, lol. I'm serious! What Dan R. says is true... nobody really cares. I like it all, but for the average Joe watching video, up close near the action stuff is what keeps them interested. That is all I was saying. And I admit that I too like up close stuff more, just because you can see more power, and detail of what is going on. Randy's video is appealing to most anyone. The suspense of the tornado coming towards them and then more suspense when the tornado goes behind some trees there, but then emerges and the big limb falls. It's just a great capture of the force of nature, up close. You can put yourself in that position, and feel the excitement of the encounter. Of course anything can go horribly wrong. His tire could have fallen off. I just generally don't dwell on that sort of stuff. It has nothing to do with me not valuing human life! lol I wasn't scared for his life. It would be silly for me to worry about someone's life, when they aren't. Of course there are exceptions to this such as in a case where someone is genuinely ignorant of danger... or with mental illness and suicide and such, but I'm talking about just everyday normal adventurous people who go out and do life.

I admit it would be harder to have much sympathy for someone who is careless, but how do you define careless? I value a person's right to make their own choices in life, as long as it doesn't harm another. That is all. And I think people should be free to make choices without it being said they are dumb or stupid. We all take risks every day. It's just as likely that the next chaser death will be from a bolt of lighting. So we are all dumb for being anywhere near the storm? I put myself right in CGs all the time. So maybe I am careless? but I stay in my truck so maybe I'm not careless? See so much of it is point of view and opinion because we are all different.

 

[Hannah.Taylor]

This is my take on the matter.

If some dummy wants to push the envelope and kills himself, more power to him. It's really not our place to say what someone does is too far or not. Each person must make that decision for themselves. I personally don't want someone telling me how I can or can't chase, or how I should or shouldn't chase. I chase how I see fit, that's best for me and what I want to accomplish. I know the risks, I know the consequences.

Who the hell are we to judge those that push the envelope. Mind your own business and worry about YOURSELF and YOUR PARTY.

 

[Jake Orosi]

Meh. I'm just glad to read people coming clean about chasing close for the adrenaline rush, and laying off that "saving lives" BS. Seriously, the phrase "saving lives" still gives me heartburn whenever I see it. I am actually unwrapping a Tums right this moment.

 

[ChristianT]

For me I will post a little. I was out chasing on the 26th and though I was somewhat tempted to keep going on the cell that would eventually produce the tornadoes in Johnson County, I called it. I was in Granbury and didn't want to core punch. I rarely chase at night and when I have, I have not enjoyed it and been scared out of my mind by storms far weaker than the supercells that night. You can't see anything and just to much can go wrong. I did see the dots all around the circulations that night and after the NWS went out and looked at the tracks and rated the tornadoes, I think many of those chasers were very lucky as the tornadoes in Rio Vista were like El Reno, not in the width but they moved very strangely going in loops back the way they came. If those tornadoes had gone further south than they did into the main part of town, I suspect it could have been very bad for anybody around that area, not to mention the flooding that had reduced road options. I also saw a bit of reckless driving that was absolutely ridiculous on 66 east of Stephenville. People swerving to get pictures and abruptly stopping to pull of the road with no warning. Its not worth it. Even if you did get a few minutes of fame, hardly anybody cares outside a few minutes.