Brett Roberts
EF5
This is indeed an interesting phenomenon. However, I'd suggest fear of retaliation is only one of several explanations. There are two others I'd like to offer:
1. Almost every serious chaser has plenty of proverbial skeletons in their closet, too. In fact, it's probably difficult for any of us to get completely unhinged in calling others out without falling into some degree of hypocrisy. We don't all "misbehave" on chases with equal frequency or to an equal degree, but we pretty much all do it (breaking traffic laws, taking significant risks, etc.) to some degree on a regular basis -- it's more or less part of the game. At the risk of being irreverent, I get the impression that most of the hardcore chasers who are incessantly yelling from the rooftops about others' misbehavior are (a) deluding themselves by creating a dichotomy between themselves and the "bad guys" that isn't so black-and-white in the real world, and/or (b) motivated to a certain extent by personal grudges that are rooted in more than just their target's "ethics" or "safety." (In the latter scenario, it can be as petty as jealousy or as complex as the target being a real prick in how they conduct themselves socially or online; yet, regardless, the motivation for complaining isn't always purely about ethics and safety).
2. I think there's value in some degree of solidarity among chasers who want to protect the "public face" of chasing and minimize bad coverage that could adversely affect us all down the road. Now, opinions on this will be highly polarized. One line of thinking is essentially what you (Warren) have espoused here: that the "good guys" need to be as vocal as possible in calling out the "bad guys," so the public can see the distinction and not paint us all with the same brush. To me, though, that's no longer a feasible strategy -- if it ever was to begin with. There are far too many people out there now who, if we're being objective, deserve to be called out just as much as any of the supposed chaser-villains of our time. Really, my first point above about hypocrisy and grudges feeds into this directly. I consider myself a relatively cautious, low-profile chaser who doesn't often get super close, but my instinct is to avoid calling out chasers publicly (in all but the most exceptional circumstances) because it only draws public attention to the bad side of our hobby. Instead of seeing myself primarily as "Chaser Type #1" whose mission is to eradicate "Chaser Type #2," I see myself primarily as "A Chaser" who just wants to protect the hobby as a whole. How much of the negative press coverage we've received in recent years would have even occurred had it not been for competing chasers eager to rag on their opposition? Some, no doubt. But it's probably a non-negligible factor.
Now, don't think I'm a complete apologist for even the most reckless and selfish chasers. My biggest gripe is with those who not only drive and chase recklessly, but publicize their very worst behavior as loudly as possible (in the name of profit or popularity). That's what risks the most damage to the hobby as a whole, and it's just indescribably selfish.
But realistically, the genie is out of the bottle. Any illusions so-called "responsible" chasers have of shaming the hundreds or thousands of "thrill-seekers" and "self-promoters" now roaming the Plains into submission might as well give it up. It's time to adapt, like it or not.
That's great, although it's not really surprising; most of those people aren't chasers themselves, so of course it's easy for them (particularly LEO/EMS, who are almost inevitably inconvenienced by large chaser convergences) to nod along with any criticism directed our way. They don't have any skin in the game. Not to discount their viewpoint, of course. They have the right to their opinions, and in some cases I can understand their general annoyance with chasers. But so long as we're conducting a legal activity, we have the right to organize and present ourselves in whatever way best supports said activity -- and IMHO we should take advantage of it, rather than allowing infighting to fracture and weaken us.
