A+ show.
I've seen some stuff on here - and
not seem some stuff - since I joined this board (at the time of this post, this means "a few hours back"). Namely with stuff I've not seen, where are the Outlaws' posts that were replied to in the other thread? Can mods take away posts on this BBS without the thread indicating "this post has been deleted" or something? I'm guessing that's what happened.
But (and to stick in line with what this topic is supposed to be about) they have a front that's for their show and their work. It's only a tactic that separates them from the crowd. Whether the really hold any sentiments against the storm chasing community in general or not, they made a heck of a show with great footage and they have stamped their image. The only thing I thought the show was missing was from CourtTV itself: a disclaimer for any high schoolers (or dumb late-20's math graduate students) to "not try this at [or within a day or two's drive of] home."
Really, it's much ado about nothing. It's sort of like music: Marylin Manson, although I'm not a personal fan, really designed a bad-boy image and made it work, despite the fact that he's far from such in personal interviews and writings. Even "Larry the Cable Guy" takes on an "ignorant hick" persona proudly, to the point where many fellow comedians call him out as a smart man selling a package. I think this is what the Outlaws are - as supposedly "ignorant" as they want to come off, they on the inside know more about weather than I'll likely ever know.
It's what sells. They have the kind of persona that made my roommate (who didn't know about them prior) shake her head in disbelief but inevitably keep watching. I already knew about who they are from Reed and Joel's TV comments section, where they have openly traded respect for each other despite the Outlaws putting R&J "on the spot" for "giving away their best stuff for free."
Sure, they'll keep their attitudes that have won them a program. They might bite and scratch at us, maybe even do and say things we could consider rude if we meet them on some barren stretch in front of some storm. But their footage in and of itself is no more and no less on par with many others, and they have tons of respect even if they put on a front to not show it for public perception.
They might never wish to settle down with a latecoming neophyte Texan like myself for a beer after a chase, but I know if I'm wrapped around a tree somewhere and they're the first to find me I'll get taken care of. And I'd gladly do the same for them.
As for the rules, well, from what I've studied and heard and watched meticulously nearly every day since June in preparation for crunch time,
1) Dirt roads - I'm going to stay off of these in my Civic. If I can ever afford a nice, large truck or something, sure. Otherwise ...
2) Night - since I'm notoriously a night owl, I'm going to start looking at all available information on how to night-chase once '09 comes around and I have some experience during the day under my belt. I don't care about videos or whatnot, if I chase down a blowing twister uncharacterized (or, forbid it, undetected) by radar, and give valuable information that could save lives, then all the past and future effort I have and will ever put into this will instantly pay off.
Greensburg was struck at night - but people were still awake and a good part of them were saved just by that. Florida's disaster was at the witching hour, when everyone was asleep, and even more people were killed there because of that. I was awake when that happened. I would hate to be awake and have a tornado hit anywhere near me here in Iowa if there were dangerous forecasts beforehand and if I decided just to stay home ... there must be good suggestions that I'll find to chase at night.
3) Punching a core - when I can get a Sherman tank I guess I can be all right with it. But if I do it now I'm too frightened that my windshield is going to collapse in on me and I'll be so much dust in the wind for whatever follows the core.
Maybe the three rules should be, make sure you can lend a hand to those in the path of disaster if there's not someone there already, or at least make sure a crew proper to handling the situation is there (especially in the case of live wires, etc.); don't park under a friggin bridge in emergency tornado situations; and be prepared to accept risks of driving down dirt roads, get caught up on night hunting, and don't punch a friggin core with your nine-year-old son in the car (uhm, I hope that guy doesn't post here ...).
The show wins for sticking to its own footage. All fronts they put on aside, it was a real show all the way and they deserve my respect for not using R&J's or anyone else's stock cutaways when it would "look better" than their own stuff.
