While I appreciate your passion, you're kind of putting everyone in the same box. I don't speak for others or their experiences, and I don't disagree or even pretend to know what you've experienced. I only speak from what I know from my own experience.
You're correct, it is all about the sky. The sky is beautiful, it's ugly, it's angry sometimes. I read earlier that you were writing a comedy, and comedy can be the same way. I don't believe you shouldn't be able to pay the bills, or not make any spending money with your writing based off other's experience in writing, which I'm sure there are those who dealt with many of the same issues along the way.
Storm chasing is a passion, just like writing, or comedy, or mountain climbing or stamp collecting. There are some some really tough things that you see in storm chasing, and I've seen just about everything. But there are some beautiful things as well, and to paint everyone in chasing as entertainers would be a mistake, I do believe. I also believe that if one can turn their passion into a supplemental income, or even a living they should have the ability and right to do so.
You won't find me on Twitter/X, and if you do run into me out on the plains, you wouldn't know it because I stay pretty well hidden away from the crowds. Just earlier this year I was just across the gas pump in the Oklahoma panhandle from a regular here on the forum and they had no clue who I was and that they see my posts here on a regular basis.
Yep, there are a few of us that don't have "Look at me!" syndrome.
I enjoy your posts and love that you're engaging here regularly. There's no way I could ever be offended by what you're posting. You're passionate about where you stand and I appreciate that. But, it works a lot better when the understanding goes both ways.
Sean, I can accept your perspective that I've placed "everyone" in the "same box" and that yes, on a internet forum such as Stormtrack, text, tone and direct statements can take the reader to a place that the author, in this case myself, did not specifically intend.
Everyone has a right to observe, pursue and document weather within reason. I too fully agree with you that "we" all need to and must "pay the bills" regardless of financial success or just in passing. I do indeed come off as sounding like an absolute hypocrite to say "money ruins everything", considering that I too have most certainly made a income on weather video over the years, be it in the corporate weather media enterprise, or freelance. I don't feel it's wrong to do so. I am strongly against many of the ways and means of how people obtain it however, i.e. excessive speeding, vehicular altercations, internet or social media hype, or just general disdain for each other in the field, at conferences or on forums such as this. The later is a very human trait that cannot be easily shifted, yet the former examples can.
My experiences on the
25-26-27 April 2024 in Kansas and Oklahoma was the clincher, for me at least, beyond the tornadoes observed, which put "everyone in the same box" in regards to storm chasing as an activity. While I still know and believe there are many responsible individuals whom are merely out for a host of experiences, interests and so fourth, individuals driving over 60+ mph on a gravel road, passing, tailing and then becoming annoyed at others whom are trying to be safe whilst in pursuit of severe weather
is not right. I observed this happen, once directly to me, on multiple occasions on the 26-April 2024 in Southeast Kansas and again on the 27-April-2024 in Northern Oklahoma.
From my perspectives and experiences, the three days in the Plains and Midwest this past spring reminded me of large, black shirted moped or biker gangs, each and every individual, men, women and children all mentally bent on witnessing devastation to generate a internet stream, a profit, passive recognition, a tweet or perhaps some live media exposure. Media groups and individuals employed by them acted in a similar vein. It was disheartening to witness and directly experience, both as a professional meteorologist and long time storm observer. Personally, those experiences, which is not chronicled on this
mini documentary of the events from those days, made the pursuit of severe weather in both the Sunflower and Sooner states very unenjoyable. Sure there were moments of solitude and peace, yet with every turn back on main or even side roads, groups of reckless individuals came of the woodwork at nearly each twist and turn of my adventures in 2024, and for me, that was the big signal to step away and gravitate towards comedy writing in an attempt to make weather funny as a profession.
To "circle back" as they love to say in the corporate weather industry
about money and storms, I did indeed gain a pittance of funds from The Weather Channel and ABC News post events in April and May, but that was hardly a profit and perhaps offset some tolls on the Turner Turnpike. There was a large part of me post tornadoes that had no interest in uploading video to network news feeds, exhausted from the days travels, and no longer on a deadline to get video to a producer ala the corporate weather crew days (i.e. AccuWeather), but there you have it. I too was part of the big weather money machine for a spark in time. Was that wrong? Sigh. Perhaps? Whatever money was generated, it's long gone, much like the atmospheric spectacles that generated it in the first place.
I stopped long ago attempting to "change" people or their perspectives about "storm chasing", as that is entirely on those individuals to self correct. Yet if my commentary, be it ludicrous, bizarre, educational or humorous, can offer anything to anyone out there, I will simply state that if one drives like you're a "star" in the
"Fast and the Furious" film features, armored vehicles or not, merely to generate a social media following, profit and so forth, whether or not you need to "pay the bills", those people should have their heads examined, do some deep soul searching and realize causing someone else distress, potential injury (i.e. accidents) or worse is not worth it in the long run in the pursuit of air.
And with that, I'll hop off the Stormtrack soapbox.
Thank you for your perspectives, Sean and William! I meant no offense or to have my earlier statements read harsh. I merely just enjoy constructive debates and conversation such as what we are here.
All the best,
Blake
BLAKE WILLIAM NAFTEL
Artist, Geoscientist, Writer
616.643.7762
blakenaftel.com
threereelfilms.com
newwaveweather.com (coming in 2025)
But...
I didn't get that job, of which I really did want at the time, that in turn went to some blonde women who was a fresh graduate out of OU, however the connection and rapport between Gary and I along with a mixed sense of humor opened doors that year and in the decades that followed.
