VORTEX2

[Brandon Goforth]

Again, it's about considering the needs of others and weighing yours against theirs. If there is only one good spot for a large radar truck to deploy, and all the chaser has to do is move 30 ft down the road a bit, it doesn't sound like too much to me for the radar to at least *ask politely* for them to move, without expecting anything, mind you. This is a far cry from the chaser "taking personal responsibility" for their scientific success! I'm sure all of us have asked ourselves, "Why should I do X for this person, he wouldn't do it for me?", but we can also just as easily ask, "Why not? Maybe they do have a better reason for it." This obviously extends to far more than just chasing, but I don't want to wax philosophical here. Again, none of this is trying to lay the burden on any one group to yield to the other, but only a call for everyone to show each other goodwill out there.

I like that! You make a good point, and it's one we should all consider while we're out there. The next time I see a DOW truck that is in a really good spot, I'm going to politely ask them to move so that I can pull in for a better view...I can really get used to this being nice stuff!

 

[Jacob Ferden]

The next time I see a DOW truck that is in a really good spot, I'm going to politely ask them to move so that I can pull in for a better view.

I can't wait to hear what their response is!

Seriously, though, I do think it is a good idea to give the ACTUAL researchers (not TWC) some degree of extra legroom while we're out there. Just an issue of courtesy.

 

[Greg Blumberg]

Coming from a media background and thinking about how sensationalist a lot of it is, I hate to say this, but someone dying from storm chasing really wouldn't really be that big of a deal to the big stations such as CNN or Fox News. Now if there was video of it happening (like the vehicle getting hit) they might show it and give it passing mention a couple times the day after...but we're making our hobby out to be more important than what it really is to the mass media and to the population at large.

If a TWC reporter was killed, that'd be a bit of a bigger deal but again, a couple days or so max after it happened and we'd be on to the next celebrity sex scandal or Armageddon scenario, etc. By the time the next season came around, 1 in 1,000 might vaguely remember that video or that story about the chaser getting killed...but that'd be about the extent of it.

With that said, I sincerely hope this is NEVER an issue. But the realistic side of me says that someday it will happen.

Bingo. That's exactly what I meant by the difference of being in the media spotlight or not. And that's dead on about CNN and Fox News. They won't think too much of it. I guess your comments about the Attention Deficit Disorder-ness of the media and public certainly gives us some rest. Are you using TWC reporter and chaser interchangeably?

 

[Greg Blumberg]

I can't wait to hear what their response is!

Seriously, though, I do think it is a good idea to give the ACTUAL researchers (not TWC) some degree of extra legroom while we're out there. Just an issue of courtesy.

They'd probably scan both your car and you. Instant human storm-chaser popcorn!

 

[Chris C Sanner]

Bingo. That's exactly what I meant by the difference of being in the media spotlight or not. And that's dead on about CNN and Fox News. They won't think too much of it. I guess your comments about the Attention Deficit Disorder-ness of the media and public certainly gives us some rest. Are you using TWC reporter and chaser interchangeably?

It depends I guess...are the TWC guys chasing the storm or are they reporting on Vortex? Or are they doing both? That's something I really have no clue on, but they will definitely be adding to the convergence

I'd say chaser safety is a huge deal, I get on guys who look like they have no clue more than I should. However, guys on here simply think we're important enough to be legislated against if someone was killed. I'd say our problems are going to come from our growing numbers and hindering rescue efforts moreso than someone ever getting killed. I think that should be obvious at this point.

 

[Jacob Ferden]

It depends I guess...are the TWC guys chasing the storm or are they reporting on Vortex?

All I know is I logged on to the live stream about noon and Bettes was going on and on about how he was getting crunk and that he really likes to listen to Lil Jon and that he misses Abrams at like an 11 on a scale of 1 to 10. I dunno whether that falls into the category of chasing or reporting.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

I have to somewhat side with Jacob on his observation on when a media person gets killed or injured. The backlash may not be like what those small number of chasers Ryan mentioned, but it's a much smaller scale throughout the public and possibly police officers. It all depends on how the media puts the story together, which will most likely include drama. Yes, the theoretical reporter was doing his job. Would such an event affect the perceptions of the public on the chaser community?

Who cares? I mean really, why are so many of you so stuck on this public perception you speak of? What exactly is the public perception that you speak of? Does it really matter what John Q Public thinks about storm chasers? Does it hinder your ability to chase because Joe Public thinks storm chasers are dangerous?

Unfortunately for you who are all about public perception, a lot of people have negative thoughts regarding storm chasers all without having a media person killed on a chase. I've heard everything from storm chasers are stupid to we are wreckless. Some people think it's cool, some think it's stupid.

I just don't understand why public perception is so important. If a staff member of TWC got killed on a chase, I seriously doubt that will give storm chasers anymore of a black eye than we already have for our irresponsible behavior out on the roads.

 

[Kiel Ortega]

I like that! You make a good point, and it's one we should all consider while we're out there. The next time I see a DOW truck that is in a really good spot, I'm going to politely ask them to move so that I can pull in for a better view...I can really get used to this being nice stuff!

There are some amazingly selfish and, IMO, stupid attitudes towards this going on here. Hopefully it's not as prevalent as I think it is, but let me have a shot at this: you're one in probably close to one hundred chasers filming the same storm. The radar truck maybe only one of one which can accomplish the mission it's out to do. You happen to be parked in the one in maybe five spots that the radar truck can park (within a mile area or so); meanwhile, your vehicle can park almost anywhere given it's not in the roadway. And you won't move? I'm sorry, given that you have that knowledge and you don't move you're just being a dick. That's fine...I understand, I'm a bit of an ass myself...but really, get over yourself.

And just for a record, I don't think this will be a problem as most people are courteous and understand the limitations of trying to park a radar truck in rural counties.

And as far as owing something as a reason to move or not to move: what a crock of BS. And steamy BS at that. There's not one chaser out there who can't say they don't owe anything to the field of meteorology. A lot of meteorologists work their butts off on forecasts, models and collecting obs, and the the webpages to bring you all of those things for free. So yeah, you do owe maybe a little and you might ask those people what they want more: your video or that radar truck's data.

Also, I want it to be known that I will start flying large flags and releasing smoke bombs where I stop. I know I don't have to do this and it'll interrupt you all collecting very important video, but it'll ruin my fun if I stop and be courteous to you.

 

[Greg Blumberg]

I am often concerned with public perception because I that's what I'm into. I plan on studying the applications of social science in meteorology and educational meteorology. The thoughts of the public do not concern me as a chaser nearly as much as they do as a meteorologist. As a person who gives presentations to college, high school, and middle school students I have to pay attention to the misconceptions and ideas people have so that when I see something that doesn't make sense, I can inform. I've gotten some students telling me that big tornadoes are the incredibly destructive ones and the small ones are safer. If I don't inform them otherwise, then their lives could be in danger. It's surprising how bad information can be filtered down and how people can make up ideas of their own about weather.

If I am going to educate someone about weather and tell them I'm a meteorologist, one of the first few questions that I get asked is if I have ever storm chased. When I say yes, I immediately get a response (as you said), either "Cool" or "You're insane." Occasionally I'll get the "Why?" Depending on their response, I get an idea of how this one person thinks and whether or not they'll be open to what I have to say. It's a way of gauging a conversation for me. My grandmother, no matter what I say, still thinks I'm one of the craziest people to go chasing after tornadoes. (Of course she's my grandmother, but that's besides the point.) If a person is not understanding of the benefits of storm chasing, or has never taken the time to figure that out, is there a likely chance that the same ignorance exists in other parts of their perception of weather? Where have they gotten their knowledge from?

I've seen a pattern where the person's perception of storm chasing parallels their perception of weather. I don't have massive amounts of money for research projects to figure out people's perception of weather, so I have to go by what I know there. So far I've seen that people do not take the time to sit down and think (sorry for stating the obvious.) They just form opinions on the fly, and weather is one of those things. For me it's not so much public perception of chasers (it is important that we aren't seen as reckless thrill-seekers,) as it is a larger scheme of things.

P.S. Sorry mods for going off topic for a bit in this thread.

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

The radar truck maybe only one of one which can accomplish the mission it's out to do. You happen to be parked in the one in maybe five spots that the radar truck can park (within a mile area or so); meanwhile, your vehicle can park almost anywhere given it's not in the roadway. And you won't move?

This is why we have laws. There are a subset of people who probably wouldn't have the common sense or sense of moral imperative to get out of the way of Code-3 firetrucks, either, were compliance not codified into law with strict penalties.

If a radar truck driver kindly asks me if I can move my car 20 feet so that he can blind us all with science, then yeah, I'm gonna move my car.

 

[Dustin Wilcox]

If a radar truck driver kindly asks me if I can move my car 20 feet so that he can blind us all with science, then yeah, I'm gonna move my car.

Not this guy, call me selfish (when it comes to chasing I admittedly am) but if it's any inconvenience for me to move at all, it's highly likely I am going to continue about my enjoyment. Sure, if it's no inconvenience (and by no, I mean absolutely none) I'll be a nice guy and move; that scenario would play itself out the same be it a "for science" crew or just a hobby chaser asking me to move. Really I don't see this being a problem for me personally, seems the DOW's and "for science" crews are always a good distance away from the action anyway for logistical reasons I assume; I can only recall one time off the top of my head seeing the DOW between me and a tornado, and even then they were bailing.

 

[Jacob Ferden]

This is why we have laws. There are a subset of people who probably wouldn't have the common sense or sense of moral imperative to get out of the way of Code-3 firetrucks, either, were compliance not codified into law with strict penalties.

If a radar truck driver kindly asks me if I can move my car 20 feet so that he can blind us all with science, then yeah, I'm gonna move my car.

So you're putting radar trucks in the same vein as Code-3 firetrucks? Excuse me, but I tend to believe that a firetruck that is on its way to save my house is doing something much more urgent than a radar truck collecting data that will take months and even years to process.

 

[Ryan McGinnis]

So you're putting radar trucks in the same vein as Code-3 firetrucks? Excuse me, but I tend to believe that a firetruck that is on its way to save my house is doing something much more urgent than a radar truck collecting data that will take months and even years to process.

You need to read for content. That's not what I said at all.

 

[Greg Blumberg]

This is for humor purposes:

The DOW:

A typical storm chase vehicle:

Which will win if the two decide to duke it out in a bumper style car war during a storm chase for the chase spot?

 

[Jacob Ferden]

Yeah, enough arguing for one day. All I know is, I'm going to respect the researchers the way I see fit, and everyone else is going to do it how they see fit. Enough said. I've got other things to worry about at the moment.