We Contribute Nothing?

[Joey Ketcham]

That's what one guy says on another forum I'm a member of.

I'm a member of various forums, one guy that I actually use to work with made this post in regards to my storm chasing:

We've been down this road before... I think most responsible people, if given the choice, would stay off the roads in "Storm chaser weather." These same responsible people would say if they were caught driving on a road where the weather turned dangerous they would not want unnecessary vehicles on the road turning an already dangerous situation more deadly. Add to that on the cell phone, laptop showing the latest radar, camera and camcorder an scanning the clouds ALL WHILE DRIVING IN A STORM, I can see the "experience" part as reckless as it is but where does one get "training" for this sort of irresponsible driving?

I am in no way convinced that these "weather sightseers" contribute an any useful, significant way to public safety and if driving just add to a dangerous situation. If public service were truly the primary goal of storm chasing then join the volunteer fire department.

"Storm Chasing" It just occurred to me how similar the name is to "Hang Gliding" or "Geo-Caching" and interesting hobby but hardly a useful endeavor

I've already made a lenghty reply to what he said, but how would you respond to something like that? If you wish to chime in and respond personally to the guy (Creek Rat), you can see the thread at http://www.sekchatter.com/ms-article-t-2618-2.html#pid35385

 

[rdale]

"I've already made a lenghty reply to what he said, but how would you respond to something like that?"

Ignore it...

 

[Mikey Gribble]

I would tell him I had sex with his wife.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

I would tell him I had sex with his wife.

lol

I try to ignore the guy who made the comments, but sometimes it's hard to. I worked with the guy for a number of years, he's an absolute asshat who thinks he's above everyone else. I know I shouldn't let him get under my skin, sometimes it's hard for me to hold back and just ignore him.

 

[Shane Adams]

This guy is an idiot, and I'd love the opportunity to tell him so to his face. The reality of chasing is, 99.9% of the time, it is NOT a "life-threatening, dangerous" situation. It's usually one tornado in the middle of nowhere with 1000 chasers covering it well. So the tornado hits nothing and is reported 99.9% of the time. The other .1% of the time, you have 1000 chase vehicles being noticed by locals who might otherwise have no clue there's a weather threat in the area. Wow, I'd say we're doing a service out there, but who am I to bring up the good stuff chasers do in an era of folks wanting to make us bastards.

The guy you quoted is an ass, and probably couldn't get la#d in a women's prison with a pocketful of pardons.

EDIT: I just sent a first-person version of this reply to that board, after a much-labored effort to even join the damn thing. Let's see how long I last on there.

 

[Joey Ketcham]

EDIT: I just sent a first-person version of this reply to that board, after a much-labored effort to even join the damn thing. Let's see how long I last on there.

Great reply to him, lol. That guys is such an idiot, and the fact that I use to work with him and knew him personally makes it even worse because that's the way he really is.

 

[Brandon Goforth]

I would tell him I had sex with his wife.

LOL! Or maybe..."the jerk store called...they're running out of YOU!" Just one of the many classic quotes from Seinfeld. Well, chasers are needed out there, it's really simple. We need to have live ground reports and confirmation to help pinpoint severe weather, so that those reports can be used to better warn the public of potentially dangerous weather situations. Anyone who says otherwise is an idiot. Many law enforcement officers also act as spotters during severe weather, but most of them hardly know what they're doing or what they're even looking for. Not to mention that many chasers also aid in storm research. Now, on the flip side, I can see how the "hobby-ists" out there chasing might be looked at by the public as acting a little foolishly. I mean, from a pure common sense stand point...spending hundreds and even thousands of dollars on gas and equipment to go chase severe storms in hopes of getting to see something cool is stupid. When you think about it, it just is. HOWEVER, I love severe weather and I also fall into that "hobbyist" category, and I'm out there as much as possible, so let it be known that I am one of the stupid ones. But that's not to say that some amount of good can come out of what I do whenever I'm calling in observations out in the middle of no where. Point being is that some contribute way more than others, but to say that chasers in general contribute nothing is absolutely ridiculous.

 

[Jeremy Miller]

In response to the persons remarks about storm chasers. 1st of all not every storm chaser is reckless. Yes, in the last several years, since the debut of Twister, storm chasing has become a popular pass time. The main danger I believe comes from those who have a fantacy to expierence the thrill of mother nature at her worst. Some of these people who are going out chasing after seeing twister, tend to know little of severe weather. What little they may know is what they took from "Twister" and/or other videos on the subject. 2ndly, storm chasers contribute a vast amount of information not only to the public, but to the scientific community through their videos and pictures of chases. I also believe most dedicated storm chasers are out pursuing their passion for weather and have a great healthy respect for the power of severe weather.

Yes, there has been an increase in inappropriate behavior out there by "storm chasers" however, this type of behavior shouldn't be expected
from every chaser. What should people do when they see a "chase vehicle" driving and acting inappropriate?. Note the license plate, make, model of car and what type of behavior is happening and report it to the local law enforcement agency. People need to learn that storm chasers and spotters although out on the storms for differing motives all typically have on common goal. To help warn those in the path of severe weather.

We will never totally get rid of the "yahoo" problem, but hopefully
through public education, we can help the public to see that most
chasers are there out of respect for the weather and have a general
concern for the public when severe weather is headed their way or is on their door step. Keep up the hard but rewarding work guys.

Take care,
Jeremy

 

[David Drummond]

I mean, from a pure common sense stand point...spending hundreds and even thousands of dollars on gas and equipment to go chase severe storms in hopes of getting to see something cool is stupid.

If you applied that thinking to just about every other tourist attraction in the world, they would all seems stupid to someone. We have to realise that many people don't understand our facination of storms. Just like there things other people do for recreational fun and pastime that we may think the same thing about.

Clearly the guy that posted that has limited knowledge about storm chasing and has preconceptions he bases his comments on. and made some ill-informed comments that made him look like an ass. Good example of why anyone should know what they are talking about before they make strong comments about it.

 

[Dan Robinson]

I really don't think chasers spend that much more than other people do on their pasttimes. I have friends that are going to Italy for a week and are spending $2500 each to do it. Golfers can spend $3000 on a set of clubs and thousands more if they play often through the season. People in to fishing spend $6,000-$10,000 on boats that they might use once or twice a year. People spend tens of thousands on beach condos that they might spend a month a year at best. My friends who are private pilots spent $6,000 to get their licenses and rent planes for $100-$200 an hour. RC planes. Model trains. Motorcycles. You name it, most people have hobbies that cost just as much as, maybe even more than, storm chasing does.

I don't understand why people can't do things they enjoy without others looking down at it and/or finding a reason to criticize it.

 

[Eric Flescher]

how about the money for the BBQ people

I am a certified BBQ judge and judge and table captain several contests each summer.
Good people, great BBQ (most of the time) and a lot of fun. But the people who travel the circuit for the different contests (there are dozens and dozens in Kansas, MO and the country) spend thousands for the meat, rigs, BBQ grills , gas for cars, fees to get into the contests and more.
I have to hand it to them as they are very dedicated people. But the money they put is absolutely amazing.On the food channel in the recent days they had a BBQ contest in Las Vegas. One BBQ was a a humongous giant gleaming metal armadillo (animal) with a grill inside of course.
I have a weber portable BBQ griller that does great stuff that pales in comparison to what they pros have.

By the way the Lenexa BBQ State Championship in Lenexa Sa-ko-park (spelling) takes place next Sat and Sunday. Music, food , taste samples of the BBQ people . I might be judging unless storms come up or I have family stuff to do.

 

[Brandon Goforth]

If you applied that thinking to just about every other tourist attraction in the world, they would all seems stupid to someone. We have to realise that many people don't understand our facination of storms.

That's true, and the vast majority of the public are always going to look at storm chasers as being a little "weird"...just like I look at sky-divers and race car enthusiasts as being a little weird. As far as the guys' comment about storm chasers not contributing at all, well I think to fully understand the importance of storm chasers, you have to have somewhat of an understanding of weather operations and severe weather in general. And since everyone who lives in tornado alley seems to think they know everything about severe weather when they really don't, then obviously there are going to be comments like this out there.

 

[David Schuttler]

Contribute nothing?
In this video grab link http://australiasevereweather.com/video/stills/2007/0504jd309.jpg
From Jimmy Deguara's account of Greensburg ,you'll see a pick up blocked by powerlines. The driver of this truck was coordinating helicopters by radio for Greensburg and needed to get there. It was a couple of us non-contributing chasers that got those lines cut so he could get there.
There were plenty more that night who contributed even more, by being out there in our non-contributing ways

 

[MatthewCarman]

I guess when I donated 50$ to charity for the "Stormsof2006" charity DvD and all of the other members who sent money to the non profit charity DvD it is not contributing to our country trying to make this a safer place for people to live huh?

That guys does not understand or know what he is talking about and does not care. Stormsof2006 Charity DvD clearly proves we do contribute.

Thanks to Verne Carlson for making Stormsof2006 possible!

 

[Adam Lucio]

Ive also donated by ordering the storms of 2006 DVDs.

I dont have much to add that already hasnt been said.

Granted all of us arent Einstein educated scientific researchers but Im sure most of us at leaste call in reports to the NWS or spotter network, that information is very important, Im told that it can even go as far as if someone tries to submit a false insurance claim based on weather, that information can be used to verify that yes it WAS baseball size hail that dented the car instead of someones crazy ex-girlfriend.