attn: skywarn, fema, chaser people...

pawlee · #1 Postby **pawlee** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:38 am

been lurking around various places on the net and have come to a rather disturbing conclusion about something. now that storm chasing has become trendy with the masses thanks in part to television, there are a number of people treating this thing like a competitive sport. those i've observed first squabble about the forecast and then head out to "bag" something. armed with the latest digital recording technology, it's like some of these guys are out for blood; hoping to crush their fellow observer. the entire premise of running anything down is to provide advanced warning to the public but now it seems that goal has fallen by the wayside. i'm really disappointed in this but i guess it's just the times we live in. how much do you want to bet that someone is going to come up with a storm chaser tournament to be aired on ESPN? and your thoughts..? p

(yeah, i like to follow wx and take pictures but you won't see me going "nah n nah n nah" as what i do is in conjunction with my reporting to to our local wx service. anyone that runs down storms to feed an ego needs to get a life...)

#2 Postby **vbhoutex** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 11:41 am

MOST DEFINITELY DISTURBING PAUL AND UNFORTUNATELY I FEEL YOU ARE TOO CORRECT HERE!!! I hope i do not run into anyone when I am "chasing" that is like that-I will have a hard time holding myself back!!! It goes right along with a discussion I had with BarometerBob this weekend by phone-WHY CAN'T EVERYONE REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO COMPETITION HERE? WE ARE HERE FOR OUR LOVE OF WEATHER AND FOR OUR DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS(MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE)! Weather prediction, weather watching, storm chasing etc. IS NOT A COMPETITION!!

pawlee · #3 Postby **pawlee** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:18 pm

case in point btw... i was at a recent spotter training session and aside from the lack of info as to HOW folks are to report their observations, i overheard numerous ham radio guys "dissing" each other. i mean what the heck is the point? some of these guys looked like they could hardly roll of the couch but then they wonder why no one backs them or takes any of them serious. it was a very disturbing experience to say the least. in saying "hi" to a few people, i got an air of cocky attitude like "i'm mr. big bad weather guy, how dare you talk to me..." like i said, people who chase storms or follow weather to fuel an ego need to go... p

Guest · #4 Postby **Guest** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:23 pm

vbhoutex wrote:MOST DEFINITELY DISTURBING PAUL AND UNFORTUNATELY I FEEL YOU ARE TOO CORRECT HERE!!! I hope i do not run into anyone when I am "chasing" that is like that-I will have a hard time holding myself back!!! It goes right along with a discussion I had with BarometerBob this weekend by phone-WHY CAN'T EVERYONE REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO COMPETITION HERE? WE ARE HERE FOR OUR LOVE OF WEATHER AND FOR OUR DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS(MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE)! Weather prediction, weather watching, storm chasing etc. IS NOT A COMPETITION!!

Very well stated David! I couldnt have said that better myself. But yeah you and Pawlee are both correct unfortunatly as i have seen this myself at various sites i go to with the competition! Its sickening!

Either way i agree 100% with both of you guy's and anyone out there for this sort of thing needs to get thier head examined!

Guest · #5 Postby **Guest** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 3:33 pm

pawlee wrote:case in point btw... i was at a recent spotter training session and aside from the lack of info as to HOW folks are to report their observations, i overheard numerous ham radio guys "dissing" each other. i mean what the heck is the point? some of these guys looked like they could hardly roll of the couch but then they wonder why no one backs them or takes any of them serious. it was a very disturbing experience to say the least. in saying "hi" to a few people, i got an air of cocky attitude like "i'm mr. big bad weather guy, how dare you talk to me..." like i said, people who chase storms or follow weather to fuel an ego need to go... p

Now that is sad! Kinda funny i think i was the only one at my meeting that wasnt a Ham radio operator. However i didnt pick up on that sort of thing thankfully even though not a one of them said a thing to me. I just yapped with the guy from nws. He was pretty nice.

therock1811 · #6 Postby **therock1811** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 4:00 pm

king of weather wrote:
vbhoutex wrote:MOST DEFINITELY DISTURBING PAUL AND UNFORTUNATELY I FEEL YOU ARE TOO CORRECT HERE!!! I hope i do not run into anyone when I am "chasing" that is like that-I will have a hard time holding myself back!!! It goes right along with a discussion I had with BarometerBob this weekend by phone-WHY CAN'T EVERYONE REALIZE THAT THERE IS NO COMPETITION HERE? WE ARE HERE FOR OUR LOVE OF WEATHER AND FOR OUR DESIRE TO HELP OTHERS(MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE)! Weather prediction, weather watching, storm chasing etc. IS NOT A COMPETITION!!

Very well stated David! I couldnt have said that better myself. But yeah you and Pawlee are both correct unfortunatly as i have seen this myself at various sites i go to with the competition! Its sickening!

Either way i agree 100% with both of you guy's and anyone out there for this sort of thing needs to get thier head examined!

EXACTLY! I'm not gonna be in it for fun...no I'll be in it to help others...I really do hate that this is the kind of thing that happens and I too believe that anyone out there just to get a boost really needs a thorough head exam and if they still do it for competition then they shouldn't be there at all, sorry but that's just how I see things!

breeze · #7 Postby **breeze** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:37 pm

Very good discussion, pawlee! Very good input
from David, King, and Jeremy, as well!

It's absolutely essential to remember your goal -
"to protect life and property", with Life being
first! I am not a ham, nor, a chaser. My
observations are "backyard", in nature, or what I
see on the drive to work and back. But, all of us,
Hams, chasers, and spotters are very important
to saving those lives. It is absolutely essential
that we all work, together, to meet that goal.
And, yes - some people are in it for the "sport" -
some people are in it for the "I am important"
aspect. Like mentioned, if EGO is in it, it isn't
going to help anyone. Azskyman mentioned in
the previous newsletter "just report what you
see"...that's the best advice - no bones about it!

Very good topic!

tomboudreau · #8 Postby **tomboudreau** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 8:52 pm

Great discussion. I have to also agree that running any kind of competition to see who can bag "the big one" really needs to have their head checked out seriously. Can you just imagine the field day someone could have if someone gets killed or serious injured if they are only out there to gloat about catching the big one on film. These people need to understand this is weather, this isn't some sport. People die because the weather. When I was at the training at the beginning of the month, Rich Kane (WCM for Pittsburgh) made it known on many times, that we don't live in the plains, that we have hills and lots of them, and if your out chasing, you need to be aware of your surroundings. This is just my 2 cents worth.

#9 Postby **vbhoutex** » Mon Mar 22, 2004 9:28 pm

There were several hams at our training too and I must say there was a little of an air of arrogance with some of them, but I also knew one of them since he is my famillies AC man too. But they do seem to think that if you don't have a ham you aren't much. Hey, it is their problem.

Steve's and Breezes's words are well taken by everyone!! I may chase, but it is with an experienced chaser who has the equipment and the knowledge. But above all as spotters what Breeze and Steve says is right on and exactly what we were told by the NWS guy at our training.

pawlee · #10 Postby **pawlee** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 4:04 am

vbhoutex wrote:There were several hams at our training too and I must say there was a little of an air of arrogance with some of them, but I also knew one of them since he is my famillies AC man too. But they do seem to think that if you don't have a ham you aren't much. Hey, it is their problem.

i've been fortunate to be involved in testing a new program by the NWS called espotter. it boils down to real time communication to the NWS via the internet and does appear to be going in a direction they are most favoring. i know there are alot of great hams out there however it has been in following some problems locally that is why i chose to not get involved. it is a shame what is happening to ham radio these days with increased governmental takeover of amateur radio venues. all the more reason hams would need to be vigilant in keeping a positive public image. i would bet many here involved in amateur radio are very frustrated with some people's attitude for knowing firsthand the difficulties present day amateur radio faces. even still, there are those who don't care thus providing a disservice and this not only for amateur radio but storm spotting, chasing and reporting. interestingly, as i've chatted with a couple people at our local wx office, some guys in my region who are known for chasing aren't even known by the wx service because they fail to report... go figure. going to all the trouble and expense of running down a storm and for what... the glory? someone is going to capitalize on a chaser tournament, you watch... "survivor; the great plains epic".

StormCrazyIowan · #11 Postby **StormCrazyIowan** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 12:55 pm

Great discussion! I don't know any hams, and I hope I never run into any arrogant people like you speak of! I know they are out there and just hope I can keep my distance! I won't lie to you all, the feeling that I get when I chase compares to how some would feel about skydiving; HOWEVER, I would never put myself in harm's way over something like glory!! I am there to help out in any way that I possibly can to keep people safe- and if I just so happen to get a few nice pictures on the ride, then great!

WXBUFFJIM · #12 Postby **WXBUFFJIM** » Tue Mar 23, 2004 6:54 pm

StormCrazyIowan wrote:Great discussion! I don't know any hams, and I hope I never run into any arrogant people like you speak of! I know they are out there and just hope I can keep my distance! I won't lie to you all, the feeling that I get when I chase compares to how some would feel about skydiving; HOWEVER, I would never put myself in harm's way over something like glory!! I am there to help out in any way that I possibly can to keep people safe- and if I just so happen to get a few nice pictures on the ride, then great!

That's a good way to look at it and a great perspective. To do what you love to do by observing severe wx and helping the public with advanced warning at the same time couldn't be any better. The feeling is just amazing. I just need to be certified as a NWS Skywarn spotter. But that's something I always wanted to do and hope to accomplish soon, especially now that severe weather season is very near!!! It's finally feeling like spring also!!!

Jim

attn: skywarn, fema, chaser people...

attn: skywarn, fema, chaser people...

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