The Lights Are Bright In Dighton

The last post was a positive experience regarding a storm chaser. The following post also received on that chaser's mailing list goes the other direction of sorts - actually kind of funny when you visualize what he describes in your own Mind's Eye.

" On Tuesday, May 22, I was near Dighton, KS watching a towering cumulus grow into what would later become the supercell that crossed I-70 west of Wakeeny(sp). I went into town to get some gas and found only one station (actually a convenience store). As I arrived, a chaser convoy pulled in. There were several vehicles with the same sign on their doors, a DOW unit and an unusual-looking gray vehicle. I know who they are but don't see any reason to name names. That's not the point of this post.Some of the vehicles lined up at the pumps. There was at least one other vehicle parked in front of the store that may or may not have been with the convoy.
Meanwhile, a group of at least 20 chasers gathered in the parking lot. There was a video crew with a camera operator, boom operator (with long boom and big mic) and a couple assistants, or so. The video crew was running around shooting somebody in the group. During this time, I noticed that the convoy, and group of chasers, had blocked access to the convenience store. A line of citizen vehicles was starting to form on the street. Some citizens were trying to drive out of the parking lot but were at least partially blocked in. The folks on the street were getting unhappy. To me, it looked like a Hollywood production came to town and just set up shop without asking permission first. Some big cities actually require a permit for this.
Now, we all need gas. But, the problem with this situation was at least some of the chasers were self-absorbed in their own world and not paying attention to the real world. It was selfish and embarrassing.If you want to be a responsible chaser, you need to respect the citizens in the communities you pass through. It is their home. You are their guest. Please don't continue to degrade the reputation of chasers. Be courteous, kind, and thoughtful."

"Martin Lisius "
___________________________________