KC Confidential

The answer to the above question: yes and no…

It’s one I had to ask myself for like the zillionth time after reviewing that new twister flick that opens today, Into the Storm.

I’ll get to the movie review a little later.

It’s the ongoing glorification of the mostly dudes who drag around Oklahoma, Kansas and other tornado riddled states chasing twisters for either what passes for research, fun and/or money that jumped out at me. Because it appears to be reaching almost epidemic levels.

As in, anybody and everybody seems to feel like they can do it.

Mostly for grins, although there is a highly vocal minority of “serious” storm chasers who consider themselves to be legit in the same way as fireman and police.

That’s a bit of a stretch to me. Nonetheless, the bottom line is that news networks like CNN – starved for sexy video footage to compliment its amped up storm coverage -and reality shows like the Discovery Channel‘s Storm Chasers have begun championing the practice, sport, whatever you want to call it.

Net result: more and more inexperienced thrill seekers are joining in the fun.

First let’s pin down what we’re talking about:

“Storm chasing is broadly defined as the pursuit of any severe weather condition, regardless of motive, which can be curiosity, adventure, scientific investigation, or for news or media coverage,” according to Wikipedia. “A person who chases storms is known as a storm chaser, or simply a chaser. While witnessing a tornado is the single biggest objective for most chasers, many chase thunderstorms and delight in viewing cumulonimbus and related cloud structures, watching a barrage of  hail and lightning and seeing what skycaps unfold.”

And while most so-called experts agree it’s mostly about “thrill seeking” (as depicted in the new movie), “pecuniary interests and competition” may also be involved.

In other words, money and sport. Continue reading →