Had an interesting experience tonight.

I was at an area near my house called the Bethlehem Steel Stacks. It is a huge row of abandoned blast furnaces that have been historically preserved. It was a foggy night so i was taking some pictures of the furnaces from outside.

I began hearing some noises coming from the furnaces, and it was easy to hear seeing as it was 2 am and there was nobody else in sight. I shrugged it off. Then I started hearing it more often, things falling from being disturbed, coughing, laughing. I even began hearing voices. It was pretty obvious people had gotten into the Steel Stacks.

I chuckled to myself about their poor stealth methods and continued snapping my pictures, thinking how cool it must be in there. I figured they were mature explorers and being an explorer myself, I wasn't gonna ruin their good time. At one point I was even gonna yell up to them and say don't worry about me, keep exploring.

Suddenly I heard a loud bang and a bunch of laughter, what sounded like them throwing rocks down the ladders and such. It got to me a bit but I just continued minding my business. They apparently started to get more cocky and take more risks because they began talking louder and even began addressing me. They were making "booing" noises to act like ghosts and then began shouting profanity. For about 3 minutes straight as I was taking pictures I listened to "Hey faggot!" They obviously were not the mature explorers I originally took them for. They seemed like bratty teenagers and had no issue shouting at me thinking I couldn't reach them. I was doing a great job of keeping my cool and minding my business but after another straight minute of smashing noises and vulgarity I decided to do something.

I yelled up that I was going to mind my business because I explore myself, but because they were acting like such dicks that I was calling the cops. That shut them up real quick. Now I didn't actually call the cops, but I wanted them to think I did so the destructive brats would leave.


Some of you may disagree with me threatening to call the cops, I see it as showing them to learn some respect and to be more stealthy in any future explores.


The location for reference:


And in fact after looking at one of the pictures and zooming in I found one of the little assholes lol:

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So, have you guys ever run into destructive or belligerent explorers? What would or do you do in that situation?

I'd probably start throwing shit with them

Urban explorer is a self-claimed title. Just because there are other people in an abandoned place doesn't mean they're explorers. They probably had no idea what you were talking about.

Posted by Steed Urban explorer is a self-claimed title. Just because there are other people in an abandoned place doesn't mean they're explorers. They probably had no idea what you were talking about.

preach

But crazy shot of the place, the purple lighting is too cool. Grandmother used to work there way back in the day. Damn shame such hooligans can't respect a piece of history.

Assholes... that isn't a place you want to be messing around to get caught either as I have heard it is a pretty steep fine and they don't mess around.

It's also very different if you find yourself inside a building with others who won't shut up or are destructive. That sucks.

If you told them to shut it and stop yelling at you and they kept it up, then by all means you should've called the cops on them.

I've had 2 instances where I ran into other people who were not the owner, and both times I puffed myself up like a proverbial puffer fish.

One time I was in my car and a truck of scrappers came down the long driveway (thankfully I hadn't gotten out yet). They had driven around the locked gate I was parked in front of. I figured if they were supposed to be there, they would come and ask ME what I was doing there. I had a mind to get out and question them, but instead I took out a piece of paper and pen, looked squarely at the driver, and started jotting down their plate number. As soon as I did that, they roared around the other side of the gate and bolted!

Another time I was photographing a house and a couple pulled into the driveway. I approached them and asked if they needed any help. They said they had an antique shop and really wanted a door from the home. I informed them that they should come back during normal business hours and ask the people next door about purchasing it (I had no clue what I was talking about). I told them the home is owned and being renovated (which turned out the be true) and therefore not a free for all. They took me at my word and left. I also asked them for their names.

In your example, the situation was a little more dicey...industrial, hoodlums, you're alone. I would have left, but only because I'm a girl and don't want to end up stuffed down a shaft. I do know my limitations!

Can't wait to see what MikeD has to say on this one.

I think its a case by case type of thing. A lot of variables to consider; how many of them, how many you, chance of escalation to a fight etc.

Specifically, in your situation you did the right thing. Being that they were high up it could've been real easy for them to throw something at you that could have done major damage.

Posted by Tarrant I'd probably start throwing shit at them

FIXED

light them on fire.

Have also done the throw things at them.

Just don't snitch unless it's necessary (read: arson). No one likes a snitch trying to compare one crime (trespassing) to another (vandalism).

The only time I've ever encountered a dicey situation was when some morons set fire to part of a large mill we were exploring whilst me and my mate were inside, just before we noticed it was on fire he spotted them out one of the windows at ground level, shortly after that we heard a large amount of crashing and banging coming from somewhere down below us in the building and then saw the slowly intensifying smoke...and got the hell out of there and phoned the fire service.

Posted by fortress In your example, the situation was a little more dicey...industrial, hoodlums, you're alone. I would have left, but only because I'm a girl and don't want to end up stuffed down a shaft. I do know my limitations!

It wasn't so much I was afraid of them. I knew all they were was a bunch of stupid 17-18 year olds. It was really just a matter of this particular location is huge and a pain to sneak into. You basically have to park blocks away and walk all the way down. It just wasn't worth me sneaking in and risking getting caught just to confront these guys lol.

They knew that as well, thats why they were yelling at me. Basically pulling a "haha you can't get me" move.

Posted by shotgun mario light them on fire. Have also done the throw things at them. Just don't snitch unless it's necessary (read: arson). No one likes a snitch trying to compare one crime (trespassing) to another (vandalism).

Yeah I wasn't planning on it. I didn't really care much about them but I wouldn't call the cops just because I felt it would bring even more attention to this already difficult to sneak into location.

First off, cool shots. I've been meaning to get over there at some point for some photos.

I think you did good with the situation. A threat like that is enough to get them to go, while lessening the risk to yourself.

Their noise would have also increased your chances of getting busted.

Posted by fortress I informed them that they should come back during normal business hours and ask the people next door about purchasing it (I had no clue what I was talking about).

I love this story. The best defense is a good offense.

If I were more unscrupulous, I'm sure that equipped with a clipboard I could convince most security guards that I'm the site manager, and that they're fired.

Run into people all the time.
It's a big mean world out there.

Posted by billgeorge I love this story. The best defense is a good offense. If I were more unscrupulous, I'm sure that equipped with a clipboard I could convince most security guards that I'm the site manager, and that they're fired.

I've had a good long time to figure out ways to be menacing without physically being a monster haha! In this hobby, the most feared person is sometimes the property owner (a close second after hobo with a shotgun). I have friends who actually do bring along a clipboard, hardhat and safety vest to sneak through demo crews. That tactic wouldn't work for me though ;)

Posted by shotgun mario Just don't snitch unless it's necessary (read: arson). No one likes a snitch trying to compare one crime (trespassing) to another (vandalism).

Preach it son, snitches get stitches.

I once walked in on a group of taggers with absolutely no skill. I later noticed a woman on her phone giving me "the look" so I just left without telling the other guys. Whether or not the cops caught them, I really don't care.

I'd drop kick them all. Then snitch.

Snitches get stitches is BS and nothing more than a meme. Come at me unethical-bro you'll karma-lose at the end of the game, every time, guaranteed.

On the other hand, if I'm not on LSD I'd probably just hide & run away like a pansy.

Posted by Turd Furgusen Can't wait to see what MikeD has to say on this one.

lol, im sure your not the only one




My early days of going into abandoned buildings, I drunkenly smashed the heck out of them and laughed my butt off, once I learned about this thing called urbex, I smashed places up a little less... as I passed from my 20's into my 30's I didnt smash anything anymore...


as far as seeing someone break up a place. Doesn't bother me. I dont own the place im breaking into, I dont care what others do to it, im not one of these people who keep going to the same place over and over again, the word exploring to me means seeing new things, not rehashing the same place and crying because others don't have a UER account and arn't up to date on the ethics newsletters some people around here seem like they type up...


yeah it sucks, but the world is a cold place... and your never going to stop it from happening, as I type this up right now someone somewhere is breaking something in some abandoned building, and spray painting something on a wall...

only bored lonely people get their panties in a bunch about it...

Live and let live..