I'm going to go ahead and put it all out on the table, and actually tell you all everything you need to know about me. Apparently it would be unwise to continue on with anybody having any misconception about who I am or what I do out there. This is a thread to fully explain my moral standard and lines of code when operating in the dark. Since 2X put me up for FM, which I can see may have been a prank, I'd like to make myself clear before that decision is made.

Who I am: I'm 26, father of two, and I work in construction. I've been doing construction for 6 years, fatherhood for 10, and urbexing for 5. I'm very goal-driven with a taste for the historical and grand. I like to spend a lot of time at locations to get the best shots I can come up with. I'd like to use my time urbexing as an outlet for photographic, and maybe one day, documentary based media. I'm a simple guy. I work, come home to my family, take care of my chickens, play video games and guitar, and I drink blended scotch whiskey from a bourbon glass.

Why I explore: Somewhere in 12-years-old, I noticed that the abandoned buildings where I lived looked pretty cool. I found that "pretty cool" later translated into "fuckin beautiful". It wasn't until I was about 18 that I actually set foot in my foot abandoned building; the shell of J.C. Penny from the old Belle Promenade mall in Marrero not far from the city.

I was in complete awe. It was spectacular. This building was about 4 stories of nothingness, with a large sky opening in the middle going all the way up. My first day, I was scared. Not of the sprawling darkness, the drips and flutters that could mask any foot step, not even of hurting myself and not having any help. I was scared to leave, and go back into society. I was scared to reclaim my briefly surrendered civilian ways and move on with the blurry rail-system of everyday life. Once again being visibly part of a nation under "God", and above the starving and lost.

J.C. Penny would see it's long predicated end and I would be blue-balled for years, only having Urbex experiences once or twice by happenstance. Until I found a crew that went through many names until it became the NOLA Urbex Group ( FB ). It's with them that I broke ground into the most prolific scenes that New Orleans had to offer. However, this was not enough for me. I would later realize that the optimal outlet for me would be photography. And so I got my hands on a little $200 point-and-click and I went absolutely bat-shit insane for a good half year of exploring every weekend. Could be arrogance but I was convinced that I had found every corner this small city has to offer. The problem was, after my first good year of exploring the crew that I would run with had ran their course with the hobby.

I had learned to appreciate what I had taken away from the group but I wasn't finished. Not by a long shot. Not for years, would I stop. I explored alone for a brief period of time and while I enjoyed being undetectable and being able to control my tour, I began to see a number of problems in that method. So I decided to put together my own band of geeks: The Specter Group.

THE SPECTER GROUP is a group I lead with a set of morals and procedures: The Specter Enchiridion (Enchiridion was missing from the spell-check dictionary). Laugh, if you will, but I hardly see anybody doing what we do and having such readiness. These rules keep us safe, undetected, and within the realm of plausible deniability. There are 4 of us with the group never being short or extra a member. If a member drops out, he is replaced with a suitable proxy. Among the 4 of us, we spend some extra time developing or refining tactics practice the Specter Code in every breath while we're on a mission.

So, I've been roaming the Big Easy day in and day out, constantly investigating in order to keep track of what this city has to offer, while investigating any unhealthy elements wandering in the dark and undisturbed.

CRIMES

Trespassing: The only thing I'll risk trespassing from is for an abandoned location. I will not drain, or roof top, or sky scraper infiltration, houses, new construction, partially constructed or demolished. Only completely abandoned locations. Although dressing up in my construction clothes and playing the part has crossed my mind.

Breaking and Entering: This depends. If it's the hospital or the power plant, I've climbed to the second of third stories and tugged on plywood until I found a hidden POE. If it's the chateau, then no. I'll jump through an open window but I won't bother otherwise. The difference here is differing the status of "city refuse" vs "preserved history". Worst case scenario: If I can't back out some screws and be done with it, it's too dirty and I won't waste time.

Theft: Apparently, all the damn time. I have a habit of picking up souvenirs at locations significant enough, while only doing so in ways I believe would be inconsequential to the enjoyment of a location. I've collected a strip of film from the movie "Waiting" in a movie theater, a desk plate from a military base, a photograph of a hospital I was exploring, and a key chain from Six Flags. This is literally the extent of which I've collected from all location over the years.

Vandalism: Once. I found a backpack full of somebody's spray cans and decided to start wrecking them, until I got the bright idea to spray my handle on the fucking wall. It was a moment of passion that came in the heat of the moment, on our way to ex-filtrate the location. An action that I regretted almost as soon as I did it.

Evasion: This is a reality. I've ditched security a few times but I've only ever dodged police. When it comes to police, I'll try to get around them, hide from them, or wait them out. If I were already out of the location and in the city, it's real easy to slip into the crowd and disappear forever. But being approached in a location by NOPD will warrant an immediate shut-down of the Specter attitude. But NOPD entering a location is an absolute far cry. I'll have to do a written piece about these hall-uh-fame patriots, here.

I acknowledge that the very essence of my actions is what's being judged here, rather than the detrimental effect of my actions which is a moral system i'm more used to being subject to. Outside of all that long talk, I don't perform any amount of destruction. I've actually called the cops on two different groups at the power plant here in New Orleans for, in fewer words, wanton destruction. I don't graffiti or tag, and I don't operate with anybody who does. The crew I was christened in would use B&E tactics, such as backing screws out of a door or window, or modifying chain link. These are habits that I did not continue.

I want the Specter group to run on a cleaner format than what i'm used to, but infiltration is ultimately what the courts will say you're doing. That will come with or without sparing the dirt on your hands. I'm grown and I know the legal ramifications of my actions and I have my lines drawn. So far, I can say i'm fortunate enough to see the horizons of my hobby are far and full due to the strict nature of Specter ideology. I take it very seriously because of that, I have avoided trouble by a long way. Maybe i'll get into that one day but in lame man's terms; quiet, quick, clean, invisible.

I don't do what I do for social gain. That's why the code names, and the bandannas, and the wanna-be military attitude. I DON'T want people to know who I am because one day I want to explore castle, ancient city ruins, even abandoned cities around the world. And you can't do that with a big YouTube following that ends up landing you an indictment. Like Adamthewoo.

My purpose in UER is to become a part of something larger than myself, and this seems like a good place to land. I want to be a part of something. I want to share what I've seen with everybody else. The DB has been a longstanding dream of mine simply because of the possibility that I would be adding for posterity. But seeing my work out there is going to be what does it for me. I won't say i'll be satisfied with my time as an explorer but i'll definitely be able to say I finally got somewhere and that I can relax a little.

However I've come to realize that my actions, no matter how small I believe them to be, don't appeal to many here. I'm not gonna lie about myself. Saying all this isn't a "billy badass" statement. I'm letting you know who I am. I'll even tell you my name, Jack Spicer. Not that it matters much, but now you know. If these traits stop me from FM, then maybe i'll just have to work on it but i'll start with honesty.

I appreciate your honesty, but just go back to posting some new photos. You're posting all this in a public forum as if you were writing to a Mod. Joe Explorer doesn't need to know all this stuff and doesn't have time to care.

Not everyone is going to like you, especially when you are new. Choose to look up to a few people on here who have some years under their belt, hear and acknowledge that some shit is stupid to do, try not to do it, and leave it at that. You can do most of all that in your head.

Welcome to the site and try to enjoy some anonymity like most of the rest of us on here.

Posted by skatchkins I appreciate your honesty, but just go back to posting some new photos. You're posting all this in a public forum as if you were writing to a Mod. Joe Explorer doesn't need to know all this stuff and doesn't have time to care. Not everyone's going to like you, especially when you're knew. Choose to look up to a few people on here who have some years under their belt, hear and acknowledge that some shit is stupid to do, try not to do it, and leave it at that. You can do most of all that in your head. I've already written too many words myself. Welcome to the site and try to enjoy some anonymity like most of the rest of us on here.

Don't get me wrong, this is more than I care to share. But I want this enough to make the personal time investment. I'm deleting it in a couple days to retain my enigma. I'm not trying to be somebody here, just trying to do something. Ya know? Thanks.

Maybe I'm out of the loop and don't spend enough time here outside of my regional forum and the photography page - so I have no idea why you've felt the need to tell us all of this as though people want to know.

No one is really paying that much attention or thinking of you that much to really care to know this much about you....or anyone for that matter.

I'm with skatchkins, just do your thing, learn from those who are experienced and come into your own naturally with time.

But what do I know!?

Posted by skatchkins I appreciate your honesty, but just go back to posting some new photos. You're posting all this in a public forum as if you were writing to a Mod. Joe Explorer doesn't need to know all this stuff and doesn't have time to care. Not everyone is going to like you, especially when you are new. Choose to look up to a few people on here who have some years under their belt, hear and acknowledge that some shit is stupid to do, try not to do it, and leave it at that. You can do most of all that in your head. Welcome to the site and try to enjoy some anonymity like most of the rest of us on here. https://www.waccoe...9d2fb1184acbef.gif[/eimg]

He's being less than honest.
Look at joker's post history to fully understand this.
And this:
http://www.uer.ca/...=1&threadid=126762

The thread that sunk a couple ships and look what joker posted. So then I asked 'the question' and things really imploded.
Not content with that abortion he made this new bastard thread. Add to that he was up for FM before he posted all this shit in spite of what 2Xplorations said.

Yeah, I was testing joker and was on the fence about recommending him until he went all looney tunes. Meh, strike.
This all happened mostly today... kids.

Posted by blackhawk He's being less than honest. Look at joker's post history to fully understand this. And this: http://www.uer.ca/...=1&threadid=126762 The thread that sunk a couple ships and look what joker posted. So then I asked 'the question' and things really imploded. Not content with that abortion he made this new bastard thread. Add to that he was up for FM before he posted all this shit in spite of what 2Xplorations said. Yeah, I was testing joker and was on the fence about recommending him until he went all looney tunes. Meh, strike. This all happened mostly today... kids.

Wow. So much for trying to clear the air. And to think I could have been a worse guy hiding under a brighter flag.

This is the most drama I've seen in nearly a month!

Posted by JokerSpecter THE SPECTER GROUP is a group I lead with a set of morals and procedures: The Specter Enchiridion (Enchiridion was missing from the spell-check dictionary). Laugh, if you will, but I hardly see anybody doing what we do and having such readiness. These rules keep us safe, undetected, and within the realm of plausible deniability. There are 4 of us with the group never being short or extra a member. If a member drops out, he is replaced with a suitable proxy. Among the 4 of us, we spend some extra time developing or refining tactics practice the Specter Code in every breath while we're on a mission.

Everyone on this site knows that the urbex community is a just bunch of amateur photographers with a penchant for rule bending, not some super secret elite black ops division. If you want to be taken seriously, drop the tacticool crap. Nobody's impressed.

Posted by JokerSpecter Vandalism: Once. I found a backpack full of somebody's spray cans and decided to start wrecking them, until I got the bright idea to spray my handle on the fucking wall. It was a moment of passion that came in the heat of the moment, on our way to ex-filtrate the location. An action that I regretted almost as soon as I did it.

So you're admitting to vandalizing locations, doing it often enough that you have your own tag, and having so little self control that looking at a spray can is enough to get you to toss your morals out the window?

Posted by JokerSpecter Wow. So much for trying to clear the air. And to think I could have been a worse guy hiding under a brighter flag.

So we should let this crap slide because at least you're not a scrapper?

Looks like it's about that time again.

Posted by Aran This is the most drama I've seen in nearly a month! Everyone on this site knows that the urbex community is a just bunch of amateur photographers with a penchant for rule bending, not some super secret elite black ops division. If you want to be taken seriously, drop the tacticool crap. Nobody's impressed. So you're admitting to vandalizing locations, doing it often enough that you have your own tag, and having so little self control that looking at a spray can is enough to get you to toss your morals out the window? So we should let this crap slide because at least you're not a scrapper? Looks like it's about that time again. https://i.ytimg.co...Yu_Q/hqdefault.jpg

the most entertaining in a while for sure

Posted by bandi https://static.bor...mick-carroll-1.jpg[/eimg]

I nominate this for: Best boat post ever!

Posted by Aran This is the most drama I've seen in nearly a month! Everyone on this site knows that the urbex community is a just bunch of amateur photographers with a penchant for rule bending, not some super secret elite black ops division. If you want to be taken seriously, drop the tacticool crap. Nobody's impressed. So you're admitting to vandalizing locations, doing it often enough that you have your own tag, and having so little self control that looking at a spray can is enough to get you to toss your morals out the window? So we should let this crap slide because at least you're not a scrapper? Looks like it's about that time again. https://i.ytimg.co...Yu_Q/hqdefault.jpg

I don't care to be taken seriously. I don't care what you think about my group. To be honest, it's hard for me to take UER seriously right now, with all the super trigger-ready evangelists pretending I admitted to repeat offenses in multiple brackets. Specter group is a joke but not grown men with 10+ years' tenure on an internet forum, harshly wagging your finger because I'm not a perfect criminal.

Gimme a fuckin break.

Posted by JokerSpecter Don't get me wrong, this is more than I care to share. But I want this enough to make the personal time investment.

14 hours later

Posted by JokerSpecter I don't care to be taken seriously. I don't care what you think about my group. To be honest, it's hard for me to take UER seriously right now, with all the super trigger-ready evangelists pretending I admitted to repeat offenses in multiple brackets. Specter group is a joke but not grown men with 10+ years' tenure on an internet forum, harshly wagging your finger because I'm not a perfect criminal.

MI 6 has been apprised of the situation. Assets are being fast tracked stateside.

Posted by JokerSpecter To be honest, it's hard for me to take UER seriously right now.

The feeling is mutual.

Posted by DescentOnARope 14 hours later https://i.imgur.com/zQNQIeU.jpg

Look at the friction I'm getting. You don't think that can change someone's willingness to impress somebody? I'm quickly accepting the idea that the inner circle may indeed have it's chosen members, and that the only true value this site has would be to serve as a random site I dump my content at and just never bother with looking at what comes of it.

I kinda put myself out there and not only was I called less than honest, but I'm made fun of. So you all obviously take this seriously enough to want to scrutinize me but not enough to actually get to know me. So yeah. "14 hours later" is about accurate. No "whatever dude. Do your thing." It's a big game that I look and act a certain way.

I better not type too much. I don't want to be "crazy" ontop of being a liar, theif and vandal. Right?

Posted by JokerSpecter I'm quickly accepting the idea that the inner circle may indeed have it's chosen members, and that the only true value this site has would be to serve as a random site I dump my content at and just never bother with looking at what comes of it.

For the record here, I have gotten great value from this site. I have been to locations I didn't know existed thanks to the DB, and other member's shares. I also was granted FM in just a couple months. It should be noted my "generous donation" trophy came AFTER I was a full member. I made some mistakes prior to FM, but admitted I was green and corrected where need be. I was active in the forums. I shared my pics. Becoming FM is pretty damn easy. I didn't buy it. I am not someone's pet. I in fact know NO ONE on this site nor have I even met someone to explore with. I saw how some guys get hazed, and blasted, and kept my mouth shut. Annnnnnnndddd.... BOOM. Full Membership. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty damn easy....

In my 8ish months here, I have been tickled and amused by the angry folk. Funny thing is, the angry folk who claim inner circles, conspiracy, followed by questioning the value of the site in general, are either basic members, or have been denied FM. What ever happened to just taking your ball back and going home?

Posted by JokerSpecter I'm quickly accepting the idea that the inner circle may indeed have it's chosen members

Oh please. People that have been here for like 6 months or less have gotten FM with no issues. 90% of this isn't about you taking stuff, it's mostly the fact that you had a meltdown after being called on it. Claiming to take stuff, then playing the righteous indignation card when you were called out, while applying for FM, was a recipe for disaster.

Posted by JokerSpecter I kinda put myself out there

You did something somewhat lame, and when it was challenged your ego ruptured to the point where you wrote up an essay to try and preserve it.

Posted by Mr. Bitey For the record here, I have gotten great value from this site. I have been to locations I didn't know existed thanks to the DB, and other member's shares. I also was granted FM in just a couple months. It should be noted my "generous donation" trophy came AFTER I was a full member. I made some mistakes prior to FM, but admitted I was green and corrected where need be. I was active in the forums. I shared my pics. Becoming FM is pretty damn easy. I didn't buy it. I am not someone's pet. I in fact know NO ONE on this site nor have I even met someone to explore with. I saw how some guys get hazed, and blasted, and kept my mouth shut. Annnnnnnndddd.... BOOM. Full Membership. Pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty damn easy.... In my 8ish months here, I have been tickled and amused by the angry folk. Funny thing is, the angry folk who claim inner circles, conspiracy, followed by questioning the value of the site in general, are either basic members, or have been denied FM. What ever happened to just taking your ball back and going home? click to view

The problem when I tried to explain myself, but instead everything I said was either a joke or disingenuous. You're right. I didn't want anybody thinking I just went around doing reckless, selfish shit but they made it out that way anyway. So yeah, I should have just kept my damn mouth shut. As for "hazing and blasting", I don't need that shit. I didn't do anything to deserve the kind of shit i'm getting from you people and I still haven't said "fuck ya'll". But I won't bother, anymore.

The main dudes scrutinizing me were quiet when I shared content, so maybe they're not here to enjoy what others have to offer. Maybe some of you are here because you always have, and earned an inflated sense of self-importance. Especially when it came to personal means of operation.

But maybe it's better I never did meet with any of you, since most of you have a habit of getting stopped and spotted by authorities. I've never been stopped, found inside, searched, or anything like that. But I'M the joke, here.

I keep coming back to see what you all pick out of ALL the shit I have to say, because it's entertaining to see how you all like to control the conversation. I have yet to see one person say, "hey, we don't like that shit. but don't do it anymore and we won't have a problem". Nah, it was all about how I fucked up and I can NEVER be trusted. I'm a thief, and harmful to the future of urbex right from the start.

Coming from a bunch of grown men who've never been appointed "Ambassadors of Ethical Infiltration". Hey, that sounds like a good new name for this website!

Posted by DescentOnARope Oh please. People that have been here for like 6 months or less have gotten FM with no issues. 90% of this isn't about you taking stuff, it's mostly the fact that you had a meltdown after being called on it. Claiming to take stuff, then playing the righteous indignation card when you were called out, while applying for FM, was a recipe for disaster. You did something somewhat lame, and when it was challenged your ego ruptured to the point where you wrote up an essay to try and preserve it.

I can see that very clearly.

I wasn't trying to play cards. I was trying to get myself out there because I only had like 50 posts by the time I was recommended, and most of those were talking about nothing important at all. I had, like, nothing to look at for somebody to judge me for FM. It wasn't a card but jeez, how many of you go through your normal life assuming somebody is trying to play a game?