why do people 'explore'?

because it's there... everything else is window dressing and chest beating.

I got into this whole thing (and I always hated the term urban exploration) because I grew up in an abandonment... the whole town was a mining town gone bust and all these neat buildings were around to poke my big nose into. There was no ulterior motives, no social this or that... it was all curiosity. What's behind this door? What did people do that worked here, or lived here?

today, everyone wants their five minutes of fame... everyone from car enthusiasts to gamers to people in this hobby. I don't get it... this has always been an enthusiasm that has championed the sneaky and the adept at invisibility. Ok, now let's turn on a spotlight. (facepalm)

I guess that is the difference between people approaching 50 and people not even 25... that craving for attention.

Posted by Samurai I guess that is the difference between people approaching 50 and people not even 25... that craving for attention.

Nah, it is a technology gap. There are young people who are super secretive and dont use technology more advanced than analogue film. The reason you dont see them is because theyre good at being invisible.

Likewise, there are people in rheir 40s now getting into exploring at a late age, and to them the urbex starter kit includes a video-capable action camera, a selfie stick, and a YouTube channel.

Posted by Steed Nah, it is a technology gap. There are young people who are super secretive and dont use technology more advanced than analogue film. The reason you dont see them is because theyre good at being invisible. Likewise, there are people in rheir 40s now getting into exploring at a late age, and to them the urbex starter kit includes a video-capable action camera, a selfie stick, and a YouTube channel.

as usual, Steed old sock, you're probably right...

Posted by Gothic Ghoul Is this your official manifesto, Kaczynski?

Comparing him to the Unabomber is no better than him comparing UER to being Nazi's so quit being a hypocrite.

It's stupid that everyone likes to point fingers at someone else and accuse them for being the reason that a location goes to shit. Whether you are in it for the fame or in it for the thrill, you are contributing to the locations degradation. The second you step foot into a building you have contributed wear onto that location. Pictures or no pictures. You can't chop down a tree with one swing of your axe, but take a hundred swings and its noticeable. You take a step into an already rotting and decaying structure, you are just adding to the degradation.

I actually read your entire article and thought, despite some oversimplifications and incorrect sociological conclusions, that it had some interesting points. I particularly liked how you traced exploring impulses to evolutionary origins and the way you broke exploring motivations into two main camps (although realistically there's probably a lot of crossover). Then I went to your YouTube channel and...well...there's not much to say. The videos themselves are at least better than the misleading titles and captions but still fairly obvious about locations. Is it that hard to get followers on YouTube without all the ridiculous aspects (i.e. selling out)? I am friends with some who can do the same thing and attract followers without lining up spots to be destroyed or shut down. You may want to ask yourself if there aren't elements of narcissism in your overall approach that you could get rid of and still produce the same product.

Posted by RescueMe1060 Every future thread that I make, If I even choose to share my content on here in the first place, will always be Private so that you won't be able to see it. You would win so many people over, besides Jenny, if you just simply changed some of your reckless ways. Some day you won't have any locations left to explore because they all burnt down, yes, due to your videos. Just think about that.

This is dumb lol. You won't post in public because of MAX???? What about ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE that can view public? There is some severe oversight here lmao.

Posted by Max Power @strangeplaces This measure has destroyed my entire existence. I don't know what I'll do without the ability to see your threads.

This actually made me laugh 😂😂

Posted by JennyUE This is dumb lol. You won't post in public because of MAX???? What about ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE that can view public? There is some severe oversight here lmao.

Your response is so dumb. You fail to see the POINT.

Posted by JennyUE Comparing him to the Unabomber is no better than him comparing UER to being Nazi's so quit being a hypocrite.

Dragging discord drama onto UER?

Neat.

Posted by JennyUE This is dumb lol. You won't post in public because of MAX???? What about ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE that can view public? There is some severe oversight here lmao.

Lurkers and other low level trolls?

I'll take them any day over this twit.

I will say that while I don't agree with everything Max does, he has gotten flak for things that other explorers do without issue. Some recent examples include "taking VCR tapes found at a site" and "owning a nice car." Sometimes it seems uncertain whether people are upset that Max did a thing or if they're upset that it was Max doing the thing.

Posted by Aran I will say that while I don't agree with everything Max does, he has gotten flak for things that other explorers do without issue. Some recent examples include "taking VCR tapes found at a site" and "owning a nice car." Sometimes it seems uncertain whether people are upset that Max did a thing or if they're upset that it was Max doing the thing.

I'm not familiar with these cases, but maybe they're upset that he made a video of it for all to see.

Posted by Steed I'm not familiar with these cases, but maybe they're upset that he made a video of it for all to see.

How many other people on here post videos on YouTube for all to see? With more subscribers and they receive no flak... I don't agree with all of Max's moves but he's still urbexing. Let's call a spade a spade, it's obvious certain UER members don't like Max. When Max starts defending himself majority wants to play the victim. "You see it's not me it's him [Max]" in a effort to get him banned. Because certain people think another long time UER member shouldn't had gotten the boot.

This rant is not directed towards you Steed you're fairly neutral and your comments help lighten the mood.

This forum has gone from interesting with blackhawk, to boring without him. I personally appreciated his perspectives on topics and his never ending insight.

Truth is people on here all the time are extremely selfish people with mental issues.

I am one of them and bored out of my mind. I would like to be less selfish and happier... One of my greatest personal problems is constant worrying... According to Google one of the 9 scientifically backed ways to stop worrying is to kick your online addiction.

I wonder if Blackhawk actually is happier and more relaxed now that he is off UER.

I also vote that the like odometer and like function is removed from this forum.It makes it more like social media, competitive, and a less enjoyable resource to use for positive reasons. The function also makes the forum addictive. If you notice older posts from like early 2000's don't have many if any likes so the very people many old-time users that criticize social media unaware haven't realized that this forum has adopted the number one attribute to social media's negativity and thats the "likes".

Posted by Aran I will say that while I don't agree with everything Max does, he has gotten flak for things that other explorers do without issue. Some recent examples include "taking VCR tapes found at a site" and "owning a nice car." Sometimes it seems uncertain whether people are upset that Max did a thing or if they're upset that it was Max doing the thing.

Eh, while that’s partially true, as a usually-neutral observer I’d say his two big reasons for flak are:

-His vids tend to be too much about his experience and less about the location. I get that the explorer themselves kinda makes the video, but it just feels too much like it’s done for personal attention and not for documenting the location for the future. Clickbait titles are garbage, though.

-From my own lurking he doesn’t seem to be the most amicable guy. Dunno if it’s him inherently or just reactionary to others on here, but it almost always seems to be a “grab the popcorn” situation when he posts.

What you listed can sometimes feed into reactionary stuff on point 2, but at least from my own observance it’s not as common.

There’s certainly a lot of sh*t he catches that’s unjustified (some users just really seem to have it out for him for no real reason), but he definitely feeds the fire himself rather often.

Posted by Thinklikefreak This forum has gone from interesting with blackhawk, to boring without him. I personally appreciated his perspectives on topics and his never ending insight. Truth is people on here all the time are extremely selfish people with mental issues.

go fuck yourself.

if you've got such a problem with the people on this forum, you can just slap that unsubscribe button and fuck off into the ether.

you won't be missed.

I disagree that there isn't an urban exploration community. I have explored with different people who I would have never interacted with save for our common interest in urban exploration. I have hosted people from thousands of miles away and visited people thousands of miles away, this is absolutely a community.

I don't understand why you feel the need to justify yourself to the members at UER. For those who have been exploring for decades you are hard pressed to receive their praise, recognition, or interest. In the same way that I have never watched any of your videos or follow any exploring themed instagram page outside of landing on one while doing online research.

I choose not to engage with large parts of the urban exploration community. When people link me youtube videos of abandoned buildings I find them incredibly boring and have zero interest in watching them. That isn't to say there isn't currently a whole group of people who didn't get their start from instagram or youtube. Like many others (including yourself) I started exploring without knowing there was an online community. But I was happy there was one. When I started exploring Infiltration was still publishing zines and UER was a very different place due to the quality and prohibitively high cost of cameras and camcorders available.

I have seen pristine locations destroyed by explorers, vandals, arsonists, and development. I actively try and prevent my actions from accelerating that process and encourage others to do the same: Take only photos, leave only footprints and usufruct (the right to enjoy the use and advantages of another's property short of the destruction or waste of its substance) being two primary examples. My ethics do not align with fame-seekers and people trying to monetize urban exploring at the expense of locations. Just remember that to some parts of the community you might be hot shit in a champagne glass. But to others you're just diarrhea in a dixie cup. And it's up to you to decide if you care or not.

I grew out of the desire for peer validation and I guarantee you will too. That said I do occasionally still choose to contribute to the LDB because I like it and as a moderator I feel somewhat obligated.

Posted by Max Power @strangeplaces Urban Exploration—Not a Culture, but an Instinct By Maximilien Z. Power

Why did you bold the whole thing? It was incredibly difficult to read.

Posted by Samurai go fuck yourself. if you've got such a problem with the people on this forum, you can just slap that unsubscribe button and fuck off into the ether. you won't be missed.

That definitely makes up for my boat picture getting deleted.

Спасибо

Posted by Samurai go fuck yourself. if you've got such a problem with the people on this forum, you can just slap that unsubscribe button and fuck off into the ether. you won't be missed.

I liked this post!

Yup indeed I am done here! I will never be back. Peace Ya'll.