September 11 has changed a lot of things, for Urban Exploration it has changed things for the worse.
I think that it goes without saying that most people in the Western world were devastated by the terrorist attacks of September 11 2001. As a fan of science fiction and thrillers I had read novels telling of similar events. But that was fiction. Having been on the road all of September 11 I arrived home and switched on the television. The first thing I saw was the second plane going into the south tower. At first I thought I was watching a movie, but the concerned looks on the people's faces made me switch channels. I then realized this was no special effects I was seeing. This was real.
Heightened security and increased paranoia has seen Urban Exploration almost die out in the United States and Canada. In Europe and even in Australia explorers are more wary about exploring. Recreational trespassing just isn't what it used to be. There are concerns about people's reactions to Urban Explorers. Many of us are wary about the possibility of increased penalties for exploring.
"In the past we used to be let off for exploring without even having our names taken." One explorer emailed me. "Now I was taken down to the station and all of my details taken. People are more wary now."
"Before we used to not worry about any sort of penalty. Now things we used to explore could put us in a cell for five days." Another says with concern.
Others indicate increased security in areas where they used to be able to explore freely in the past. These mostly include occupied buildings but even some well abandoned sites have seen increased security.
"I was exploring some of the behind the scenes areas of our mall where I have been dozens of times. I wasn't worried when I saw a security guard because I had seen them before and they must think I work here by now. But this time he walked up to me and asked to see my employee card. I didn't have one so the guy told me to get one. I figure if he had not seen me around before the situation could have been a lot worse for me." One explorer explained to me via a web chat.
I have heard several other stories from other explorers in Canada, the US, England and Europe. They all show the same trend. Increased security, and increased public wariness. While increased security is understandable, and even desirable in some situations, increased paranoia is worrying. Urban Explorers have often stated that some buildings have poor security. Many public buildings have been entered easily, perhaps too easily. For us, this is a bonus, it makes for easy exploring. I am sure however that many of us worry about the wrong sort of people accessing the areas we explore. Many of us are conscious that it just takes one breach of security to spoil the opportunities for other to explore.
Paranoia and increased wariness has resulted in some unusual symptoms from the general public. Several explorers have noted many people wary of even people taking photographs of abandoned buildings or railways. This has prompted one explorer to comment with obvious sarcasm "The obvious next step in the terrorist's plan is to photograph all of the infidels"
September 11 has almost killed off Urban Exploration in the United States. Several explorers have indicated their retirement from the sport. Stating that they have been considering dropping out for a while they see September 11 as a deciding factor in opting out. Others have turned to exploring more discrete objects and locations further away from the more traveled paths. Rural exploration has increased in places like Canada, Europe and Australia.
While some soldier on, and stick to the sport, more than a few people have asked if September 11 has spelled the end for Urban Exploration, or if this is just a temporary hiatus. One think I think all I have conversed with agree on, Urban Exploration may not ever be the same again. Gone are the days of care free exploration, gone are the days of slap on the wrist approaches from the authorities. When we explore now, we have to be a lot more discrete, for the penalties are higher and the security more vigilant.
This may be one reason why legal exploring, asking permission before exploring is more likely to become the way to go.
1/1/2002.
Urban exploration quite obviously hasn't died off as much as I expected. Explorers are still exploring a lot, particularly in Canada, Europe and Australia. The explorers I know in the USA are indeed trying to increase the exposure of the sport to try legitimize it more. The more people known of and accept Urban Exploration, the better off we will be.
 |
Best
Viewed at
 |
 |
©Copyright
notice
© This entire site is copyrighted 1997 - 2006. No image or text may be reproduced, edited, copied, stored in any off-line storage device, or placed on any another website at any time, without written permission from Panic!, web site owner. |
 |
