Something to consider…

[specialk]

I saw another video yesterday.  Date March 2013.  The video was taken in one of our well known wheeling spots and posted to YouTube for all to see.   A 4x4 spinning out in the open water of a creek.    And that really fumed me off.   It fumed me off to see someone who should know better ripping up a creek bed, but more so that some ignorant arse thought it would be a good idea to post it to the world.

I think most, if not all off-road enthusiasts, whether you drive a 4x4, a quad or a bike, are aware of the sensitivity of our trail systems in Alberta.  And everyone is aware that our trail systems are being systemically closed.  This has been going on for 20 plus years and continues today.   If you are not aware of this, give your head a shake.

We all know that we have to cross streams at some point or go through the mud or spin our tires to get through an obstacle but we also need to be aware of the impact of doing that.  Have I spun a tire in creek?  Yes, of course.  But I don’t go looking to do it.  Get through and move on.  And I don’t advertise to the world that I’m doing it!!!

Everyone needs to start THINKING BEFORE POSTING this stuff on the net and consider what the possibly implications could be.  I personally believe there is a big different between a photo of a group of rigs on the trail and one of a rig ripping through the mud or tearing up a river bed.   If you post something in a public forum, like Facebook or YouTube or whatever social media/website you choose, it can and probably WILL be used against us.  I would personally like to have what trails we have remain open.

Don’t get me wrong… I’m all for taking on a challenge on the trail and I love taking pictures and videos of those challenges.  I love it when someone gets stuck.  I love recording the recovery.  I love it when crap happens!  But I also make a very conscious effort with how I share those images.   There are ways of making videos and pics private on sites so that you can only share with those people you know.   

Everyone really needs to start making more of an effort before posting a pic or vid that could potentially damage the sport we all enjoy.   I challenge you, for the sake of our sport and our trails, to clean up your public postings and find a way to share those images in a private manner.

Let’s all use our heads before we post up pics of our adventures.
 

[yellowjeep101]

Can you post a link to the video?

[Sugarphreak]

Some of the videos that pop up on YouTube when I search for Mclean Creek or Waiparous are pretty terrible for this kind of stuff

For any video I have taken, when I upload them they go up as unlisted and links only get shared with people close to me. For the reasons specialk mentioned, it doesn't make sense to post publicly regardless of the content.

That said, I've been shocked to footage of my own vehicle featured on Youtube videos that were taken by people passing by with other groups. You never really know when you are being filmed, that is something else to keep in mind.

[w squared]

Can you post a link to the video?

Doing that would sorta negate the purpose of specialk's post.

Sugarphreak - yes, you never know when you're being filmed....but the individual in question absolutely knew he was being filmed, and has a track record of being filmed doing stupid things that are either dangerous or destructive to the environment. This is not the first (or second, or third) time that there has been a video of the same person in the same rig doing the same crap.

[Sugarphreak]

Yeah that is not good, I am surprised you guys are not bringing out the ban-stick especially if warnings have been given

My post was more a general thought to share; if there are people doing stuff they probably shouldn't be, these days with cell phones and portable cameras everywhere there is a good chance it could be filmed and posted without their knowledge. In other words... cut it out and be responsible so you don't end up being the unknowing star of a controversial video!