| Why are you interested in UE? | asked by Anymouse |
Incredible curiousity, mostly. Sometimes an adrenaline rush. Quite often because I am just so fed up with the shiny prepackaged suburbia that I love to find what remaining scraps of character there is. And they don't make it easy. I don't do UE because it is illegal, I do it to appreciate the lost history and the amazing unseen places in a city - if it were legal (like in Scotland), I would probably do even more.
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| How often do you explore, or how involved are you in the UE community? | asked by Anymouse |
Generally try to explore at least every week or two. Not a day goes by where I am not working on the UEA site or on a UE messageboard or something - I would consider myself very active.
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| What types of places do you like to explore? | asked by Anymouse |
Almost everything. I like tunnels, drains, abandonments. Rooftops, only if they are way up high and exciting, or are just generally bizzare and cool on their own. Construction sites don't hold much appeal for me. Active UE is terrific for a cheap adrenaline rush. I don't do "vacant" or "for lease" buildings - I only consider something abandoned once nobody is paying attention to it anymore (ie. broken and boarded windows, overgrown lawn, seriously falling apart).
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| What is the first place you ever explored? | asked by Skaught |
The 'Getty Express' drain, with Skaught and Blue.
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| In what year did you explore your first place? | asked by Skaught |
Early 2002.
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| What are some places you found on your own? | asked by Skaught |
Most of the drains in Calgary (Zardox / Valdez, Tube City, Slaughterhaus, all the major ones). Also a good chunk of abandonments and such, can't remember off the top of my head, though.
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| What skills do you have in relation to UE? (climbing, photography, etc.) | asked by Skaught |
I am getting slowly better at photography, but am by no means a photographer. I am reasonable at climbing things, and am pretty good at fitting through small spaces. I can pick most cheap locks.
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| Have you ever been caught by the police or security? | asked by Skaught |
Been caught a few times:
- On a university campus, after draining, for simply walking around on the property. Was banned indefinately.
- After leaving the Coleman Tipple, ended up having a great chat about photography with an RCMP officer, then let go.
- After popping out of a drain (Stongfried duck) with almost a dozen people, we chatted with the cops for a bit and was told to "have a nice night", as we were doing nothing illegal.
- Rooftop chase at Union Station in Toronto, followed by a handcuffing for a good hour and a half, as everything was searched. Threatened with B&E, etc - was let off with a warning and a 1-year ban.
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| Where do you currently live, and where have you explored before? | asked by Anymouse |
I do live, and have always lived, in Calgary, Alberta. Although I try to travel a lot to explore. I have been to Edmonton a few times, Vancouver a couple times, and a whole lot of time in the mountains and crowsnest pass. More recently I have been to Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa, and Toronto for the express purpose of exploring and meeting up with the local explorers. Oh, and I've also been to Moose Jaw (exciting!).
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| Is using lockpicks ok as a method of entering a site after all other options have been exhaused? | asked by Skaught |
After all other options, yes. Although it's definately more fun to try to find a more creative way in, and there is almost always another way.
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| Do you think taking a small momento from an abandonment is ok? | asked by Skaught |
If the building is half missing due to demolition and it is certain that whatever is left will be destroyed. "The building will be demolished soon" is no excuse. I am sure your local bank will be demolished some day, it doesn't mean it would be ethical to clean out the safe. Unless you are essentially picking bits out of the rubble, calling it "historical salvage" is just fooling yourself.
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| Is it ok to use any sort of force when entering a site? | asked by Skaught |
It is not okay to damage a site, for any reason - in my books. It must remain in the exact same state you found it. That means if you moved a loose board to get in, you put the board back when you're done.
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| What's your stance on the use of drugs/alcohol in conjuction with UE? | asked by K.A.O.S. |
Personally, I will not explore with someone who is carrying drugs with them. I am comfortable with trespassing, but I am not comfortable getting nailed with something stupid like possession. I don't do drugs myself - but I do not have a problem with people doing them as long as I they do not impact me. Alcohol, really depends on the person - if you can have a couple drinks and remain responsible enough to explore, then I have no problem with (for draining and the like, especially). Carrying alcohol with you, probably not a good idea.
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| What's your stance on tagging, graffitti and other modifications to sites. | asked by K.A.O.S. |
I think graffiti deep within drains is not only acceptable, but encouragable. The vast expanse of empty precast concrete is very monotanous, and often needs livening up. However, in any other site - especially active sites, graffiti is a really bad idea. Leaving smaller things like business cards, or writing with chalk on a chalkboard or something - much better idea.
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| Hypothetical situation: security is on to you, either ahead or behind. Run or talk your way out of it? | asked by Vapor |
Tough one. I think it depends a lot on the situation - if it is the middle of the day, and you have a somewhat plausible reason to be where you are (especially if you haven't crossed any signs or doors, etc.) - then I say talk your way out of it, because they can't get you on anything. Now, if you're in a steam tunnel at 3AM, with three friends and wearing a santa hat - then bolt for it, because there is no way you'll talk your way out. The way the law is situated, running from a seccer and then getting caught, or just getting caught without running - either way carries the same penalty (usually Petty Trespassing ticket) - plus running has a chance you can get away, and really livens up the evening. Never run from actual police, though - and always be up front and honest with them (well, unless you absolutely aren't doing anything wrong - like say, walking down a street with rubber boots at 3AM.. you don't need to tell them you were in a drain - just give a silly answer and remain silent, they'll know they can't get you on anything)
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| What is the origin of your nick? | asked by Skaught |
Anymouse was originally a shortened and misspelled version of "Anonymous" - that I used the very first time I ever logged onto DALNet, back in 1996 or so. It had to be a unique name, and I was lacking a good idea. It stuck as an internet nick thereafter, and despite a couple attempts to change it (some places on the net my nick is Ã?sunyra, which was derived from spelling anymouse backwards (esuomyna, then changing a few letters and adding an umlaut for style)) - but for the most part it's Anymouse. Abbreviates well to 'mouse.
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| How comfortable are you exploring with minors? | asked by Feztaa |
Not very. I will only explore with a minor if they are someone I really, really trust - considering I have to take full responsibility for their actions, I can't say there is anyone I trust to that level.
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| Do you have a UE kit, and if so, what's inside? | asked by Vapor |
I don't have a regular kit, per se - but there are things I bring a long whenver I need them. I ALWAYS have a camera and my small flashlight (3-led ultrabright white) - lately I have my new LED headlamp. If I am doing a drain, I will sometimes bring my million CP spotlight, or a big garrity 6V. Draining, I have uberboots and shorter over-boots. Some abandonments I'll wear a particle filter mask, so I don't get pigeon shit in my mouth (I am not worried about asbestos, I just am not a fan of the pigeon shit aftertaste). There are some other things that I'll bring in specific situations, but for the most part - that's all I need.
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| Do you take pictures? If so, what type of camera do you use? | asked by Anymouse |
I am really trying to be better at photography - and maybe some day I'll be as good as Reduxzero or Kowalski - but I definately bring a camera on every UE trip. Usually I use my Canon Powershot A70, because digital is so convenient and cheap - but sometimes I use my Minolta XG-M 35mm SLR, and I am trying to use slide film a lot more often.
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| What do you think about exploring active sites? | asked by GCOAP |
Only if they are something that could really give me a new perspective on things. Abandonments are so great because they show you things that are usually very far decayed, or places that would ordinarily be filled with people that are now filled with pigeons, etc. So to say it quickly - I like active where it is old and forgotten, but not where it is commonly used (like say, the back halls of a shopping mall - or even a modern mech room)
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| Do you run your own website? If so, what's the URL? | asked by Feztaa |
I run this website - does that count? : )
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| What has the thing that has tempted your taking hands the most? | asked by Night Shade |
A ceiling-mounted TV projector in an abandoned bar complex. The place was so far squatted and trashed that I was surprised it was still there. The place was later gutted, so I am assuming it did go for salvage after all (not for demolition like everyone claimed it would).
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| How do you deal missions with explorers whose ethics differ from your own? | asked by K.A.O.S. |
As long as they do not put me in any extra danger, and as long as their actions remain their own responsibility - then I am fine with it. Although if someone brings along drugs or something, or they start stealing shit or smashing things - and we are caught, then we are all painted with the same brush, regardless of whether you condone it or not. For people who's ethics are a bit tighter than mine, I will try to respect them as long as they let me know ahead of time.
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| Are your miscreant oranges any particular shade of wax? | asked by K.A.O.S. |
w00t - thanks for another irrelevant question! Now "the love" isn't lonely in here.
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| You're exploring with other people when someone sustains a serious injury, gets trapped, caught, etc. In your current position you're safe but trying to assist your fellow explorer could put you in peril. What action (if any) do you take? | asked by K.A.O.S. |
I would like to say I would help them if I can do so safely, and if not - go get help. But I honestly don't know how I would act in a panic situation. It's easy to say that you'll do this and that - but when it comes to it, who knows.
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| What are your UE goals? | asked by K.A.O.S. |
To open my mind and encouter paradigm shifts in my way of viewing the world. Also a great way to spend time with friends.
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| You find illegally dumped toxic waste while exploring, evidence of drug trafficking or other illegal/dangerous activity/conditions in the course of your explorations. What do you do about it, if anything? | asked by K.A.O.S. |
Would really depend on the situation. If it is really harmful to other people, then I would report it. If it only affects the property owner, then it is none of my business.
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| How did you find your way here? | asked by K.A.O.S. |
I co-founded UEA with Rev Skaught back in 2002. Skaught found my through Mr. Sable's Corrosion website's guestbook - and we decided to work together and start a UE "club" in Alberta. I was still very new at server-side scripting, but had set up the "Calgary Drains Database" (at urbex.sasic.org) prior to meeting Skaught, so I applied that to the new UEA and kept adding features to it - and this became the old UEA site. In summer 2004, we took that site down and started from scratch on a new one, and as of today (Dec 2004) I am still too busy with business to work on the new site. Skaught and I became business partners and launched a business in Jan 03, which is still going strong.
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| If there's no forum, how do you get into flame wars? | asked by ACK! |
Well, there's always UER if you're really itchin' for one.
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