Video shows vandals destroying popular Oregon rock formation

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Video shows vandals destroying popular Oregon rock formation

Sep 5, 4:59 PM EDT
By MARTHA BELLISLE
Associated Press

Cellphone video captured a group of people knocking over a popular sandstone rock formation known as the "Duckbill" on an Oregon beach.

Oregon State Parks officials originally said they didn't think the break at the site frequented by tourists was caused by humans.

But the video shot by David Kalas of Portland shows a group of visitors pushing the structure until it crumbled to the ground on August 29 at Cape Kiwanda State Natural Area.

The sandstone pedestal was roughly 7 feet to 10 feet across and located in a fenced off section of the park.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_SANDSTONE_PEDESTAL_KNOCKED_DOWN?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2016-09-05-16-59-19

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[MBS]

1. Sigh. What is WRONG with us humans? : ( n/t

[librarylu]

2. Nothing

that our extinction can't cure.

[tblue37]

32. Read Dostoevsky's "Notes from the Underground"--especially the section about the crystal palace.

He describes the human impulse to destroy, to create chaos for no particular reason--especially when things seem to be going well.

It is the same impulse that Edgar Allan Poe called "the Imp of the Perverse."

[MBS]

38. Thanks for the suggestion.

I really should have read this by now. Sounds like a good time to do it now.

[marble falls]

3. Rat bastards. Too bad it didn't fall on them.

[Angel Martin]

4. who are these people

and what is their problem ?

these are not kids either.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

6. Anger management deficit. Destructiveness is the opposite of creativity.

These people are angry at the world and they don't really know why because they do not introspect. They are sociopaths. They do not see people as people (much like tRump uses people). They have no creative outlets and sublimate their anger into destructiveness.

They badly need help.

[maxsolomon]

22. that's a little hyperbolic, Bernardo

This was deliberate, but it wasn't sociopathic "creative destruction" that prompted it. they'll have some justification worked up, some self-righteous "safety patrol" BS.

They'll be caught and crucified on social media soon enough.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

29. I never said it was "creative destruction". But I did attempt to answer the question posed.

You might try answering it instead of inventing oxymorons that a poster never wrote.

[maxsolomon]

30. touchy touchy

these are self-righteous young adults, likely in their early 20's, removing what they believe is an attractive nuisance that leads to death and injury. in other words, they're dumb kids.

and probably drunk.

hanlon's razor, trump's razor, etc.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

31. Exactly: they are dumb kids (early 20s!?). They don't introspect. Alcohol releases inhibititions.

When alcohol releases inhibitions, the more basic personality is revealed.

Plenty of people get drunk and do not go out to destroy something.

People who do destroy things when they get drunk need help.

People who become self-righteous when they are drunk need to find out what inside them makes them think they are better than other people such that they can destroy stuff that other people like.

[Eleanors38]

28. "See? See? I'm on the Innertube ...and Teee Veee!" See?"

[closeupready]

40. There is undoubtedly some angle to exploit for profit here.

In the modern world, people become overnight millionaires by posting videos on Youtube, videos consisting of nothing more than opening children's toy packages.

In my day, flashing your private bits in public got you arrested and named/shamed in the paper.

Today, flashing your private bits in public gets you named/famed, a smash reality show on cable, highly lucrative spin-off enterprises like perfumes, wardrobe, and other tchotchkes, endorsement deals, cash cow deals like party appearances in Vegas, exclusives to wedding events ... This is what our culture is now.

[Eleanors38]

42. Actually, this is where economic determinism fails. One of the chief reasons we

have outrageous punk-outs, self-photo blowouts and the occasional mass murder is because purpose in life has been heavily decimated by the innertubes, and because there is a big decline in ability to make money. Next best thing? Celebrity®! It has currency and there is always a ready market for it. Perhaps our hug-a-thug culture might get a small contract here and there, but matters of money are secondary. Notoriety (celebrity) is the game. That and maybe getting laid in your circle.

[closeupready]

43. I guess it's debateable. Look at that thug whose booking photo led to

a high-profile modeling contract. !! The computer hackers who are later hired by Microsoft and Google. !! No-talent Hollywood families who do sex tapes for the publicity ... later land Vogue covers.

I don't see any career path here other than do something obscene and titillating, sell your body, and get rich!

Lots of people with no talent have ended up rich by marshaling the ensuing publicity into cable reality shows. Do a sex tape, get arrested/pose for your mug shot, sleep/marry someone famous/have their child and then sue for support ... Welcome to California!

[Urchin]

5. The Punishment

Since they think they're so strong, they should be sentenced to putting the rock back together again using just their muscle power.

[tblue37]

33. It was smashed. There is no putting it back. I am reminded of the Taliban's

blowing up of ancient Buddha statues in Afghanistan.

It gives some people a sense of power to destroy that which others value.

[They_Live]

7. Here's a direct link to the video...

It doesn't seem to reside at the linked story, unless it's after a lot ads and teasers

[Judi Lynn]

10. Sure hope someone can identify them after seeing this video. Thanks for posting it. n/t

[riversedge]

27. Seems this man to ID them--if they find them............and they are VANDALS

http://petapixel.com/2016/09/05/vandals-destroy-iconic-duckbill-rock-oregon-photographers-mourn/


Vandals Caught on Camera Destroying Iconic ‘Duckbill’ Rock in Oregon
Sep 05, 2016
DL Cade




.....Kalas told KATU News that he was helping a friend film parts of the coast with his drone when they saw a group of people trying to push Duckbill down. At first he laughed at what he saw as a futile attempt… but then the rock began to shift.

“I noticed that it started wobbling,” he told the local station, “and then I started to record it as two of the guys managed to knock it down.”

Apparently, Kalas then asked the vandals why they destroyed the rock formation, and got a self-righteous answer in return. “[They said] their buddy broke their leg earlier because of that rock,” Kalas said. “They basically told me themselves that it was a safety hazard, and that they did the world or Oregon a favor.”

Of course, once the rock was down, they stood on the crumbled remains, snapped a few photos, and left.

[tblue37]

34. Oh, look at me! Admire me! Am I not strong, powerful and mighty? nt

[cstanleytech]

8. The varies state and federal governments need to ban these type of people for life

in the future from entering any state or federal park if they are convicted of any major of act of vandalism inside any federal or state park.
After all the ability to enter those parks isnt a right its a privilege and if people want to abuse the privilege then they need to have it taken away.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Absolutely. If only that could happen. n/t

[maxsolomon]

19. I heartily concur

Lifetime ban from Oregon State Parks.

[leftyladyfrommo]

9. Some people have to destroy anything beautiful.

I wish they could find these guys and charge them with destruction of government property.

[jpak]

12. Trump

yup

[Ken Burch]

13. In the linked article, it says that the people who took the video confronted the vandals...

...and the vandals said they did it because a friend broke a leg on the thing.

In other words, they punished an ancient sandstone formation because someone they knew was an idiot.

[djg21]

14. Odds are . . .

the explanation is bullshit. They got caught red-handed and were videotaped engaged in an act of vandalism, and when confronted had to say something other than "we're jerks."

I hope they're prosecuted for something. I'd like to see some jail time, and not just probation.

[maxsolomon]

18. Odds are they did it out of a sense of self-righteous altruism

Like the dipshit Boy Scout troop leader in Goblin Valley. Sorry, but Nature isn't supposed to be free of attractive hazards.

But if you're going to appoint yourself protector of the innocent like that, then have the intelligence to do it when there's no one else around. Every one of them is on tape doing it.

They're going to be roasted slowly over a social media fire.

[The Stranger]

36. No, wait a minute, hold on a fucking second ---

This wasn't altruism -- this was a sick and vile need to destroy something so others cannot enjoy it.

It seems to happen more and more in this sick, fucked up society. Often it takes the form of people killing something endangered to be able to say they did it.

I hope they get payback in some fucking awful, awful way.

[maxsolomon]

37. I'm talking about THEIR mindset.

THEY no doubt thought their actions were justified, or they wouldn't have taken them.

[djg21]

39. I disagree

Criminals commit crimes because they don't think they'll be caught. I doubt this was any way related to altruism. It more likely was a senseless and destructive prank and no thought was given to the ubiquitness of cell phone cameras. The perps will be found eventually.

[LanternWaste]

41. What specifically leads you to believe that?

"Odds are they did it out of a sense of self-righteous altruism..."

What specifically leads you to believe that?

[maxsolomon]

44. because everyone believes their actions are justified.

"for the LULZ" is a pretty rare motive.

but nothing specific - years of observing American stupidity, I suppose.

[turbinetree]

15. Do these idiots realized that they have violated not only state law but federal law

this is a "CRIME"

Are they in jail yet?

[In_The_Wind]

24. They should be!

[turbinetree]

25. Yes , that park was for everyone to enjoy-----------

so one of there partners breaks his leg, that's the ticket blame the out cropping ----------------I want to see them on a street corner with sign around there neck, saying:
I am Stupid, No I am an Idiot and have an arrow point to the other scum bags, with a picture of the park before and after--------------Saying don't do this and it cost me and big fine underneath, like $500,000 .

[Trust Buster]

16. ISIS is also destroying antiquities.

[maxsolomon]

21. good point

Last edited Tue Sep 6, 2016, 06:40 PM - Edit history (1)

but this wasn't an "antiquity".

[tblue37]

35. So did the Taliban--remember the Buddha statues? nt

[Judi Lynn]

17. Ex-Boy Scout leaders involved in pushing over ancient Utah boulder charged

Similar case you may remember: Ex-Boy Scout leaders involved in pushing over ancient Utah boulder charged

By Greg Botelho and Tom Watkins, CNN

Updated 8:04 PM ET, Fri January 31, 2014

It just took a little push to topple the delicately perched boulder -- millions of years in the making -- in Utah's Goblin Valley State Park. Then the man who did it laughed, high-fived his son, and flexed his muscles while being cheered on by a fellow Boy Scout leader.

He is not likely celebrating now, nor is his friend who videotaped then publicized the episode, after both were charged Friday with third-degree felonies.

Glenn Taylor, who pushed over the rock, and the cameraman, David Hall, face charges of criminal mischief and are accused of intentionally damaging, defacing and destroying property, according to the charging document.

Neither man could be reached by CNN on Friday for comment on the charges.

More:
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/31/us/utah-boulder-boy-scouts/

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[closeupready]

20. In the film, "Grizzly Man", Timothy Treadwell exhibited what appeared to be

signs of mental illness in not only disregarding wildlife officials' warnings to avoid the bears, but to actually attempt to live amongst the bears - on and off-season. In the end, the bears killed him, sadly - a predictable outcome, but not one that anyone reasonable would consider just, considering how Treadwell seemed to enjoy and love nature and the environment. And even if Treadwell had been, for example, a big game hunter, you'd still have to judge him - as a person who hunts animals for fun - within the context of an entire, rich life. As it is with these clowns who toppled this Duckbill formation.

That's not to imply that I wish bad things on people who destroy priceless natural monuments. If sane, their stupidity often substitutes adequately for insanity, as it does with more benign individuals who attempt to take selfies on windy cliff outcroppings or within striking distance of Nile crocodiles or African lions.

Nothing bad happened to the perps in this video, but they should be punished by the law, but they probably won't be.

[maxsolomon]

23. Nothing bad has happened to them YET.

The law won't have many tools with which to punish them. At least not adequately.

However, they'll be ID'd soon enough, and their lives are going to get very unpleasant in this age of Social Media. If I were the gal in front of the rock filming it (I think that's what she's doing), I'd delete that video ASAP. But odds are she's uploaded it onto Instagram or Snapchat already.

[riversedge]

26. I hope they find them and get what they deserve!