creepy questions for dark sites

[silv (Annette)]

Hey All,

when I see a thread with which someone new to astronomy (and new to the IIS) asks for advice on good dark sites in brisbane/sydney/... or close to those cities in the countryside -
I get a creepy feeling they don't care at all for astronomy but have some other agenda, altogether...
When they then add some harmless info like "I'd like to show my girlfriend/daughter" and - as a real afterthought, only, also add the question which entry level equipment would be good - (but their main topic was and is that dark site you know!)
I hear huge bells ringing in my head: this is NOT what it seems.

This is how I would try to get the information of gullible astro romantics to attack them at exactly that spot they pointed out to me.

Is it just me? Have I got a split personality and am a monster myself, lurking somewhere in the dark, waiting to come out...?

Do you guys take anything for self defense with you?
(Now, this question should better not be answered... it might be, my monster only wants to know this so it can prepare against such measures!)

Seriously concerned,
Silv

[Astro_Bot]

I saw your post, thought it best not to reply, but then couldn't not reply.

I don't see how we (as IIS members) can ignore what look like harmless requests for info on dark sky sites. I've certainly had the urge to find a few of my own "away from the madding crowd". I take such requests at face value, but maybe that's just me.

But I think, as far as personal safety goes, if you're at a well known site, not being there alone is a good idea. It's illegal to carry a weapon, concealed or otherwise, and IIRC even mace or pepper spray is prohibited in Australia (except maybe WA?). Your best defence is good planning and common sense, IMHO.

Personal note: I've walked alone in places normally deemed "extremely dangerous" and found the locals to be pretty decent, actually. Much of the fear of such things seems to bear no resemblence to reality.

[Octane (Humayun)]

It is just you reading into things that aren't there.

H

[MrB (Simon)]

Originally Posted by silv

Do you guys take anything for self defense with you?

Some people here take a Mike Sidonio with them

Seriously tho, I have never worried about it.
I'm 6'5", fit and close to 100kg. Not that that makes me bullet proof, but it does help.

[hotspur (Chris)]

Originally Posted by octane

it is just you reading into things that aren't there.

H

+1

[silv (Annette)]

Ah, I might add I am female, 5'2", hard of hearing, and from Europe.
... !

When I go for long walks, I carry hair spray (not in my hair, in a spray can, doh! and a lighter) but I doubt I would get the possibility to use it.
I don't go to dark sites, at all.

[silv (Annette)]

The "from Europe" part might help explain the lingering paranoia.

[Varangian (John)]

Well you should be afraid, be very afraid because at dark sites no one can hear you scream. Being European has nothing to do with it (although I did marry a Dutch girl and I agree that she is pretty edgy over things she cannot control), being at dark sites alone is a problem I admit. The world has changed since I was a kid in the 70s. I'm over six feet and 100kg and I get concerned out in the middle of the football over across the road from my house. I am near the centre of Melbourne though...

I don't think you should ever visit a dark site alone, always try to observe at least in pairs or even better through an astronomy club.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by Astro_Bot

I saw your post, thought it best not to reply, but then couldn't not reply.

I don't see how we (as IIS members) can ignore what look like harmless requests for info on dark sky sites. I've certainly had the urge to find a few of my own "away from the madding crowd". I take such requests at face value, but maybe that's just me.

But I think, as far as personal safety goes, if you're at a well known site, not being there alone is a good idea. It's illegal to carry a weapon, concealed or otherwise, and IIRC even mace or pepper spray is prohibited in Australia (except maybe WA?). Your best defence is good planning and common sense, IMHO.

Personal note: I've walked alone in places normally deemed "extremely dangerous" and found the locals to be pretty decent, actually. Much of the fear of such things seems to bear no resemblence to reality.

I agree RG (Astro Bot).

Part of the problem though is that we seem to be "drip fed", by the media, that the world is full of weirdos and evildoers lurking "everywhere". Like you, I have found the reality to be quite different.

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

I enjoy sharing my scope with others but sometimes I go out of my way to visit my preferred local dark sites alone.

Maybe it is reckless, but I have never been concerned about my safety. I am certain that it is safer than using QLD Rails trains after a night out on the town.

[syousef]

It's not difficult to find an isolated place to get up to no good. Why would you ask for astronomically dark skies, which are exceedingly rare and becoming rarer? You could find a dark place closer to home that is more confined.

I'm sorry but I think this is paranoia, and if we're not careful of who we suspect or accuse we'll drive people away.

I was very proud that my son was able to spot the southern cross last Saturday night. Am I also up to no good? ;-) Think about it.

[Varangian (John)]

Hmmm, I don't care what other people say, that's their opinion. The fact of the matter is your a lone female who is 5'2 at a dark site.

It only takes one person in one situation. Granted the world is full of great people, but you cannot side step the fact that there are people out there who will take advantage of you in a vulnerable situation. You need to play it safe and that means observing in company

[silv (Annette)]

It's not difficult to find an isolated place to get up to no good. Why would you ask for astronomically dark skies, which are exceedingly rare and becoming rarer? You could find a dark place closer to home that is more confined.

See? That is intriguing, is it not? Why indeed would a sicko use an astronomy forum to get to his preferred victim: a star gazer... in a dark surrounding, above him the stars...
There is romance in it - a story ... !

You are all right, of course.
Yes, I am being paranoid - but I am also small and female.

It's just that ...
in the past 4 weeks, I have come across 3 or 4 threads as described in post No.1.
- new member, first post
- question for dark site in a big city
- info about a female companion to make it sound harmless
- no equipment but only adding the question for advice for that totally unimportant part of his venture as an afterthought

Maybe, it's even the same person every time? Only waiting for the perfect answer .... an alien, maybe. Or someone who believes he was abducted and wants to go back... needing a scope and a body for de-materializing and projecting his soul ...

Sorry. Got carried away...

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

If worried, join an astro club, and use their dark sites.

Even the Macarthur Astro Society, with their dark site right in the middle of the Belanglo State Forest, I hear is safe an well frequented with nice people.

[Octane (Humayun)]

Wanna go somewhere dark?

Zing!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

H

Originally Posted by silv

Ah, I might add I am female, 5'2", hard of hearing, and from Europe.

[silv (Annette)]

Thank you very much, H.

[silv (Annette)]

You're right, Trevor. I have joined and will go with them - should it ever be cloudless on a Saturday.

The question was more about what might other people be thinking about these mentioned threads.

[Astro_Bot]

Allow me to be perverse for a few moments ...

Think about this. How many of your fellow astro club members are actually sick and twisted murderers just scouting the territory? How well do you really know them? You never actually see their family there, right? (it's a cover story.) They're always cheerful and helpful, too helpful. (What are they hiding?) They drive a van or ute or station wagon. (It's easier to carry the bodies). They may even mask their evil designs by buying astro equipment. (It's just to gain your trust). And the longer you've seen them there, well you just know that shows how determined they are to get away with it ... waiting for the perfect isolated moment at that really dark site ...



We now return you to normal programming.

[gary]

Originally Posted by silv

Do you guys take anything for self defense with you?

When you are out observing on your own in some dark sky location and
a set of headlights comes down the track, perhaps a young couple seeking
a quiet romantic interlude, few things often frighten them more than the sight of a
figure in a freezer suit standing alongside what appears to be some big cannon.

My friends at the Macarthur Astronomical Society seem to take one possible strategy
in avoiding such awkward encounters and choose to observe from the Belanglo State Forest.

Seriously though, I have encountered situations such as one night when someone
undoubtedly returning from the remote country pub 20km down the gravel road rolled
into the car park of the National Park camping ground at 3am and decided it would
be fun to do some donuts in the dirt before suddenly taking off, probably after a brief moment
of clear thinking when they realized I had taken note of their clearly visible number plates.

One night I was observing with a friend when a car rolled in during the early hours of
the morning. A woman got out of the car and told us she would be sleeping in
her car for the night. She joined us by the camp fire and after a time she told
us she had just run away from home after a domestic dispute. We asked if
she would like to look through the telescope and as it was a last quarter Moon
weekend, the waning crescent had begun to rise and we turned the telescope to it.
She gasped in amazement at the beauty of the crescent Moon and being of
a religious persuasion of which the crescent Moon is of religious significance,
thanked us and told us that she saw it as a sign and that somehow we were
probably destined to show her this. Upon seeing "this sign" she told us that she
interpreted it to mean she should return to her family. So she got in her car
and drove home.

For my friend and I, the rising Moon meant that it was time to pack up for the
night and go home ourselves. We turned to each other and chuckled, "that made for
an interesting evening".

We are certainly unlikely angels.

[Octane (Humayun)]

I must admit that I have been frightened out of my skull at a dark site a couple of times.

The first one that I'll never forget was when I first joined here and lived in Sydney. I didn't realise the Paintball Place (now, Pony Club gatherings) only happened on a schedule. I decided to drive up during the middle of the week by myself, found the place, parked the car in the middle of the field, started setting up and almost crapped myself when I heard rustling movement about a metre or so away. I froze stiff. I looked up slowly, and once the blood had drained from my head, I could make out the silhouette of an enormous dog right in front of me. Snarling! It was frogman's dog. He showed up a moment later, thank goodness. I explained who I was and what I was doing there. He then explained to me that the visitors only come on the weekends but was gracious enough to allow to set up and take a few pictures.

H