# The Goblin Valley Vandals. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 14, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297 "2013-12-14T06:21:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/1 "2013-12-14T06:21:18Z")
Have [These Assholes](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYFD18BwmJ4) faced charges, yet? ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/2 "2013-12-14T06:33:53Z")
[No decision in Utah ‘goblin toppling’ case until after holidays, prosecutor says](http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57254619-78/pitcher-state-hall-taylor.html.csp) ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/3 "2013-12-14T07:09:48Z")
While it’s up to Utah’s unique system of justice to convict these people, for Heaven’s Sake, they at least need to be charged with something. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/4 "2013-12-14T17:53:30Z")
Sadly, being pig-ignorant and proud of it is not a crime. As André Dussolier quipped in an otherwise forgettable movie, “We can’t keep him here [at the insane asylum]. He’s not insane, he’s just a dumbass. There \*should \*be dumbass asylums - but can you imagine the size of the premises ?” ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/5 "2013-12-14T18:29:07Z")
From the later article: > [@](#): > > “Traditionally, the courts have always looked at what is the cost,” Hayes said. **“But there’s no way to put a value on a goblin.”** …and ya don’t piss on hospitality! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2013, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/6 "2013-12-14T18:38:47Z")
I’m guessing they end up with a fine of a few thousand dollars and like 500 hours of community service. I would be okay with that. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 3:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/7 "2013-12-15T03:43:16Z")
> [@runner pat](#): > > [No decision in Utah ‘goblin toppling’ case until after holidays, prosecutor says](http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/57254619-78/pitcher-state-hall-taylor.html.csp) Kind of odd that they can’t drum up some kind of case by now. they should hold the hearing in the shelter shown in the picture of the article you cited. It will provide everyone a fantastic view of the land that needs to be preserved undisturbed. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/8 "2013-12-15T03:48:34Z")
This is not really a debate. Moving off to IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/9 "2013-12-16T14:29:18Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > While it’s up to Utah’s unique system of justice to convict these people, for Heaven’s Sake, they at least need to be charged with something. What should they be charged with, precisely? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/10 "2013-12-16T14:46:14Z")
Kobal2: > [@](#): > > There should be dumbass asylums - but can you imagine the size of the premises ? Probably the size of the one built by [Wonko the Sane](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wonko_the_sane#Wonko_the_Sane). ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/11 "2013-12-16T14:53:32Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > What should they be charged with, precisely? Impure sedimentation. ---
**Author:** ![Lare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/53a042/32.png) [@Lare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lare)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/12 "2013-12-16T18:43:52Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > What should they be charged with, precisely? Vandalism? Destruction of public property? Although I know you are, IANAL so I don’t dare try to be more precise, but it seems that there would be applicable crimes under these rather broad headings that apply. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/13 "2013-12-16T19:12:16Z")
I must say I’m a teeny bit surprised that none of the assholes involved have been the target of Anonymous-style hacking vigilantism. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/14 "2013-12-16T19:32:23Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > I must say I’m a teeny bit surprised that none of the assholes involved have been the target of Anonymous-style hacking vigilantism. It was _going to be_ their Christmas present, until you ruined the surprise. As for legal charges, vandalism/destruction of public property sounds about right. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/15 "2013-12-16T23:09:51Z")
> [@Lare](#): > > Vandalism? > Destruction of public property? > > Although I know you are, IANAL so I don’t dare try to be more precise, but it seems that there would be applicable crimes under these rather broad headings that apply. Great, can I make a citizens arrest for any person or group who ran bulldozers through the area and built camp grounds and viewing areas and trails? ---
**Author:** ![chacoguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@chacoguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chacoguy)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/16 "2013-12-16T23:23:47Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Great, can I make a citizens arrest for any person or group who ran bulldozers through the area and built camp grounds and viewing areas and trails? Have you ever, actually been there? They did a stellar job of keeping things unobtrusive. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/17 "2013-12-16T23:38:11Z")
> [@chacoguy](#): > > Have you ever, actually been there? They did a stellar job of keeping things unobtrusive. No, but I’ve been to bryce Canyon and Zion Canyon. Both were altered considerably for public viewing. Spent time hiking Zion Canyon using the park systems trail of destruction. Nicely done but they still hacked up the landscape and it can’t be easily undone. In this case the rock in question could be set back in place and stabilized without a great deal of trouble. Or they could leave it alone and charge him for what it would have cost and use the money for something useful. Whatever. There are literally hundreds of thousands of these things sticking up and this one toppling before it’s time is not the end of the world. The whole event making the news is probably the best deterrent against other people doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/18 "2013-12-16T23:42:33Z")
Presumably, the alterations to the parks you mentioned were not made willy-nilly by some guy without any oversight, but instead by the National Park Service or the state equivalent with the guidance of experts. There’s a big difference between that and what these clowns did. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/19 "2013-12-16T23:51:30Z")
Wow Magiver. And if we all pushed them over for fun, what would we have? ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297/20 "2013-12-16T23:53:59Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > In this case the rock in question could be set back in place and stabilized without a great deal of trouble. Which would entirely miss the point, since the whole reason these formations are interesting is that they formed without human intervention. > [@](#): > > The whole event making the news is probably the best deterrent against other people doing it. Not really. The wide-spread publicity actually makes it more likely that copycats will destroy more of them. You know what would be a good deterrent though? A nice hefty fine and a big chunk of community service. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-goblin-valley-vandals/676297.md?page=2)