# Utah Boy Scout rock toppling outrage **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 19, 2013, 12:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644 "2013-10-19T12:20:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 10:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/101 "2013-10-20T10:40:41Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > It’s a rock formation that the community thought was interesting enough that they made a park out of the area so people could come and see these formations for themselves. The community didn’t agree that the tubby twat in that video that he could knock one of these formations over. That’s basically what I’m saying. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/102 "2013-10-20T11:06:48Z")
I know, sorry if I sounded like I didn’t realize that. Basically, I wanted to type out tubby twat in reference to the ass in the video. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/103 "2013-10-20T14:18:56Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > I know, sorry if I sounded like I didn’t realize that. Basically, I wanted to type out **tubby twat in reference to the ass** in the video. Your sense of anatomy is twisted. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/104 "2013-10-20T16:38:29Z")
> [@madmonk28](#): > > Basically, I wanted to type out tubby twat in reference to the ass in the video. T’aint. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/105 "2013-10-20T20:53:54Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > Thats what it’s been reduced to now. Before it was a much more unusual hoodoo in a State Park dedicated to its protection so it could be enjoyed by all of us. Yes, I understand that, but it’s still a rock. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/106 "2013-10-20T21:01:05Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Yes, I understand that, but it’s still a rock. Some rocks are more interesting and valuable than others. It is a rock, but not “just” a rock. It’s a rare rock formation from millions of years ago that had intrinsic qualities that many people found valuable. What these folks did is remove the instrinsic valuable parts and left just the rock. Now you may not think those additional qualities bring value, but I bet you could imagine why some people might think they do. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/107 "2013-10-20T21:02:13Z")
> [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](#): > > I disagree on both points here. > > I don’t believe they had good intentions either. I think it’s more likely that they made up that story after they saw the negative publicity they were getting. > > Their status with the Boy Scouts has nothing to do with my opinion. This was a work of nature, and they took it upon themselves to destroy it. Is there more video I’m not seeing on the OP link? Because from that I can see no indication that they had anything but good intentions. They just seemed really happy when they pushed it down. I am not saying they didn’t do something wrong, and I realize this is a historically significant rock, but they are getting DEATH THREATS and someone here has actually expressed the hope that they’ll be locked up with hairy sweaty men. I’m assuming they’re hinting that these guys deserve to be raped for knocking over a (historically significant) rock. ---
**Author:** ![CLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@CLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CLee)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/108 "2013-10-20T21:03:04Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Yes, I understand that, but it’s still a rock. Do you or your loved ones go spend much time outdoors hiking, walking, or taking photographs? Do you visit public parks and have you or would you travel to see a natural attraction like a nice view, waterfall, or rock formation? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/109 "2013-10-20T21:13:12Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Is there more video I’m not seeing on the OP link? Because from that I can see no indication that they had anything but good intentions. They just seemed really happy when they pushed it down. > > I am not saying they didn’t do something wrong, and I realize this is a historically significant rock, but they are getting DEATH THREATS and someone here has actually expressed the hope that they’ll be locked up with hairy sweaty men. I’m assuming they’re hinting that these guys deserve to be raped for knocking over a (historically significant) rock. The death threats etc. are ridiculous, not OK, and a symptom of Internet herd mentality. That said, what they did was really reprehensible and also not in any way okay, and saying “meh, it’s just a rock” diminishes their very real crime IMO. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/110 "2013-10-20T21:16:18Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Is there more video I’m not seeing on the OP link? Because from that I can see no indication that they had anything but good intentions. They just seemed really happy when they pushed it down. What if a crowd of people went through with tools and knocked over all of the rocks in that entire formation? They are vandals and there is no way that there intentions were good. Their intention was to get a bunch of yuks over wrecking shit. What if he wrecked something on your property and people were all, “it was just a tree” or something? Well, that’s what he did. That property belonged to the public and the public isn’t happy about it. To make matters worse, after it was pointed out to him that he did something wrong, he didn’t say apologize in any meaningful way. He made lame excuses and bullshit justifications. If he had put out a statement about how he wasn’t thinking and did a stupid thing, there wouldn’t be nearly as much furor. Then it comes out that is has been attempting insurance fraud. He is a loathsome piece of trash. He certainly doesn’t deserve death or torture but he shouldn’t be allowed in public parks anymore since he is apparently incapable of behaving like a regular human being in them. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/111 "2013-10-20T21:18:55Z")
> [@hajario](#): > > As others have pointed out, your take on this issue is absurd beyond belief. > > Good intentions? Just a rock? Boy Scouts? You can’t possibly be serious. Oh I’m sorry. I took the article at face value. The men, who were called boy scout leaders in this article, said they had good intentions. I see the video and as much as I recognize it’s a historical rock, it’s still a rock even if it’s toppled. Now it will have another tale added to it’s history. It didn’t evaporate. I see that to some people it will somehow lose it’s historical significance now that it’s toppled to several feet from where it was, and it’s no longer entertaining people with it’s amazing ability to stay on top of that other rock. So yes, these evildoers obviously deserve to be raped, tortured, and if someone kills them, eh, they did move that (historically significant) rock. And \*I’m \*the one whose opinion is unbelievably absurd? And **CLee** yes I do go outside occasionally. And I do like it to pleasant, but (IF) these guys thought it was a safety hazard (and I realize I’m just going by that one article and one brief video that doesn’t show what they were thinking before they pushed the rock down) and I like my outdoors to be safe from falling rocks. If they were just being shithead vandals, then of course I’m mistaken and they should be, at the very least, anally probed just to make sure they took no souvenirs. ---
**Author:** ![Enginerd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bcef8e/32.png) [@Enginerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enginerd)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/112 "2013-10-20T21:20:28Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > Is there more video I’m not seeing on the OP link? Because from that I can see no indication that they had anything but good intentions. They just seemed really happy when they pushed it down. Bullshit. They saw something they could break, so they broke it. That’s pretty much the opposite of “good intentions.” > [@](#): > > I am not saying they didn’t do something wrong, and I realize this is a historically significant rock, but they are getting DEATH THREATS and someone here has actually expressed the hope that they’ll be locked up with hairy sweaty men. I’m assuming they’re hinting that these guys deserve to be raped for knocking over a (historically significant) rock. Death threats and prison rape are inappropriate responses to pretty much anything. But a day or two in jail for vandalizing the very formations that make the park worth preserving? Perfectly appropriate, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Washoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@Washoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Washoe)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/113 "2013-10-20T21:24:41Z")
Besides, it wasn’t just _any_ goblin, as goblins go. I spent about an hour yesterday Googling up pics of the place. I am SO going there next time I’m in Utah. I didn’t find a single other hoodoo that had a pedestal that was that small compared to the rock that was balance atop it. And believe me, [hoodoos](http://wallpapers5.com/images/wallpapers/34137667/Travel/Goblin-Valley-State-Park-Utah.jpg) are not in short supply in that park. (That’s my new Windows wallpaper now.) That was one unique rock. ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/114 "2013-10-20T21:30:51Z")
If they were trying to make the area safer, they sure went about it in an extremely dangerous way. The rock could have easily spun the wrong way and seriously messed up that one dude. A guy who supposedly was already infirm. No way those guys were thinking about safety. And as has been said, I’m sure everyone and their friends would love to create an experience by tipping over a big ole rock. If everyone does it, then the major appeal of the park will be lost. I didn’t even know such formations exist, nor that they was a state park devoted to them. I’m going to have this on my bucket list. ---
**Author:** ![TonySinclair](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/49beb7/32.png) [@TonySinclair](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TonySinclair)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/115 "2013-10-20T21:35:16Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > someone here has actually expressed the hope that they’ll be locked up with hairy sweaty men. I’m assuming they’re hinting that these guys deserve to be raped for knocking over a (historically significant) rock. Holy crap. At least you are consistent in having bizarre interpretations about everything you see. You see some idiots deliberately destroying a national treasure, and you think the best of them. You see me making myself the butt of a joke about repressed homosexuality, and you think the worst of me. ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/116 "2013-10-20T21:36:29Z")
> [@Aquadementia](#): > > I think it’s part of the scouting creed to leave no traces. So these guys really got that wrong. I grew up Mormon, although I’m not now, and went through the LDS scouting program. The problem is that scouting is not taken seriously by many of the wards (congregations). Being a scout leader is just another “calling” just like any of the other position, and you get people who are serious about it and others who just throw some sleeping bags in a pickup and say they are scouting. In my time in scouting, I had a dozen leaders in a six-year period, and I think there was only one guy who was a real scout leader. The ex-Mormon online community is all over this story, of course and there are claims is the guy has said he was “prompted” (by the Holy Ghost) to do this. ---
**Author:** ![CLee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f19dbf/32.png) [@CLee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CLee)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/117 "2013-10-20T22:05:32Z")
> [@Rushgeekgirl](#): > > And **CLee** yes I do go outside occasionally. And I do like it to pleasant, but (IF) these guys thought it was a safety hazard (and I realize I’m just going by that one article and one brief video that doesn’t show what they were thinking before they pushed the rock down) and I like my outdoors to be safe from falling rocks. If they were just being shithead vandals, then of course I’m mistaken and they should be, at the very least, anally probed just to make sure they took no souvenirs. I don’t know how to calculate the odds that a million year old rock formation would wait until you arrive to topple over, or the odds that you would even bother to visit a park of “just rocks”, but can you stretch your mind wide open to the possibility that others may enjoy the rocky vistas and the rich geological history? And that others, even very fearful others might avoid venturing too near the most precarious-looking rocks and enjoy the scenery from higher ground? ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/118 "2013-10-20T22:09:46Z")
Outdoors is sort of by definition not safe from falling rocks. ---
**Author:** ![RobDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f07891/32.png) [@RobDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobDog)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/119 "2013-10-20T22:11:42Z")
I think there should be a stoning. I’ll have two points, two flats, and a bag of gravel. ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [October 20, 2013, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644/120 "2013-10-20T22:23:55Z")
> [@Washoe](#): > > Besides, it wasn’t just _any_ goblin, as goblins go. I spent about an hour yesterday Googling up pics of the place. I am SO going there next time I’m in Utah. I didn’t find a single other hoodoo that had a pedestal that was that small compared to the rock that was balance atop it. And believe me, [hoodoos](http://wallpapers5.com/images/wallpapers/34137667/Travel/Goblin-Valley-State-Park-Utah.jpg) are not in short supply in that park. (That’s my new Windows wallpaper now.) That was one unique rock. Whoa, that was like a Roger Dean cover for a Yes album come to life! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/utah-boy-scout-rock-toppling-outrage/671644.md?page=7)