Hello all,
What are some good ways to learn if an explorer is trustworthy? I plan to meet some people from UER in person and I have learned the hard way that sites shouldn't be blindly shared. Does anyone have a good method of determining whether someone can be trusted or is it just a gut instinct thing?

EDIT:
I understand that it's probably not a great idea to make your methods publicly available, so if you could PM me to keep it secure I'd appreciate that as well. Thanks!

This should have been posted in the 'Rookie' section.
(*edit*, OK, fine.... it was)

I believe I emailed you yesterday with a random question about Cincinnati, so that helps. As for your question, I'm not sure how hard it could be.. Socialize, perhaps? Lol.

If you have some photos, illustrations, or just thoughts to share, obviously that will help everyone recognize you're interested in photography, architecture, or history, as opposed to the usual tagging, scrapping, or vandalizing whatever places you can get to.

We want to exterminate those types of bad members for a number of reasons.

Interesting question, I think. Only because it's one that seems like common sense in a lot of ways and we might take it for granted when it's not to some people.

So ultimately the best way to tell is just meeting them and talking to them. I know that in Texas we used to have meet & greets where we would just come out and have a bite to eat. Then we would kind of figure out who we trusted for what and when and such and how much you share with someone.

Most places have what I would consider "throw away" locations. The kind that almost everyone is aware of in some capacity (Swift Meat Packing Plant is one of those in Texas [but it may be completely demo'd now]). Those locations are usually low risk and easy to enter, as well. I usually took noobs to those types of locations to sort of "test the waters" as it were. When you go to places like this you can sort of see how everyone acts (especially if they haven't been to said location before) and then go from there.


In my experience I have noticed most explorers are super fucking awesome and there's very little doubt about them. I've also noticed that the people who are problematic work themselves out, too. By that I mean you sort of figure it out naturally. A lot like when you make friends in school, you figure out if you click or not. I've met a lot of explorers I didn't so much get on with and some explorers became my best friends (and still are to this day).


It's not rocket science, if someone does something shitty or brags about being shitty, they're shitty. If you don't feel comfortable with them, then don't explore with them.

Once you get into the community, most explorers will introduce you to other explorers and locations.

I generally have low-risk sites to share, or online tips that need research. Not too long ago someone new in my region joined this site and I sent her to verify if an apartment complex near her home was abandoned. Another guy, I sent him to investigate something, and he spent the day wandering around a lively market street. Not all my tips pay off. I'm not giving them handouts, but getting them to do me a favour, which builds the type of mutually beneficial relationship I want.

Other than that, we meet up, either at a group event or just for food and drinks. You can learn enough about a person that way, and set an example for them if they're new. I usually only meet up with people if we have the right mutual friends, or if there's something I can get out of them (their own location information or some other relevant skillset, or even just them scouting for me). It also helps if they're attractive girls.

Things that make me cautious:
-asking about one particular site, unless they have a good reason for their interest in it
-asking about subway tunnels (I'm on high alert for foreign taggers)
-people who have no interest in meeting in person
-people with no digital footprint (ie on Facebook)

Ask them if they would help you dispose of a body.

"Will you take a photo of my ass while I pose over here?"

Posted by Steed Things that make me cautious: -asking about one particular site, unless they have a good reason for their interest in it -asking about subway tunnels (I'm on high alert for foreign taggers) -people who have no interest in meeting in person -people with no digital footprint (ie on Facebook)

Ehh no digital footprint/not meeting is not always bad. It's not too hard to dox people, but when you're trespassing and posting proof of it on a public forum why make it easier?

If you don't know someone irl or have mutual friends who can vouch for them then you just have to take a leap of faith. It's just how making friends with strangers works.

I trust people I have personally known for years.

Correction, I trust some of the people I have known for years.


So, my recommendation is to get to know them, and experience some life experiences with them over say six years minimum or so.

Or this works for me well with everyone else:

You can only trust someone to be themself.

Posted by mookster Ask them if they would help you dispose of a body.

Yes.

I'm going to use an exploration I did with WIurbex as an example here. We spent several months communicating with each other through PMs, sending about 50 messages back and forth during that time period. Part of those conversations involved an interesting abandoned location we were both aware of, but could not get in to. He eventually obtained access, and offered to allow me to explore it with him.

We spent another month hashing out the details before the actual exploration. When the time to explore arrived, we met in person in a public setting with plenty of witnesses around. We each brought a friend that we trusted, something else we had agreed upon beforehand.

The exploration went off without a hitch, and was one of the cooler locations I've had a chance to explore. Everything went perfect, and I'd explore with him again if an opportunity ever arose.

Bear in mind that he did not have his full membership at that time, and mine was extremely recent. Generally, full members might be a little less cautious, because FM requires either an exploration with another FM, or a long history of contributions to the forum (mine was two years).

Generally, take the same steps as you normally would when meeting someone from online. Leave a name and location behind with someone you trust, bring a friend if you are able, and trust your gut.

Posted by Aran Leave a name and location behind with someone you trust, bring a friend if you are able, and trust your gut.

What if they have irritable people gut syndrome and can't trust their gut?

Posted by vivid Ehh no digital footprint/not meeting is not always bad. It's not too hard to dox people, but when you're trespassing and posting proof of it on a public forum why make it easier? If you don't know someone irl or have mutual friends who can vouch for them then you just have to take a leap of faith. It's just how making friends with strangers works.

They're just warning signs, not dealbreakers. Being able to locate a person's Facebook page tells me a lot about them; everyone has a regular life. If I think I'm dealing with an alias, I'm less helpful based on past experience.

Perform trust falls on each other.

Going to low risk and/or low demand sites should give a good scope of who they are, but make sure you go on a couple adventures with them before coming to a conclusion on their character.

Ya wanna watch out for people who ask a lot of questions, about you, or a specific location. Really anyone that seems to have a secret motive.

Watch how they act under pressure. An important factor to consider is when shit hits the fan, you want to ensure your partners know how to act level headed and as a group.

The types of people I want to avoid exploring with are rebellious, reckless, jumpy or sketched out types, really anyone you feel would be tough to work with or butt heads with a lot.

of course this maxim comes to mind how do you know when a person is lying? their lips are moving

Give them the standard Window Pane Acid Test.
Have them hold 25 hits of LSD in window pane form in their hand for 30 minutes.
The truth will be revealed

Posted by vivid not meeting is not always bad.

It absolutely is!

If you can't trust them or they're not worth your while to meet by schedule, they shouldn't trust you. I don't see why someone wouldn't want to meet up unless they're up to something beyond exploration or they're looters, firebugs or running on bail for something serious and don't want to be recognized.

Posted by Deuterium It absolutely is! If you can't trust them or they're not worth your while to meet by schedule, they shouldn't trust you. I don't see why someone wouldn't want to meet up unless they're up to something beyond exploration or they're looters, firebugs or running on bail for something serious and don't want to be recognized.

quoted for the truth!

Posted by dundertits of course this maxim comes to mind how do you know when a person is lying? their lips are moving

Or increasingly, their fingers are typing.

Posted by blackhawk Give them the standard Window Pane Acid Test. Have them hold 25 hits of LSD in window pane form in their hand for 30 minutes. The truth will be revealed

Hey you're in my area, let's meet! I've always wanted a free trip in an abando.

It absolutely is! If you can't trust them or they're not worth your while to meet by schedule, they shouldn't trust you. I don't see why someone wouldn't want to meet up unless they're up to something beyond exploration or they're looters, firebugs or running on bail for something serious and don't want to be recognized.

But why take risks? Infiltration is legally gray at best, no reason to dox yourself any more. Besides, mom told me not to meet strangers from the internet unless they're from Tinder.