Poisoned Trees: What One Fool Can Do

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A man named Harvey Updyke Jr. was arrested for allegedly poisoning 130-year-old live oak trees at Auburn University using a potent herbicide, resulting in charges of first-degree criminal mischief. This act was reportedly motivated by a rivalry between Auburn and the University of Alabama, highlighting the extreme lengths some fans will go to in the name of sports. The discussion reflects a strong emotional response to the destruction of these trees, which are seen as cultural landmarks and part of the community's heritage. Many participants express outrage over the act, viewing it as a senseless and spiteful crime that could have lasting environmental impacts. The conversation also touches on broader themes of cruelty, the value of nature, and the consequences of reckless behavior, with some arguing that the incident reveals a deeper societal issue regarding sports rivalries and respect for the environment. Concerns about the legal ramifications for Updyke, including potential civil suits and criminal penalties, are also discussed, emphasizing the seriousness of his actions.
  • #31
Jack21222 said:
Nowhere did I ever say his actions were right. What he did was quite clearly wrong. What I'm saying is it's nowhere near as wrong as a dozen other things that you don't care about at all. Life isn't a binary thing. Just because mass-murder and killing a tree are both "wrong" doesn't mean it makes sense to have the same kind of visceral reaction to both.

This was a property crime. Fine the man and put him on probation, and let's all move on with our lives.
Obviously it matters to the people discussing the issue in this thread. You've had your say, now let's get back on topic.
 
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  • #32
Evo said:
You've had your say, now let's get back on topic.

Evo, can you elaborate where exactly Jack was off topic. I would call it derailing the topic if he was keep talking one some other very specific crimes. He just compared this crime with other crimes in general.

Jack is just someone who do not share the same sentiments as you and most others in this thread. But his comments are not off topic.
 
  • #33
jobyts said:
Evo, can you elaborate where exactly Jack was off topic. I would call it derailing the topic if he was keep talking one some other very specific crimes. He just compared this crime with other crimes in general.

Jack is just someone who do not share the same sentiments as you and most others in this thread. But his comments are not off topic.
See my post #22. If you wish to discuss it, PM me, let's not continue disrupting the thread.
 
  • #34
Also sucks for any animals that called it "home."
 
  • #35
jobyts said:
Evo, can you elaborate where exactly Jack was off topic. I would call it derailing the topic if he was keep talking one some other very specific crimes. He just compared this crime with other crimes in general.

Jack is just someone who do not share the same sentiments as you and most others in this thread. But his comments are not off topic.

Taken 'to the absurd' that logic is not feasible, and doesn't address an issue that, as the OP, I'm uniquely able to speak to. This isn't about the crime committed as much as Proton so accurately identified, the mean nature, ignorance, and spite of it all.

Taken on face value, how do you qualify the impact of crime? If you can, then please tell me which is worse:

Murdering 50 grown women for sexual/sadistic pleasure.
Murdering 1 child for the same reason.
---
Running over your pet accidentally.
Running over your pet intentionally.
---
Cutting power, including backups to a major hospital.
Cutting power, including backups, to life support for specific people in that hospital.
---
Stealing a rose-bush
Killing the same rose-bush.

edit: This is IN ADDITION to the point that we have no way knowing who are what has been exposed to these extraordinary concentrations of Spike-8[0DF]. The most likely victims are children (oral contact, hygiene, playing on the ground) and pets/animals. It is a "moderately" toxic herbicide, and long term exposure is not the greatest if you enjoy having a pancreas.

I'd add... tebuthiuron (spike) is NOT a joke... it's not a pesticide, but its still no joke. This man dumped it in LIQUID form, and we'd just better hope that he knew what he was doing. Improper mixing, even with water in a dirty vessel, can be a very bad idea. I'd add, runoff poses a known danger to aquatic life, and that's in the context of PROPER use and application, with notice.
 
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  • #36
He was born & Florida & was a Texas ranger & doesn't seem to know anybody on the Alabama team, so I wonder why he's such a fan of U of Alabama. He even named his kids "Crimson" & "Bear" after the Alabama colours & a former coach's nickname.
 
  • #37
fourier jr said:
He was born & Florida & was a Texas ranger & doesn't seem to know anybody on the Alabama team, so I wonder why he's such a fan of U of Alabama. He even named his kids "Crimson" & "Bear" after the Alabama colours & a former coach's nickname.

GORK. Maybe he's just mean, and the kind of guy who needs to "fit in". It would explain why he thought that his gloating would impress "his side". Such a fool.
 
  • #38
he said there was an incident back in 1983 when the former Alabama coach died (Bear something) & the Auburn fans tp'ed the trees in celebration (a story nobody can back up btw). They also put one of their stars' jerseys on some statue of an Alabama player, so I think in his mind he's retaliating for those things. Such a stupid thing to do, especially phoning the radio station to give himself away, because now he's looking at 10 years in jail. One http://www.ajc.com/sports/auburn-tree-killer-the-841586.html I read said he might face federal charges too (not sure what, maybe EPA related?).
 
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  • #39
fourier jr said:
he said there was an incident back in 1983 when the former Alabama coach died (Bear something) & the Auburn fans tp'ed the trees in celebration (a story nobody can back up btw). They also put one of their stars' jerseys on some statue of an Alabama player, so I think in his mind he's retaliating for those things. Such a stupid thing to do, especially phoning the radio station to give himself away, because now he's looking at 10 years in jail, & one http://www.ajc.com/sports/auburn-tree-killer-the-841586.html I read said he might face federal charges too (not sure what, maybe EPA related?).

Indeed, and then he's going to face enough civil suits to ensure that his paycheck is so heavily garnished, he'll be eating it for nutrition.
 
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  • #40
This is why I hate sports.

:mad:
 
  • #41
As one who was born in, and lives in, the land of "more tree's than you can imagine", killing trees for fun, or spite, or recognition, is sacrilege.

I've only killed mine, because they were so huge, they have, on occasion, tried to kill me.
 
  • #42
Here is an opinion from someone who is NOT a tree-hugger:

1. Less than 10% of old-growth trees remain intact here in the U.S. I think it's down to less than 7%, in fact. I say protect them at all costs. If some billion-dollar exec can't make his new desk from an old-growth tree, screw him.

2. Renewable forests comprise more than 90% of all forests here in the U.S., and they've been grown like crops as assuredly as wheat. The only different is the length of the growing cycle.

3. I'd like to see 20% of the land set aside for non-harvesting, and I would like to see those areas allowed to grow into old-growth forests, over time.

4. Anyone who poisons trees should be seen and considered a "limited effect" bio-terrorist," and prosecuted accordingly. That's just sick!

On a more personal note, I spent approximately 160 days over 11 years waterskiing on a lake in Florida. There was a tree there under which we usually camped throughout the day (if we were the first there, and given my Dad's proclivity to wake up earlier than anyone else), we usually managed to arrive around 6am! Perhaps 7am. Whatever. It was shortly after sunrise, and we were almost always the first on site, the first to hit the water, the first to waterski, and the first to enjoy a wonderful breakfast of simple toast, eggs, and sausage cooked by my Mom, about the time others started arriving.

Google Maps says http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl"is the tree. I'll check back later to confirm their URL is actually pinpointing the spot.

I grew up under the shade of that tree. I revisited it in the late 90s, and it was still there. On Google Earth, to date, it's still there. If I could afford to put a huge plaque around that tree which states why that tree should be preserved, I would.

That doesn't guarantee squat, but if any of you have any pull with Kingsley Lake or Camp Blanding, please note that tree holds memories for hundreds of us, if not thousands of us over the years.
 
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  • #43
mugaliens said:
Here is an opinion from someone who is NOT a tree-hugger:

1. Less than 10% of old-growth trees remain intact here in the U.S. I think it's down to less than 7%, in fact. I say protect them at all costs. If some billion-dollar exec can't make his new desk from an old-growth tree, screw him.

2. Renewable forests comprise more than 90% of all forests here in the U.S., and they've been grown like crops as assuredly as wheat. The only different is the length of the growing cycle.

3. I'd like to see 20% of the land set aside for non-harvesting, and I would like to see those areas allowed to grow into old-growth forests, over time.

4. Anyone who poisons trees should be seen and considered a "limited effect" bio-terrorist," and prosecuted accordingly. That's just sick!

On a more personal note, I spent approximately 160 days over 11 years waterskiing on a lake in Florida. There was a tree there under which we usually camped throughout the day (if we were the first there, and given my Dad's proclivity to wake up earlier than anyone else), we usually managed to arrive around 6am! Perhaps 7am. Whatever. It was shortly after sunrise, and we were almost always the first on site, the first to hit the water, the first to waterski, and the first to enjoy a wonderful breakfast of simple toast, eggs, and sausage cooked by my Mom, about the time others started arriving.

Google Maps says http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl"is the tree. I'll check back later to confirm their URL is actually pinpointing the spot.

I grew up under the shade of that tree. I revisited it in the late 90s, and it was still there. On Google Earth, to date, it's still there. If I could afford to put a huge plaque around that tree which states why that tree should be preserved, I would.

That doesn't guarantee squat, but if any of you have any pull with Kingsley Lake or Camp Blanding, please note that tree holds memories for hundreds of us, if not thousands of us over the years.

I'd add... 130 years that tree has been there, alive. That link to the past may seem trite to some (not you, clearly), but we're human... we NEED props. If this guy pissed on the Liberty Bell, I think the outrage would be more clear, even though the damage would be zilch.

Still, he can only hope for a plea-bargain... anything less and I suspect he'll face serious jail time. As a judge, I'd put him up for 2 years (which is nothing with good behavior and parole), and enough community service to kill the spiteful old bastard. It's the civil suits I'm looking forward to, individual AND state. His life, for all intents and purposes, is now over.
 
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  • #44
Auburn fans rally for famous trees

I don't think a rally is going to do much good.

The trees' plight -- university scientists say its doubtful they can survive the poisoning with a harsh herbicide -- has even helped bind the deep-seated rivalry between Auburn fans and its cross-state arch rival, the University of Alabama.

http://www.cnn.com/2011/US/02/19/alabama.auburn.trees/"
 
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  • #45
I don't know why I thought of this story but there's still signs of life

http://www2.oanow.com/news/2012/mar/08/toomers-oaks-producing-new-leaves-still-ailing-ar-3374769/
 
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  • #46
crazy, seems to be a pattern with these two teams:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...shooting-over-alabama-loss-to-auburn/3819905/

Sister: Deadly shooting was over Alabama loss

The Associated Press 7:50 p.m. EST December 2, 2013

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — A woman charged with killing a fellow Alabama fan after the end of last weekend's Iron Bowl football game was angry that the victim and others didn't seem upset over the Crimson Tide's loss to archrival Auburn, said the sister of the slain woman.Adrian Laroze Briskey, 28, was charged Monday with murder in the killing of 36-year-old Michelle Shepherd.

Hoover police Capt. Jim Coker said both Birmingham women were Alabama fans and at the same party for the annual game between intrastate rivals. With no time left on the clock, Auburn returned a missed Crimson Tide field goal more than 100 yards for a 34-28 victory, dashing any hopes of Alabama playing for a third straight national championship.

I remember seeing that play on tv but didn't put two & two together

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsupViGHy_0