Car Talk promotes arborabuse--Picket them Friday!

[treeseer]

I don't listen to these guys much, but today they told a guy to drive up to a huge old tree and mash on the gas to see how the clutch worked. So I went to their website and wrote this:

Are you nuts? Driving up to a huge old tree and mashing on the gas to check clutch performance would do horrible damage to its skin. The pressure could bring in decay like incurable gangrene. Not to mention the damage to the roots from driving on them.

The tree might rot out totally and fall on you when you are on your way to the bar. Not good. Please post a retraction, and for stall tests recommend immovable objects that are also inanimate.

People for Ethical TREEtment convenes in Boston next week at the New England Grows trade show and conference. We will picket your offices next Friday at noon if a retraction is not printed forthwith.

We understand you meant no harm, and appreciate your consideration of trees in the future.

Guy Meilleur, ISA Board-Certified Master Arborist,
Founder, People foR Ethical TREEtment

Who wants to join the picketing? I'm dead serious about this--it's time to yell (and have a little fun)! Or comment here: http://action.publicbroadcasting.net...t/2136440.page

 

[treeseer]

Seldom Seen and I are up to it.



Our monkeywrenches are under the seat and we're ready to roll!

Awesome!

o and i had the wrong forum--here's the right one. Please comment!

 

[outofmytree]

Can't help you with the picket line Guy, (unless it is wider than I anticipate) but I would be happy to email these guys. I am no tree hugger but I like my car and I like my trees. No reason ya cant have both. I bet the local shop would be unimpressed if you put the fender up to a crash bollard and dumped the clutch..

 

[treeslayer]

Trees got skin?


man, I'd go just to raise hell.
It's a good show, too, but that's an old redneck burnout trick, surprised they would tell people over the air to try and kill themselves like that.

 

[tomtrees58]

nuts i love doing big removals tom trees

 

[arbor pro]

nuts i love doing big removals tom trees

Not so sure I'd get so wound up about it. I love trees and I understand your concern for them but butting a car up against a 7' diameter cottonwood and mashing on the gas to test the clutch is not going to push the tree over or damage the roots or destroy the cambium layer. Running Bubba's f350 into it at 60mph might be a different story but, to me, it doesn't sound like such a big deal that it warrants picketing. I would have simply written a note like you did and politely advised them to choose an inanimate object next time in which to perform the test on. No need for the picketing threats.

Those car talk guys are as much airwave comedians as they are automotive experts. They were likely just trying to make their advice sound interesting. They could have just as easily advised the car owner to butt the vehicle up against his 550# beer-drinkin' redneck buddy, 'Bubba', and do the same test. If that was the case, you probably would have gotten a chuckle out of it. And you probably would have wanted to be there to see it if he actually did it.

Trees are like animals folks. Respect them, yes. Worship them, no. Let's keep it real.

 

[jrr344]

IF you really want to make a difference see how many people have done this and go plant a tree to replace it and stop wasting peoples time with ignorant picketing that doesn't do anything.

 

[Ljute]

Test the clutch running up against your radio!

 

[pdqdl]

So what exactly does testing against the tree prove?

If it uproots the tree, lifts the front end up with the protruding root ball, and leaves your car hanging in mid-air, does that mean the clutch is OK?

 

[boltonranger]

This must be a joke.
-br

 

[John464]

who cares Guy. Go back to work and make some money stop worrying about someone else's tree. If they want to drive a truck through it aint sheit you can do about it. It is their property. Go there and give it a hug afterwards and wave your rainbowed flag when your done.

 

[lxt]

:agree2:



LXT..........

 

[outofmytree]

IF you really want to make a difference see how many people have done this and go plant a tree to replace it and stop wasting peoples time with ignorant picketing that doesn't do anything.

who cares Guy. Go back to work and make some money stop worrying about someone else's tree. If they want to drive a truck through it aint sheit you can do about it. It is their property. Go there and give it a hug afterwards and wave your rainbowed flag when your done.

Are you arborists? If so you need to rethink your comments.

Are you tree hacks? If so you need to stick to other forums.

Picketting isnt my idea of a fun day but allowing stupid comments like "drive your truck into a tree to test the clutch" to pass without question is worse.

One man who gives a damn about ANYTHING is more valuable than a hundred slackers who sit on their asses and do nothing about anything.

:angry2:

 

[pdqdl]

:agree2:

While I don't generally get too involved with the tree huggers of this world, I also realize that it is the activists that promote change. When change is good, I will at least admire the commitment of those who have taken action instead of sitting on the sidelines whining about the change they fear to attempt.

In this case, I don't think much action is called for, and I don't think Guy's comments or plan of action are excessive. I'm sure the car guy's would take it as another great way to fill the airwaves with more of their silly talk.

Have at it, Guy!
(It's probably not bad marketing to get your name in the news as a tree activist, either. Calls could pour in from like-minded customers)

 

[lxt]

Have at it, Guy!
(It's probably not bad marketing to get your name in the news as a tree activist, either. Calls could pour in from like-minded customers)

Or they could consider him a whacko........& his biz could drop off by the thought of "im not hiring the village idiot"...who knows.

Around where I live sticking your nose in someone elses biz & doing what Guy suggested would cause more harm to your biz than good!!!!!!

Is it a good cause?......who knows, maybe the car dealership was joking, if anything send in a write up & ask for them to explain, I cant imagine that what was suggested is professional advice??????? Whos tree is it? Remember this is America, private property.....& public liking for destruction may outweigh your admirable attempts........



Good Luck!


LXT..............

 

[jrr344]

Are you arborists? If so you need to rethink your comments.

Are you tree hacks? If so you need to stick to other forums.

Picketting isnt my idea of a fun day but allowing stupid comments like "drive your truck into a tree to test the clutch" to pass without question is worse.

One man who gives a damn about ANYTHING is more valuable than a hundred slackers who sit on their asses and do nothing about anything.

:angry2:

You are a tard first of all they aren't going to ram a tree with their truck they are going to ease into it and left off the clutch to see if it slips, so there probably wont be any damage at all and secondly these aren't your tree's and tree's dont' have feelings so you should get a life and do something constructive you are probably one of them morons that was crying over dead trees I saw on youtube.

 

[outofmytree]

So I went to their website and wrote this:

Are you nuts? Driving up to a huge old tree and mashing on the gas to check clutch performance would do horrible damage to its skin. The pressure could bring in decay like incurable gangrene. Not to mention the damage to the roots from driving on them.

The tree might rot out totally and fall on you when you are on your way to the bar. Not good. Please post a retraction, and for stall tests recommend immovable objects that are also inanimate.

People for Ethical TREEtment convenes in Boston next week at the New England Grows trade show and conference. We will picket your offices next Friday at noon if a retraction is not printed forthwith.

We understand you meant no harm, and appreciate your consideration of trees in the future.

I read the whole OP which helps when commenting.

Perhaps if some "nutbag tree guy" had said, on radio, "whenever you deadwood a tree put your neighbours car under it to catch the branches" this may have offended more people.

The tragedy of modern society is we pay more attention to "media personalities" than to truly knowledgeable people. So these guys, who may well have been fooling around, could well be influencing "Bubba" to park his truck up to a tree and drop the clutch. If this is the case then I see it as appropriate to tell the radio hosts that their "advice", however it was intended, is simply wrong.

Around where I live sticking your nose in someone elses biz & doing what Guy suggested would cause more harm to your biz than good!!!!!!

Around where I live, pushing your car into a public tree to test your clutch would be seen as just cause for a nasty fine and I dare say the same would apply where you live too. If the tree is owned by the driver then it is his/her tree to ruin but shouldnt they at least be told the possible consequences of their actions?

 

[jrr344]

I read the whole OP which helps when commenting.

Perhaps if some "nutbag tree guy" had said, on radio, "whenever you deadwood a tree put your neighbours car under it to catch the branches" this may have offended more people.

The tragedy of modern society is we pay more attention to "media personalities" than to truly knowledgeable people. So these guys, who may well have been fooling around, could well be influencing "Bubba" to park his truck up to a tree and drop the clutch. If this is the case then I see it as appropriate to tell the radio hosts that their "advice", however it was intended, is simply wrong.



Around where I live, pushing your car into a public tree to test your clutch would be seen as just cause for a nasty fine and I dare say the same would apply where you live too. If the tree is owned by the driver then it is his/her tree to ruin but shouldnt they at least be told the possible consequences of their actions?

I like to cut trees down and burn them, I have never had one of them disagree with it or fight back, mostly because tree have no feelings or brains so therefore they don't know the difference between life or death.:hmm3grin2orange::hmm3grin2orange::deadhorse:

 

[outofmytree]

You are a tard first of all they aren't going to ram a tree with their truck they are going to ease into it and left off the clutch to see if it slips, so there probably wont be any damage at all and secondly these aren't your tree's and tree's dont' have feelings so you should get a life and do something constructive you are probably one of them morons that was crying over dead trees I saw on youtube.

Excuse my ignorance but I only speak and read English. What is a tard?

If you are unable to comprehend that the pressure generated by a truck can damage the cambium of a tree, or that the spinning wheels can damage the roots you should not be posting in COMMERCIAL tree care and climbing.

 

[jrr344]

Excuse my ignorance but I only speak and read English. What is a tard?

If you are unable to comprehend that the pressure generated by a truck can damage the cambium of a tree, or that the spinning wheels can damage the roots you should not be posting in COMMERCIAL tree care and climbing.

So can a tornado or hurricane why dont' you picket one of them. RETARD