Recently while reading the American Association of Geographers monthly newsletter, I ran across a new publication, a book by an American called Greg Brick called Subterranean Twin Cities. I ordered the book, as it is obviously relevant to my research, although I could find no mention of urban exploration (or urban explorers) in the synopsis or chapter headings. But then I googled the title and found this blog post by Max Action of the Action Squad. Max Action is one of the most well known American explorers, in part due to his inclusion in Melody Gilbert’s film Urban Explorers: Into the Darkness, indicating to me that he is not just inherently hostile to media like some UrbExers.
The blog posting is incredulous. It implies that Brick was indeed part of the urban exploration community in Minneapolis, a member who apparently pillaged information from forums and used it to lock up locations, making them inaccessible to everyone but himself. I do not know Max Action or Greg Brick but from his lack of references/acknowledgments to the urban explorer community (who he has obviously associated with) in both his book structure and in television interviews, I am somewhat suspicious of his motivations. On the other hand, Greg did want to meet with Max Action (who declined) and also sent him a signed copy of the book. Who is in the right here?
The most frightening claim, and the reason Max Action has apparently chosen to launch this attack against Brick, is that Brick potentially plagiarized stories from the Action Squads forum boards, rewriting the stories as personal experience. I always imagined this was possible – forums getting pillaged for pics/stories, but to be a writer actually accused of it… Ouch!
So the book is one the way in the mail. I will withhold final judgment until reading it but clearly the book will need to be reviewed in an academic journal before the dust settles.
Now to decide which journal to put it in…
The ‘debate’ is now over – by Godwin’s Law, Brick has defeated himself!
gregbrick.org/re_gabe_carlson
Any update?
Link in last comment sadly does not work…
Sorry Moe, I unfortunately do not have any more information on this. It looks like Mr. Brick has basically dropped the matter.
I am, however, rather enjoying his book at the moment. Liberated information or not, it is well written and enjoyable.
I am going to start this by saying that Greg is a friend of mine. I do not know Max Action.
To accuse someone of plagerism, I’m sure you’re aware, is a pretty hefty claim. I would just say that the incident to which Max Action is referring is at the end of the chapter where Greg and friends leave the Ford Sand Mines in St. Paul. My problem with Max Action’s claim is that he seems to think that this experience is unique and could only happen once. I do not believe that such an event would be limited to a one time occurrence at a place that is infamous for nighttime explorers, especially back in the early 2000s.
It’s a shame that Max Action has gone to these lengths to pursue a claim that he does not intend to fight. If he really did feel that he had been wronged, why has he not responded to any of Greg’s requests to take it up legally?
There in lies one more aspect. How does Max Action prove Greg stole his experience and how does Greg defend his reputation against such internet postings? It’s probably worth noting that both Greg and Gabe have different reasons for their urban exploration. I would suggest that Gabe think a little more about the implications of his claim.
Thank you for the comment Laura. It is indeed a hefty claim and I would generally agree that if Max Action is not willing to back it up in court than he should drop the matter. Unfortunately, maybe due to the “secret” nature of the urban exploration as a whole (despite the fact that people have disparate motivations, as you point out) combined with the fact that so much interaction takes places online, where we all know things can be easily misconstrued, these sorts of confrontations are inevitable.
Hope Greg doesn’t lose too much sleep over it.
Your research sounds cool – I used to do archaeology and remember taking sediment cores in the Yucatan – it was so exciting to split them open on the table after a long day out in the field!
I agree.
If Gabe has a righteous claim he should have gone to court, but throwing mud is not the way to go.
I read some excerpts of the book on Google Books and have to say it indeed looks like a good read.
Ordered it now for our unis library and am looking forward a great deal.
Just a shame that i guess both Greg and Gabe have been frustrated away from publishing more Twin Cities urbex stuff.
Perhaps such an event happening twice is remotely possible … but it’s almost astronomically unlikely that it did, and even less likely that this amazing coincidence never came to light until his book came out.
Worse for Greg Brick is that even his best friend (who was with him the night they explored the Ford mines) admitted publicly that there was never a security truck “smack across from the entrance” and that there was never a “sleeping security guard” – both of which are key elements of the Ford stories on the Action Squad website and in Greg’s book.
To those familiar with the Ford mines and the characters involved, it’s pretty clear that Greg is lying, delusional or both – consciously or not, he took the tale from the Action Squad site.
Just reading it right now.
Honestly, after having the book in my Hands and sucking in the passion for the subject the Author has I have to say:
Gabe, go to court if your rights have been infringed, plagiators suck.
If not: Stop slandering.
I wont be the judge.
To many people whining about the injustice inflicted on them that never took a stand to care about.
Amazing read, Greg, thanks.
Henry, the argument you post is getting tired. Are you sure you didn’t plagerise that off the Action Squad website? What Greg’s friend said was that he couldn’t remember and so then Gabe and his website twisted his words to support their cause.
Moe’s right. If Gabe feels that he has been so grossly plagerised by Greg, take it to court. Otherwise, shut up, get over it, and move on. I mean, he won’t even use his real name when he makes these accusations. What does that tell you?
Another friend of mine, unrelated to Greg’s incident, had almost the exact same experience coming out of the mines in the middle of the night. Clearly, the area is notorious for trespassers and explorers, and so it makes sense to me, and probably most people, that there’s going to be a lot of security call outs, regardless of where they park their truck or if they fall asleep in them.
I think what most people would say is that if you feel you have been wronged, do something constructive about it. Don’t post hate messages for all your cronies to read, thereby stroking your already over-inflated ego.
lol. Pretty transparent that “Moe” and “Laura” are both actually Greg Brick.
“cronies”
Cute!
I find it hard to believe that anyone would be able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law that Greg Brick actually stole any material. While it certainly seems very plausable, it would not be enough to convince a jury. I could see several thousand dollars being wasted in attorney fees doing so. I also find it very hard to believe that the exact same thing happened to both of them. The entrance was not easy to take apart and put back together in any sort of a hurry. People just didn’t go there, past the cameras and security all the time. Some employees sent pictures to one of the security guys, and unknown to them at the time, it was right in the middle of a security audit. People almost lost their jobs over that. After this, a building was put up, locking the entrance. I find it hard to believe that securitu cat naps there on a regular basis, so regular that this same ordeal happened to both of them. Security has to check in at different points all through their shift. They would not remain in one spot unless waiting for someone. Before defending Mr. Brick, one must ask him what other underhanded things he has done in this whole mess. Best of luck getting an honest answer, I really hope you do.
Huh?
Im Greg Brick? Nope.
But you, sir, are a troll.