Wayne

I currently don’t believe it was his intent for them to die but he definitely knew it was a possibility

Maybe something could be said about how older generations ruin things for younger generations, but I have a headache rn and it’s hard to think

I actually DON'T think Clark thought the Backrooms were dangerous.

Because he was already the most dangerous thing in it.

Think about it. Everyone else who stayed there for more than an hour got attacked, and it wouldn't be a stretch to assume it was the Captain that killed them. The three other homunculi we see aren't agressive, and presumably avoid humans if they can. It's only Captain that seeks them out and eats them.

A lizard eats its own tail in the absence of other food, but only as a last resort.

Clark went back multiple times over multiple days, and he said he didn't actually see anyone, only heard other people moving around. The first time he saw the cutout be smashed and ran, so he knew there was SOMETHING there, but didn't run into it again. He relaxed. Probably assumed it wasn't going to hurt him if it hadn't so far.

He brought Bobby and Kat because of the camera and, well, because he didn't have anyone else to ask. He sent Bobby down with some good reasons: he operates the camera, he's younger and more spry, he's smaller and would be easier to pull back up. Not bringing a rope cutter, or even a knife, was stupid but probably a genuine mistake on his part. He sent him down there into a situation that was maybe risky, but didn't think was dangerous.

Until it was. Because with Clark and his anger, it's everyone ELSE who is in danger, not him.

It's a very good paralell to his real life issues. He doesn't WANT to hurt his wife, his therapist, his employees, but he is lashing out and hurting people because otherwise he will hurt himself.

And that's exactly what happens. Only in the absence of other people to hurt, Captain hurts HIM. They tried changing, failed, and stayed stewing in their own misery, and the consequence is being devoured by your own maladaptive coping strategies.

Still lives definitely as far as we are aware do not avoid humans. And the red headed still life originally chased Clark when first seeing him. And in found footage three

This isn’t really a non hostile thing to do

And this isn’t “avoiding human” behavior

We have seen still lives hostile more than we have seen them non hostile