From personal experience I can say topping is contagious.
You tend to see it in groups and can see where the guy went down the street administering his dose of malpractice and ignorance.
There are some arguments that certain trees etc will grow tall and self destruct, break in the wind/snow/ice etc.
There are correct and more appropriate pruning techniques.
Some of those techniques are reduction, pollarding, and thinning. Again there's a thread running here where some of the concepts are discussed and also a PowerPoint presentation. Point 3 of that presentation does mention topping however do realize it's for special cases, it also comes with it's own cautions ...
Quote:
NOTES:
1 This type of pruning should be done in several stages in an attempt to induce stable and successful regrowth.
2 Consideration should be given to removing dangerous trees.
3 Remedial pruning may create hazards from weak branch attachment. Trees should be carefully monitored.
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Anti Topping Campaign
Also to consider, we are talking about trees not shrubs. The difference as defined by a great author and tree man the late Shigo was if it can fall over or break off and hurt or kill you then it's a tree.