FR is one of perhaps the WORST sources for monitor husbandry you can possibly listen to. He's been the cause of death for MANY female monitors because he's arrogant and thinks he knows anything about monitor husbandry.

Frankly, he's one of the biggest mongoloids on the internet to be honest. If you choose his advice over many of the better keepers (crocdoc, Robyn, Krusty) than I can honestly only hope your monitor escapes your care rather than endure some of the nonsense that FR spouts around.

That being said, nothing wrong with monitors going outside, if your climate is somewhat related to their natural habitat. Some southern parts of Florida, outside is acceptable. HOWEVER. Most places in North America ARE NOT SUITABLE FOR MONITORS TO BE OUTDOORS. Ever notice, we don't have wild monitors here, it's for a reason. The habitats are not suitable for monitors.

Your job as the keeper is to mimic it's natural habitat, that means all conditions, which can be done 100% in the enclosure without it ever seeing the outside world. On top of that, you force the solitary reptile to interact with the social mammal. It doesn't need or want to interact with you. Leave it alone in it's proper environment, it'll be healthy there.

A cat may swim in the wild, but you don't seem me chucking mine into the bathtub yelling SWIM FLUFFY YOUD DO IT IN THE WILD!.