- Joined
- Feb 28, 2007
- Messages
- 9,786
-
The BladeForums.com 2024 Traditional Knife is available! Price is $250 ea (shipped within CONUS).
Order here: https://www.bladeforums.com/help/2024-traditional/
MacGyver = classic survival
- Thread starter btuner
- Start date
There was at least one MacGyver episode with a "hit you over the head" antigun message. I can't remember the storyline but the last scene in the episode shows MacGyver dumping a handgun into a vat of (presumably) acid and then saying "one down and a hundred million to go".
MacGyver fans should check out the wikipedia article on him. Pretty entertaining itself. Be sure to see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macgyver#MacGyverisms
and read about all the SAKs he uses. And click on "List of problems solved by MacGyver" if you want to marvel at the nerdiness of the internet.
Mac was anti gun because he had a traumatizing gun incident as a kid. The show may have had an anti gun message, but that made it unique from the other shootem ups. Thankfully, it still had lots of action and explosives to compensate for Mac's "pussy" vegetarian and anti-gun'ness.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macgyver#MacGyverisms
and read about all the SAKs he uses. And click on "List of problems solved by MacGyver" if you want to marvel at the nerdiness of the internet.
Mac was anti gun because he had a traumatizing gun incident as a kid. The show may have had an anti gun message, but that made it unique from the other shootem ups. Thankfully, it still had lots of action and explosives to compensate for Mac's "pussy" vegetarian and anti-gun'ness.
- Joined
- May 3, 2006
- Messages
- 1,819
I also enjoyed MacGuyver, despite the show's clear anti-gun bias. The A-Team, on the other hand, pissed me off to no end. The producers, bowing to the HCI crowd, decided that the team would only shoot blanks, so they couldn't be accused of "gun violence." (The Fall Guy did this too.) Rather than persuade their audience that guns are bad, they made the use of guns cartoonish and conveyed the message that guns can be used in a gratuitous, irresponsible way without negative consequences. They would have done a much better job of communicating the seriousness of using firearms if they actually showed somebody being shot - blood and all - and consequently crippled or killed.
After Brady was shot, HCI very quickly became a major force in left-wing circles. Hollywood, always a creature of the left, quickly retooled to appease them.
-- FLIX
After Brady was shot, HCI very quickly became a major force in left-wing circles. Hollywood, always a creature of the left, quickly retooled to appease them.
-- FLIX
Sheriff Andy Taylor didn't carry a gun, either. Gunplay on that show was treated with utter ridicule. I guess that show was also part of the Hollywood anti gun conspiracy.
Shows are made to attract an audience. The way that was done in the 80s on broadcast television was to make it as appealing to as broad an audience as possible. They hook the men by making the character extremely resourceful with a pocketknife. They hook the women by making him a sensitive modern man, too. And they hook the parents by limiting gunplay to the bad guys. It must be remembered that MacGuyver was largely a kiddie show.
It seems clear MacGuyver would never have worked had he been carrying a gun. The only reason the show is remembered at all is because he was so ridiculously handy with everything but a gun. The whole gimmick of the show was to have a hero who could accomplish anything and reign triumphant over bad guys without the great equalizer.
Shows are made to attract an audience. The way that was done in the 80s on broadcast television was to make it as appealing to as broad an audience as possible. They hook the men by making the character extremely resourceful with a pocketknife. They hook the women by making him a sensitive modern man, too. And they hook the parents by limiting gunplay to the bad guys. It must be remembered that MacGuyver was largely a kiddie show.
It seems clear MacGuyver would never have worked had he been carrying a gun. The only reason the show is remembered at all is because he was so ridiculously handy with everything but a gun. The whole gimmick of the show was to have a hero who could accomplish anything and reign triumphant over bad guys without the great equalizer.
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2001
- Messages
- 2,101
If you watch one of the first episodes, Macgyver fires at the bad guys with an AK47. This was the episode where a pilot was stranded on a plateau and he rescued him. He used a flare gun as a "rocket" after bashing the muzzle flat. I thought I was crazy when I saw this but my buddies confirmed it. If you have the DVD's, check it out. It is in the opening scene not very far in.
By the way, I didn't pick up on the anti-gun messages as a kid but see the political agenda clear as day now.
By the way, I didn't pick up on the anti-gun messages as a kid but see the political agenda clear as day now.
- Joined
- Sep 26, 2005
- Messages
- 3,516
I saw that episode with the inner city youth not long ago, my buddy has every season on dvd, reminded me of the summer I worked at a YMCA summer camp.
I am with shecky, though the show far from aided the pro gun movement, it was never preachy about the evils of firearms either. Mac just chose not to use them.
I am with shecky, though the show far from aided the pro gun movement, it was never preachy about the evils of firearms either. Mac just chose not to use them.
Was there a message and bias to MacGyver? You bet. Did I care? Nope! One of my favorite shows growing up. I have the episode where he uses the AK. It seems pretty clear that he isn't aiming at the baddies directly. I also remember an episode where Mac used a revolver. As a wrench by removing the cylinder and using the frame.
As the seasons progressed, the writers definitely took Mac pretty far left. He stopped being a spy/agent for DSX and became a do-gooder for the Phoenix Foundation. He also stopped going on "missions" and started rescueing boy's clubs, singel moms, street folks, etc.
P.S. How many of us had a friend like Jack? Or how many of us were Jack and needed Mac to keep saving our butt?
As the seasons progressed, the writers definitely took Mac pretty far left. He stopped being a spy/agent for DSX and became a do-gooder for the Phoenix Foundation. He also stopped going on "missions" and started rescueing boy's clubs, singel moms, street folks, etc.
P.S. How many of us had a friend like Jack? Or how many of us were Jack and needed Mac to keep saving our butt?
- Joined
- Oct 8, 1998
- Messages
- 8,917
Can you control explosives and incendiaries like that made from commonly available materials? No. Can anyone? Uh, no. That's usually why you get a visit from the State Fire Marshal or the Feds for making things like this now, they're inherently dangerous and unpredictable. That's the point. He was careless with a gun, guns are bad. Careful with an improvised BOMB or incendiary is virtually impossible when used in any type of uncontrolled situation like that.
It took hollyweird a long time to get to the point where they are now, Directors like Michael Mann changed a lot when it comes to this stuff although some of his early stuff on Miami Vice left a lot to be desired.
Then again, there was some interesting stuff on that show as well. Anyone remember the Bren Ten? I can't believe I'm even responding to this. This is B.S. the only thing you are going to "safely and effectively" do by putting smokeless or black powder into a lock and lighting it with a stick is put a bunch of burned material in the lock insuring the correct key would not open it.
So, if you have to open a lock, you going to pour gunpowder in it? He picked a lock in another episode or a couple, IIRC, didn't he? Funny thing...at least that has some degree of "reality" to it. If you have a SAK and some commonly available items like cheap sunglasses from a 7-11 and possibly a snatched/snapped off windshield wiper blade, you can make what you need with a SAK...especially one with a file and pliers.
Anyway, here's to duct tape and Victorinox! I'm all for it, as long as I don't have to listen to Sarah Brady's POV when watching it.
As for Shecky's comments, yeah, hollywood has never been anti-gun and there is no "conspiracy." Well, hey, check out the Richard Donner movie "Assassins" and when Idiot One and Idiot Two are in the cab trying to figure out how to assassin each other, there is an MTA bus in the background and when it passes by you can clearly see the red circle with the red slash through it and three letters - N R A - that's not a coincidence coming from Richard Donner who had at least one anti-gun message in the Lethal Weapon movies. But it's OK for the hypocrites to make millions off of firearms and then be against them.
Who needs a "conspiracy" Shecky? They don't really try to hide their POV, although that nearly subliminal message in "Assassins" was rather interesting.
I'm not so sure the show had an anti-gun bias since virtually every bad guy had one or more. MacGyvers actions were not usually to kill anyone but to save his and the stories victims butt. Mac was as far as I know a SUPER GENIUS. I would imagine if I did some research, all the contraptions he came up with would work. You would have to know chemistry and pyhsics as well as being able to think very quickly on your feet in a stressful/dangerous situation.
- Joined
- Oct 8, 1998
- Messages
- 8,917
People can dream about the SUPER GENIUS but, in the end, much like the other TV SUPER GENIUS, Wile. E. Coyote, you're just going to end up with a blackened lock that won't open and perhaps a burnt face as well. ACME.
- Joined
- May 3, 2006
- Messages
- 1,819
Sheriff Andy Taylor didn't carry a gun, either. Gunplay on that show was treated with utter ridicule. I guess that show was also part of the Hollywood anti gun conspiracy.
Shows are made to attract an audience. The way that was done in the 80s on broadcast television was to make it as appealing to as broad an audience as possible. They hook the men by making the character extremely resourceful with a pocketknife. They hook the women by making him a sensitive modern man, too. And they hook the parents by limiting gunplay to the bad guys. It must be remembered that MacGuyver was largely a kiddie show.
It seems clear MacGuyver would never have worked had he been carrying a gun. The only reason the show is remembered at all is because he was so ridiculously handy with everything but a gun. The whole gimmick of the show was to have a hero who could accomplish anything and reign triumphant over bad guys without the great equalizer.
How about Magnum PI. This kind of fits with what you are saying. Hooks the women with his looks and the men with the car and beautiful women and don't forget he sometimes carried the 1911:thumbup: and sometimes others.
- Joined
- May 12, 2007
- Messages
- 355
With a massive amount of luck and know-how, the tricks he did are relatively possible in a 'This is how something works' way. A portion of them would never work if tried, especially since they purposely both some explosive and chemical formulas so kids and idiots don't make the stuff at home. Any idea how many people tried to make napalm out of soap after Fight Club mentioned it? I'd imagine thousands of bored kids and weirdos. Thing is, they made up the formula for it, common practice on some shows where they have to do something like that.
The show leaned quite left between Mac's lifestyle and political beliefs. On one hand he was a bit old fashioned and practical despite his 'new' beliefs. He carried a knife, loved living in the wild, seemed rather old-fashioned temperament wise despite the carrot juice and art appreciation. The anti-gun message goes pretty far back in comic books. Batman hating guns was the result of the Comic Code coming into play, forcing them to write in why he didn't just shoot everyone. But as time went on, the character evolved around hating guns, and he's become well written as the antithesis of even the most skilled shooters. It's not just guns, he also despites magic and powers, extreme technology contrary to the bat-gadgets of some eras, he believes in fighting a fair fight. If MacGuyver were written in a similar style in that he doesn't believe in using fear tactics and equalizers, simply being the underdog, there'd be less propaganda feel to it.
He did prove something that gun-haters and lovers alike can agree on. The greatest weapon is the human mind. It shouldn't inspire people to go unprepared as he usually did, but the message of lateral thinking and problem solving is an educational one.
A younger friend of mine talked about how he inquired about carrying a knife-less Leatherman at school, he brought in product printouts for the deans to look at, expecting to be turned down. A girl sitting nearby said that the screw-drivers were too pointy, and that some one could stab somebody with the file.
"There have been several thousand pens and pencils in this school every single day for half a century. No one's ever been stabbed."
People have lost the ability to see everyday objects as something more. They read the label, that's what they have. The pen-shank isn't exactly the example I'd recommend, but it shows that people don't think outside of the box until they're trapped outside it. It's not until they get shocked, stabbed, or worse by something mundane do they realize the way something works.
Was Macguyver pretty liberal? Yes, but I think we can all still learn a thing or two from him.
The show leaned quite left between Mac's lifestyle and political beliefs. On one hand he was a bit old fashioned and practical despite his 'new' beliefs. He carried a knife, loved living in the wild, seemed rather old-fashioned temperament wise despite the carrot juice and art appreciation. The anti-gun message goes pretty far back in comic books. Batman hating guns was the result of the Comic Code coming into play, forcing them to write in why he didn't just shoot everyone. But as time went on, the character evolved around hating guns, and he's become well written as the antithesis of even the most skilled shooters. It's not just guns, he also despites magic and powers, extreme technology contrary to the bat-gadgets of some eras, he believes in fighting a fair fight. If MacGuyver were written in a similar style in that he doesn't believe in using fear tactics and equalizers, simply being the underdog, there'd be less propaganda feel to it.
He did prove something that gun-haters and lovers alike can agree on. The greatest weapon is the human mind. It shouldn't inspire people to go unprepared as he usually did, but the message of lateral thinking and problem solving is an educational one.
A younger friend of mine talked about how he inquired about carrying a knife-less Leatherman at school, he brought in product printouts for the deans to look at, expecting to be turned down. A girl sitting nearby said that the screw-drivers were too pointy, and that some one could stab somebody with the file.
"There have been several thousand pens and pencils in this school every single day for half a century. No one's ever been stabbed."
People have lost the ability to see everyday objects as something more. They read the label, that's what they have. The pen-shank isn't exactly the example I'd recommend, but it shows that people don't think outside of the box until they're trapped outside it. It's not until they get shocked, stabbed, or worse by something mundane do they realize the way something works.
Was Macguyver pretty liberal? Yes, but I think we can all still learn a thing or two from him.
- Joined
- May 3, 2006
- Messages
- 1,819
Good one...
Okay, I'll be te geek here.
Steve Austin had TWO bionic legs, one bionic eye, and one bionic arm. Even as a kid, some of the feats he did really bugged me. C'mon, even if his bionic arm was strong enough to lift a car, and his bionic legs could support it, wouldn't his non-bionic torso be the weak link? The book that preceded the series actually addressed some of those complications.
-- FLIX
- Joined
- Oct 8, 1998
- Messages
- 8,917
Some of them are! As you point out, some of the explosive/incendiary stuff would not work as shown because of liability concerns although it has been rumored for years that at least one kid killed himself by making a bomb out of some materials and bicycle handlebars as the "pipe."
The really interesting stuff for me is the relatively early look at Biometric Access Control Systems and Locks, etc., and the use of the oils of the hand combined with pool (billiard) chalk in one episode and some other powder in another to "copy" fingerprints. Although these methods would probably never work now, back in the mid 80s Biometric Technology was much more infantile than it is now.
That is just from going and reading the Wikipedia article on all of the stuff shown on the program.
Intriguing to me personally is the lock stuff. This is something I'm an expert on and reading the descriptions of his various attacks and manipulations of locking devices is pretty cool, I have to say. The Freon trick might not work as he performed it, for reasons in the article, but THE CLUB steering wheel locking devices have been defeated by small cans of Freon...
The gunpowder in the lock is total B.S. It's not going to do anything.
Pouring water into a lock and then letting it freeze to expand it will do nothing. If it did, 50% of the people with cars in the wintertime would have to have their locks replaced on their vehicles because the lock would be destroyed. In real life, the ice melts and you can use your key again. Unless there was something else in the show that they didn't put in the description.
The information about handcuffs and picking, or more likely, shimming them, was probably good information. I would like to see that purely for entertainment purposes - Escapology and all the rest of this stuff go hand in hand.
That's true, I just think there are better places to obtain the education.
For what it's worth, the writers and production staff on "MacGyver" got a tremendous amount of their "high tech" ideas from some guys out at Cal. Tech., Pasadena.
That particular show where MacG. uses his handy dandy SAK to remove the cylinder of the revolver and then use the revolver frame to turn the large nut, saving the world, had him say, "There, that 's the only thing a gun is good for."
Not anti-gun, of course!! :grumpy:
As for Dick Donner and his anti-guns, anti-Second Amendment messages in his movies, you'd better believe he hates, loathes, and despises firearms and the worker peasants who own them. (That means you and me, boys and girls.) Same same with almost everyone else in Hollywood who is "above-the-line." That means writers, actors, directors, and producers.
That's just the way it is in Hollywood and "show biz."
L.W.
That particular show where MacG. uses his handy dandy SAK to remove the cylinder of the revolver and then use the revolver frame to turn the large nut, saving the world, had him say, "There, that 's the only thing a gun is good for."
Not anti-gun, of course!! :grumpy:
As for Dick Donner and his anti-guns, anti-Second Amendment messages in his movies, you'd better believe he hates, loathes, and despises firearms and the worker peasants who own them. (That means you and me, boys and girls.) Same same with almost everyone else in Hollywood who is "above-the-line." That means writers, actors, directors, and producers.
That's just the way it is in Hollywood and "show biz."
L.W.