survival tv

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andrew7978

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Mar 19, 2007
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I have really enjoyed watching Man vs. Wild on the discovery channel. However, from what I have heard, a lot of that stuff is not practical unless you are completely lost and have almost no hope otherwise. You all seem knowledgable so what is your take on this show?
 
There are already a couple of lengthy threads on this topic. I love the show myself. Survivorman and I shouldn't be alive are good shows also.
 
I also really enjoyed watching Man vs. Wild, but you've got to remember that it is essentially just entertainment. Whilst Grylls does demonstrate some good survival skills, particularly firelighting, many of the things he does are flat out wrong and very dangerous from a survival perspective. This includes, amongst many other things, wandering around in the desert heat during the day and climbing down waterfalls with (apparently, though probably not really) nothing more for safety than a few vines.

In particular, what he does has no real relevance to those of us who pursue recreational activities in the wilderness. We tell people where we are going and when we'll be back, and we carry much more extensive survival equipment than Grylls does. The result is that if we get properly lost, what we need to do is sit tight and survive for the (relatively) short time it takes for rescuers to find us.
 
For the most part I enjoy both Man vs. Wild and SurvivorMan, but I get really ticked at the amazingly poor judgement which serve as terrible examples to viewers.

-- FLIX
 
The shows are a joy to watch, they go to some beutiful locations, and do a mixture of survival techniques and completeley moronic stunts that would increace your chance of death ten fold

Its Kinda like survivals Pro Wresling "yeh it takes skill agility and talent, No its not realistic"
 
Well, I find Bear to be highly entertaining, but then I know what he's doing is generally pretty dangerous. Question is, is the average person who tunes in to watch the guy educated enough to know this as well? Hard to say, but I rather hope his target audience has enough sense to not go scrambling 40 feet down into crumbling lava tubes looking for water.
 
GroovyMr1337 said:
Its a sham, nothing more, nothing less. It is more of a sitcom than a reality show.
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I agree! Pure entertainment. I laughed my ass off watching Bear do the hand-drill. All they show is results and I question how they arrive at those; virtually no explanation of how - that should be your indication.

Of the two, Les Stroud is more in line with reality. I believe he could offer more in terms of explanation as he has skills, but is also pandering to the masses; which is understood as the purpose of his show is also entertainment - you got to make a buck somehow.

I just hope it doesn't mislead anyone to the point they get hurt because they think they can do something they saw on TV and didn't take along modern methods of survival.
 
Stroud is certainly more in line with reality, and his show is still entertaining.
Grylls is just off the wall entertainment, almost crazy enough most people would be turned off of taking all he says without a grain of salt.
 
Man vs Wild, my wife calls it 'Baer gets Bare'. Thank God they (mostly) block out his junk, but I could certainly use less of seeing his arse! :) I really like 'I Shouldn't be Alive'. Good stuff.:thumbup:
 
He is former Brittish SAS and an avid adventurer, I'd take more stock in what he has to say and what he has done survival wise then anyone else in these forums. The arm chair survivalists will have their say though.
 
I like Man vs. Wild because while Bear does do stupid things, he tells the audience not to try it. Les Stroud on the other hand does stupid things that even the most novice of outdoorsmen should know (I.e. camping on the river bank and commenting that it could flood and waking the next morning in the river.) For that reason I dont like Survivorman.
 
Munky said:
I like Man vs. Wild because while Bear does do stupid things, he tells the audience not to try it. Les Stroud on the other hand does stupid things that even the most novice of outdoorsmen should know (I.e. camping on the river bank and commenting that it could flood and waking the next morning in the river.) For that reason I dont like Survivorman.
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So repeling down a water fall, and drinking elephant shit is what you'd do in a survival situation?

Les lets you know when hes doing somthing risky, just as bear does, They both let you know the dangers they take, just bear moves a little too fast. And takes risks more often then would be acceptable in a survival situation you or I would be in, Lets not forget he's is Ex sas, hes used to the fast pace.
 
The thing that always gets me about Bear is that he jumps. Every time I watch that show, that guy is jumping off a boulder or off a small ledge or down a steep hill.

Now, I don't know about you, but in a survival situation I'm going to be worried about damaging myself and making things harder. This means I'm going to be cautiously climbing off that boulder, etc, so as to guard against any possible falls.

Sometimes, when I'm watching, I keep thinking, "Oh, look at the bouncing Bear!"

He has such a cavalier attitude about doing stupid & dangerous things.

As I said, highly entertaining. But I wish he would preface his shows in the same sort of way that Myth Busters preface there's; with him standing in front of the camera seriously saying, "Look, I've had years of experience and training, and I'm in way better shape than you probably are. Don't try this on your own!"
 
Both shows are a favorite for me and my 10 year old son. We lump it in there with Dirty Jobs as good entertainment and to see what weird stuff Bear will eat this week or how scared is Les going to be come nightfall.

There is some interesting things to be had in both such as the importance of being able to use a fire steel properly and plant ID.

We also like to see Bear gnaw and twist his head whilst eating the live fish.

BTW, it got me to check out the SAS Survival Handbook from the library. It's not a bad read.

All in all, if your kids are watching it, be sure to tell them what really is practical and not to jump into the frigid river to gain a few extra miles downstream.

hatchet-
 
Bear's show is preposterous.

Too bad he feels the need to embarrass himself, cause he obviously has alot of skill and determination. Luckily for him, enough people have bought into the nonsense on his show, that he's embarrassed all the way to the bank.

Les's show is a bit more reasonable. Remember that he actually lives in the wild by himself and has to carry all the camera stuff. I dont think he gets a fair shake for that.

Add to that: bear is around 32 and a world class climber, etc. etc,. He only has to carry his knive, water, and clothes and he has a camera crew. He's not actually in a survival situation. He's just demonstrating like the Mr. Wizzard of survival. He's like Bill Nye the survival guy. There is always a survival expert named in the credits (i.e., not Bear).

Les is around 45 and has to carry all that plus some 60lbs or more of camera gear, and he's alone (i.e. he is in a survival situation plus doing all the filming and carrying)

Last thing, Les isnt a big enough of an a-hole to call himself "bear" when his mom named him "edward". I find that irritating for some reason.
 
xinel said:
He is former Brittish SAS and an avid adventurer, I'd take more stock in what he has to say and what he has done survival wise then anyone else in these forums. The arm chair survivalists will have their say though.
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I recognize trolling when I see it, but I'll bite anyway.

If you could get real honest advise from Eddie (I mean bear...) then great. But the show is ridiculous, dangerous, misleading, ill advised, STAGED AS HELL, and frankly beyond the capabilities of most people. He is a world class climber dont forget. I would like to see you climb up a canyon wall like him. good luck. He's a stunt actor, and a showman. nothing more.

Troll on...
 
xinel said:
He is former Brittish SAS and an avid adventurer, I'd take more stock in what he has to say and what he has done survival wise then anyone else in these forums. The arm chair survivalists will have their say though.
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:jerkit: bahahahaha. no one has said he isnt capable, its just that the show he puts on is idiocy. when you post a picture of you drinking out of feces without looking for something else, then we will talk
 
I like survival shows in general. I take some info with me from each show. What is even more entertaining is watching the arguments here at BF.
 
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