Survivorman

J

Jerry Stafford

Joined
Feb 26, 2005
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Les Strouds series Survivorman will begin Friday September 16th on The Science Channel.

Sorry gave the wrong start date the first time!!! :rolleyes:
 
Did you all hear that Ron Hood is going to work for the discovery channel too and he's partnering up with someone else, so I'm wondering if he's joining this show or if another show is being put together.
 
I have seen every episode of Survivorman and there is little to learn from it.

For people who have never seen dirt it is somewhat usefull. For people who have some experience it is a yawner and even funny to watch.

Les is a walking contradiction when speaking vs doing. His survival knowledge is scripted and studied as it does not roll off his tonge (like Ron Hood) but rather is recited.
He is quite the whiner and complains more than any other human about the lack of food and claims great bounds of energy after consuming a grasshopper :rolleyes: He grates on your nerves very quickly in each episode.

That said for kids or lamen it is mildly educational for the rest its purely entertainment. He does not deserve the shows name and especially when compared to Ron Hood, its laughable.

If Discovery came out with a Ron Hood show, this would be 150% more educational. Ron wouldn't whine about his perdicament either and would just get on with the job of educating not entertaining.

You will see. ;)

Skam
 
skammer said:
Les is a walking contradiction when speaking vs doing.
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He can start a fire using friction methods well and can improvise other methods efficiently. He also does well with shelters being able to use what is available. He also presents a decent amount of material regarding plants in regards to both eating and general utility.

However in regards to health and personal safety he does some very odd things like drinking from stagnant pools surrounded by mice droppings. In essence he knows that he will be rescued if something goes very wrong and acts accordingly.

-Cliff
 
Cliff Stamp said:
He can start a fire using friction methods well and can improvise other methods efficiently. He also does well with shelters being able to use what is available. He also presents a decent amount of material regarding plants in regards to both eating and general utility.

However in regards to health and personal safety he does some very odd things like drinking from stagnant pools surrounded by mice droppings. In essence he knows that he will be rescued if something goes very wrong and acts accordingly.

-Cliff
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Agreed, I also think he has a very favorable editor when it comes to his demonstrations.
Don't get me wrong the man isn't clueless I just don't think he deserves his own show. After seeing other survival people on film there are better choices to bet your ratings on.

Skam
 
skammer said:
I just don't think he deserves his own show.
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The ultimate goal isn't likely raw education, the niche market for that is likely low, I would like to see Davenport have a show and/or series of videos, the books are solid but often lack details. Many people now don't know the basics, how do you build a shelter if you don't know how to cut wood efficiently.

-Cliff
 
I think I might the only person in favour of Les Stroud with his own show. I really like the entertainment value of the show despite having only 9 episodes I think. You have to remember, he is trying to simulate an average person going hiking/ biking/ kayaking/ hunting etc. Most people except survival experts do not go out thinking about getting lost. Most people without food, water or energy will complain and complain. Only survivor experts and knife nuts would not whine about being lost and out of energy.

Plus, he seems to be very nice person - easy to contact by email. I have questioned him about a few things on his show and he told me tries to mimic mistakes by people might make like trying to think they can hike out of a bad situation. And when you are desperate, you will drink out of a 1 foot by 1 foot puddle demarcated with mice feces. :eek:

I think a show by Ron Hood would be very educational but he is a machine - always teaching and never complaining. He is use to this kind of thing - most most laymens are not. Just think of an average person getting lost and watching his show can have the mental capacity to do what experts do. And the show has to be marketable to a wide audience - why do you think I stopped watching OLN when cycling was on everyday! :yawn:
 
wildstar said:
I think a show by Ron Hood would be very educational but he is a machine - always teaching and never complaining. He is use to this kind of thing - most most laymens are not.
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Exactly why he should have his own show. I want to learn from a master in the arts not some ratings sponsored whiner.

Why would anyone want to learn from a guy who simulates the dumb actions and attitudes of the sheeple he wants to educate. It makes no sense.

I am sure Les is a nice guy but his show's phylosophy is all wrong. If his goal is financial and ratings then he is ok. If its educational it is seriously lacking.

Skam
 
wildstar said:
... he told me tries to mimic mistakes by people might make like trying to think they can hike out of a bad situation.
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It is clear he does this because he doesn't want to make the effort to do otherwise, he says as much specifically as in "you should never do this, I am just really thirsty" so don't wait and boil the water, just drink it right now.

Hood by the way isn't dead serious like a statue, at least not in the camping video I have. He and the people with him, joke, tell stories, etc. . I would bet he would be just as personable to most as Stroud.

-Cliff
 
One thing I keep on wondering is what he really carries with him. I know he shows you his multi-tool and wierd things like pens and things but in the original show on Discovery Channel Canada, he stated he had a satellite phone with him just in case there was a real emergency.

And then on another show when he was in the Canadian Rockies Alpine, if you watch really carefully, he has a can a bear spray but he does not say he had it on him. And I am pretty sure he consults local experts, especially with plants - he has stated that on his show several times.

I think he should reveal any "secrets" just to deter or prepare people who will copy him. And BTW, I know of at least 2 people online on a Canadian backpacking forum who want to mimic what he does. I hope SAR is ready.
 
Since I havn't seen any of Strouds work, I would normally deter any opinions, but if he is illustrating to people that drinking from a mud puddle layden with mouse turds is ok in an emergency, even if he warns against it as he does it, there are going to be people hurt or killed. It don't get much more irresponsible than that.
 
longbow50 said:
It don't get much more irresponsible than that.
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How about he tries a lot of a plant he has never eaten before but has heard it is good to eat, it makes him sick and he throws up.

-Cliff
 
wildstar said:
I think he should reveal any "secrets" just to deter or prepare people who will copy him. And BTW, I know of at least 2 people online on a Canadian backpacking forum who want to mimic what he does. I hope SAR is ready.
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He won't reveal the truck with the car camping gear set up next to his so called survival camp.

He is 3 mins from help and foolishly takes chances knowing this fact. Bad teaching all round.

Skam
 
It might seem strange, but I like the approach that 'Survivorman' takes. Rather than have some well-prepared know-it-all bark facts at you, Stroud puts himself in situations that average people might lose themselves in. Also, I have no trouble forgiving him for being a bit whiny, the combination of hard labour and starvation destroys people quickly, starting with their morale. It's surprising Les stays awake as long as he does under such harsh conditions.
 
It isn't the situations, that is a great idea, it is the behavior illustrated which is horrible advice.

-Cliff
 
Morgane said:
It might seem strange, but I like the approach that 'Survivorman' takes. Rather than have some well-prepared know-it-all bark facts at you, Stroud puts himself in situations that average people might lose themselves in. Also, I have no trouble forgiving him for being a bit whiny, the combination of hard labour and starvation destroys people quickly, starting with their morale. It's surprising Les stays awake as long as he does under such harsh conditions.
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Stroud should demonstrate the mistake and then fix it to perfection not prolong the mistake for a full episode. Its not about suffering the same ills of your average public dummy its about teaching usefull and correct information.

I want the cocky know it all who shows me exactly what the correct way of doing something.

He comes across as learning this stuff yesterday and with little confidence in what he is saying. Not good for someone teaching anything let alone life saving skills. I am convinced he is about ratings and not about education.

Good thing because half of what he does is wrong anyway :rolleyes: .

Skam
 
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