Bear Grylis Fired by Discovery
- Thread starter TomBartlett
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TBH, i don't see much folk praising his "superbness" on here. 
The way i see it, its more a case of some folk hate him and bash him at every opportunity, then there are those with a more realistic view, who try to put the real Bear across.
Me... i'm a fan of nobody, i hate nobody, and i'm jealous of nobody. Yet it saddens me to see so many such short sighted folk in one place. It shouldn't be about Ray or Bear or any of the other personalities that bring the great outdoors to peoples living rooms. Its about the outdoors itself. That is the real star of those shows.... nature. Yet here we are arguing about whos the best or the worst or who's done this or that.
So is this forum full of people followers or haters? or outdoor lovers?............. sometimes i do wonder.
The way i see it, its more a case of some folk hate him and bash him at every opportunity, then there are those with a more realistic view, who try to put the real Bear across.Me... i'm a fan of nobody, i hate nobody, and i'm jealous of nobody. Yet it saddens me to see so many such short sighted folk in one place. It shouldn't be about Ray or Bear or any of the other personalities that bring the great outdoors to peoples living rooms. Its about the outdoors itself. That is the real star of those shows.... nature. Yet here we are arguing about whos the best or the worst or who's done this or that.
So is this forum full of people followers or haters? or outdoor lovers?............. sometimes i do wonder.
Yup - the great outdoors is the real star - pity Bears prog is called "Man Versus Wild" ... that just seems to make nature the victim of the shows....
Not knocking the man so much as the progs he made.
I hope that now he has been fired he can make progs more to his own liking
I like the idea that there are only those who hate BG or promote the "real Bear" ... none who are just fanboys then?
okenest:
Not knocking the man so much as the progs he made.
I hope that now he has been fired he can make progs more to his own liking
I like the idea that there are only those who hate BG or promote the "real Bear" ... none who are just fanboys then?
okenest:
rancid badger
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
You've just made my case.
I don't do 'survivalism', I don't even watch tv or listen to radio, so I'm technically neither one side or t'other.
Apparantly I do do bushcraft though
Tell me; are those who criticise correct in the detail of their criticism ? Did his tv shows advocate, encourage and promote unsafe behaviour ? Were there inconsistancies in what he said he did and what he actually did ?
If so, then the criticism has foundation.
As I said earlier though, we all grow up
cheers,
Toddy
I've posted this before but it really does illustrate the point nicely I think:
[video=youtube;3UpSlpvb1is]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UpSlpvb1is[/video]
really sums up the issues around the man and his integrity.
Not my idea of any kind of role model for kids or adults to be honest
cheers
Oh ps: I'm not jealous, nor do I hate the lad and I'm certainly no Ray Mears "Groupie" either.
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My only exposure to any of Bear Grylls activities is through this forum and what I have read of him in the newspaper.
The first threads on BG were really expressing absolute appalled horror at his antics.
Then he became Chief Scout, and suddenly the forum had loads of threads (see the Oh no, not another Bear Grylls thread) with, in many instances, complete newbies, suddenly here to praise the man to the gills. (Beargryllsadvocate one member actually called himself)
They didn't like finding that universal adoration wasn't the norm, and that horror of horrors, people might actually have valid criticisms.
Then the attacks on anyone who disagreed with the fans (Loved the little image Bushwacker posted ) began 
Basically it's an irritation when there's *yet another* Bear Grylls thread appearing. The vast majority of the members couldn't care one way or the other about the man. (watch the fans start a poll though ) and the fervent proselytising reaches an almost religious fervour.
I'm really tempted sometimes to gather all the assorted threads and edit them into one. Even if it's just the threads within the same timespan of maybe two or three months.
Attacking those who don't wholeheartedly share adoration of the (clay footed added for even handed balance) idol is a negative own goal. They have a right to their viewpoint and a right to express it too. Every time you bring up the man then they add in their criticisms.
It's almost as bad as the Bushcraft vs Survival threads
Toddy
The first threads on BG were really expressing absolute appalled horror at his antics.
Then he became Chief Scout, and suddenly the forum had loads of threads (see the Oh no, not another Bear Grylls thread) with, in many instances, complete newbies, suddenly here to praise the man to the gills. (Beargryllsadvocate one member actually called himself)
They didn't like finding that universal adoration wasn't the norm, and that horror of horrors, people might actually have valid criticisms.
Then the attacks on anyone who disagreed with the fans (Loved the little image Bushwacker posted
) began Basically it's an irritation when there's *yet another* Bear Grylls thread appearing. The vast majority of the members couldn't care one way or the other about the man. (watch the fans start a poll though
) and the fervent proselytising reaches an almost religious fervour.I'm really tempted sometimes to gather all the assorted threads and edit them into one. Even if it's just the threads within the same timespan of maybe two or three months.
Attacking those who don't wholeheartedly share adoration of the (clay footed added for even handed balance) idol is a negative own goal. They have a right to their viewpoint and a right to express it too. Every time you bring up the man then they add in their criticisms.
It's almost as bad as the Bushcraft vs Survival threads
Toddy
Mea culpa - mea maxima culpa
Now that gives a glimpse of the real John. Once you strip away the trappings of the gungho celebrity bushcrafter you get to see the humble man who makes most of his own kit and eschews TVs and other modern frippery. I have it on reliable authority that even John's internet access is achieved via a hand-held device he whittled himself.
Doubts have been raised about the authenticity of John's scout-leading background. Some say that the Welsh scouts are somehow not 'real' scouts but a friend of my maiden aunt's went through scout training with John and he says that John is the real deal!
Yes, the incident with the sheep , the wet-towel and the wellies was a it off but I can see how this sort of thing can happen when adrenalin flows and the cameras are rolling. Besides, I'm a kiwi so what would I know?
It isn't just called man vs wild though. Its called Born Survivor and ultimate survival too,
Yeah, i'm curious to see what he does next, it will be interesting to see which way he goes. Will he bring his shows down a notch and teach in a more calm and controlled way? Or will he follow the adrenaline junkie side of him?.....
The bear threads tend to follow the path of bash and counter bash, rather than, praise and counter praise. Seems the bashers are much more vocal
Yup - the great outdoors is the real star - pity Bears prog is called "Man Versus Wild" ... that just seems to make nature the victim of the shows....
Not knocking the man so much as the progs he made.
I hope that now he has been fired he can make progs more to his own liking
I like the idea that there are only those who hate BG or promote the "real Bear" ... none who are just fanboys then?
Now that gives a glimpse of the real John. Once you strip away the trappings of the gungho celebrity bushcrafter you get to see the humble man who makes most of his own kit and eschews TVs and other modern frippery. I have it on reliable authority that even John's internet access is achieved via a hand-held device he whittled himself.
Doubts have been raised about the authenticity of John's scout-leading background. Some say that the Welsh scouts are somehow not 'real' scouts but a friend of my maiden aunt's went through scout training with John and he says that John is the real deal!
Yes, the incident with the sheep , the wet-towel and the wellies was a it off but I can see how this sort of thing can happen when adrenalin flows and the cameras are rolling. Besides, I'm a kiwi so what would I know?
It was a dry towel - it was just the constant rain made it wet as the day went on .... honest!
See? The truth at last. This just shows how the rumour mill blows everything up.
I'm guessing that the stories of sheep-trauma were exaggerated too. Was it a trained stunt sheep?
Welsh sheep are all trained from an early age and well used to the conditions.
Full First Aid facilities, councelling and RSPCA cover were on site but kept out of camera shot in the interest of "viewer satisfaction" not in an effort to decieve.
The sheep stayed in a 5 star Motel the nights before during and after the shooting of the footage - it was only me (and the cameraman, sound engineer, producer, Gaffer and Best Boy, stills photographer and continuity girls) who slept in the hollowed out corpses of Great Crested Grebes and Great Bustards overnight.
Full First Aid facilities, councelling and RSPCA cover were on site but kept out of camera shot in the interest of "viewer satisfaction" not in an effort to decieve.
The sheep stayed in a 5 star Motel the nights before during and after the shooting of the footage - it was only me (and the cameraman, sound engineer, producer, Gaffer and Best Boy, stills photographer and continuity girls) who slept in the hollowed out corpses of Great Crested Grebes and Great Bustards overnight.
Hardcore! Just the sort of full-on, extreme bushcrafting associated with your legend.
Perhaps you can shed some light on the infamous 'Jonah and the Whale' re-staging from your third series of 'Scraft 'til ya Drop' . Is it true that rather than spending the nights inside the whale that you, your crew, your butler, your valet, the footmen and a team of Welsh chefs were all ensconced in a 70-bedroom stately home hired specifically for the shoot?
All true about the Mansion - but the Mansion was actually demolished and rebuilt INSIDE the whale for the duration of the shoot.
The Mansion was later re-erected in the Nevada Desert next to a lake made from airlifted sections of The Ross Ice Sheet. The recreation of the Rainforest Garden (episodes 3, 14, 21 and 55) failed to thrive by the lake and was relocated to Kew.
This is now my summer residence (registered as one of my politician friends "second homes" for tax reasons) and "Party Pad".
Sometimes the fame just gets too much and I have to find somewhere quiet to relax....
I hadn't realised that the mansion was inside the whale. That puts a completely different complexion on things and shows the press up as the scurrilous truth-benders they are. I guess the tales of drug(foraged)-fuelled orgies were media hype too?
I suppose the relocated mansion was the one shown in the episode of 'Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous' featuring you. At the time I dismissed the whale-skeleton enclosing the mansion as a piece of modern sculpture (I know Damien Hirst is a close personal friend of yours). It is good to know the gritty truth behind the garden feature.
Do you find that repeated expeditions to Ross Ice Sheet are needed to top up your lake? Water loss due to evaporation must be a real problem in a harsh desert environment. Your skills as a survival expert must be stretched to overcome such obstacles to comfort.
You're absolutely right Toddy, and a bit of balance from both sides might be a good thing.
Nice one Toddy - so you haven't watched any of his shows, seen any interviews with him, listened to him on the radio, met him personally, yet believe everything you read in the papers and on t'internet about the guy....
Wanna buy a nice bridge across the Thames? It's got towers and everything. Dirt cheap - honest - you can trust me, I've got lots of posts on here
Wanna buy a nice bridge across the Thames? It's got towers and everything. Dirt cheap - honest - you can trust me, I've got lots of posts on here
Good heavens, did that touch a nerve ?
I read, I read here, I do follow links, I even manage the choice outtakes on the web, and I read reviews, I'm far from stupid and I'm a good researcher.
That means that critical analysis of 'popular' and screaming banner headlines, is actually possible.
As I asked earlier, were the criticisms made against his behaviour valid ?
Don't think I've heard any of the fans manage to disprove them yet, despite some creative attempts.
On balance, as I also said; we all grow up.
On an entirely different note; does anyone else wonder when they read the thread title exactly 'what' discovery got him so fired up ?
It's one of those ambiguous headlines. Like eat, shoots and leaves.
Toddy
I read, I read here, I do follow links, I even manage the choice outtakes on the web, and I read reviews, I'm far from stupid and I'm a good researcher.
That means that critical analysis of 'popular' and screaming banner headlines, is actually possible.
As I asked earlier, were the criticisms made against his behaviour valid ?
Don't think I've heard any of the fans manage to disprove them yet, despite some creative attempts.
On balance, as I also said; we all grow up.
On an entirely different note; does anyone else wonder when they read the thread title exactly 'what' discovery got him so fired up ?
It's one of those ambiguous headlines. Like eat, shoots and leaves.
Toddy
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