Bear Grylls- TV programme

[Zammo]

Dear Lord its easy,

When Martyn and I agree, I suspect there are very few arguments to be had! The guy is not only a "snake oil merchant" he is quite simply a fraud. I'm happy to use the word. He is is "using a vine to abseil down a waterfall". Oh, but the pictures say he isn't. So his insurance company said no? Why? Because its simply a stupid risk to take. Insurance companies make money being professional at assesing risk. Risk assessment is about the risk / benefit assessment. It does not mean risk should be avoided - it means risk should be assessed against the potential benefit of success when assessed against the impact of failure compared to probability of outcome.

He's making a fish hook...only he isn't (evidenced again). Would anyone care to suggest his insurance company had an issue with manufactured fish hooks?

His canyon jump?

His bowdrill?

Its about as real as "pro" wrestling. Even the advice is spurious and actually contrary to advice given to people who might actually have to "survive"

So, bad advice, poor continuity checking, inappropriate risk assessment, demonstrable untruth. It is about as relevant as Rambo and less true than Jackass.

He's turned a quid on it. Good luck to him. However, he is about as relevant to the world of outdoor living as a Big Brother contestant. And about as limited in what he will do for money.If he wants to make some piece of wannabe fiction, he might at least have a vestige of integrity and badge it as such.

Red

You do have a point there!

Can someone answer me this, would he have died of asphyxiation if he'd have stayed in that snow cave he dug and had been buried in snow all night?

 

[Martyn]

You do have a point there!

Can someone answer me this, would he have died of asphyxiation if he'd have stayed in that snow cave he dug and had been buried in snow all night?

If you watch that again on youtube, first his hand breaks through, then his head and then he doesnt climb up and out, he just stands up. It's a set up shot.

 

[Zammo]

I guessed that but if he was to have stayed there would he have carked it?

 

[Wink]

Its okay to have two opinions you know Wink - (isn't there something ironic about saying don't overanalyse and then proceding to analyse..or is it me?).

Look you think the guy is cool. I think he's a complete twit. No harm, no foul - you are just as entitled to your view as I am to mine!

As you say - no need to keep hashing it over. His need t pretend to be doing things he clearly isn't clearly irritates some of us and other people think its "just entertainment" or "showing military style Escape and Evasion". Both are okay - if you feel it interesting, entertaining, or useful to escape and evade in the jungle - all power to you. I just prefer to watch people showing things they are really doing that interest me and I might do myself one day. Different strokes and all that

Red

Red, I think you are still "hashing it over", mate!

So your point is that you want a "fly on the wall" documentary with no editing or retakes, done slowly, by someone else. Fair enough. But that isn't "Born Survivor".

You call him a fraud, a claim made on the basis of watching clips on youtube, which at worst show that some corners have been cut for the sake of exciting telly. Surely the point is that he is telling us how he would handle the situation, and demonstrating the techniques he would use, but the fact is, he is not just surviving, he is making a TV programme! Some things may need to be done again and again before the right shot is in the can. If you can't handle that and enjoy it for what it is, then don't watch. According to the "Speakers Corner" (website on motivational speakers), Bear's former SAS role is described as a "Specialist Combat Survival Instructor and Patrol Medic", which agrees with the Daily Telegraph who said that he was qualified as an instructor in survival with SAS. The guy knows his onions!

I personally have enjoyed the fast paced malarky, but also learned some new stuff, such as the plant uses in episode one, and the crevasse protection idea.

Sometimes we have to filter programmes a bit to get what we want, though. I love watching Ray Mears, but with him there is sometimes an excess of earnest anthropology when I am looking for more skill demonstrations etc, but hey, I'll live with that!

 

[spamel]

He doesn't look very old. Also, from what I gather he wasn't in the SAS for very long due to an unfortunate parachuting incident. How did he become an expert in survival training in such a short time? And let's not forget, I am still currently in the forces and know how long it takes to get a decent course like that, they won't let the FNG go on it, they'll send the guy who has been with the unit for a while and more than likely a senior full screw or a SNCO.

Utter cobblers, I reckon he just bigs himself up to sell the show, which I believe was made for american telly as it is exciting and shows a crazy british guy doing great things. The thing is, it's not that great, he takes ridiculous risks, says he is improvising when he is clearly not and goes about things in the most ridiculous of ways.

This programme is aimed at civilians caught out in the wilds, he stated that when he mentioned the snowboarders in the snow hole and how loads of people get caught out every year. Why the is he running down steep snowy slopes like a lunatic? He should be taking it easy and explaining that a twisted ankle or broken leg is almost certainly game over. Also, the risk of avalanche whilst jumping around like zebedee is high, and not the sort of thing you want to compound the problem!

I will watch his series, if only to make others aware of the ridiculous mistakes made by this apparent expert; all I'm gonna say is an ex is a hasbeen and a spurt is a drip under pressure!!

 

[Wink]

ex is a hasbeen and a spurt is a drip under pressure!!

Haven't heard that one, made me laugh!!

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

So is this the right room for an argument

My thoughts on it all, bloke's a fool, and no, i dont watch it anymore

 

[hammock monkey]

but its a great laugh!

the time bear says, "dont worry about the water, its probably fine."..slurp slurp..
next morning..
"ok, so i was up all night with a bad 4rse....dont think it was the water tho..."
hahaha, its great.

his stuff isnt all bad, at least he took the wrapper off the trout!
(i surprised he didnt pull a box of fish fingers out instead...)

the great idea of chasing the fox....er...why? to scare it into quickly catching you a rabbit then leaving it for you...? errr...hmm..oh it must be a joke! hahahaha!

" now if i could only improvise a little gas stove out of my paracord to cook the fox with..."
5 mins later
"so, i've improvised a gas stove from my paracord and jacket buttons..."

its survival/ bushcraft turned up to 11, nigel tufnel style.

 

[Emma]

Four pages of argument about a TV programme. :Wow:

If this thread proves anything, it's that you lot are watching far too much telly and youtube and arguing about what you saw.

Put the TV down. Put this thread down. Go do something more worthwhile.

 

[huntersforge]

Four pages of argument about a TV programme. :Wow:

If this thread proves anything, it's that you lot are watching far too much telly and youtube and arguing about what you saw.

Put the TV down. Put this thread down. Go do something more worthwhile.

Well said Emma , you could debate for ever on what he did or didnt do .
Personally, I think the guy tries to look a bit too windswept and interesting and misses the point too often .

 

[Wink]

Four pages of argument about a TV programme. :Wow:

If this thread proves anything, it's that you lot are watching far too much telly and youtube and arguing about what you saw.

Put the TV down. Put this thread down. Go do something more worthwhile.

I bow to the voice of reason!

Now, where did I put that waterbottle and knife? Onward...the woods!!!

 

[Tadpole]

Four pages of argument about a TV programme. :Wow:

If this thread proves anything, it's that you lot are watching far too much telly and youtube and arguing about what you saw.

Put the TV down. Put this thread down. Go do something more worthwhile.

Isn't the the point about a "Discussion forum", you talk listen learn improve and grow.
Telling people not to talk/argue, is a counter to the ethos of the boards, and be a bit like people telling their kids off for asking questions.
How are people supposed to learn anything if other people keep telling them not to question all they see all they hear.
“Nanny knows best” is and always has been a crock.

 

[falling rain]

Gawd.................................. I've been offline for a week and it's taken me ages to read through this thread. I've nothing more to add that hasn't already been said.
If you want to know a little about SAS TA selection then try this http://www.amazon.co.uk/Quiet-Soldi...2540410?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1174006270&sr=1-1
A good read that I've read a couple of times now and I'd have to agree that SAS TA selection is no walk in the park basically Adam Ballingers (the Author) l8ife was not his own at all during his entire training. When not at work it's Selection, selection, selection. A recommended read

 

[Martyn]

Isn't the the point about a "Discussion forum", you talk listen learn improve and grow.
Telling people not to talk/argue, is a counter to the ethos of the boards, and be a bit like people telling their kids off for asking questions.
How are people supposed to learn anything if other people keep telling them not to question all they see all they hear.
“Nanny knows best” is and always has been a crock.

I couldnt agree more - it's a strong debate, but there is no reason to ask people to stop debating.

 

[falling rain]

Much better episode tonight in the Everglades. More interesting skills were shown and he wasn't running around like a headless possesed tasmanian devil on speed.
I thought there was a lot of irresponsible advice in the first 2 showings but tonights was a mile better. He was more measured in his thinking about the situation, lots of sound advice and techniques and sensible approach to getting out of the survival situation he was in.
I said in my first post about this series that I do admire the guy for some of the stuff he's done and that still stands. In fact I admire him even more for some of the things he's got up to in this series. Eating the frog, and the turtle were quite impressive. Well done Bear, and why couldn't the first 2 episodes have been more along these lines.

 

[Tadpole]

Much better episode tonight in the Everglades. More interesting skills were shown and he wasn't running around like a headless possesed tasmanian devil on speed.
... snip...
Well done Bear, and why couldn't the first 2 episodes have been more along these lines.

I think that the reason he was not rushing about like a headless chicken, was there were real dangers, i.e. being eaten by an alligator, an animal who is not at all impressed by a camera crew, snakes feel the same way. I’m sure they would rather eat a celerity than a regular Joe.

 

[Pete E]

I enjoyed tonights show as entertainment, but it didn't really have much substance to it...Also the bear claw marks in the tree looked decidedly manmade!

 

[falling rain]

No Tadpole, there were real dangers in all the episodes, charging down a slippery ice slope climbing up dodgy trees,( I know....... he did it tonight too) abseiling down waterfalls, using dodgy rope bridges etc, etc, etc
All environments have their dangers albeit different depending where you are and taking your time, and above all thinking carefully about getting out in one piece applies in any of them whether it be gnashers, other dangerous animals or ice cold water or snakes or slippery rocks. The dangers are always there, animal or inate and caution needs to be practiced at all times.
It wasn't perfect. The posing on the outside of the helicopter at the beggining could have been left out, but I really think generally there was no silly practices tonight like the 'hitting the back of the knife with the rock' incident etc. There was a lot more sensible and sound tips and advice, like the straining the water through the shirt and making a net from the stick and shirt and boiling the water. He actually said and I quote 'Water should be boiled at all times'................So why didn't he impart the same advice when he drank the water in the first episode straight from the stream and ended up with the squits. He could have said something like in Extreme extremis these are the signs that 'MAY' indicacate water is fairly clean but my advice is to 'ALWAYS' boil water.
Anyway much better tonight by a very long shot.
PS....... I have to say though the bear claws in the tree trunk looked very triangular and more like cuts from a knife to me, than scratches from a bears claw and not very real. .........................Not that I've ever seen a tree scratched by a bear, but it just didn't look right.

 

[Tadpole]

No Tadpole, there were real dangers in all the episodes, charging down a slippery ice slope climbing up dodgy trees,( I know....... he did it tonight too) abseiling down waterfalls, using dodgy rope bridges etc, etc, etc
.

All the dangers you quote, were and as most people on this site will tell you, are avoidable by any sensible person with half an eye on their own personal safety, and were done exaggerated for the TV, and therefore within his/or the directors control. Not running down the slop would make the danger of the slope negligible, same with the tree climbing water dinking maggot chomping Yada Yada Yadda.

The alligators, and the snakes, would ignore the directors yelling “cut” so presented the only real danger to the actor. Ask any stunt man it’s only dangerous if you have no control of it, its’ the wild animals and wilder kid that you have no control of, they both present real dangers, ask any parent :swordfigh

 

[bent-stick]

I was sure he was going to have the rattler for breakfast...much more meat than the turtle.