I rarely watch tv, maybe four or five hours a year. At the first Scottish Meet I asked who this Ray Mears fellow was
, what was his background, and Sandbender brought out his laptop and powered it up to show me.
I've never watched Bear Grylls, but from my reading, and I do lots of that, he is a performer, a tv presenter, rather than someone who actually lives life with a real interest in bushcraftying things. He does not seem to acknowledge mentors, or skilled practitioners, traditional craftsmen and women, historical relevances, or survival as a living, instead of an event to be endured for a short (and apparantly uncomfortable) time.
Showmen, presenters, comedians all seem to have lifespan within a cultural timeframe.
Very few transcend the, "that's boring now", attitude as fashions and fads fade and date.
The last chief scout was Peter Duncan, and there was a great surge of popularity as he came on the scene too, most youngsters now haven't a clue who he is; I had to think hard tbh. Old news.
I suspect that Les Hiddens, Mors Kochansky, Eddie McGee, Les Stroud, Ray Mears, and the rest, (no offence intended by omission, these folks simply came quickly to mind) will still be icons for years to come.
They all teach, and teach well. They openly show regard for other folks who have taught them, passed on skills and knowledge of the natural world, and of how humanity, in all it's diversity, utilised, and utilises, natual resources.
I think too often this debate arises and becomes contentious when instead it might be more appropriate to simply acknowledge that Ray and Bear are two very different people, with it appears very different promotional goals.
cheers,
Toddy
Ooooh, scary my post #666 too. Does this mean I'm going to Hell?
