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#141333 - 07/25/08 01:21 PM Re: Joshua at Discovery Channel's alaska project [Re: nursemike]
Erik_B Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 08/10/07
Posts: 315
Loc: Somewhere in my own little wor...
Originally Posted By: nursemike
Originally Posted By: BobS


Reality shows are not about reality, they are entertainment.



An important truth.
We need to remember this when Grylls and company do something silly.


exept Man vs Wild isn't a reality show (per se). Reality shows like The Alaska Experiment focus on interersonal drama, and the setting is irrelevant apart from the (slightly)varying levels of drama it creates. They never claim that what you see on the screen is what you should do in that situation.
Man vs Wild is touted as a serious educational endeavor, and Grylls is passing HIS stupid stuff off as legitimate survival techniques, and therein lies the difference.

as for signing up: i'd LOVE to spend a few months in Alaska, but i won't even bother with this. i'm short, chunky, hairy, well-muscled, and know how to get along outdoors. In other words, perfectly suited for actually living in a cold climate, and therefore exactly the OPPOSITE of what they're looking for. Like BOBS said, sticking people in a harsh climate who are well suited for that climate doesn't make for very entertaining television.
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Originally Posted By: scafool
Camping teaches us what things we can live without.


Originally Posted By: ironraven
...Shopping appeals to the soul of the hunter-gatherer.

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#141335 - 07/25/08 01:32 PM Re: Joshua at Discovery Channel's alaska project [Re: Erik_B]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
Originally Posted By: Erik_B
. . . as for signing up: i'd LOVE to spend a few months in Alaska, but i won't even bother with this. i'm short, chunky, hairy, well-muscled, and know how to get along outdoors. In other words, perfectly suited for actually living in a cold climate, and therefore exactly the OPPOSITE of what they're looking for. Like BOBS said, sticking people in a harsh climate who are well suited for that climate doesn't make for very entertaining television.
Cop-out -- you don't know that they are not looking for a few serious outdoor types until you apply and get turned down. They may want a couple good guys to serve as adult supervision for the guys/gals who have never seen snow before and don't know that crossing a 33 deg F stream can kill you. That and it's not a petting zoo, the animals are not domesticated. Sure, it may become another BS show, but that doesn't mean that you have to be part of the BS.

At first glance it looks like a hoot to me, but the devil's in the details of the contract. Give yourself an out if you don't like the details.

I have a real job that would not look kindly on my absence for a couple months. (that is my cop-out) wink
_________________________
Better is the Enemy of Good Enough.
Okay, what’s your point??

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#141337 - 07/25/08 01:51 PM Re: Joshua at Discovery Channel's alaska project [Re: camerono]
Am_Fear_Liath_Mor Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Registered: 08/03/07
Posts: 3078

This sounds like a great and fun way to see Alaska. Does anyone know if only US citizens can apply?


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#141338 - 07/25/08 01:52 PM Re: Joshua at Discovery Channel's alaska project [Re: Russ]
CityBoyGoneCountry Offline
Enthusiast

Registered: 11/04/07
Posts: 369
Originally Posted By: Russ
[quote=Erik_B]They may want a couple good guys to serve as adult supervision for the guys/gals who have never seen snow before and don't know that crossing a 33 deg F stream can kill you.


That's exactly how they did the first season. They had some experts on Alaska give some instruction to city slickers, and then we all got to watch them suffer.

If they don't still have the same experts from the first season, I'm assuming their new experts will also be from Alaska. I'm also assuming that if you aren't from Alaska, then they're only interested in you to be the one who suffers.

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#141340 - 07/25/08 01:56 PM Re: Joshua at Discovery Channel's alaska project [Re: Russ]
Lono Offline
Old Hand

Registered: 10/19/06
Posts: 1013
Loc: Pacific NW, USA
Except there's a psychological element that most of you are forgetting - cabin fever is real, close living with a group of people of varying personalities and abilities is real, the wolf or bear stalking the cabin can be real (if that bugs you), the harsh environment and the long months of winter cold and dark will wear on you. I'm not saying that someone with survival skills can't cope, but put you in a smallish cabin for a few months with ongoing food and fuel needs and a half dozen folks of lesser abilities, you'll sure feel some stress, you need some coping skills as well. Physical ability or knowledge isn't the half of it. There's a reason why depression, alcoholism and suicide are endemic to the Alaska winter. Hardy folks, for sure. Disclaimer - I have no idea if I could be one of them.

If I had a complaint for the Alaska Project its not quite long enough to truly test the participants, but a longer duration show isn't marketable. And there just aren't that many Dick Proeneke's out there.

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#141347 - 07/25/08 02:36 PM Re: Joshua at Discovery Channel's alaska project [Re: BobS]
thtimster Offline
Newbie

Registered: 02/08/07
Posts: 45
I would be entertained to see someone experienced in that kind of environment get onto the show even if he/she had to understate their experience (say pose as a greenhorn.) Once on the show they could periodically utilize some true survival skills without coming off like some ringer. Like a savant survivalist.

Tim

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#141362 - 07/25/08 03:57 PM Re: Joshua at Discovery Channel's alaska project [Re: ]
Russ Offline
Geezer

Registered: 06/02/06
Posts: 5357
Loc: SOCAL
How did cabin fever come up? I get the impression this show will be about traveling and sleeping out, not staying in a cabin.
Quote:
. . . Our newest series raises the bar for our adventurers by sending them on an epic JOURNEY through the wild. . .
Did I miss something in the write-up?
_________________________
Better is the Enemy of Good Enough.
Okay, what’s your point??

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#141371 - 07/25/08 04:27 PM Re: Joshua at Discovery Channel's alaska project [Re: ]
TheSock Offline
Addict

Registered: 11/13/07
Posts: 471
Loc: London England
Erik_B wrote

>as for signing up: i'd LOVE to spend a few months in Alaska, but i won't even bother with this. i'm short, chunky, hairy, well-muscled, and know how to get along outdoors. In other words, perfectly suited for actually living in a cold climate, and therefore exactly the OPPOSITE of what they're looking for. Like BOBS said, sticking people in a harsh climate who are well suited for that climate doesn't make for very entertaining television.


In the first series the less suitable you were, the easier they made it for you. The chap with two daughters got a cabin another couple just got a tent in the coldest wettest place they could find for them.
The threesome had firewood and food to sit out the rest of the series easily; so suddenly they were off on a hike.
Go ahead and apply Erik! Just don't be suprised who gets the heaviest load :-).
The Sock
_________________________
The world is in haste and nears its end – Wulfstan II Archbishop of York 1014.

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#141465 - 07/26/08 01:51 AM Re: Joshua at Discovery Channel's alaska project [Re: OldBaldGuy]
climberslacker Offline
Youth of the Nation
Addict

Registered: 09/02/07
Posts: 603
Originally Posted By: OldBaldGuy
If only we were a lot younger...


If only I was a lot older...
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http://jacesadventures.blogspot.com/
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
impossible is just the beginning

though i seek perfection, i wear my scars with pride

Have you seen the arrow?


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