These shows do have a certain utility to them. In the sense of teaching anyone with two brain cells to rub together that you:

1) Never go into a situation with someone who's ego is bigger than Mount Everest.
2) Always carry the five "c" and [i][RATIONS/i

I don't watch these shows at all. I don't find their techniques really helpful.

Blake

www.outdoorquest.blogspot.com

I dunno. Being able to give yourself a birdwater enema might come in handy, someday.

I see some value in these programs for the thinking man. Sort of an osmotic trial and error effect. If you have some modicum of intellect but lack experience, you can pick up technique even from miserable failure. Watching all these fails on primitive fire making gives one the motivation to figure out how to do it right.

Since they set up these situations, you have a chance to recognize and avoid some stupid decisions. Granted, some of these situations are truly moronic.

If nothing else, I can get a contemptuous chuckle out of these "scenarios".

I don't know - watching these guys have such trouble using primitive fire starting techniques has reinforced my determination to always carry a firesteel, matches, a BIC lighter, dry tinder, magnifying glass, misc flammable stuff (e.g. Neosporin ointment, ranger bands), candles, etc. so hopefully I don't have to rely on primitive firestarting techniques.

That reinforcement has got to be worth something...

Are we talking about people making fire using primitive tools or primitive people making fire with sophisticated tools such as stainless Tool Steel knifes etc...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Th6EOlLK0DA

I'm always surprised by these 'vicarious thrill survival shows' how often the actor er I mean survival specialist will carry a heat treated Stainless Tool Steel knife, Goretex shell clothing and Ferrocerium rod, but will forget his map and compass, his lighter, his Titanium Pot, his ultra lightweight Gas Cartridge Stove and his Synthetic hollow fibre sleeping bag and Goretex Bivi etc. They also seem to jump into freezing rivers and water courses quite a lot for no apparent reasoning, but still be remarkably proficient at hunting wild game but throwing wooden sticks at them.

These entertainment shows also seem to continually send the message that the wilderness is not for the urban and city species know as Homo Urbanus, where Ursus americanus will surely dine on apon them like a KFC or McDs happy meal.



Vicious creatures such as shown above are far more deadly in North America than Ursus americanus and Ursus arctos combined.

A great example is one of the things I liked about Man, Woman Wild: Mike would say "just carry a lighter" quite often.

I'm going to break away from the group on this one, and vote in favour watching survival shows. If you're going to watch tv anyway, they're just as appealing, IMO, as any of the standard dramatic/reality/comedy shows, with the added benefit of encouraging real world thinking about (prepping for?) our favourite outdoor hobbies. They provide fantastic conversation starters with my ten year old.

Watching a tv show isn't as good as getting out there, hands on, real life experience. And nope, these shows aren't pure non-fiction. They don't show everything, fabricate situations, etc..., but they are just tv shows. They can be captivating and reinforce important lessons while they're giving us food for the imagination. But.... they are intended to be entertainment. We need to always keep that in mind no matter when we're watching, and think things through before we incorporate anything from tv shows into our real lives.

Which brings up a point I've had, and have heard others echo,: Why is it that no one on those shows never takes a course in survival? Or even go on a few overnighters to learn and hone their skills? I once saw Jeff Probst tell future "survivors" To by a ten dollar flint and practice ay home because a woman lost a million dollar prize because she couldn't start a fire with one and a huge pile of tinder.

I agree, I enjoy watching these types of shows as well. I find I do learn a bit too, both from the successes and failures that are shown. However, like anything, you have to do a little critical thinking and assess the ideas and skills presented and understand how they apply to your own skill set and the situations you are likely to face. Some shows are better than others, but I think there are always things to learn from (even the much maligned Bear Grylls who I've recently started watching and am genuinely enjoying).

Though I thoroughly dislike Bear, he does have a few good tricks. In get out alive he practicly spoon fed the contestants and tucked them in at night. I did like it when he everso gently scolded their stupidity. And not so gently when they swam to shore and left a man behind to drown and he went in to save the poor fellow. I'd watch a show that was filmed in the Southwestern desert during winter if the contestants were actually trained and experienced. I tellpeoplenot to use the magnesium bar like they do on Survivor where they hack and chip at the ferro, knocking chunks out instead of scraping it. I've only seen one person scape magnesium shavings from the block.

I quit Survivor years ago. I couldn't stand the premise and even worse the people that were on these shows. Evil manipulative people that I wouldn't bring my self down to even shaking hands with... The first couple of season were OK. I saw a few minutes of last night's episode, it didn't take long to turn that off.