As long as you accept it for entertainment and nothing to do with survival advice then its fine. As survival advice its wrong and dangerous
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Bear Gryll for real?
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Posted 2 years ago #
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WTF is "Easterners" ?
Have they got a series on TV about Lithuanians and Poles ?
Posted 2 years ago # -
The problem appears to be that to a large extent he's sold his soul to various media outlets, so our perception of him as a cock is largely driven by the exposure the media has given him.
The issue is deciding whether he is a fantastically focused really nice chap, who accepts that his media image is a price worth paying for the money, or that he's a bell end with an ego the size of a small planet.
I guess people who have spent time with him are the only ones who can truly answer this.
Of course the problem with this is that the people who have spent time with him, might themselves be really nice chaps, or bell ends with similar planet sized egos.
I image he's probably a bit of both.Posted 2 years ago # -
I watched an episode where he was on the Skeleton coast .. he gave his usual drivel .. and ate (and spat out as usual) some disgusting mixture of things he found laying about..
The following evening Ray Mears was on tv at the skeleton coast. In his usual unassuming fashion he cooked up an absolute feast of shell fish etc.
If Grylls is really an ex-SAS as the story goes(dont almost every ex-serviceman claim to be) - then those guys need some lessons off Ray Mears on real survival.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Isn't Ray Mears sponsored by Burger King?
As an armchair survivalist, keyboard warrior and internet hard-man, I reckon in order of media icons most likely to survive for real, we have -
1) Lofty Wiseman
2) Bruce Parry
3) Davina McCall
4) all the rest.Posted 2 years ago # -
If Grylls is really an ex-SAS as the story
It's the reservists SAS - still fairly tough but nowhere near the same entry requirements/commitment required as the real thing. Strangely he generally just refers to it as the SAS.
Posted 2 years ago # -
watch the special with will ferrel is well funny!
Posted 2 years ago # -
I reckon he's probably alright, and I'm inclined to think he knows what he's doing, but his show is ridiculous and makes him look like a knob. But maybe he has to take what he can get to put food on the table.
Comparisons with Ray Mears are a bit misleading, I don't think their two shows are really trying to do the same thing. Rightly or wrongly Grylls' show is all about 'good' TV while Mear's seems to actually be about getting by in the back of beyond.
Posted 2 years ago # -
IMHO - Bruce Parry is the best of Mears and Gryll
Never comes across as annoying and self-rightous
Posted 2 years ago # -
You know who is annoying though- Simon Reeve, off the Tropic of Capricorn thing. I don't know how he has ended up fronting a TV program.
Posted 2 years ago # -
It's the reservists SAS - still fairly tough but nowhere near the same entry requirements/commitment required as the real thing. Strangely he generally just refers to it as the SAS.
hmm..
...spent three years with the British Special Air Service (21 SAS). What makes his story even more remarkable is that during this time he suffered a free-fall parachuting accident in Africa where he broke his back in three places.
seems to state pretty clearly that it was the 21 SAS?
Posted 2 years ago # -
IanMunro - Member
As an armchair survivalist, keyboard warrior and internet hard-man, I reckon in order of media icons most likely to survive for real, we have -
1) Lofty Wiseman
2) Bruce Parry
3) Davina McCallApplauds!
Grylls was TA-SAS, and has done some fascinating stuff that never made it to TV. His shows are entertainment, not real survival. Get over it!
Oh, and Lofty would whittle a nice spoon out of Bear's femur, before making a tasty Mears Bourgoine with McCall Dumplings.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Usual inverse stw snobbery at it's finest here
Posted 2 years ago # -
He did a couple of years in 21 after OCT Bristol. never went on ops despite claims. A couple of years TA service does not equals much actual soldiering (generally).
Posted 2 years ago # -
seems to state pretty clearly that it was the 21 SAS
Yeah it does, but then look up what 21 SAS is.
A few weekends and a few weeks of training/exercises - lets you claim to have been in the SAS. Strangely never got called up for anywhere nasty though.
His shows are entertainment, not real survival.
That's not how they were originally presented though.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Absolute C**K of the first order, my hatred knows no bounds! by way of his ability, his integrity, his honesty and his huge all-consuming ego!
And like a certain 'Mcnabb' not exactly well liked in certain quarters.The Kenyan Safari lodge/Gnarly unarmed near death bivvy incident just about sums him up. Or the magically appearing, disposable 50m rope with bolt belay for that matter.
Not jealous or anything mind
Wish I could grease palm my way into that sort of job.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Noone has said that he or she knows someone who has worked with him and his team (which includes people who are paid to really know about survival) so I will then. His crew all refer to Mears as Fatty Ray.
Posted 2 years ago # -
deadlydarcy, as you mentioned it, I have a bit of experience with a few of the people mentioned in the thread- Parry, Grylls, Mears- and their ilk through work I used to do (involving research, logistics, support and crewing for the type of things they do). For what it's worth, I've can't remember hearing any serious bad words about Mears (other than him being a fatty but I never took that to be real criticism, just piss taking), Parry has some critics, but I've never heard of anyone describing Grylls as anything other than an utter knobend. Doesn't necessarily mean you should/shouldn't like their series although there are plenty of reasons why you might- I know which programmes/presenters I prefer.
Posted 2 years ago # -
C_p, you might know the same girl I do then.
I think the Mears thing is just jealousy because they'd love to be as respected. But yeah, knobend, albeit a very charming one, is one of the nicer things I've heard said.
Not that I ever expected any different.
The one where he landed on the west coast of that little known bleak wilderness, Ireland was the one of the more comedic of his efforts. FFS, walk a few miles, you'll find a brightly coloured bungalow soon enough where they'll make you a cup of tea and let you use their interweb to book a Ryanair flight home.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Can't stand the bloke...and yes I've met him ... Had the misfortune of having to sit on his table at one of his record breaking attempts - a painful hour of listening to how bloody wonderful he is!
Born survivor my arse!!
Go to any sally army soup kitchen on any evening of the week to find lifes real survivors...the nfa's, the poor souls from less priveliged backgrounds fighting their own battles with depression, mental health issues, cold and hunger!!
Posted 2 years ago # -
This is all very strange. When his programmes first came out on to the TV people were saying on here how good he was and how good his programmes were. The monority were saying he's a c@ck and fabricated stuff to much slagging off by others...... how things change.
IMO the most annoying thing is his bloody voice!
Posted 2 years ago # -
oh my effing word!!
there's people getting grumpy cos a TV programme is staged and contrived!?
whatever next?
you'll be telling me next that pantomime dames are just men dressed uip as women.. and that santa isn't real..
get a grip FFSPosted 2 years ago # -
there's people getting grumpy cos a TV programme is staged and contrived!?
You seem to be getting confused between things claiming to be factual, informative programming and drama. As are the producers of this tripe.
Get a grip FFS.
Posted 2 years ago # -
oh dear.. sorry grum.. are not up to date with this style of Tv..?
I'm aware of the programme.. and your gripe
are you 7?FFS FFS
Posted 2 years ago # -
were you particularly shocked by the execution of Gary Glitter?
or the horrendous tretment of that suspect in 'The Bill' last week?I'm glad that I don't live in Albert Square etc etc.. oh god those Zombies on Big Brother look nasty I hope they don't turn up round here!
silly billies
Posted 2 years ago # -
IMHO - Bruce Parry is the best of Mears and Gryll
Bruce Parry's programmes generally should be called "Bruce Parry - Getting off his face in 20 out of the way places and loving it"
Posted 2 years ago # -
> seems to state pretty clearly that it was the 21 SAS
Yeah it does, but then look up what 21 SAS is.
That's what I mean. 21st SAS is the Reservist/TA regiment and he is openly states that's what he was a member of.
Strangely never got called up for anywhere nasty though.
couple of years TA service does not equals much actual soldiering (generally).
Yeah I imagine him breaking his back in three places may have somewhat limited his soldiering career.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Saying that he 'spent three years with the British Special Air Service (21 SAS).' is disingenuous - unless you know or look up what the 21 SAS you would assume he was a full time professional member of the SAS for three years.
He was so badly injured that he couldn't possibly serve in the 'SAS' but miraculously recovered and managed to climb everest.
Posted 2 years ago # -
He was so badly injured that he couldn't possibly serve in the 'SAS' but miraculously recovered and managed to climb everest.
Yeah, three crushed vertebrae after his main parachute canopy ripped at 1,600 feet, resulting in 18 months of rehabilitation at Headley Court before being discharged.
What a big blouse eh?
Posted 2 years ago # -
Yeah, three crushed vertebrae after his main parachute canopy ripped at 1,600 feet, resulting in 18 months of rehabilitation at Headley Court before being discharged.
Wow you really love him don't you?
Never said he was a blouse - I'm sure he's much 'arder and more capable than me, I just wish he didn't feel the need to bullshit and exaggerate.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Wow you really love him don't you?
Actually I find him slightly irritating. Far too earnest, driven and enthusiastic about everything for me to have a pint with.
But I do have a lot of respect for him and I hate the typically British way that folk dismiss him and anyone else that has actually managed to achieve something.
Posted 2 years ago # -
But I do have a lot of respect for him and I hate the typically British way that folk dismiss him and anyone else that has actually managed to achieve something.
I have lots of respect for all sorts of people who have achieved plenty, as do most of the British public. Has anyone slagged off our recent winter olympics gold medal winner for instance?
What British people don't like is someone who is full of themselves, and bullshits and exaggerates their achievements for increased media profile/financial gain.
Posted 2 years ago # -
I think the lack of integrity shown by the Scouts Association is very bad.
If you are teaching children, why pick someone whose techniques are known to be actually dangerous and cavalier and which seem successful only because they are dishonestly faked? Why present 'survival' to kids in ways which could be physically dangerous to them, or to adults for that matter- who might at least be a bit less trusting or use more judgement than young children are able to.
Also why pick someone who has been so deceitful in his TV presentations? Is the Scout message 'Its OK to be dishonest in your dealings with the public if you can climb Everest'? So kids thing its OK to lie, as long as they look good? Or do you say to your kids 'Don't believe in the scout leader he talks rubbish a lot of the time' which really undermines the whole scout association and indeed, highlights its view of the children in it as being less important than having a leader with a high publicity profile?
Posted 2 years ago # -
FFS, this just in... Ray Mears also has a cameraman.
Posted 2 years ago #
Topic Closed
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