Is Bear Gryllis unfairly maligned?

bassrique · #1 02-26-2011, 07:37 PM

On another thread, I laughed a Bear Gryllis pic that poked fun at urine drinking. It got me thinking though, and I believe that BG catches too much ---- for things that make sense when you think of it.

Some people dismiss the guy when his name is brought up for many different reasons, only one of which I think is valid. Some years ago he was exposed as staying at a nearby hotel while filming. While BG doesn't come out and say he's doing the Les Stroud [Survivorman] schtick, it's implied that he's going to rough it throughout the filming. I don't think that's a big deal, but that's a valid criticism.

Pee and Poo water drinking, along with eating all the crazy things he does. I'm sure much of that stuff was taught to him while he served in the Army as well learning about indigenous peoples. While extreme, if I have to drink my own urine [only once] and eat a goat testicle in a survival scenario, I'll do it, but more importantly, we're talking about TV here. It's entertainment.

On a related note, people that have spent time in the wilderness say BG's techniques will more than likely get you killed than help you. Climbing cliffs and glissading [sliding down a snow covered incline on one's buttocks] is for experts only, and a noob shouldn't try it. The disclaimer at the start of every show says this, and again, it freaking entertainment. If you really want to become a survival expert, take courses and spend lots of time in the out-of-doors.

Planned scenarios: Again, it's entertainment. I don't care if it's scripted.

Then there's the nastiness of BG lying about his military record. Some experienced outdoorsmen that think they know more than they do say that BG's reserve unit wasn't really SAS. BG was in 21 SAS. SAS is in the name so it's SAS. It's not 22 SAS, which is the unit that carries out most of their operations, but BG's unit was SAS nonetheless. And the same people that say this usually imply that BG is some kind of a whuss. I tell them BG climbed Mt. Everest at 21 years of age. That ends that most of the time.

I can't believe I typed all that about Bear Gryllis. It makes me look like I have a man-crush or something.

I'll make a poll of this.

hover · #2 02-26-2011, 07:55 PM

nope.

he has fairly pedestrian solutions to pretty fantastical situations. If you cannot arrive at these yourself through fairly quick logical thinking, you're good as toast anyway.

ShredderMaximus · #3 02-26-2011, 07:59 PM

BG is a savage, and though Les Stroud's show is supposedly more real, Man vs. Wild is imo more entertaining since he takes all the crazy risks, like eating rotten carcasses, glissading down a rocky hill with biga$$ rocks buzzing by his head, and setting up sketchy ziplines across 40+ ft chasms. The dudes got some cajones for sure and keeps it entertaining.

bassrique · #4 02-26-2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

nope.

he has fairly pedestrian solutions to pretty fantastical situations. If you cannot arrive at these yourself through fairly quick logical thinking, you're good as toast anyway.

But w/out information, even Mr. Spock would be toast. [Again, entertainment TV is not the best source of such info, but it's better than nothing I suppose.]

champbassist · #5 02-26-2011, 08:09 PM

I'd say he's OK: some nice ideas to be had if you really get stuck somewhere, unlikely for me considering I'm not much of an adventure guy myself. But I don't know about the "I'm smart enough not do do that stupid stuff" part. I'd probably take many of his ideas if I find myself in those situations.

bassrique · #6 02-26-2011, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by champbassist

I'd say he's OK: some nice ideas to be had if you really get stuck somewhere, unlikely for me considering I'm not much of an adventure guy myself. But I don't know about the "I'm smart enough not do do that stupid stuff" part. I'd probably take many of his ideas if I find myself in those situations.

When you make a poll, there isn't much room to be specific. When I say, "I'm smart enough...", I'm talking about the techniques BG uses that only a very fit and experienced outdoorsman should attempt. And I suppose the elephant poo water too

**pacojas** · #7 02-26-2011, 08:22 PM

don't forget..., not only does he know how to survive, he proably knows a dozen different ways to kill a man!

my hero

MJ5150 · #8 02-26-2011, 08:28 PM

I've learned a few practical tips from the show. I like the guy overall.

The show Les Stroud does is good as well, but it seems more like "here's how to survive for a few days out here by yourself", while the show Bear does is more of "here's how to preserve your life and get out of here now".

-Mike

Relic · #9 02-26-2011, 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hover

nope.

he has fairly pedestrian solutions to pretty fantastical situations. If you cannot arrive at these yourself through fairly quick logical thinking, you're good as toast anyway.

This.

I mean he's alright and everything but a lot of it is theatrics more so than it is anything else

UnsungZeros · #10 02-26-2011, 09:45 PM

It's entertainment. Stop over thinking it.

DwaynieAD · #11 02-26-2011, 09:52 PM

i'm over the survival fad.. but that being said survivorman is better imo

champbassist · #12 02-26-2011, 10:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bassrique

I'm talking about the techniques BG uses that only a very fit and experienced outdoorsman should attempt.

+1 for that, but I feel that in a life or death situation, even a less than fit person would try anything that could possibly save him, including the crazy things BG does.

boing · #13 02-27-2011, 07:08 AM

He runs too much.

knumbskull · #14 02-27-2011, 07:36 AM

ray mears is the man in this field i'm afraid.

MakiSupaStar · #15 02-27-2011, 08:09 AM

All I need to survive this thread is a knife and this sexy Asian chick pubic hair.

champbassist · #16 02-27-2011, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MakiSupaStar

sexy Asian chick pubic hair.

To make a rope out of?

Relic · #17 02-27-2011, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by champbassist

To make a rope out of?

pfff, you can weave it into a rope, knit it into a sweater, floss your teeth with it, weave it into a fishing net....
If you did not realize this, you are NOT imaginitive enough to make it in the wild. You are doooooomed!

hover · #18 02-27-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Relic

pfff, you can weave it into a rope, knit it into a sweater, floss your teeth with it, weave it into a fishing net....
If you did not realize this, you are NOT imaginitive enough to make it in the wild. You are doooooomed!

Geez, even I can make a bomb out of a handfull of asian pubes and 3 hershey's kisses. Oooops, we're not talkin McGuyver.....

but we should be.

irishpride28 · #19 02-28-2011, 09:07 PM

sandmangeck · #20 02-28-2011, 09:41 PM

I'd say that it's more awesome that he does the gnarly stuff, with a hotel nearby.