I have to say that this thread is fairly disturbing. It starts out with people complaining about what they consider to be animal cruelty. Now, personally, I can’t say that I agree with those people but I do respect their right to voice their opinions. Disagreeing with those opinions is certainly anyone’s right but the overall lack of tolerance of differing opinions expressed in quite a few responses is really fairly pitiable. If you can’t stand hearing opinions that differ from your own then I would suggest that you just bury your head in the sand and more importantly, keep your own opinions to yourself. Nobody likes a hypocrite.
That being said, the most disturbing thing about this thread is the number of people who defend the killing by using excuses about Bear surviving or teaching others what to do etc. First off, Bear is not surviving; he’s already admitted that he retires to a base camp at the end of most days so that he will be physically able to perform the fairly demanding feats that he does for the show. I think it’s safe to say that maintaining the strength required to do these things safely forces him to eat properly as well as rest between takes. As for the idea that he is teaching, well anything, this is equally ridiculous. Let’s look at the facts. Why does Bear jump out of planes or helicopters to begin almost every show? Because it is entertaining. Does anyone actually believe that anyone is going to climb down waterfalls, jump off of cliffs or any of the other dangerous things Bear does on the show? Of course not, so why does he do them? Because it is entertaining. I haven’t seen every episode but I have most of them and I have yet to see him catch and kill anything in a manner that is both safe and practical. Grabbing a large and dangerous lizard by the tail and bashing it against a tree is hardly the best way to get a meal in a survival situation. Bear does it that way because it is entertaining. Does anyone actually believe that biting the head off a snake is the best or even remotely a practical method of killing it? Bear does it that way because it is the most entertaining way of doing so. The FACT of the matter is that Bear kills things on the show to provide entertainment, period. There is no “need” and there is no “lesson”. If you can not accept that animals are killed on this show solely to provide entertainment then you need to reevaluate your opinion of this program. At the very least you should not criticize those who do see it for what it is.
Originally posted by ShadowStalker: I don’t really have a problem with him killing it. But it was a demonstration. He is not actually surviving in these shows and he is never really very hungry. The advertisements for this episode said he was going to spend 7 days on this island. Yet he only spent one night in wild. That is what the disclaimers are for - to inform you that this show is not real.
What he did in this episode is about the same thing as if he had brought a big lizard on the David Letterman show and demonstrated how to kill it by bashing its head on Dave’s desk.
Lizard bashing on Letterman. Now that's entertainment! Oh the horror in the humour or is it the humour in the horror. Bottom line no one is forcing anyone to watch MvW. You can like it or leave it but please don't whine about it. Of course there's nothing better than a little controversy to boost the ratings. Your TV comes with an off switch more people should use it and read a Stephen King novel now there's something to get your sensitivities reeling.
First of all people need to stop saying "don't like it, don't watch it." This is an ethical issue, and it's simply ignorant to tell someone arguing a moral issue "keep your mouth shut and don't look at it then!"
Second of all, it is ABSOLUTELY animal cruelty. If he were killing in the most humane manner possible, in order to survive, this would be different. But as someone else pointed out, he is killing animals in the most "entertaining" way possible just for kicks. The man goes to a hotel at the end of the shoot. The whole show is absolutely pathetic.
I have seen one or two episodes of Survivorman, and I have to say that from what I've seen he tries to capture/kill game in the most humane way possible, and he actually IS surviving in that environment for a period of time. In the episodes I saw, he always explained that he didn't like killing animals, and I'm pretty sure he killed far fewer than Bear does on a regular basis.
I was completely disgusted by this weeks Man Vs Wild and the completely ridiculous, over the top, unnecessary violence it contains. I sent a complaint to Discovery and I'm turning the channel off permanently if this trend continues.
Those of you with cable: the strongest message you can send is to turn the channel to a Discovery competitor the second Man Vs Wild comes on, in addition to making your opinion heard.
Les Stroud is picked up at the end of seven days. As has been pointed out here ad nauseam, food is not an immediate priority. You can certainly survive 7 days without any. Not to say it would be enjoyable to do so (though some do enjoy starving themselves, but that's a whole other topic ), however it isn't NECESSARY for Les to kill and eat on his program either. If this was truly an ethical issue to some of you, then it seems to reason you would feel the need to boycott both Les and Bear's shows, instead of giving justification to one that you refuse to give to the other.
Neither men in my opinion NEED to kill on their shows to eat, but I personally see absolutely nothing wrong in them doing so.
So you want to take a show off the air because he killed a lizard....
So you are ok with shows with sex and drugs and murder on them but when Bear kills a lizard to eat on a SURVIVAL show you freak out and your wife cries for 3 hours. Thats a little lame if you ask me.
Get over it, he killed an animal. Go check out slaughter house videos on youtube and tell me those animals suffer less than that lizard Bear killed.
I respect your opinion but come on this is a survival show, he's not killing animals on a massive scale, even if he doesn't eat all of the animal he's in the wild where other animal will finish it off. It would make more sense to start doing things around your city to stop animal cruelty where it happens every day or easier yet how about complaining about big buck hunting on TV?
YAL WATCHER, WILL NEVER WATCH THE SHOW AGAIN. WHILE GRYLLS SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMMEDIATELY QUES
I love that part of the show, I laughed for 5 minutes at that part. If you can't take it then dont watch but don't criticize! I highly doubt they are going to make this show into some G-Rated kinds show. I would never watch it if they did. I for sure want to see Bear exactly what he has to go through and do not just have him talk about it while they cut out the good parts of the show. That would be stupid. What you guys are looking for is a nature show, where someone just views nature and talks about it. This show is not for you.
Human rights violations all around the world and you're all crying because Bear killed a... Whatever it was. You said reptile, so probably a snake or something.
Get your priorities straight. There are better things to get your panties in a bunch about.
you people need to get over yourselves -- poor lizard ? You people need to grow up. One lousy lizard and everyone wants to burn BG at the stake. Suck it up and drive on. Im sure by him killing that lizard as a survival technique didnt disrupt the ecosystem. He did eat it right? Thats what I thougth It "might" be different if he didnt eat the dang thing. For crying out loud it was only one lizard. Cry me a river .
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Wouldn't it have been easier to just have everyone take a poll and not flame each other over a period of 5 months. but honestly cant the environmentalists on here just leave and let the people who find the show mildly entertaining have a decent time without having to argue with the people who dont like it for a very small part of the show. If its that big of a deal to that small percentage of you then start a website about it but dont rain on everybody elses parade. and for the people who have CRIED about it I believe thats a little ridiculous since most of the people are grown adults. also would any of you wasted time looking for a large rock when you are holding a large 4-5 foot lizard i mean isnt an important part of survival about not wasting time??? and dont argue that he had all the time in the world cause its just a show cause that would defeat the purpose of showing how important time is. In that aspect they can't really contradict themselves cause it would be unprofessional and make the show pointless.
Why arent people complaining about all the other aniamls hes killed too??? Why wait till now, I mean you've had plenty of time and you pick this ONE lizard??? Thats just kind of pointless from my point of view.
Wouldn't it have been easier to just have everyone take a poll and not flame each other over a period of 5 months.
Or…it might also be easy to just stop responding to this thread so it would get buried instead of bumping it back to the top where it will continue to get attention.
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but honestly cant the environmentalists on here just leave and let the people who find the show mildly entertaining have a decent time without having to argue with the people who dont like it for a very small part of the show.
Yeah, why do people have to voice their opinions when they don’t agree with what I have to say, that’s so annoying.
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also would any of you wasted time looking for a large rock when you are holding a large 4-5 foot lizard
Personally, I think I would find the large rock (or big stick) BEFORE I grabbed the lizard. Come to think of it, I would avoid grabbing the lizard at all and just throw the big rock at it. But that’s just me.
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mean isnt an important part of survival about not wasting time???
Actually no, “not wasting time” is just the excuse that they use to do a bunch of dangerous and unnecessary stunts. Careful and cautious is how a true survival expert would teach people to act. Besides food is never going to be a priority, attacking and killing such a large and relatively dangerous animal is going to be a waste of time in and of itself.
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In that aspect they can't really contradict themselves cause it would be unprofessional and make the show pointless.
Well I’ll agree that it would make the show pointless. Why do a bunch of stupid and needlessly dangerous stunts on a “survival” show if you aren’t going to have some sort of an excuse to do them. After all, most people don’t realize that taking risks and running around like a madman really have nothing to do with actual survival advice so pretending that you have to be in a hurry is perfect.
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Why arent people complaining about all the other aniamls hes killed too???
People have complained previously. You just don’t see those threads because people stopped responding to them so they got pushed down the list.
Or…it might also be easy to just stop responding to this thread so it would get buried instead of bumping it back to the top where it will continue to get attention.
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So why did you reply to this again?
Oh yeah you like to contradict yourself.
and if youd like to argue about that then just email me cause im not coming to this topic to fight about it [Edited Content]
and since you obviously joined just to reply to my posts I have to take this kind of personally.
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Why doesn't anyone ever mention killing insects like ticks as cruelity to animals? Has anyone viewed the latest short show on MvW's webpage about Bear pulling off a tick and then biting its head off? Why isn't there an outrage concerning ticks, beetles, ants, spiders, etc.? If they're not cute, furry and cuddly, then they don't count, right?
Can anyone see where I'm going with this? Maybe, you all need to check your values at the door before posting. Bear has never killed anything that was on the endangered or threatened list. Plus, he eats the stuff and shares the rest with his friends.
Next time you have to pull off a tick off yourself or a dog (I've done both), ask yourself "is this tick worth saving?" Or, should I risk Limes disease or worse?
Spar- First- I wasn’t contradicting myself. I may not agree with the things the “animal cruelty” people are saying but I’m not offended or upset that they choose to voice their opinions the way that you seem to be. I was simply pointing out that if you don’t like to hear what they have to say then you shouldn’t encourage them to continue the conversation. Personally I don’t care if they make this thread a sticky and keep it at the top permanently so no contradiction there.
Second- I registered and responded to the top 3 posts on this board, apparently, right after you had responded to two of them yourself. This is an internet forum, responding to comments posted by another person is kind of the point to the whole thing. If you’re going to take it personally anytime someone responds to your comments then you might be better off just keeping them to yourself.
Originally posted by KKM: Plus, he eats the stuff and shares the rest with his friends.
I agree with everything else you have said but the above quote. And it's not that I don't agree with the above, but just question it's truth.
Do you know for a fact that bear shares his 'kills' with his friends? Could you please point me to the proof of your claim?
And as far as Bear goes...does he eat all that he kills or does he just take a few bites of the larger kills (for the sake of the camera) and leave the rest?
After reading these posts and seeing how Bear has duped a lot of you I have to say he is NOT in survival mode. He does not need to kill these animals for survival. He has said in an interview with Letterman that when he doesn't film the night scenes he stays in a tent or lodge with everyone else. I'm sure he eats as well as everyone else does too. The killing of these animals is about as senseless as the people who believe he is for real.
If you were in a wilderness survival situation, would you know what was safe to eat? Probably not. So Bear teaches the best way to find food including animals.
Bear is a very nice person and a real survivor. Very thankful with this extraordinary show.
Kill or be killed! Survival is a harsh reality. If you were in the same situation, You too would kill the lizard. If you don't want to see it don't watch the show. Bear has enough fans to support the sponsors and watch the show for the Nelson ratings. Bear keep up the good work.
This whole discussion is as any, a matter of opinion. Republican vs. Democrat, etc. If you are an animal rights actavist.........fine. You are entitled to your opinon. Bear Gryll's is an entertainer, and reguardless of what one may think a survial expert. Now that said, he does not need to do many of the things he does, but it is for OUR (yours and my) benefit. I'm sure he would rather not eat that beetle, climb that rock wall, or walk through a dessert. But he does it for the benefit of others, and not just the paycheck. The man is from a wealthy family. Many of the stunts he does I would not try unless my life depended on it. And I have been a hunting guide for the better part of a decade, living in rag-tag spike camps all across the US. I have been put in real life survial situations mor
), however it isn't NECESSARY for Les to kill and eat on his program either. If this was truly an ethical issue to some of you, then it seems to reason you would feel the need to boycott both Les and Bear's shows, instead of giving justification to one that you refuse to give to the other. 
