Les Stroud is NOT a researcher. He is the worst type of pseudo-scientist - an exploiter of animals. His shows - whether the absurd "Survivorman" series, or his recent "Sharks - Feeding Frenzy" - are supposedly designed to "test the limits". However, all he does is put animals, and people, in danger.

Les Stroud does NOT educate the public - rather, he consistently CREATES sensational, unrealistic, and quite frankly STUPID scenarios that reinforce the fears of unknowing, somewhat irrational human beings. In an age where our environment and most animals are living in peril, Les Stroud is no more than a bad used car salesman, selling a bill of goods. He supposedly invokes dangerous situations to "teach" people how to survive...but what he is really teaching people is that there worst fears can come true...which leads to the type of thinking that has pushed many animals, and a good portion of our environment, to the brink of extinction.

Let's get other people on The Discovery Channel who truly ARE researchers, and want to teach
1) how unlikely most dangerous situations with animals are; and/or 2) how to AVOID dangerous situations in the first place. And, if there is a need to learn how to survive in extreme or dangerous situations, Bear Grylls is a much more positive and effective role model - at least he RESPECTS the environment.

Les Stroud sells fear - and, as history has taught us - fear breeds ignorance...and ignorance puts animals in danger of being extinguished (think sharks, folks). PLEASE join me in requesting that The Discovery Channel put an end to this man's "career" - he is a dangerous idiot...and the truth is, when the python in the cave bit him....it was for the snake that I felt compassion.

I really think you need to do your research, because you have obviously confused Les Stroud with Bear Grylls.

Nothing you have said here makes any sense when directed towards Les Stroud, but make perfect sense when directed at Bear Grylls.

Yeah, I think formermarine is right. It sounds like you're describing Bear Grylls' Man vs. Wild, not Les Stroud's Survivorman. MvW has a lot more hype and sensationalism to it than Survivorman.

With regards to the shark show, though, I wouldn't doubt that you're right. I wouldn't know, as I don't watch shark week. However, you're directing your anger at a person rather than the entity that sponsored the show. You're asking the channel that tries to top itself each year during "shark week" to get rid of a specific person?

I agree shark week needs to be less about hyping the danger of sharks attacking humans and more about about hyping the danger humans pose to sharks, but you're trying to kill the messenger. It's the message itself that needs to change. Until that happens, it doesn't matter who is hosting these shows. Fear, hype, style-over-substance... it sells, and that's the direction Discovery seems to be moving.

she knows who shes talkin about bear didnt do any corny shark week show

She wasn't just talking about shark week, though. As I said above, she may be right there.

Her other remarks don't make as much sense:

quote:

Les Stroud does NOT educate the public - rather, he consistently CREATES sensational, unrealistic, and quite frankly STUPID scenarios that reinforce the fears of unknowing, somewhat irrational human beings.
...
Let's get other people on The Discovery Channel who truly ARE researchers, and want to teach
1) how unlikely most dangerous situations with animals are; and/or 2) how to AVOID dangerous situations in the first place. And, if there is a need to learn how to survive in extreme or dangerous situations, Bear Grylls is a much more positive and effective role model - at least he RESPECTS the environment.

These accusations sound better directed towards Bear in my opinion. Sensational, unrealistic and stupid scenarios? Sorry, that's got Bear written all over it, even if you think he's the man.

Also, I've seen Les pass on killing animals he could easily have eaten for food, and he was in a real situation where hunger played a role. Bear's show is less focused on sustained survival, but he'll parachute into a region and kill just about anything and everything to "demonstrate" survival techniques. He also hypes up the danger of animals (and everything else) at every opportunity. Les is generally quite respectful of nature, leaving small footprints when he goes out, cleaning up after himself, and preaching conservation.

So it just doesn't make sense to single Les out there, as Bear is just as guilty, even moreso in my opinion.

quote:

He also hypes up the danger of animals (and everything else) at every opportunity.

Agreed. In one episode Bear kills a stingray and listening to the voiceover beforehand you’d think he was about to take on an 18 foot great white. The stingray is one of the gentlest creatures in the sea but Bear deliberately played on the Steve Irwin incident to pretend he was in some sort of danger. Using a freak accident and terrible tragedy to ridiculously overhype his situation is about as low as it gets in my opinion.

quote:

In an age where our environment and most animals are living in peril, Les Stroud is no more than a bad used car salesman, selling a bill of goods. He supposedly invokes dangerous situations to "teach" people how to survive...but what he is really teaching people is that there worst fears can come true...which leads to the type of thinking that has pushed many animals, and a good portion of our environment, to the brink of extinction.

Les Stroud sells fear - and, as history has taught us - fear breeds ignorance...and ignorance puts animals in danger of being extinguished (think sharks, folks). PLEASE join me in requesting that The Discovery Channel put an end to this man's "career" - he is a dangerous idiot...and the truth is, when the python in the cave bit him....it was for the snake that I felt compassion.

Wow, that is some really heavy garbage. You must not be watching the same man I saw, because he made a bigger then neccessary deal about cutting down anything. He even makes a point to clean up his spots so they are all natural again.

OMG this is one of the worst shows on discovery. In no way does he "teach" you how to survive. All he does is wander around complaining about his current situation and how he carries 60 lbs of camera equipment and is by himself. Don't get me wrong, I respect the cinematics that Les takes a great deal of effort to accomplish. For example, he has to cover great distances and routes twice in order to get those time lapse shots of him walking all across the mountain side. But honestly what does he teach about survival? He rarely betters his situation by hunting or scavenging for food, building shelters, or finding ways out of the wilderness.

The bottom line is that he doesn't survive, he simply endures and complains.

I know Man vs. Wild is not perferct but at least it's interesting and I feel like I learn something from it.

quote:

He rarely betters his situation by hunting or scavenging for food, building shelters, or finding ways out of the wilderness

Are you SURE you're talking about the same show? I see Les do ALL of these things in EVERY show. Maybe you should try watching with your eyes OPEN.

quote:

Originally posted by abkenned:
OMG this is one of the worst shows on discovery. In no way does he "teach" you how to survive. All he does is wander around complaining about his current situation and how he carries 60 lbs of camera equipment and is by himself.
The bottom line is that he doesn't survive, he simply endures and complains.

I know Man vs. Wild is not perferct but at least it's interesting and I feel like I learn something from it.

Okay, so first let me laugh at you for seriously educating yourself on a T.V. channel.
Next,that IS actual survival, being alone and enduring.