planet earth on discovery channel (hidden adgenda)?

[jonesy]

Has anyone been watching planet earth on the discovery channel? Does anyone get the impression that their is a animal rights ajenda being pushed? It seems to me that when nature takes its coarse (a kill) they want the prey animals to get away, and it is ok if the predator goes hungry, i guess that's the walt dinsney mentality in the world today. I thought it was beautiful when the lion was waiting at the water hole to ambush an elephant i felt a kinship to the lion and my blood pressure definatley increased. Dont get me wrong i do not like too see that kinda stuff, but (thats nature)and hell i dont like to see a animal fallen to an arrow die in front of me, but seems too me that a well placed broadhead or bullet conjures mutch less suffering.Why are poeple ,so anti hunting? Are we not predators in the chain of life and death mutch needed for prey and predator's to survive and florish? i can only be thankful, for letting me, be part of that life and death struggle. Jonesy

[juneaulongbow]

I saw an episode a few weeks ago with the Snow Leopards chasing Markhors in the Himalayas.  Pretty awesome footage.  People like to cheer for the underdog.  Also they don't like to be reminded of the fact that they too will die.

[ChuckC]

Mike.  people are so very far removed from (worldly) reality now that they don't know any better.  Sure, predation and eating other things is not pretty, but the fact is, it is here to stay.

There are any number of TV and movie specials, that, although entertaining and cute, are very clearly 180 degrees from the truth.  Even Planet Earth and the Discovery Channel do it.   On one recent series of shows I saw, cannot recall which Channel, but it was about "Hunter and Hunted".  There was one special on big cats, one about gators in Florida, and several others. In each case, it involved a large predator grabbing and eating people.  In EACH case, at the end of the movie, they posed the question:  "What did (Joe) do to provoke the attack".   Again, it is the person's fault.  Could NEVER be that a predator is simply that, a predator, no matter what the guy or woman or kid did.   It is, unfortunately, the way of the current world.
ChuckC

[carphunter100]

Great footage and I get the same filling, they want to film the kill but they want to film more getting away that that gets killed. To leave this earth is part of life, some people cant deal with it. It nature for people and animal to fight for life to the very end. And I like to see an amimal fall in my sight, this means a quick clean kill and I do not have to track it.

[jonesy]

well said!!

[Lost Arra]

I have seen 3 or 4 episodes. (I've got them all recorded.) and I have seen quite a bit of successful predator work along with some unsuccessful.

The arctic fox was killing a bunch of baby geese but couldn't carry them all. Sharks devouring a sea lion. Wolves getting caribou. Lions attacking an elephant at night. Some african dogs killing an impala. Unsuccessful polar bear on a walrus and getting gored in the process.

The only "hunting" I've seen mentioned in even a slightly negative way was regarding the slaughter of the plains buffalo which was indeed a human blunder. And the show didn't dwell on it.

I didn't get the impression they have a problem showing predators at work and it is some amazing film work.

[flatstick96]

First, I think this series is amazing.  I have recorded each installment, and have really enjoyed watching these with my two year old daughter (helluva lot better than cartoons all damned day).  

I have to agree with Lost Arra in that I don't think they've gone out of their way to cast predation in a negative light - the reality is that the predator is unsuccesful way more often than it is successful, and the footage seems to reflect this.  That said, they often don't show much of the actual kill, which I'm OK with.  The principal purpose of a series like this one is to promote conservation of the planet, and the message is only effective if people actually tune in - and there are alot of people who won't tune in if the brutality is overly graphic (my wife being a good example of that demographic - she is smart enough to know that predation is reality, but that doesn't mean she ENJOYS seeing a wolf take down a baby caribou).

[jonesy]

Flatstick, are we as humans going to be included in the predation process in the upcomming future? They (discovery) did not mention the good that hunters bring to the table i.e. tags, culling, observation, the bufflo.Why? I think you need to read my post a little clearer, i do not enjoy seeing the death of any animal,and i hope i didnt come off like that , maybe im just reading it wrong and appoligize if i did. i thought discovery channel did well not showing death.  other networks show everything, some folks enjoy that sorta thing,but you show them a fair chase hunt, right away hunters are judged negativly.if you think im wrong just look at the veiwing numbers of the discovery channel when they have say, shark week or predators and prey compared to the hunting channel big differance.

[flatstick96]

Jonesy,

No offense taken here - one of the things I love about this forum is that people can debate differing opinions like adults.  

The way I interpreted your original post, I thought you were saying that you felt that the Planet Earth series was generally "anti-predation" in it's presentation - and I didn't see it that way.  I do, however, agree with you that many people in our society (and most mainstream media outlets in particular) rarely address the concept of HUMANS as predators in a positive light (if they even address it at all).

[Matthew D]

I actually didn't see it that way when I saw several of the programs.

[jonesy]

we all saw the same program, but come up with different conclusions that is what's cool about it.It would be interesting to talk to the actual camera men, too see what their views are on hunting. Most americans do not know that the anti hunting movement started in Europe, and i noticed that all the camera poeple had European accents.also there was a web page that they wanted veiwers to visit, i havent went their yet, but i would like to ask their veiws on hunting and if they support it.

[ethan]

We were watching Primal Dreams the other day and the part where the bobcat is killing the squirel was on.  My 6 year old daughter started explaining to my 3 year old daughter that "the bobcat was just trying to eat and not trying to be mean.  It's all just part of nature".  I got to thinking of all the adults who can't grasp this concept.  I think you hit the nail on the head jonesy when you described "the disney mentality".

[jonesy]

Thank you, Ethan, it sounds to my like your 6 year old daughter can grasp the concept! If the United States had more parents who take the time and explain nature to their children as you obviously are, it would be a better cleaner place. Jonesy

[jonesy]

Tennesee is still rich in traditional values somthing im missing more and more in il. The only thing that keeps me here is the hunting, but here where i live we have over 50 public parks but none can be hunted, oh! if you are a golfer, we have a park for that, if you play frisbee, we have a park for that, if you have dogs, we have a park for that, IF YOU FISH, WE HAVE A PARK FOR THAT! But if you are a hunter,A tradition deep within our american roots, go find your own place to hunt we have no parks like that. Instead they call in "sharpshooters" at 500 dollars a head to cull the herds and stop overgrazing, rather than utilize the honest law abiding hunters that live here. I guess you cant legislate ignorance! Jonesy

[ethan]

jonesy that sounds like PC at its worst!  I will have to admit there is alot of public hunting around here.

[jonesy]

Ethan, when I rap up my nursing schooling i believe its time for me to make a move and tenn. is high on my list, both of my sons live in greenville tn. nice place. and by the way if you are interested in reading a good book, read come november by G. Wensel excelent reading. Jonesy

[ethan]

I have read it several times.  Great book. I have heard of Geenville,  I don't think it's to far from here.  Looke me up sometime when you get here.

[jonesy]

Will do. Jonesy

[Hoosiercat]

Justthought I would put in my two cents worth. I saw a special on the discovery channel, about globa warming. They showed some Polar bears and made you think they are starving because the polar ice cape are melting. They then cut to a seen where a bear was dying from starvation. They let the bear die! Now my question is, if these people are so concerned with the bears, WHY DID THEY  LET IT DIE! As it turns out, the whole episode was fake. The special was done by a group out of Austrailia and was exposed as a fraud! The bear that was dying turned out to be computer generated. The point being, becareful what you beleive when it comes to animal rights people!