Bear Grylls - Chief Scout

[The Woodman]

I've just watched a short video of the leader of the Scout movement smoking out and killing bats emerging from a cave in Asia.

YouTube - Bear Grylls kills many cave bats with a d.i.y tennis racket .Man vs Wild, JUST AWESOME!

We've seen samples of other cultures committing what we westerners consider to be abhorrent actions against mammals and birds on this forum but for someone who should be respected for his actions and leadership skills by impressionable young people, I find this behaviour completely unacceptable.

Mr Grylls has absolutely no need to demonstrate this tragic and sad activity.

I know that in certain parts of the world bats are eaten and destroyed for whatever purpose and have to tried to understand his actions without getting emotionally involved. For one who has spent many years as a Scout and Cub leader and taken pleasure in introducing young people to fauna and flora and to respect them, I find this disturbing.

[Meta menardi]

The man is a complete oaf, he kills things like rattlesnakes that are under envoronmental pressure and appears to think he has the right to eat anything he can bash to death.

[wizzo]

I agree. I've thought that for a long time that this idiot is just a 'wanna be' SAS soldier or something. He puts himself in absurd situations and shows no respect to animals. He reminds me of a less entertaining version of the late Steve Austin and looked what happened to him! At least the so called 'Crocodile hunter' had animal conservation at heart. Just an unfortunate way of doing things imo. Wizzo

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by wizzo

I agree. I've thought that for a long time that this idiot is just a 'wanna be' SAS soldier or something. He puts himself in absurd situations and shows no respect to animals. He reminds me of a less entertaining version of the late Steve Austin and looked what happened to him! At least the so called 'Crocodile hunter' had animal conservation at heart. Just an unfortunate way of doing things imo. Wizzo

He was an SAS soldier, so doesn't need to 'wanna be' one.

That said I do think his enthusiasm during this task is a tad tasteless

[Meta menardi]

I really wouldn't try to put anyone down just for being a bit extreme when making TV, but each episode of his prog he does seem to kill and eat some poor bit of the countryside, whilst being filmed by well-fed crew.

[FungiJus]

I was quite surprised when I first learned that Bear Grylls had been made Chief Scout. The fact that he goes out of his way to put himself in danger, and shows so much disregard for the wildlife he meets along the way does not to me suggest a good role model for young people to follow.

The video demonstrates exactly this point. The bats that he kills may not be endangered or protected in the country where he is hunting them, however considering, I guess, that his main audience is in the UK (or perhaps the US), there will be morons in these countries who attempt to copy him.

Scouting to me (I was one) is about learning about and respecting nature, whilst having fun, and yes learning survival skills. To this end, perhaps predictably, Ray Mears epitomises these values far better than Grylls ever will.

I remember seeing one of Ray Mears' programs where he wept as he contemplated the fate of the San People of Africa. Being a father of three boys each at different stages within the Scouting organisation, I know whose values I would rather they follow.
J.

[wizzo]

I wish you hadn't told me that Boddie. You've shattered all of my illusions about our 'special forces'.

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by wizzo

I wish you hadn't told me that Boddie. You've shattered all of my illusions about our 'special forces'.

I thought it was common knowledge

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by Boddie

He was an SAS soldier, so doesn't need to 'wanna be' one.

technically i think he was a member of 21 SAS - the territorial regiment , which still makes him likely to be a harder case than your average bear , but not on par with the opperational squadrons of 22 SAS regiment.

none of which has a bearing on his needlesly eating endangered species - you can understand it when its done operationally (my freind paul who is now a major in the rifles - tho he was a lt in RGJ at the time - once clubbed and ate a very endangered lizard whilst they were lost the belizean jungle, but thats a bit different to bear doing it for the entertainment of the veiwing masses)

[wizzo]

What I meant was...that in my experience, blokes who normally advertise that they are ex SAS usually turn out to be Michael Ryan types.