Bear Grylls

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #30 on:** January 07, 2013, 02:05:22 AM

The day a company rolls a dump truck full of money up to my door and asks for my name to go on some lackluster product I'll be happy to sell out. I'll get a real kick out of reading about how much no one likes me while I'm lying on a white sand beach and a woman in a coconut bra who doesn't speak English brings me exotic alcoholic beverages and occasionally takes advantage of me.

In fact, I'll be sure to send you all a post card!

Def

Landrew · **Reply #31 on:** January 07, 2013, 04:15:24 AM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on January 07, 2013, 02:05:22 AM

The day a company rolls a dump truck full of money up to my door and asks for my name to go on some lackluster product I'll be happy to sell out. I'll get a real kick out of reading about how much no one likes me while I'm lying on a white sand beach and a woman in a coconut bra who doesn't speak English brings me exotic alcoholic beverages and occasionally takes advantage of me.

In fact, I'll be sure to send you all a post card!

Def

Depends what you're sellin'.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #32 on:** January 07, 2013, 12:38:02 PM

With respect, I disagree. The product in question is only a determining factor in regards to the amount required. And, when you have kids (at least, I imagine that would be a factor as I don't) I would think that ensuring they went to the best schools and universities and having them set for life would only encourage you to sign on the bottom line.

Look at Bear's situation closely- medical discharge from the SAS followed by an expedition up the worlds highest (land based) mountain. What job exactly does that qualify him for? He could have eked out a living selling cars or working in a factory and faded into obscurity or he could travel to exotic places doing crazy and fun things with his friends and make enough money to ensure his kids have the best life possible. And, he can make even more money by licensing his name out to companies like Gerber (BTW, Gerber was only the ones that "won" the right to use his name. Given that the Bear Grylls name was one of the most valuable names in the industry in 2011 I think there were probably more than a few companies competing for the rights) so that your kids can have an even better life while you continue to have fun swinging from tree to tree in exotic places.... well, quite honestly I think you'd have to be really dumb and self centered to say no to that. After all, you may be ok with being penniless to retain your "integrity" but are you willing to keep what could have been from your kids?

Frankly I would have more respect for someone if they sacrificed their "integrity" for the future of their children than if they passed up an opportunity for a better life so that folks couldn't hate them on the internet.

Def

Landrew · **Reply #33 on:** January 07, 2013, 01:24:53 PM

I might think carefully about what example it sets my children if i were to sell my integrity for money, especially when they are already within a privileged class of British society. But that of course brings into question, whether such values are important among the peers of that class.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #34 on:** January 07, 2013, 01:49:57 PM

I see no fault whatsoever on his part. He entered the SAS to serve his country and broke his back doing so. He recovered and became the youngest person at the time to ever conquer Everest. He made some very popular TV shows (very daring and entertaining even if not wholly educational), and then endorsed a long standing global tool manufacturer (which has made some excellent products as well as a few bad ones). He does not have sole responsibility for either the TV show content, nor the quality control and manufacturing of endorsed products. Professionally, he's pretty much just a celebrity now, not an expert in manufacturing or media production. Despite what you think of the shows, he does still know WAY more about surviving in hostile circumstances than the 99.9% of people decrying him on the internet. Put him and all the nay-sayers in a SHTF scenario, and he'll be the one walking out with a smile on his face

Having a privaleged background is neither a responsibility nor guarantee of income. He has done things above and beyond what most other husbands and fathers have done for their families. I take my hat off to him.

All this shouting the guy down is as naive and mindless as the guys who claim Leatherman is best without ever trying anything else, just swept along by group psychology "everyone else thinks it so it must be right" .... wrong! That's just media hype and why advertising execs can make so much money out of us, because we (as a species)buy into crap like that, and are all too easily led down the path of their choosing.

Northern Geek · **Reply #35 on:** January 07, 2013, 02:00:47 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on January 07, 2013, 01:49:57 PM

I see no fault whatsoever on his part. He entered the SAS to serve his country and broke his back doing so. He recovered and became the youngest person at the time to ever conquer Everest. He made some very popular TV shows (very daring and entertaining even if not wholly educational), and then endorsed a long standing global tool manufacturer (which has made some excellent products as well as a few bad ones). He does not have sole responsibility for either the TV show content, nor the quality control and manufacturing of endorsed products. Professionally, he's pretty much just a celebrity now, not an expert in manufacturing or media production. Despite what you think of the shows, he does still know WAY more about surviving in hostile circumstances than the 99.9% of people decrying him on the internet. Put him and all the nay-sayers in a SHTF scenario, and he'll be the one walking out with a smile on his face

Having a privaleged background is neither a responsibility nor guarantee of income. He has done things above and beyond what most other husbands and fathers have done for their families. I take my hat off to him.

All this shouting the guy down is as naive and mindless as the guys who claim Leatherman is best without ever trying anything else, just swept along by group psychology "everyone else thinks it so it must be right" .... wrong! That's just media hype and why advertising execs can make so much money out of us, because we (as a species)buy into crap like that, and are all too easily led down the path of their choosing.

This is pretty much my opinion as well.

Sure, the show might be constructed and "fake" but it's fun to watch and good entertainment (at least to me) and as you say.. I'm sure he'd do pretty well on his own if he'd have to some time, at least better than the general populace.

So.. I like the guy and his show.

dks · **Reply #36 on:** January 07, 2013, 02:13:42 PM

It is a TV show. I do not think he sold out by endorsing any relevant products or doing the show.
I really have no reason to think his children are ashamed of him

, the same way a basketball players children will not mind the player endorsing shoes and implying that if you wear them you will be a basketball star...

If people do not like him or Gerber, fair enough but there is no reason to make the whole thing to be a morality issue. I have none of the products endorsed by him, but that is my choice based on cost/value/needs/looks; not on whatever morality, as set by each individual and not necessarily agreed on by all.

Some people may just not like some Gerber products because of where they are made and use the Bear Gryllis association as an excuse too.

Northern Geek · **Reply #37 on:** January 07, 2013, 02:26:38 PM

I think Gerber deserves more credits than they get for their Bear gear as well.. look at how they handled the knife, sure, the first version was badly made, but they recalled it and improved it. There'll be a new full tang version i February as well so they still working on improving the stuff.

Edit: Here's the new version of their ultimate survival knife.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #38 on:** January 07, 2013, 04:23:15 PM

I'll bet this guy has spent many hours blogging about how stupid Bear Grylls is...

You know, between awesome jam sessions in Guitar Hero!

Def

nuphoria · **Reply #39 on:** January 07, 2013, 04:47:05 PM

MY EYES

Why did you have to go there again???

Wicked man.

Taxi Dad · **Reply #40 on:** January 07, 2013, 05:23:55 PM

Quote from: nuphoria on January 07, 2013, 04:47:05 PM

MY EYES

Why did you have to go there again???
Wicked man.

p.s that guy might be usefull in a 'survival situation', if you had a good knife (or a Bear Grylls one

) you could skin him and fashion quite a passable shelter

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #41 on:** January 07, 2013, 07:05:16 PM

I was thinking he'd make a great sacrifice to the zombies!

Def

nuphoria · **Reply #42 on:** January 07, 2013, 10:37:33 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on January 07, 2013, 07:05:16 PM

I was thinking he'd make a great sacrifice to the zombies!

Def

Always gotta' try and upsell a meal size eh?!

Gareth · **Reply #43 on:** January 07, 2013, 10:47:55 PM

Quote from: nuphoria on January 07, 2013, 10:37:33 PM

Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on January 07, 2013, 07:05:16 PM
I was thinking he'd make a great sacrifice to the zombies!

Def

Always gotta' try and upsell a meal size eh?!

Not really. Zombies want to eat brains and, whatever that guy is full of, it's not brains.

Grant Lamontagne · **Reply #44 on:** January 07, 2013, 11:12:01 PM

Quote from: Gareth on January 07, 2013, 10:47:55 PM

Quote from: nuphoria on January 07, 2013, 10:37:33 PM
Quote from: Grant Lamontagne on January 07, 2013, 07:05:16 PM
I was thinking he'd make a great sacrifice to the zombies!

Def

Always gotta' try and upsell a meal size eh?!

Not really. Zombies want to eat brains and, whatever that guy is full of, it's not brains.