THIS IS WHY I COULD NEVER BE A NATURE DOCUMENTARY PERSON.

[unknownfate]

I'm watching Planet Earth, which is completely spectacular. EXCEPT for the part with the herd of elephants that get caught in a dust storm on their migration trip to water, and they all get separated, but they all meet back up again later, EXCEPT for one little baby one that got turned around and is following its mother's tracks in THE WRONG DIRECTION where there is no water, and that poor elephant baby is gonna die, and you know it, and you know it! and if I was in the film crew, I would be out there with a broom going "Shoo! Back the other way! I'll chase you all the way to the oasis if I have to!"

And I would, too.

Sigh. Poor little elephant. The impala made it though! Swam right out into that lake and got away from the hunting dogs! Phew!

I enjoy my nature shows. Even if I couldn't ever make an impartial, non-intrusive one.

Comments

[misura.livejournal.com]

On screen, of course the camera-crew religiously stuck to their prime directive. Off screen though, I'm sure they did exactly what you (or anyone else, surely) would have done. Except maybe without the broom.

Well, or so I'd like to believe.

[bane-6.livejournal.com]

Oh, I hope so! I have seen nature shows that made me wonder... like the pirahna one where the baby birds just happen to end up in the water off camera and are mysteriously, instantly dead long before the pirahna get there, and the narrator goes on about 'some mishap'. I can't help but think the mishap was that the camera guy got tired of waiting for a shot!

But that was a long time ago... hopefully things are different now.

AAACK

[(Anonymous)]

LOL, I can't watch those shows because they stress me out soooo much!
Katie

Re: AAACK

[bane-6.livejournal.com]

Oh, I know! I get too emotionally involved. And the silly part? I root equally for predator and prey. I'll be sitting here going: "Run, wolf! It's your last chance for a good meal before the migration moves on!" and then I switch to: "Run, caribou calf! You're faster than him! As long as you don't trip or fall, you can make it!"

It's exhausting to hope both sides win the whole time. Phew!

Re: AAACK

[lithrael]

Hahah! Yeah.. that's exactly it. *nods decisively*

(Oh thank goodness for spellcheck.)

Re: AAACK

[bane-6.livejournal.com]

I do tend to not root for the great whites as much as the seals. I am a little biased there, I admit. I'm afraid of sharks, which is ridiculous considering I'm much more likely to slip and break my neck on the ice up here.

Re: AAACK

[lithrael]

I am as afraid of sharks as I would be of free roaming self propelled meat grinders. It's only sensible!

[slayersyrena.livejournal.com]

Hey, I'm with you. Give me a broom too. In fact, we can stalk nature documentary hosts until we find a dying cheetah cub or whatever and at that point spring out and save the poor thing. It would totally ruin their shows but it would be worth it! "Okay, clear! *ZAP* It's breathing! All right administer the emergency Double Sonic Cheeseburger!" "The cheeseburger is down the hatch!" (Nature doc hosts watching dumbfounded in the distance). ;)

Re: AAACK

[bane-6.livejournal.com]

Free roaming meat grinders are a hideous visual....

[bane-6.livejournal.com]

Heh, yeah. I find myself thinking of the Bloom County comic where Mrs. Limekiller joins Greenpeace. There's a panel with her in a crash helmet, (purse in one hand) blocking an endangered animal from the hunters and screaming "Try it NOW, you murderous poopheads!"