Why do people like this ....

[perrykneeham]

.... make me want to kick walls?

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-42665107

Dunno. Maybe because it's all so very unoriginal: some upper middle-class dumbo with lots of time and other peoples' money goes off and does something vaguely adventurous and we're all expected to fall over ourselves to bask in their reflected glory. I find the FRGS thing particularly galling. Posturing wankers.

Ranulph Feines
Bear Grylls
Benedick Allen
Etc.

[flatandy]

I don't mind when people do it for themselves. As I'm sure I've mentioned, I've got a friend who does all kinds of extreme endurance sh*t. But unless it's a friend telling me about rowing across the Atlantic, I don't care. He does it because he "enjoys" it, finds it rewarding somehow. That's cool.

But the people who tell you they're doing it to raise money for charity are liars, and it drives me insane.

And as for people giving talks about it - I once went to one given by Ranulph Fiennes at the RGS and all I thought, all the way through, was "What a total wanker". The idea of paying to see other people talking about their (extreme) holidays is just f**k**g grim.

[perrykneeham]

This sort of thing?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Lewis_(adventurer)

Dunno how he makes a living at it, but fair play. It seems like genuinely hard graft.

[flatandy]

Similar, but not as hardcore.

[voice]

There must a strong current of narcissism in a lot of them, the need not just do some extreme adventures, I've done a fair few of those and plan a few more before I get too old, but to then go make a big deal about it ensuring everyone knows just how hard it was and how much suffering was involved. Heared a number of em speak over the years and the only one not to come over as a complete tosser was Joe Simpson, though if not for his fall and survival by extrordinary means I got the impression he was just doing what he did for himself and would never have made much of a song and dance about it.

[Repat Van]

“Mr Allen's plight in November led to some criticism over his decision to travel without a phone or GPS device.
He says his predicament was borne out of his approach - he explores without modern technology, so he can integrate himself into indigenous communities.
"It's a reaction against traditional imperialist exploration, a very deliberate attempt to make myself vulnerable.
"I want people to look me in the eye and know I can't just make a phone call and get rescued.”

Tosspot.

[wetkingcanute]

"Will you love me now Daddy?"

[perrykneeham]

Feb 25, 2018 22:14:44 GMT perrykneeham said:

This sort of thing?

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Lewis_(adventurer)

Dunno how he makes a living at it, but fair play. It seems like genuinely hard graft.

In fairness, I know (or used to know) Jason and his co-rower quite well as we were on the same course at uni and often worked together. He is an odd bloke, but very funny. I was astonished when he appeared on the TV doing this sort of thing.

[moggyonspeed]

If the well-heeled and/or just plain wacky want to waste their time and money doing this kind of stuff, then so be it. However, to expect sponsorship or public money to indulge their egos - well, I draw the line at that. I've far more respect for the selfless individuals who sometimes put their own lives at risk in rescuing these egotists, than I do for the egotists themselves.

There are so few places on the surface of this planet that are unexplored, and the majority of it probably can be done from space. Also the "pushing the body to the limits" line that some take just does not wash with me; this is work probably best handled by international science than by a Fiennes or a Grylls.

The more these people take on wackier and wackier "expeditions", the more it becomes an exercise in getting into the Guinness Book of Records, rather than delivering scientifically rigorous research. What next? "I was the first man to pogo across Komodo Island whilst smothered in pig offal"? Get a grip!

[Repat Van]

Hours later I am still cringing at this:

“It's a reaction against traditional imperialist exploration, a very deliberate attempt to make myself vulnerable.”

[jimboky]

I wonder if his guides were impressed with his extreme adventures

[nobody]

And the film crew?

[voice]

now this is proper mental, having an argument then flouncing up K2 alone in winter.

www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43195877

[mids]

Feb 26, 2018 12:22:04 GMT Repat Van said:

Hours later I am still cringing at this:

“It's a reaction against traditional imperialist exploration, a very deliberate attempt to make myself vulnerable.”

So very, very Guardian.

[mids]

Feb 26, 2018 17:15:50 GMT voice said:

now this is proper mental, having an argument then flouncing up K2 alone in winter.

www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-43195877

Hahahahah, what a chump. "I'll die cold, alone and scared on the mountain. Then you'll be sorry!"

[Deleted]

The 'adventures' are all a bit tame, though. If they really want to take a risk why not try hitching through Afghanistan; or standing in the middle of Brixton at midnight singing 'De Camp Town Races'?

[perrykneeham]

I'm not sure Brixton is as minstrel-rich as you remember it.

[Deleted]

Probably not now. Although Coldharbour's pretty much the same.

[flatandy]

My recollection of Coldharbour Lane 5 years ago was that it had been piling up with wannabes for ages, white kids who were desperate to show how very gritty and urban they were, that they were slumming it. Of course, it was already pretty safe and gentrifying, and we'd even got to the stage where they were having families and filling the rooms with Ikea Kallax shelves, and those shelves with Dorset Cereals muesli.

[nobody]

What do people find funny about Micheal McIntyre?