BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Skivee
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 12:57 PM

Ebbioe, as a side note, the originaol premise of Fantasy Island was much more adventurous than the bland show that became the darling of blue haired old ladies. The fantasies were extreme and sometimes kinda kreepy. Several plotlines were followed in each show.
The settings wwere not just on the Island, but anywhere the backlot sets could used for. One of the first was of a big game hunter whose secret wish was to be hunted and pit himself against a worthy opponent...blah, blah, blah. Not Emmy material, but later shows slide down to the level of Love Boat in their drama.
I think that the TV execs decided that the viewing public wanted marshmallows.


...errr, this is not to say that senseless violence on TV is such a good idea, either.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: 3refs
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 12:16 PM

Terry Grant came to our little niche in the world recently to help look for a 14 yr old young lad who was distressed and left home under circumstances every parent dreads. He ran away from home, in a rural area, in the winter and unprepared.
"Terry Grant, a wilderness and search expert, and star of the Outdoor Life Network's series Mantracker, flew in from Alberta to help.
"Search and rescue is what I've done for 12 years. I thought it's a worthwhile cause to come out here and see if I can help organize some of the volunteers and give a little bit of guidance where necessary," he said."
One of the first things Terry said was "He knows we're looking for him and he's hiding. Probably up a tree somewhere in the bush".
The young fellow was found dead! He had fallen out of a tree and broke his neck while sleeping.
Say what you want, but Terry Grant is for real!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 06:58 AM

I believe that the makers of reality TV shows are actually competing to be the first to screen a murder, live, on prime time telly.

I also believe they are getting very close to succeeding, and that needs to be STOPPED.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 30 Jun 09 - 06:55 AM

""You are describing Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize on the television show Fantasy Island. The premise of the show was not at all like Dangerous Game.""

Yes Ebbie, you're right.

I think the original reference might actually be about a film called, I believe, "The Island of Dr. Moreau", in which victims were hunted to death.

Don T.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Stringsinger
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 09:52 PM

"I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times there were pretty rotten,
Look away, look away (there's always TV)

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Joe_F
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 07:50 PM

The Northerner who traveled down South was astonished to find that the cities of the maps were villages, and the villages clusters of log huts. Fields covered with weeds, and moss-grown ruins, showed where flourishing farms once had been. He rode through vast forests and cypress swamps, where hundreds of mean whites lived like Red Indians, hunting and fishing for their daily bread, eating clay to keep themselves alive, prowling round plantations to obtain stolen food from the slaves. He saw plantations in which the labor was conducted with the terrible discipline of the prison and the hulks; and where as he galloped past the line of hoeing slaves, so close that he splashed them with mud, they hoed on, they toiled on, not daring to raise their eyes from the ground. From early dawn to dusky eve it was so with these poor wretches; no sound broke the silence of those fearful fields but the voice of the overseer and the cracking of the whip. And out, far away, in the lone Western lands, by the side of dark rivers, among trees from which drooped down the dull gray Spanish moss, the planters went forth to hunt; there were well- known coverts where they were sure to find; and as the traveler rode through the dismal swamp he might perhaps have the fortune to see the game: a black animal on two legs, running madly for its life, and behind it the sounding of a horn, and the voices of hounds in full cry -- a chase more infernal than that of the Wild Huntsman who sweeps through the forest with his spectral crew.
-- Winwood Reade, _The Martyrdom of Man_ (1872)

*

Also: The Sound of His Horn

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 07:21 PM

LOL. A little TOO lite. But I'll have a beer with it. A Bud lite. (No Clydesdale in his right mind would even piss THAT.) KInda appropriate?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Peace
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 07:08 PM

Some light reading for WYSIWYG

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: wysiwyg
Date: 29 Jun 09 - 07:04 PM

Parapharains a line out of a documenatary I saw today:

"... oceanographers are studying the effects of the radioactive waste we've been putting into the Atlantic Ocean...."

WHAAAAAA.....T?!?!?!?

Would someone who has NOT been asleep at the wheel point me to some light reading please?

And book my flight offplanet.....

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Stringsinger
Date: 23 Jun 09 - 06:04 PM

Susan,

I think we've been on this slope for some time. Rocky's, Rambos, Dirty Harry's, etc.
Violence is a commodity. Apparently in movies, TV shows, video games and other so-called attempts at entertainment, it is rewarded. What keeps it from being a universal disease to infect everyone is that there is a propensity for a social gene that keeps us from ultimately destroying each other because of our social dependency for survival. This is why Libertarianism, Survivalists or the Military Industrial Complex can't co-exist with human nature. Authoritarianism is a dinosaur in the Twenty-First Century. I worry about the belief systems of people and what they are willing to unquestionably accept and enable.

This has a bearing as the US becomes more of an occupier of the world.

The Gay revolution is a good thing because it makes us question what it really means
to be a man or woman. As the sex roles become questioned, the old assumptions break down.

Fortunately as science probes the concept of race, we are made aware of how similar we are to each other rather than our differences from other species. Race becomes a cosmetic but artificial dividing idea. As we learn more about biology, we are finding
that we have propensities for violence but the means to curb and control it. This
is prevalent more in some people, perhaps even as a heritable trait.

I really think that, although I don't believe in miracles, there is something astonishing
about why as a species we haven't killed each other off. Something keeps us
holding to a compass and I don't think we will go off course because historically
we have had plenty of opportunity to do just that. (I remain an optimist.)

Frank Hamilton

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Midchuck
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 08:56 PM

Me, digging in the heels means redoubling my anti-racism efforts. You?

Well, I kind of hope that if the first extrasolar intelligent species we encounter are the Kzinti, or some equivalent, that they will have substantially more than redoubled theirs....

Peter

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 04:16 PM

Yup-- here's an on-topic excerpt:

..."Now, Mr. Raeder," Terry had said solemnly, "do you understand the rules of the game you are about to play?"

Raeder nodded.

"If you accept, Jim Raeder, you will be a hunted man for a week. Killers will follow you, Jim. Trained killers, men wanted by the law for other crimes, granted immunity for this single killing under the Voluntary Suicide Act. They will be trying to kill you, Jim. Do you understand?"

"I understand," Raeder said. He also understood the two hundred thousand dollars he would receive if he could live out the week....

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Joe_F
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 04:06 PM

The Prize of Peril

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 01:38 PM

The whole point of this thread is to be on the lookout (BOLO) for things that the planet's money folks will start to try to slide right past the aging baby-boomers who, they assume, are dummies made dumber with dementia, etc. It will be the biggest attempted bamboozle of all time, I think. I think it's already well underway-- it would not surprise me if the current "economic woes" are a part of the whole plan, along with the global economy. Kept busy looking at trees, we may not always see the forests being moved around. (Part of the plan is to make sure the trees seem to be in competition, when in fact they are an ecology. A resurgence in stirring up race hatreds, for instance-- bingo!)

The tools at our disposal to prevail against this are human-friendly social change, a little applied entropy, and the Vote.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Rapparee
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 12:07 PM

It means finding a planet with folks who can't wipe US out, possibly in self-defense.

We always assume we care the Big Dogs, the Toughest, the Meanest, the Most Intelligent. The truth of this approaches zero.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: wysiwyg
Date: 22 Jun 09 - 11:09 AM

I understand scientists are hard at work (have been I am sure) looking at how we can migrate offplanet and eat up another world's resources, just like a number of old sci-fi stories. There's a new, current program called "Escape Earth" that seems to take only a week's investigation within our own solar system before we look farther afield. Of course NOW it's a relief to know we DIDN'T find any intelligent life elsewhere-- that gives humans "manifest destiny" and "eminent domain" to GO FOR IT. How nice, we won't need to enslave or commit genocide upon another species just yet. (How sick is THAT!?)

Slippery is the slope. Dig your heels in-- it's gonna get way vertical sooner than you think.

Me, digging in the heels means redoubling my anti-racism efforts. You?

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Ebbie
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 12:40 PM

"The plot is old. I remember a show a few years back where the owner of a tropical island sent his guest(s) off into the bush and then went hunting for them. Or something like that. A stature-challenged actor with a French name was his servant.

"There was a novel written way back with a similar premise. I read it when I was about age nine or ten. Can't remember any detail. I doubt that it was ever reprinted." Q

The name of the book I think you mention, Q, is 'The Most Dangerous GAme of All'. I read it when I was a kid and it gave me bad dreams for quite awhile.

However, your first paragraph seems mixed up, to me. You are describing Ricardo Montalban and Herve Villechaize on the television show Fantasy Island. The premise of the show was not at all like Dangerous Game.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: wysiwyg
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 10:33 AM

The movie I was thinking of is "The Running Man," based on a Stephen King story (I believe written under a pen name).

Here are some excerpts from IMDb: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093894

The year is 2017. The world economy has collapsed. The United States has sealed off its borders and has become a military controlled police state which controls TV, movies, art, books, communication and censorship. In the police state America has become, criminals have a choice. They can serve their sentences in prison or they can take part in "The Running Man," a government-owned violent game-show where contestants running for freedom are pursued by "Stalkers" (bounty hunters). "The Running Man" is the top rating show on network TV....

.... With full control over the media, the government attempts to quell the nation's yearning for freedom by broadcasting a number of game shows on which convicted criminals fight for their lives.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Little Hawk
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 12:09 AM

That's exactly the kind of challenge Shane needs to give him motivation and make him get serious about life. It would help motivate him a lot if there was a truckload of Canadian beer waiting in town for the winner. Shane will do a great deal to score a truckload of free beer.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 11:58 PM

Hey, Peace: take six people. Strip 'em naked and drop them into any area of tundra/mountain/swamp of your choice during the season of your choice (I kinda like the Rockies in winter or onto the tundra in early summer). Tell them, "The closest town is 200 kilometers that way. If you get there you win. Good luck to ya." Then wait in town for the winner.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: jeddy
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 09:03 PM

i don't know about the show you are talking about but it sounds like being pissed help, shouldn't it then be called the shliperry shlope?

jade x x

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 07:53 PM

The plot is old. I remember a show a few years back where the owner of a tropical island sent his guest(s) off into the bush and then went hunting for them. Or something like that. A stature-challenged actor with a French name was his servant.

There was a novel written way back with a similar premise. I read it when I was about age nine or ten. Can't remember any detail. I doubt that it was ever reprinted.

The producers say the filming localities will be scenic. Maybe the advertising spots will be interesting.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: meself
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 07:43 PM

There is a survivalist-type show in which the survivalist-type-guy actually does go alone into the wilderness - he takes a video camera with him, and does all the filming himself. Apparently.

Btw, despite his "killer" attitude, I don't think Terry Grant actually does kill the guys he catches. He just roughs them up a bit and lets them go with a warning.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: frogprince
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 07:29 PM

I don't think it's about putting down honest search-and-rescue people; it's about a hyped up bunch of fake crap that's supposed to push our emotional buttons as if we were involved in the real thing.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 07:18 PM

I once read a fascinating book by Marilyn Greene called 'Finder.' Among other she told stories of lost kids, a missing hunters, and a suicide whose family was looking for him.

I also remember a case a few years ago where a three-year-old had wandered into a huge field of tall corn in Iowa. It was touch and go whether they would find him before he died from heat and thirst. (They did.)

A tracker could help in all these cases. So what's so bad about him?

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 07:07 PM

This guy has the idea . . . .

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Peace
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 07:05 PM

It's another word for visit, Rapaire.

My idea for a real-life survival show (but I can't locate producers) is this: a dozen people go to an island. The one alive at the end of a year is the winner.

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Rapparee
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 07:02 PM

Exactly, Bill. I've always wanted to be on one of those "jungle island" shows and say to the others, "Look, the camera crew is just over the hill. What's say we go drink their beer and eat their steaks and to hell with this bug-eating shit?"

I saw a show a few months back where a "survivalist" infiltrated (I guess that's the word) Ireland. He swam across one of the Killarney lakes, camera crew along (of course). I wondered why he just didn't walk on down the road, into the pub, and have a pint or three. But then, that wouldn't be exciting television. (Infiltrate Ireland? Gees, just fly to Shannon or Dublin or Knock or Cork and rent a car. Or take the ferry over. Infiltrate???)

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Bill D
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 05:42 PM

I saw one episode of that just a few days ago...after 15-20 minutes of watching both MANTRACKER and his quarry, my skeptical brain said.."Hmmm...he is following minute tracks and using clever tricks to evaluate where they are....You don't suppose the **camera crew** that is right with his quarry is any clue?"

(Same goes for several series where you gotta wonder how the camera crew got ahead of the star for that revealing shot)

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 05:40 PM

There is going to be more and more of this. IMO a lot of sci-fi was, probably unawarely, "test marketing" and/or "planned desensitization." We can use this thread to keep spotting it. If you know a title that fits items posted, please add them. As soon as I saw the first "reality show," I saw this one coming. (No one agreed with me at the time.)

Again, I mention Soylent Green. I see managed care sending our old folks down the top of that slippery slope.

BTW I recently had an MMPI: no paranoid tendencies. Plenty of foresight in my "track record," though.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: Little Hawk
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 05:31 PM

It sounds like life imitating Hollywood. Not good.

Subject: BS: We Are On the Slippery Slope
From: wysiwyg
Date: 18 Jun 09 - 05:26 PM

Spot a trend that reminds you of the worst-case-scenario sci-fi?

Here's a new TV series:

MANTRACKER
http://science.discovery.com/tv/mantracker/mantracker.html

Terry Grant is a full-blooded cowboy living in the wrong century. This Albertan has been a full time ranch cowboy for almost 25 years. An expert horseman and wilderness professional, hunting, guiding and tracking come second nature. Whether man or beast, he will track them down. His keen instincts, intense character, and specialized skills have made him a crucial member of the Foothills Search and Rescue Team. His reputation is always on the line and he doesn't let up for a second. A steely-eyed cowboy with a killer, never-say-die attitude, Terry Grant is MANTRACKER.

~Susan