BootsnAll Travel Community

Has anyone seen that new show on the Discovery channel, Going Tribal, where that English guy lives with the various indigenous tribes for a few weeks? I saw two of his shows - in Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea.

I actually kind of like the show, although I have some sort personal ethical dilemnas if this will ultimately lead to more outside influences, or will better educate people on the problems facing these cultures.

On a seperate note, I saw the host pierce his septum, and stick a bone over penis foreskin. Pretty amazing.

Donovan

i finally watched it! i always happen to tune in right in the middle of it, so i never know exactly where he is. i watched the one where they pierced his septum, another one where they lived in a huge treehouse, and another when he wanted to participate in stick-fighting but at the last minute they wouldn't let him.

i'm not sure how i feel about the show, although i do like the fact that he tries his best to fit in (rather than telling them how great technology is and whatnot). there's not a lot of people that i know that'd be willing to drink fresh blood, run barefoot through the jungles in pursuit of wild pigs, and stick worms in his ear to clean it!

I think you don;t have to tell the tribes anything...slowly but surely they get influenced.

I can't make up mu mind on this ...for I do think we can help them with issues like infant mortality etc with modern medicines etc but I think that things like soap and clothes are something maybe they do not need!

In the Islands of Andaman and Nicobar..some Islands have been so remote that no outsider is allowed in. But the Indian govt has a presence. I heard that if somebody is really sick they leave him at the District collectors doorstep and retreat back to the jungle.

I found his adventures interesting, though I think I might find him one of those youngish, charming

"Done everything the hard way" kind of traveller you meet once in a while. There are a lot of those kind on the travelling shows now, to my discomfort. The rest of the field seems filled with chirpy upper-class adventurers like the blonde woman in Travels through Europe, going to places I could never afford and going on about the marvelous hotels and gourmet food opportunities.

I call this Dream travelling, or couch-surfing Yuppie style.

Madhu...

You said:

quote:

I can't make up mu mind on this ...for I do think we can help them with issues like infant mortality etc with modern medicines etc but I think that things like soap and clothes are something maybe they do not need!

Do you not understand that our interaction with these tribes (During the time of Discovery and building Empires) we came in and said, "Nope...the way you're doing it is wrong" ..."You should have as many offspring dying..."

Tribes in Africa and the ones that USE to live in North America (and the few remaining in South America) had a way that worked well for them..in accordance to thier food supply and what their land has too offer...Us giving them "technology" and techniques to lower their infant mortality rate sets them up for famine...Look at Africa...Bringing in more food, only increase the population and thus, makes sure famine can increase...

There is no one right way for people to live. Our culture thinks there is, hence the destruction it does to others and this world (By culture I mean Western Cilivliaztion and even the Eastern parts of the world that practice totalitarin agriculture)...

Those tribes should be left alone...
We fucked up a long time ago and still have not realized why or what we did to cause so much ruin in the world...BRUTAL!