Speaking of Shark Week

[Sinbad the Diver]

I believe I will write a quick note to discovery and voice my displeasure.

So I dropped them a little note, didn't expect a response, but got one. I guess there is some PR logic behind sending a response a week later that is cut and pasted from the say nothing and take no responsibility column A or B approach, but I sure can't see it. My comment was more or less pointing out the hypocricy of runnning comment about saving the poor sharks while showing images of people being horibly mutilated (images more powerful than words and all that).

Here is the response:

Dear Viewer:

Thank you for contacting Discovery Networks. We appreciate your
correspondence and for taking the time to share your thoughts and concerns
with us.Given the issues you raised, we have forwarded your comments to our
program management and executives. Feedback about our shows is encouraged
and this will help them plan for future programs. It is these types of
comments that contribute to creating change and improving programming.

By their nature, documentaries express the view of the filmmaker. Our
networks present viewers with a window to the world and expose people to a
wide variety of issues. While not all viewers will agree with the
perspective of every program, we allow our viewers to draw their own
conclusions about what they see.

Again, thank you for contacting Discovery Networks.

Sincerely,

Viewer Relations
Discovery Networks

They need to at least pick a better canned response..... sheeesh

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

They need to at least pick a better canned response..... sheeesh

This is the same response I have received the last 2 yrs. Rob Stewart made it a point, when he answered questions after the premiere of his movie here in Savannah, that Discovery has shown little interest in his film or efforts by other organizations such as Sea Shepherd. It's unfortunate that Discovery continues to run the same shows with little new information on conservation. That won't stop me from continually hitting them up with letters and my opinions.

Carolyn:sharks:

 

[goodformeto]

I love sharks and believe that the lack of protection and bad public image is unacceptable. My mother is a 2nd grade teacher and pictures from a shark dive we did go to her classroom every year to educate kids on the truth of sharks. But... I do love to watch great whites hurl themselves 20 feet into the air. Untill we train them to touch a beachball halfway up like a dolphin, it's gonna look (because it is) violent.

Man, and to think I just wanted the cool neptunic t-shirt they were all wearing. $35 though, I'd hate to see what they charge for the metal one?

 

[Hoomi]

I picked up a copy of the June, 2008, Smithsonian from the used book store in Mesa this weekend. The cover story that caught my eye has a nice picture of a Great White (and not the typical "ready to eat you" image), below the tag line, "The Brains Behind the Jaws". Below that is the kicker, "Why Great White Sharks Are Smarter Than We Think."

At one point in the article, it specifically addresses the old "Jaws" movie trailer line about Great Whites being "mindless eating machines", and details how studies are continuing to show they are among the smartest of fish in the ocean, and far from the indiscriminate killers popular media like to portray them as.

I didn't watch any of "Shark Week" this year. I did find the Smithsonian article incredibly interesting and enlightening. If you haven't read it yet and can find a copy, I highly recommend it.

 

[LIVES4SHARKS]

Here is the link for that article. It was very enlightening.
Forget Jaws, Now it's . . . Brains! | Science & Nature | Smithsonian Magazine

Carolyn:sharks: