Is Jeremy Wade's Fishing Obsession a Hidden Warning About Danger?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the television series "River Monsters," hosted by Jeremy Wade, and explores themes related to the portrayal of dangerous fish, the host's demeanor, and the cultural implications of naming fish after other animals. Participants reflect on the show's appeal and its impact on viewers, as well as the emergence of similar programming.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the psychological symbolism of water in relation to sexuality, suggesting the series may serve as a subliminal warning about dangers such as STDs.
  • Another participant appreciates Jeremy Wade's demeanor, contrasting it with other wildlife hosts, and highlights his gentleness towards the fish he catches.
  • Several participants discuss the naming of fish after other animals, with one noting the prevalence of this phenomenon among various species, particularly sharks.
  • There is mention of the African Goliath Tiger Fish and its potential danger to people, with a participant sharing anecdotal observations about its behavior.
  • Some express surprise at the show's popularity, indicating that it has a significant following despite a perceived lack of discussion about it in the forum.
  • A participant points out the existence of a similar show on National Geographic, suggesting it may be imitating "River Monsters." This raises questions about originality in wildlife programming.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express a mix of appreciation for the show and curiosity about its themes, but there is no clear consensus on the implications of its content or the cultural significance of the fish depicted. Multiple viewpoints regarding the show's impact and the nature of its portrayal of danger remain present.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions touch on the psychological interpretations of the show's themes, but these interpretations are not universally accepted and remain speculative. The conversation also reflects a variety of personal experiences with the show, which may not represent a broader audience perspective.

Who May Find This Useful

Viewers interested in wildlife programming, psychological interpretations of media, and discussions about cultural representations of danger in nature may find this thread engaging.

zoobyshoe
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Obsessed but dignified British gent travels the world pulling oversized, dangerous fish out of remote rivers, gawks at their sharp! pointy! teeth!, then releases them.

These fish are huge and they're killers and maimers of people. (In some school of psychology, bodies of water, symbolically, are alleged to represent a person's sexuality. That would render the whole series to be a kind of subliminal warning against the dangers of STD's. That comes to mind because, indeed, some of the fish he deals with actually literally attack people's genitals.)

rivermonsters.jpg



I find myself watching episodes of this odd show over and over (they're repeated often on Animal Planet). After a while I figured out the appeal is not the grotesque fish we are introduced to, but the interesting demeanor of the show's host, Jeremy Wade. He is a kinder, gentler Ahab: determined to catch the monster, but equally afraid of stressing it out too much before he let's it go. Unlike, say, crocodile hunter Steve Irwin, Jeremy Wade is understated, shy, and speaks in a hypnotically soothing tone about this weeks target monster. Whenever the camera does a close up of his face we notice he, himself, has a rather scary set of teeth, which makes me wonder if he's actually fishing for monsters or rousting out reclusive relatives.

On a side note, I noticed that one week he caught a Tiger Fish in the Congo, in another episode he caught a huge Cat Fish in India, and yet another week he caught a Wolf Fish in South America. That lead me to the observation that fish, more than any other creature, seem to suffer from being named after other animals.
 
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Excellent post zoob.
 
zoobyshoe said:
That lead me to the observation that fish, more than any other creature, seem to suffer from being named after other animals.
Or vice versa. After a send up like that, I'll be sure to look out for the show.
 
Well allow me to pass along the name of a congressman. My offering for this fish would not be an hors d'œuvre only but a banquet and left overs for months! :-p
 
Holy Cr*p that really IS a monster!
 
Evo said:
Excellent post zoob.
That means a lot to me, because, I swear, I wrote this essay myself and didn't buy it on the internet.
Jimmy Snyder said:
Or vice versa. After a send up like that, I'll be sure to look out for the show.
Especially sharks, for some reason. I can think of: Bull Shark, Tiger Shark, Leopard Shark, Whale Shark, and Salmon Shark, the last being an interesting case of one fish named after another.

I am surprised more people here don't seem to watch it. My experience in real life is that it has quite a following.
Lacy33 said:
Well allow me to pass along the name of a congressman. My offering for this fish would not be an hors d'œuvre only but a banquet and left overs for months! :-p
Large fellow, eh?
mayhem7 said:
Holy Cr*p that really IS a monster!
That is the African Goliath Tiger Fish. Occasionally it attacks people cooling off in the river. Seems to be attracted to the shiney bangles the locals wear.
 
zoobyshoe said:
That means a lot to me, because, I swear, I wrote this essay myself and didn't buy it on the internet.
Seems like Jimmy has competition for one line zingers now, for awhile there it was between Lisab and Jimmy, now there is a three way race... hehe...

zoobyshoe said:
Especially sharks, for some reason. I can think of: Bull Shark, Tiger Shark, Leopard Shark, Whale Shark, and Salmon Shark, the last being an interesting case of one fish named after another.

I am surprised more people here don't seem to watch it. My experience in real life is that it has quite a following.
I haved watched the show a few times, can never get over of the majesty of a http://www.google.com/search?tbm=is...0l11l10l0l2l2l0l313l1266l0.1.3.1&safe=active"... It's beauty and gentleness for such a huge creature blows me away.

Rhody...
 
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