Cavechat.org

So, I'm at home, working on tonight's work, and happen across a TV show on the History channel about these two guys wandering around in a set of old mines/quarries and talking about the relations to the nights templar. Well, that is all good, but as they are going into the smallish, cave looking entrance, they host mentions that they aren't supposed to be there, repeatedly calling the place a cave and caves, and they make a show of being sneaky with their parking and going in. I'm not impressed. This is how the History channel wants to portray caving? Just going into archaeological sites without permission and doing whatever? Real nice. Yea, it's not a cave, but non-cavers won't make that distinction, they just see "cavers' trespassing into this site, wandering around with coleman lanterns and no proper gear.

The people who watch the channel will enjoy the added suspense. The owners of caves and mines will hate cavers after watching the show (cavers who actually didn't have anything to do with the show or trespassing). Some amateurs will copy the show and get hurt, and cavers (who are now the bad guys) will have to rescue them. And History Channel will make money. Sounds perfectly legit. Why should the show care about the impact they have on anything other than their profit margin?

caver.adam wrote: The owners of caves and mines will hate cavers after watching the show (cavers who actually didn't have anything to do with the show or trespassing). Some amateurs will copy the show and get hurt, and cavers (who are now the bad guys) will have to rescue them.

I doubt the consequences will be that dire... or exist at all. Still, it is discouraging that some people believe the nonsense they see on television, that they think that reality tv is reality. Last weekend some of my cousins visited from Dayton, Ohio. They brought a friend who was terrified of "this creepy place"; my home and surroundings. Furthermore, she was afraid of Amish people because of idiotic television programs. An Amish guy owns my house, and after she learned this she refused to step outside because she thought "Jobasiah, or who ever he is" would get her. It was funny for a few minutes, then sickening.

As it relates to caves, I'm not personally alarmed by misinformation and misrepresentation on television. My personal habits and opportunities and reputation are not effected, and nothing much is harmed. Caves are probably protected, to a degree, by phobia, misinformation, and ignorance.

GQ, your cousins' friend's reaction confirms that people get false ideas "stuck" in their heads from these contrived "reality" shows. I think there could be significant consequences from these shows on "caving" and whether, as individuals, we are affected is not very relevant. The point is, being vigilant about shows of this type and doing what we can, e.g. rational emails, letters, etc., to pro-actively combat misinformation is probably a better strategy than complacence. IMO, caves are just as likely, if not much more so, to be harmed by phobia, misinformation, and ignorance.

And, I'm fully expecting a show on ancient alien paranormal nazi treasure bigfoot hunters using caves as demonic bases any day now.

And NOT having television for over 12 years now I can proudly say I've never watched a reality show.

My life IS real and far more worth living than watching tv. Imagine that.