I was only going to post once today (a satirical notion I’ve had kicking around my head for a while), however, I just remembered that I will be attending a presentation on the highly successful BBC nature documentary series Planet Earth II tomorrow and Sir David Attenborough is set to appear as a special guest and speaker. As far as I know, there will be a Q&A session afterwards and I am very interested in asking a question. Then I thought about this blog and the very modestly broad global reach that I have built around it. So, here’s my thought; would any of my readers like me to ask David Attenborough a question for them tomorrow? I quite liked that idea. The internet can be used to do some pretty cool things and everybody likes those kings of things to happen from time to time, right?
Please write a question you would like me to ask Attenborough in the comments section and I will pick the best and, if I get the chance, I will get an answer for you. I will post everything he says in a new post. If I don’t get the chance then that’s that. I can try to approach him after, but bear in mind he’s a 90 year old man and I’d much rather not bother him, though I may try. I don’t know if I can promise much more.
I know it’s short notice, but surely you must have one question for the man who did this:
You can now follow my increasingly strange adventures on Instagram here.
My question would be this:
We talk about humans like we are external to the rest of nature, like we’re at odds with it. Yet human beings, and their problem solving minds are 100% a product of nature. Like many people. I condemn humans for over-population and over-consumption. But isn’t the sad fact that this was always going to be the way it ended up for us? Isn’t this the natural conclusion of the human journey – to destroy the environment that affords us life and make ourselves extinct?
That’s a very sobering question. Are you familiar with “Straw Dogs” by John Gray?
Sorry about that, its just what came into my mind. There’s probably better questions to ask. I’m not familiar with that one I’m afraid. I have heard of(but never seen) a film of the same name where, from memory, an american couple holiday in England and get victimised by the locals. Is it the same thing?
I never saw the film but I’ve loosely heard of it. It has no connection but name with the book which is a deeply pessimistic philosophical meditation.
Ah I see. I’ll add that to the ever-growing list then.
I’d ask ‘Do you after all the habitat destruction that you have witnessed still have faith in your own species to do the right thing and protect as a matter of course? Will that day come’?
Great question
Question for Sir David Attenborough: (Apologies in advance for the length of my comment/question.)
Your late brother, Lord Richard Attenborough, is quoted by the actress Jane Seymour of having advised her “He said the day you believe your own publicity, you’re dead.”
Having recently commented that the adoration of your fans is “fiction”, how do you feel about the idolization of celebrities, in general? Do you idolize any celebrities whose talent you may admire, but whom also have clay-feet, so to speak? e.g. You are known to “admire” the pop-singer Bjork, who has said in an interview with the London Evening Standard that she likes bestiality, which constitutes cruel animal abuse (i.e. animals cannot give consent, ergo, it is rape): Does that bother you? Or does love conquer all?
Perhaps it is the normal human condition to want to attribute endearing characteristics to those whom we find to be attractive, just as baby animals with big eyes inspire tender feelings, whereas animals considered to be ugly repel most people. Human beings have historically anthropomorphized beautiful animals with kindly traits versus predatory animals with vicious ones.
A physically attractive individual can say the most heinous things and get away with it, whereas a physically unattractive person making the same statement will tend to be condemned. e.g. POTUS Donald Trump, a bombastic, repugnant man is rightly criticized for the sexist comments he has made towards women; yet when a cutish-pixie with a little-girlish voice like Bjork makes vulgar comments, she’s given a pass. That’s the human condition, of course, and as old as the hills, but your honest insights would be interesting.
As a woman and a life-long feminist, who is interested in psychology, I make a study of the manner in which men and women of different races and ethic backgrounds are treated by the media. It’s fascinating to bear witness to the way in which gender, age, race, political bias & popularity due to perceived attractiveness of an individual will impact the way in which their comments and behaviour are judged.
Of course, a politician will be evaluated by a different standard than a celebrity and the question of where a moral line is to be drawn is increasingly a private one: however, the gap between our expectation of a basic standard of decency in a politician versus that which we tolerate from a celebrity is quite large indeed. If POTUS Donald Trump were to say that he like bestiality, for example, I suspect that he would be forced to step down from office. Even Hollywood would howl and animal rights activists might call for him to be shot. Of course, it would be silly to call for Trump to be shot. The better solution is to oust Trump at the next election, if he fails to lead in a responsible, caring way: e.g. he needs to support climate change reform; health care for all; a basic-living wage for all, etc. Similarly, those of us who do not enjoy the work of a given celebrity or who take umbrage at their comments can choose to boycott them.
Due to your reputation, millions of people are influenced by what you say because you have cultivated, over a lifetime, an aura of being a man who cares deeply about our world: that’s in part a moral choice, as well as a passionate choice. You have kept your private life out of the limelight. You have behaved in a dignified manner in public. You do not have to use shock-tactics or gimmicks to do marvelous work that has stood the test of time. Do you not think that having done so, it’s not abnormal that the public holds you in such a high regard? For you to suggest that you have faults is nothing more than being honest: of course you do because we all do since we are complex human beings. Obviously the public does not know the private man. But surely you have consciously placed limits upon what you will do and say publicly, if not for your own’s reputation sake, for the sake of your family and loved ones. Does that not imply that you have some kind of moral framework? I think it does.
That’s quite a mouthful, but I’d be interested in getting through all of it.
I loved his Africa series that I saw on Netflix!! I would ask him how much creative control he has over the production of his content. The sweeping views in the video work done in the Africa series was so evocative, and it’s a big part of creating effective content on natural beauty.
Have fun!!
I look forward to your post about what he says. He is coming out to my side of the world in Feb to do a tour of Australia and New Zealand. The tickets sold out almost instantaneously but I was excited to grab one when more dates were released. This will be the closest I get to such an iconic man that I have grown up watching since childhood. Hope you enjoy hearing him speak at your side of the globe.
What is happiness and how does one achieve it?
Why can millions be spent filming planet earth but nothing can be done to save dying animals in front of the camera crew?
Also knowing the nature of what they are filming can be a big indication that they may need to intervene .
If these beautiful animals are become instinct then why aren’t planet earth making sure has a last resort they help save them ?
There was a polar bear who has swim 60 miles to feed and got badly injured , too weak to carry on died infront of the camera crew ,
How can this be filmed and left to die for the sake of making a point ?
Hi me and my dad have just found we think ammonite it is large all intact can send a picture if u need to look at it we wanted to know how old it was please
Does the fact that we are now obliged to have lights on during daylight affect our atmosphere in a negative way?
please sir when the polar bears are coming to land to feed why can we not intervine and drop food to help them. would this not help in the short term.