AIBU to wonder what people don't like about Chris Packham?

[MRex]

Obviously people actually setting fire to his gates are plain lunatics: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-58861252. The article talks about all these other online threats, dead animals and other mischief however, which implies a fair number of individuals who expend time and energy going after him. He's just an environmentalist campaigner who wants a bit more wild space, a few beavers introduced, fewer birds shot... he isn't a man of great power. So what do these people fear so much?

@Anycolourwilldo but heather moorlands are one of the rarest habitats in the world, why would we want to plant trees all over it? They are so special that their importance is recognised by the UN and designated as such. Although there are less insects that say woodland, heather moorland is home to very rare species that are only found there such as mountain bumblebees. Moorlands also support very specific breeds of rare birds.

But as Chris Packham has done a petition to get rid of it all, it must be a good idea.

The best thing for biodiversity is a mosaic of habitats, with all the little niches in between. Not a monoculture of heather managed for grouse. And not coniferous woodland either. Research shows that the habitats with highest biodiversity are also the best for carbon sequestration too. More diversity in our uplands would be great for biodiversity, carbon, and bring about more opportunities for eco tourism, diversifying the economy and increasing access to the countryside beyond a select few.

And YABVU in making "habitat" into a veb.

Well I obviously meant inhabit much the same as you meant verb!
(I'd like to say I was autocorrected but I'm not sure I was 🤪)

The poor things have zero sense of self preservation. I’ve sat in my car on country lanes with half a dozen birds milling in the road in front of me and had to honk the horn and then wind the window down to shoo them out of the way.

ancientgran
There was a programme about him and she was asking, pleading with him to go to her graduation. He just coldly said he wouldn't and apparently he didn't. I can't like him after that, he was so cold and OK maybe he didn't fancy it (I've sat through so many graduations and could do with never doing it again) but he's supposed to be close to her and sometimes we do things for other people. He just seems totally selfish to me

Don't you think his diagnosis is relevant in this situation?

And the way they look and interact with each, they clearly think the world of each other so I think she’s over it

@Singinginshower

ancientgran There was a programme about him and she was asking, pleading with him to go to her graduation. He just coldly said he wouldn't and apparently he didn't. I can't like him after that, he was so cold and OK maybe he didn't fancy it (I've sat through so many graduations and could do with never doing it again) but he's supposed to be close to her and sometimes we do things for other people. He just seems totally selfish to me

Don't you think his diagnosis is relevant in this situation?

No. He's an adult, he goes to big events he just didn't think her graduation was important enough to him. As adults we all sometimes go and sit through things that are important to our loved ones.

@ThePlumVan

And the way they look and interact with each, they clearly think the world of each other so I think she’s over it

Well isn't he lucky that she is a kinder person than he is.

There is a reactionary wing of the national trust who presumable intersect with the countryside alliance. They are feeling quite vulnerable at the moment so think that setting fire to TV celebrities properties will win them friends.

The guy is suggesting improving habitat diversity which is the best thing we can do for our environment. A well managed moorland may be biodiverse but it isn't as biodiverse as a range of many habitats that could occupy the same space.

I love Chris packham and I loved his program on aspergers especially as a fellow aspie. His step daughter and him have a lovely relationship they talked in that program about what an impact he had on her life. It was clear they loved each other very much, even if he couldn't do things like her graduation (or weddings with his partner) im sure he celebrated privately with her.

I never knew he is autistic. How fabulous is that. What a great role model for autistic children and adults. I think he is great. I think it is disgraceful that anyone who says anything different is now subject to hate.

I agree with most of what he says but I did read an interview with his once where it said we should stop chasing cures for cancer . Having seen both my parents die from cancer, and knowing that one in 2 people will get cancer sorry I can't agree with that. and he said dogs were more intelligent than cats

Otherwise I'm fairly indifferent to him.

[quote CandidaAlbicans2]@DecadentlyDecisive, corvids are not responsible for the lack of song birds. The reasons are the destruction of habitat, lack of chick food due to pesticide use, and non-native predators such as domestic cats. Corvids and song birds have evolved together and were fine until humans fucked things up.[/quote]
Absolutely this.

Why do people think ecosystems suddenly unbalance if it's nothing to do with humans? They have predators and they have prey and they evolved alongside one another

I find it laughable the number of people who go on about "songbirds" as a reason for corvid and pigeon killing being so essential (would they be so concerned if songbirds weren't cute and made a nice noise?)

As for him refusing to go to Megan's graduation, I don't remember him doing so "coldly" at all. He knew how hellishly difficult that would have been for him so he said no. IIRC Megan did a degree which was very animal/wildlife focussed, and if he'd attended that he would have been mobbed by student and parent fans. Then he would have shut down and they'd all have gone away complaining about how rude Chris Packham was at their child's graduation.

Why would he have put himself through that? And if Megan didn't mind, why does some random woman on the internet?

The Countryside Alliance are a bunch of utterly ruthless, intimidatory thugs - thugs who often (but not always) have the power of social privilege behind them. I've seen first-hand evidence of this and can assure you they could easily put the most violent hunt saboteur in the shade (and those are people who don't exactly have a reputation for moderate views, either).

He's had death threats against himself and his family, dead animals strung up against his property, all from behind a cowardly cloak of anonymity. And still they're not going to stop him doing what he does.
He has integrity and a vast degree of courage, and insists he will not shut up no matter what they throw at him. Plus he's on the spectrum and suffers from sensory overload: he simply doesn't experience the world in the same way as neuro typical people do. He's been very eloquent in talking openly about that topic, as well, primarily I think from altruistic moments and in the hope of helping other people who might feel isolated and branded as the 'weird kid,' as he did.

I find him eloquent, intelligent, passionate, compassionate, and courageous. If the country had a few more like Chris Packham we would be doing alright.

Motives*, sorry, not moments. My phone screen just had an electronic heebies moment.

@MarieIVanArkleStinks - absofarkinglutely agree.

@HesterShaw1

As for him refusing to go to Megan's graduation, I don't remember him doing so "coldly" at all. He knew how hellishly difficult that would have been for him so he said no. IIRC Megan did a degree which was very animal/wildlife focussed, and if he'd attended that he would have been mobbed by student and parent fans. Then he would have shut down and they'd all have gone away complaining about how rude Chris Packham was at their child's graduation.

Why would he have put himself through that? And if Megan didn't mind, why does some random woman on the internet?

Because that random woman on the internet has no understanding of autism despite the fact it has been mentioned many times on this thread. In fact that scene was from the film he made about being autistic. Frankly, if that was the takeaway, I despair.

I dislike him because he is smug and dishonest. I'm not sure whether he believes the lies he spouts, and a lot of what he says has a degree of truth, but the outright lies put me off him.

Obviously, that doesn't mean it's necessarily acceptable to set fire to his gate.

People have this cosy image of the countryside but a lot of bloodsports, especially in the internet age, are linked to criminals and gangs. These are scary people.

@HesterShaw1

As for him refusing to go to Megan's graduation, I don't remember him doing so "coldly" at all. He knew how hellishly difficult that would have been for him so he said no. IIRC Megan did a degree which was very animal/wildlife focussed, and if he'd attended that he would have been mobbed by student and parent fans. Then he would have shut down and they'd all have gone away complaining about how rude Chris Packham was at their child's graduation.

Why would he have put himself through that? And if Megan didn't mind, why does some random woman on the internet?

Well she did seem to mind, she didn't just ask once. As for why would "some woman on the internet mind" well why would anyone come on here and say anything. You might think he walks on water, I think he is a selfish man. Nothing to do with the countryside or hunting just as a decent human being to people who love him.

Because that random woman on the internet has no understanding of autism despite the fact it has been mentioned many times on this thread. In fact that scene was from the film he made about being autistic. Frankly, if that was the takeaway, I despair. Odd really as I've worked with people with autism for the last 20 years.

@ancientgran

Because that random woman on the internet has no understanding of autism despite the fact it has been mentioned many times on this thread. In fact that scene was from the film he made about being autistic. Frankly, if that was the takeaway, I despair. Odd really as I've worked with people with autism for the last 20 years.

Yes, that is really odd. You'd have thought you would have developed some compassion and understanding.

Yes we encouraged people to do things to support their loved ones, bit of compassion is good but it can't all go one way. If you do a google search you will see loads of events he has appeared at, some of them at universities so I don't see why he couldn't have even tried to attend. Sometimes we'd have clients who would try to do something and all credit to them that they didn't just say no.

Another thing that is useful in life is accepting that other people are entitled to see things differently to you.

Fox hunting is just an excuse for a load in bread posh twats to go out on a jolly and have a piss up at the end. I’d like to see them torn limb from limb.