To want to watch a nature program without all the doom and gloom

[OwlBeGone]

I suspect I am. I just want to watch a nature program which doesn't, at some point, inform us that we're all dooooomed, and the natural world is falling to bits. I KNOW there is climate change, it's probably too late to make the necessary changes, that habitats are fucked, but sometimes I just want to watch beautiful animals without thinking about it. AIBU?

Yeah I like space documentaries but ( and I know logically it won't matter to me) but I get freaked out that they show something cool then say " but in 245 million years a Black hole will absorb the whole universe" or something. Even typing it has made me feel tingly.

Me too and watched it years ago! They only ate its tongue as well or something, just horrid.

Wild Isles isn't all doom & gloom

I used to watch every single nature doco I could lay hands on, can’t do any of them any more cos they’re too upsetting. I would LOVE some less doomy ones occasionally.

Oh OP this is exactly what I said to my DH the other day. He gave me a sanctimonious talk about how we have to be told the truth about climate change etc. no matter how unpalatable we find it.

I grew up on nature documentaries, they gave me a love and knowledge of the natural world, kept me curious about animals, flora and fauna and biodiversity. As a young adult I found nature programmes relaxing, easy watching, comfort tv almost. Now I can't watch them as it's just too sad and upsetting. I am obviously in favour of educating people on climate change, but oh I so miss settling down for a relaxing informative nature programme without the 30 minutes of bad news .

I definately don't turn a blind eye to climate change and how we are f@cking up our planet. It's a massively important issue to me. But I'd still like to watch a nature programme which doesn't make me feel really low and sad. Just sometimes.

If anything it sounds like the hard-hitting doom and gloom programmes ARE turning people away from nature! If families aren't watching these programmes that's yet another way in which people are becoming even more distanced from the natural world.

I've watched David Attenborough documentaries since I was little (1980's and beyond) and there is a lot more emphasis on climate change etc now in them, but that's because through such documentaries we can see the difference from the past to now. His documentaries have fostered a real appreciation of the natural world and I do my little bit by trying to make my garden as nature friendly as possible, because this is the only bit of the world I can control. I also try to make the children I care for see the wonder and appreciate our local natural environment. And for every child who might remain oblivious I hope I plant a seed of interest in some.

In the long term, it probably doesn't make a difference. The world has always changed, if we cause extinctions now in the future now life will evolve, as it always has. However we will perhaps change the world too much for the creatures we have evolved with to survive and perhaps us too - which might not be a bad thing for the creatures and plants that come after.

@GoodVibesHere

Not everybody will be as clued up as you, hence why they need to include some conservation awareness/global warming etc. Because some people don't know much about these issues or are just looking the other way. More programmes seem to be including segments on current conservation efforts, which puts a more positive spin on things.

It's not too late - that's the whole point.

It will require massive change but it is possible if you want a future.

I was just saying the same to my DH when he turned on the latest David Attenborough. Sunday nights are a downer anyway without turning on the tv to hear that we are all doomed. I am not a climate change denier by any means, but the current approach has totally ruined the appeal of nature programmes and I wouldn’t let me DCs watch them as they would get upset.

My DH totally disagreed tho…

I actually feel really anxious watching these programmes now and have to tune them off.

I'm so glad it's not just me! I find them just too depressing and upsetting now

I think this is a really interesting thread. I personally think bloody good going David Attenborough for trying to highlight the decline of nature in this country. Think about it, when did you last see an insect?! 60% decline is shocking. Be shocked. Be horrified. It's not supposed to make you feel cosy. It's supposed to get you mad.

But! If it's making people switch off then that message is lost. So hard to get it right.

It would be really helpful if they could tell us what we can do, rather than feel horrible guilt for something most of us have little control over.

Agree, and it’s even worse for children watching these programmes as they have inherited this situation and will be left to try to sort it out

The irony…

Real life isn’t a fairy tale. If you don’t like it or have issues dealing with reality then don’t watch it!

I don’t want to see something killed for sustenance, as I don’t consume flesh myself.

But don’t hide from it, deal with it. We are destroying habitat, wildlife and ultimately each other. The majority appear to accept this apparently.

Me too!

Amen. My favourite ones are ostriches sticking their heads in the sand for one hour. I find them really relatable.

Reminds me of the ground nesting baby birds who were taken out by that hedgehog on Springwatch. I haven’t got over that one either.

@Reluctantadult

David Attenborough programmes especially still draw in a lot of viewers. I don't know how representative this thread is in terms of the British public in general.

The Mating Game on bbc iPlayer is amazing, and joyful. The ostrich mating dance is so funny! Ds aged 10 loves animals, he has autism and wants to be a zoologist when he’s older. That’s his favourite ever series, we’ve watched it together so many times. It’s a David Attenborough one but there’s nothing nasty in it, just all about animals and their funny mating rituals.

I agree that would be good, maybe they will at the end of the series.

Some ideas off the top of my head are,
Green bank
Green pension
Renewable electricity
Get off gas if you can
Garden for wildlife
Reduce meat and dairy consumption
Buy organic where you can, target it to where it makes the most difference
Buy second hand clothes
Buy less
Volunteer for a wildlife trust
Join friends of the earth
Vote for a greener politician
Talk to others

I always fast forward those bits!! Watched Friday's with the puffin, thought aww for 2 seconds then NOPE, see ya

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