Ben Fogle: New Lives in The Wild

[purpleme12]

Anyone watch this?
I'm not sure what he was saying was wrong with the veterinary profession?
I mean I know about the problems with flat face breeds but what is he saying is wrong with the vetinerary profession?

The woman said didn't get on with the profession either but it didn't seem anything to do with the profession, it seemed like she worried too much so that was to do with her, not the profession

Haven't watched it. But will catch up with it soon.

I didn't feel comfortable watching this episode. The guy seemed quite desperate and a bit mentally unstable. Like he was doing it for all the wrong reasons.

The impression I got was that the guy had apparently blown the whistle on the veterinary profession and, as a result, had been shunned. That was the reason for setting up their current lifestyle or am I wrong?

Mmmm I'm not sure....
I never actually got what was wrong with the profession... Which seemed quite crucial to that part of the story...

They didn't seem that happy to me
They said they were but they seemed unhappy

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1232217/Why-Im-ashamed-vet-shocking-expose-profession-puts-pets-painful-unnecessary-treatments-fleece-trusting-owners.html

Interesting

So he didn't just complain about squashed noses, looks like a massive expose on multiple aspects of veterinary practice.

Wondering why he put his name on it - surely it could have been anonymous!

Mmmmm

I watched this last week and felt it was light on detail. It seemed like he'd taken the reactions to his criticisms very hard and essentially gone to hide in the hills, but now feels ready to put his side across again.

It didn't feel like he was putting his side across though

I wondered if that was how it was edited?

bump

I don't think it was filmed in covid times was it? It didn't look like he was social distancing all the time did it?

I think whatever the real reason was for him leaving the vet profession he either described and then it was edited out (possibly at his own request or for other reasons) or he couldn’t /wouldn’t say. It’s not made clear and I’m sure there is a reason for that and I think we need to accept that.

It’s a small detail really in the whole program, which is about how the couple has set up an off grid life in the uk. I am curious too about why they decided to leave it all behind but that’s just not something we are meant to know for this one.

The link is above, in this thread, for the issue with the best profession (well I mean according to him anyway)
It seemed quite important to their story to me though.

Does anyone know when it was filmed?

Found somewhere it said this week's episode was filmed in October when covid restrictions were still in place.
So presume the others were too
Was surprised that they did this programme during covid where he stays with the families
It was the the fact that he didn't hug the people so far that made me wonder. He normally does

I have friends who work in tv. They usually have to isolate beforehand and then have frequent negative Covid tests to be on set. It is doable but a very privileged position.

I was intrigued by the issues he had with the veterinary profession as well... I discovered that he published an article called “on the destiny of species” some of which talks about dogs breeds bred with specific traits that actually cause the animal serious health issues. He criticises the breeders, crufts and vets - who he sees as profiting from the future ill health of the animals who require various surgical interventions to live. He was also widely criticised for euthanising a 13 year old lame cow with a suspected broken back that belonged to a Hindu temple - in his view putting the cows well-being and obvious suffering above the view of the cow as a sacred creature that shouldn’t be harmed. It’s a very interesting read, and I agree with a lot of what he says, however the overall tone of the essay is incredibly angry and bitter, it reads as an attack and uses direct quotes from what I assume would have been his peers in the profession at one point. He was obviously deeply affected by what he was involved in during his time as a vet but I can see why those in the profession would have reacted against such an attack. It’s an interesting read for sure...

A caravan in a tree!!
Not sure I'd want to stay in that one!!

This man is really cheerful. He’s very interesting. But I’m not sleeping in a dodgy caravan in a tree.

I've been googling. The caravan was poor in the tree for the film 2 years at sea so will be safe! I've found the airbnb listing too, excellent reviews even though it seems to be exactly as shown. He seemed great, bet the kids he teaches learn a heck of a lot when they get him as their substitute! He seems to have had a great life, he's performed mandolin on stage with one of The Waterboys so I reckon he was hiding his talent somewhat on TV.

This one wasn't socially distanced