I was so disappointed

Attenborough would not have used the words that Gordon did. They are different types of presenter, albeit with the same aim. Gordon Buchanan is passionate about what he does. I can't believe that people are debating a few words which were NOT contrived. And I'd like to know what the people who are critiscising him at this moment in time are doing to save these animals? Not much, I would imagine....

Intrepid wildlife presenters are human animals too. They have human reactions. Without their human reactions they might as well just leave an unmanned camera running and go and sit in the pub with a monitor and a pint. This one's reaction did not please everyone. A lot of reality TV does not please everyone. It offends our idea of what is human. If we say we don't like it we are told not to watch it then.

No-one has forced anyone to watch this shot. It is entirely voluntary if they see it, and given all the publicity anyone who is likely to be offended will be able to avoid hearing the dread words.

Oh yes - thanks jingl!

Yes, but that's just the point, Elegran - none of us is a supposedly intrepid wildlife documentary presenter, so it would be understandable if we were alarmed at being confronted by a wolf.

- Casuality -

jings, old bean, where have I argued on this thread that there is no god?
Rhetocial question because I haven't. I accept that other people believe in gods various. What I don't accept is that I (or anyone else) automatically have to follow their religions' rules just so I don't offend them by accident they don't take offence here there and everywhere.

Besides, I like arguing vehemently. Hadn't you noticed? You do too sometimes.

inglbellsfrocks looks round for someone who's being "theatrical and contrived".

I'd love to suddenly release an untamed wolf in the faces of each of the Gransnetters who have posted on here (no favouritism, each and every one) and record their first, unrehearsed reactions.

I don't think "Nice doggie" or "Dearie me" would be among them. If any wre well enough in control of themselves to be coherent, I would salute them, and I might recommend them to the BBC as wildlife presenters. The recordings could double as demo tapes for their auditions.

loopy,

I think quite a number of us would probably have found we knew far more Old Norse words than we were ever aware of in that situation.

Personally I think I might have said something somewhat more Anglo-Saxon and def needing beeping out if I'd been that close to a wolf..........

Yes, ana, in reply to your last

Interestingly, Mary Beard complained on Twitter recently about something she thought was patronising, but she wrote f++ing in her tweet. That seems patronising to me. Since everyone knows what word she meant, why 'disguise' it?

I wonder if the diction police would disapprove of hers too? Or would they accept that someone as clever and good with words as she is can choose their own words regardless of whether they like her choices?

Just wondering. As you do.

Oh, not literally superior then. Just assuming the mantle.

Saying how other people should speak, what words and phrases they're not allowed to use in case someone decides to have hurt feelings if they use this word or that phrase. It's a patronising kind of superiority.

Superior people? Superior in what way?

It wouldn't surprise me at all if Attenborough uses such phrases when he's not on air.

I really am sad to say I don"t think

Jesus H Christ
Jesus wept

are particulary modern expressions
.
I do believe they were around in the 50"s & 60"s and probably even before , just some have chosen to resurrecte them, on Television ,shame on them adds nothing to the presentation IMO.But then what do I know ??

Buchan did nothing wrong.

Oh heck! People aren't allowed to be theatrical, contrived and immature any more either! Blasphemy's peanuts compared with that!

It's about control, all this. Religious rules and behavioural rules to control how people behave and what they say. To make them conform to superior people's ideas.

Stuff that.

Gordon is of a younger generation than DA.
They do seem to use all language in a different manner.

I am on the side of Nankate, I thought Gorden Buchan"s terminology Theatatrical, Contrived and Immature. There would have been many more expressions he could have used, Attenborough would have .

Perhaps this what we have to put up from now onwards, shame really !!

After all, it wasn"t as if he was there alone with these wild animals, there would have been a camera crew + people to take care of things if it got out of hand [if you get my drift].

tchhmm]

PS I agree with the posts of 18.28 and 18.33.

But I don't think Zeus worship is.

Nah. It's all blasphemy. (If it's still a living religion I would think)

As far as I know, Zeus didn't issue any commandments to his followers, so blasphemy wouldn't apply in that case.

If he had said "Zeus!!! That is scary!" would he have been blaspheming against Zeus, or does it only work if it is a god of which the hearer is a follower?