[TheForge] Real work on TV

[theforge@mailman.qth.net]

I am not critisizing these shows, in fact I myself love to watch all of 
them (except for Survivor, of that ilk I prefer Amazing Race, since it 
doesn't highlight and reward the worst in people).  My concern is the 
very one Aaron has highlighted.  You can't go learn how to do this 
stuff  in a vocational school anymore, since it is obviously no longer 
an acceptable vocation, it is instead becoming entertainment.    
Junkyard wars at least makes an effort to honestly educate, but 
"American Chopper", "Monster Garage"  (and "Experiment Island"  to a 
degree)  focus more on the personality conflicts than actually imparting 
any real knowledge.   By the way, one of the reasons Junkyard Wars is 
one of my favorites is because of how often the opposing teams actually 
help each other out, not only materials, but sometime advice.   My 
favorite is when one team burned up all forward gears in their 
dragster,  someone on  the opposing team suggested flipping the diffy 
and racing in reverse gear.   Sums up everything great about the show,  
a truly friendly competition, the engineering problem is the true 
competitor.    Remember, cowboys became entertainment as they lost 
relevancy at the start of the last century, with Wild west shows and the 
like.  The original Monte Walsh is one of my favorite movies.  These 
things repeat.  I am in the computer field, and years ago people thought 
I was insane when I  compared the rise and decline of the blacksmith 
with the computer programming field, but programming is  moving along 
exactly the same path these days.   

Charles

RIES NIEMI wrote:

>I have to agree with Aaron that it is a good thing that there are shows on
>TV that show real people actually making things with tools.
>Too often on tv and in movies the technical whizzes just sorta wave their
>hands over a computer and create some hitech gizmo that is completely
>impossible. When I complain, my nine year old says "dad- its only tv- its
>not supposed to be real".
>
>Shows like "Junkyard Wars", "American Chopper" and  "Monster Garage", even
>though they dont show forging, are at least realistic about metalworking
>projects. Sure, they have mig welding midgets and family feuds, but hey,
>thats entertainment. 
>  
>