Has anything you've watched on TV influenced your life?

Aongus Von Bismarck

I had the enormous pleasure of watching a documentary called Alone in the Wilderness a few weeks ago. It's about a man who decided to move to Alaska in 1967 and build a log cabin. It's an extraordinary piece of television, and genuinely humbling. It's one of the most beautiful pieces of art I've had the pleasure of consuming. It's a diary of simple living, genuine masculinity and a deep appreciation for the world we find ourselves living in. You can see the trailer here if you'd like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYJKd0rkKss

I've now decided to take 4 weeks away and head to Canada to join a team building a log cabin. After Galway land Liam next Sunday of course. The Brother has decided not to head along as he'd rather spend two weeks in Ibiza getting 'yoked up'.

Have the good people of AH ever watched something on TV that has made them do something that changed their life, or got them out of their comfort zone?

KKkitty

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

I had the enormous pleasure of watching a documentary called Alone in the Wilderness a few weeks ago. It's about a man who decided to move to Alaska in 1967 and build a log cabin. It's an extraordinary piece of television, and genuinely humbling. It's one of the most beautiful pieces of art I've had the pleasure of consuming. It's a diary of simple living, genuine masculinity and a deep appreciation for the world we find ourselves living in. You can see the trailer here if you'd like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYJKd0rkKss

I've now decided to take 4 weeks away and head to Canada to join a team building a log cabin. After Galway land Liam next Sunday of course. The Brother has decided not to head along as he'd rather spend two weeks in Ibiza getting 'yoked up'.

Have the good people of AH ever watched something on TV that has made them do something that changed their life, or got them out of their comfort zone?

Correct me if I'm wrong but it's a bit silly thinking Galway will be holding Liam after the All Ireland. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

PowerToWait

Beau Geste - Foreign Legion

Mr. CooL ICE

4 weeks off work? Or do you happen to have, ahem, lots spare time over what happened with China's stock market?

Savage Tyrant

I watched "Bloodsport" with my brother when we were young... A Jean Claude Van Damme martial arts film.... Then I kicked the bollöks out of him after it, practicing the moves for my new career.... Got grounded for the last 3 weeks of summer and a good hiding off my Da that even JCVD couldn't have helped me from.

So it influenced that summer at any rate.

Junkyard Tom

Bugs Bunny. I've solved many interpersonal issues by dressing up a sexy female rabbit, seducing the person who has been a problem for me, and then whacking them over the head with a heavy-bottomed frying pan when they've been disarmed by lust.

The Backwards Man

I'll tell you one thing, if I ever want to get away from it all and 'find' myself in the arsehole of nowhere filming a porcupine's arse, I won't be uploading it to the biggest video sharing platform on the planet. Pretentious bollocks.

Duckworth_Luas

If he was "Alone in the Wilderness" then who the fcuk was doing the filming?

Tarzana2

The Simpsons, seasons 2-8.

Whip smart, shockingly funny, satirical but with a soul. The finest television ever made. Utterly life changing for me as a teenager. Molded my sense of humour, introduced me to satire and great writing.

So sad what it has become.

Aongus Von Bismarck

Nicolas Cage wrote: »

4 weeks off work? Or do you happen to have, ahem, lots spare time over what happened with China's stock market?

I work in institutional wealth management. The 'Chinese stock market' isn't the type of thing I deal in. Thank you for the concern though.

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

Bugs Bunny. I've solved many interpersonal issues by dressing up a sexy female rabbit, seducing the person who has been a problem for me, and then whacking them over the head with a heavy-bottomed frying pan when they've been disarmed by lust.

Bugs had a certain style. Wile E. Coyote just bought cheap explosives from ACME in an attempt to kill Road Runner. Never worked out for him.

Ruu

You were just off for some R&R recently though? Well for some!

Yes is the answer. I want to build a tiny house.

johnny osbourne

sharon stone influenced me

Aongus Von Bismarck

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'll tell you one thing, if I ever want to get away from it all and 'find' myself in the arsehole of nowhere filming a porcupine's arse, I won't be uploading it to the biggest video sharing platform on the planet. Pretentious bollocks.

The footage is from 1967 and the footage on Youtube is from the version released in 1993. Kudos on getting the comment in though. Top-class AH stuff.

Duckworth_Luas wrote: »

If he was "Alone in the Wilderness" then who the fcuk was doing the filming?

It's called a tripod.

Robsweezie

Keeping up with the kardashians. I feel like it's...made me articulate my expressions better and improved my feelings towards other people that do more good things than me, and like just a good person who cares about the environment and global farming. And also made me want to make my education more better to improve my future intelligence.

RDM_83 again

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'll tell you one thing, if I ever want to get away from it all and 'find' myself in the arsehole of nowhere filming a porcupine's arse, I won't be uploading it to the biggest video sharing platform on the planet. Pretentious bollocks.

He must be the Overlord of hipsters then considering its from the 60's and shot on film with a tripod.
Thats the ultimate in doing it before it was cool

edit: thanks OP watching it now, nice seeing something that was actually shot that way rather than the tonality being the result of some generic filter

One eyed Jack

Defining moment really :pac:

The Backwards Man

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

The footage in from 1967 and the footage on Youtube is from the version released in 1993. Kudos on getting the comment in though. Top-class AH stuff.

Well, unless it was filmed by the David Attenborough of Kodiak Bears who ate your man for lunch shortly afterwards it's still pretentious bollocks, no matter how old it is.

MadDog76

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

The Brother has decided not to head along as he'd rather spend two weeks in Ibiza getting 'yoked up'.

Ever ask yourself why your brother would rather travel in the opposite direction to wherever YOU are going and self-medicate for a couple of weeks? :P

Ruu

Robsweezie wrote: »

Keeping up with the kardashians. I feel like it's...made me articulate my expressions better and improved my feelings towards other people that do more good things than me, and like just a good person who cares about the environment and global farming. And also made me want to make my education more better to improve my future intelligence.

You have a well chiseled buttocks, I don't care what anyone says!

Aongus Von Bismarck

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Well, unless it was filmed by a the David Attenborough of Kodiak Bears who ate your man for lunch shortly afterwards it's still pretentious bollocks, no matter how old it is.

Such a shame. It's a beautiful hour of television about a man who built a cabin and spent the next 30 years living there. It's actually a really lovely thing to watch.

johnny osbourne

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Such a shame. It's a beautiful hour of television about a man who built a cabin and spent the next 30 years living there. It's actually a really lovely thing to watch.

could you loan me a fiver?

One eyed Jack

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

Such a shame. It's a beautiful hour of television about a man who built a cabin and spent the next 30 years living there. It's actually a really lovely thing to watch.

Meh, Grizzly Adams is better. That's my retirement plan, with a bear for company and all, scare away pretentious twats who want to "find themselves" on corporate team building exercises :pac:

Junkyard Tom

The Backwards Man wrote: »

Well, unless it was filmed by the David Attenborough of Kodiak Bears who ate your man for lunch shortly afterwards it's still pretentious bollocks, no matter how old it is.

I don't agree with Herr Bismarck very often but I watched that fascinating video some time ago and it's just about as far away from being pretentious as one could get.

Aongus Von Bismarck

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

I don't agree with Herr Bismarck very often but I watched that fascinating video some time ago and it's just about as far away from being pretentious as one could get.

Let me assure you, Tom; it would be a grim day in the Soviet Union before I'd agree with you on most of the less important matters either.

Great doc though. As you say, it is so far from pretentious. It's a life-affirming piece of film. He spent 30 years living in that cabin.

johnny osbourne

Robsweezie wrote: »

Keeping up with the kardashians. I feel like it's...made me articulate my expressions better and improved my feelings towards other people that do more good things than me, and like just a good person who cares about the environment and global farming. And also made me want to make my education more better to improve my future intelligence.

no but, i totally get where your coming from, keep up the bpm

I watched "The Wire" and gave me the idea to transport the WMD's on the Shannon into Carrick on Shannon on cruisers.

You come at the dazzler, you best not miss. Holla.

I also down in Drumshanbo tech studying the ECDL to go legit with my business.

johnny osbourne

Deleted User wrote: »

I watched "The Wire" and gave me the idea to transport the WMD's on the Shannon into Carrick on Shannon on cruisers.

You come at the dazzler, you best not miss. Holla.

that could be popular with the stag parties

johnny osbourne

johnny osbourne wrote: »

that could be popular with the stag parties

Slinging buzzers all the way from Murtagh's to the swinging donkey!

freshpopcorn

I was watched Rachel Allen baking a chocolate cake before and I baked the cake and ate it.

Samaris

Hrm... Not to be That Poster (the hipster), but I can honestly think of numerous books that influencd d my life one way or another, but I can think of very few films or TV programs that did. I can think of ones I -enjoyed- definately, but influenced...? Maaaybe The West Wing for opening up other genres than fantasy and scifi. I know its hopelessly idealistic, but hell, so am I, so it was also a nice..."it's ok to be idealistic" boost amongst all the gritty cynicism that TV seems to enjoy ramming down watchers' throats.

Menas

freshpopcorn wrote: »

I was watched Rachel Allen baking a chocolate cake before and I baked the cake and ate it.

Reading your post has influenced my life. Well, influenced my Sunday and my belly.

Boring username

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'll tell you one thing, if I ever want to get away from it all and 'find' myself in the arsehole of nowhere filming a porcupine's arse, I won't be uploading it to the biggest video sharing platform on the planet. Pretentious bollocks.

But you already live in Donegal....

MadDog76

Boring username wrote: »

But you already live in Donegal....

NachoBusiness

Yes. 'The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off'.

It's a documentary about Jonny Kennedy who suffered from EB. It's mostly remarkable as Jonny narrates much of the documentary himself, knowing he would soon die. Indeed, he arranges his own funeral. Had a profound effect on me at the time (ten years back now) and I still often think about his story and his struggle to this day.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BSGxX6Eh3Zc

The Backwards Man

Boring username wrote: »

But you already live in Donegal....

I do, and you won't find home video evidence of my exploits or lack thereof, I guarantee you that.

MadDog76

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I do, and you won't find home video evidence of my exploits or lack thereof, I guarantee you that.

Mehaffey1

The drink driving awareness ad with Fleetwood Mac.

'Shall I tell you about my life, they say I'm a man of the world'.

HalloweenJack

Watched a Bear Grylls documentary where he did a stint in the French Foreign Legion. I was about 16 and it convinced me that it'd be a viable option. By the time I was 21, the reality of being a soldier didn't appeal to me anymore.

Samaris

Mehaffey1 wrote: »

The drink driving awareness ad with Fleetwood Mac.

'Shall I tell you about my life, they say I'm a man of the world'.

*flashbacks* AAAAGH!

That bloody ad. I still can't listen to that song without mentally having the shriek of tires skidding and the thud in the appropriate places.

Ruu

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I do, and you won't find home video evidence of my exploits or lack thereof, I guarantee you that.

:eek:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MUKmWaztyc

Junkyard Tom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9al-mpqXjc

justchecked

Saw this thing called 'Deliverance'.

It was about some guys who went into the wilderness and found simple living and genuine masculinity.

Greentopia

David Attenborough's natural history documentaries growing up. Gave me a huge appreciation of our wonderful planet and the need to look after it, and instrumental in why I'm so involved in ecology and permaculture now.

Wang King

"Supersize Me" by Morgan Spurlock. When I saw the damage McDonalds could do to your body, I said nope, that's it, no more McDonalds for me...its KFC all the way from now on!

riffmongous

Mehaffey1 wrote: »

The drink driving awareness ad with Fleetwood Mac.

'Shall I tell you about my life, they say I'm a man of the world'.

I was pretty disappointed when I heard the full version of the song, that middle verse almost ruined it for me

TPD

Love the documentary AvB. Cabin building in Canada sounds great!

OneOfThem

The original 'Rat and Pigeon' animation. Honestly, don't think there's a week that goes by that I don't think of it in some context. Genuinely influential.

Gongoozler

I watched a TV programme once about deliveries. I don't know why, apparently I have a weird need to freak myself out. They showed everything. I mean everything. For some reason, growing up I always thought I had to have children, I assumed that I would. I realised that I didn't have to at around age 12, But anyway I watched this thing that was the most disgusting, revolting, terrifying experience, that it pretty much cemented the decision that I definitely do not want children.

Seriously, I recommend not ever watching something like that.

boobar

After watching an episode of Friends, I moved to America and moved in with some very funny people and drank a lot of coffee in a nice coffee shop.

osarusan

A documentary on Paul Bach-y-Rita, who is the central figure in the field of neuroplasticity.

It was absolutely spellbinding stuff which completely opened my eyes to the capacity of the human brain to adapt, and has influenced my research and work in general.

5rtytry56

A bit different: The time that Top Gear featured actual Scalextric Cars racing around what's left of the historical Brooklands race track. Nifty filming technique used with the model cars themselves. I'm in the process of doing the same thing myself, with a scalextric model car and a thumbcam, which is cheaper than the scalextric model.
You can buy a thumbcam in a euro store for 20 euro if you look hard enough in Dublin.