Discovery Channel

[earthfriendly]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/discovery ... 36745.html

"The documentaries contain no disclaimers to inform viewers they're watching fiction, though some brief text shown at the start acknowledges that one or two scenes may have been "dramatized" — quite the understatement, unlikely to be of use to children, and totally useless to anyone who starts mid-show."

I watched one of the megalodon episode and the documentary presentation format had me fooled .

[x9200]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/discovery ... 36745.html

"The documentaries contain no disclaimers to inform viewers they're watching fiction, though some brief text shown at the start acknowledges that one or two scenes may have been "dramatized" — quite the understatement, unlikely to be of use to children, and totally useless to anyone who starts mid-show."

I watched one of the megalodon episode and the documentary presentation format had me fooled .

I mostly watch the educational channels and I am never tempted to watch this type of shows. It is and always was clear for me as soon as they appeared on the screen it was a VERY heavy dramatization. I also don't think these kind of shows are for children pre-16 age so I don't see it as something very negative. It is like a sci based horror or similar and I am actually surprised people expect to see in it any scientific value.
DC has a lot of good, popular-scientific stuff not overloaded with dramatization and it is pretty easy IMHO to make the distinction.

[zzm9980]

I haven't watched this stuff much recently. When I have I always thought it was rather obvious it wasn't actually true. That said, I have no doubt the majority would take it at face value and eat it up.

[x9200]

One of the flagship examples from the article.
The documentaries show "found footage" from a fatal attack off the South African coast that apparently left three people dead. It's fake; no such attacks took place.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A8LB4KXGkg

It just beyond me how people can think it is a real document and not dramatization but then I think zzm you are completely right. This type of the shows are for many people the closest to sci and documentaries they could possibly ever get so no critical thinking at all.

[JR8]

A bit of Megalodon reality...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57JIHSjzXBE
Caracal - Gangrene Jaws Of The Megalodon. (Sounds Like Saturday)


Singaporean born and bred too!

[earthfriendly]

That said, I have no doubt the majority would take it at face value and eat it up.

Therein lies the rub. I took it too literally.

[Abel Ang]

It is a problem. But in this age where the broadcast medium is on the decline, people tend to be more informed and know how to look for sources on the internet.