[Closed] Chris Packham

Yep. Really interesting hearing about it from the horse's mouth. Specially touching as one of my kids has an ASD. The American guy saying that autism is analogous to cancer boiled my piss. The last bit in America makes me happy

Really fascinating. I will never watch him in the same way again. The way he portrays his emotions about the dogs and the kestrel is heartbreaking.

And now he’s just touched on it again. It’s something many of us can relate to on some level - it must be a much bigger deal for him.

Recorded for later, but heard him interviewed on the radio the other day.

Great to hear coping mechanisms and admitting he’s “difficult” to work with at times.

So good to hear stories like his, hope this brings out more about these type of disabilities/afflictions..

Best bit of tele for years. Thanks BBC/Chris. Bit dusty in here.

Wow, I've just seen a programme about my life, substitute the animals for 2 wheeled objects.

Excellent stuff. Insight into what makes him such a compelling presenter in comparison to his factory produced colleagues.

I like him simply for his passion about wildlife.

was a cracking program, had no idea he had aspergers.

Thought that might ring a bell with some on here 🙂

Off to align my valves and logos.

Immensely watchable whilst being ever so slightly uncomfortable. Perhaps the "cure" is understanding.

What channel was this on?

Brilliant bit of TV, just caught the last 20 minutes by accident and was hooked within seconds.

A few links about the Microsoft (and other tech companies) hiring programme - it was extended to the UK too.

[url= https://news.microsoft.com/stories/people/kyle-schwaneke.html ]https://news.microsoft.com/stories/people/kyle-schwaneke.html[/url]

[url= https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2017/04/03/join-us-working-together-help-people-autism-enter-workforce/ ]https://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2017/04/03/join-us-working-together-help-people-autism-enter-workforce/[/url]

[url= https://news.microsoft.com/en-gb/2016/02/26/microsoft-extends-autism-and-inclusive-hiring-programme-to-uk/ ]https://news.microsoft.com/en-gb/2016/02/26/microsoft-extends-autism-and-inclusive-hiring-programme-to-uk/[/url]

What channel was this on?

BBC2

Very good program, and the cancer/chemo analogy was truly shite.

Steve Silberman, the guy he was talking to in the car in silicon valley, is also interesting and his most recent book, Neurotribes, is worth a look.

http://stevesilberman.com/

eat_more_cheese - Member
Best bit of tele for years. Thanks BBC/Chris.

Bit dusty in here.

Not just me shedding a few tears then.

Packham's been one of my favourite people on telly for years. Understand why now.

A great bloke Mr P. Nothing not to like about him. It's funny how non-pretentious people who are passionate about a subject are always the most attractive.

Interesting and moving programme.

[url= https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09b1zbb/chris-packham-aspergers-and-me ]https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b09b1zbb/chris-packham-aspergers-and-me[/url]

Yes, a really excellent programme. The US stuff was a bit scary, like lots of their 'zeal can conquer anything' macho bullshit.

I think a lot of people can relate to varying extents, and it just shows how easy it is to label, compartmentalise, and try to force to conform.

It shows why people should take a step back and consider where other may be 'coming from' and have a bit of bloody empathy rather than the bluff and bluster bullshit it is too easy and lazy to get drawn into.

I found it a thoroughly interesting piece of TV. Well worth a watch.

What struck me was for someone who self admits having issues with social interaction, his conversation was so eloquent and unfaltering. There was never a pause to think of the right phrase or an 'err, ummm' which I found admirable.

The american stuff ( not the silicon valley part though ) was so eye-openingly narrow minded, couldn't believe it.

I think though, that Chris's issues and his abilities are such that he can adapt / cope and work whats around him to suit him. I dont think thats something that can be applied to all persons with Aspergers though.

Got it set to record on a later showing.
I knew he has a form of Asbergers, he’s spoken of it before, and I have a lot of respect for him as a pretty-much self-taught naturalist who stands by his principles, and won’t take any crap from people like Ian Botham who’s given him a lot of crap over certain things Botham has said, and who’s demanded that Packham be sacked by the Beeb.
Botham should stick to what he actually knows about, being a cricket pundit.
I like how Packham used to get the titles of punk albums into his script during the Spring/Autumn/Winter-watch programmes and get them to make perfect sense as well, along with his band tee shirts.
Love to have an opportunity to sit and talk about music and wildlife over a couple of beers with him, I reckon he’d be really engaging company.

What struck me was for someone who self admits having issues with social interaction, his conversation was so eloquent and unfaltering. There was never a pause to think of the right phrase or an 'err, ummm' which I found admirable.

Simply conjecture but perhaps it's because he's less distracted by the social cues by which 'normal' folk can sometimes find take their mind off the topic in hand and cause them to falter in their train of thought.

Almost a selfish act brought about by the condition, for want of a better term.

*I didn't watch the programme.

I can kind of understand why some people think he comes across as a bit of a tit at times (no bird pun intended) but I can't help but admire his dedication to wildlife and the passion with which he speaks. I went to see him speak to about 100 or so people in Bristol last year when his book was coming out, and he was very, very good. I got a signed copy of his book but stopped short of telling him how much of an influence he's been.

Also, he does a huge amount of stuff away from TV. IMHO, probably the most compelling is the series of short daily documentaries he did about the shooting of songbird in places like Malta and Cyprus and put out on YouTube. Springwatch it is not.

Wow, he's put up with a lot - asperger's [b]and[/b] that thing with nerves in his hair

😀

Thanks for the PSA

Just watched it on iPlayer. A really, really excellent piece of TV.

Although I've always admired his encyclopedic knowledge of the natural world, I'd never really warmed to him. Probably because he goes from one extreme to another; wildly enthusiastic to pretty dismissive and I thought it was a kind of act. Seeing this program, I now realise he's being 100% 'himself', so good on him.

The end scene with his step-daughter was lovely but seemed to coincide with me getting something in my eye.

Love to have an opportunity to sit and talk about music and wildlife over a couple of beers with him, I reckon he’d be really engaging company.

I agree, but suspect he'd turn down the invitation.

Perhaps the "cure" is understanding.

There's no perhaps about it! Talking about it as if it's something that should be cured is totally missing the point, aspergers is such a big part of everybody that suffers from it that taking that away would take away their whole personality and what makes them who they are.

It was good to see towards the end of the program company's recognising how talented people with aspergers can be and focusing on the positives rather than the negative side if it.

That was class. It's a really interesting condition, aspergers, we get a lot of it at the uni (we're fairly mathsy/sciency/computey) and I love how for some of the kids it's almost a superpower. Behold my laser focus and complete disinterest in that distracting shiny thing! Others, you wouldn't know day to day. And some, it causes a lot of problems, or they've built a set of coping strategies that isn't very effective or revolves around being "normal" or hiding.

I remember one kid I worked with in particular, he'd "met" a girl on an online support group and after a load of online chat, they just went right, let's meet up, and the next day he says "I need some time off, I'm off to America for a fortnight, from saturday". "Normal" people would talk themselves out of it, they'd create doubts and anxieties and they'd put it off, he just went "right, here's a thing to do, let's do it", absolutely no fuss or bullshit. They're married now.

Excellent piece of TV and very brave of Mr P to make it.

The subject matter is very close to home, my youngest son has not long been diagnosed with autism. We've known for most of his life and have tried to deal with things on our own. I'm beginning to see more spectrum traits in myself as I learn about the complexities that make everyday life so difficult for my son.

The American schools and their "teaching methods" had me seething. The whole place was a ASD nightmare. It's bothering me now, a few hours after watching the programme. How that must be for the students I can't begin to imagine.

It’s scheduled for repeat Monday 1115pm BBC2 and is also available On Demand now.

I think I have made good use of the positives of aspergers but unless you wear a t shirt with "I have aspergers" on it or go around telling everyone I am just seen as rude and anti social.
I have a wife that understands it/puts up with it/tells me when what I have said/done is not going down well etc,.

@markbrewer - the "perhaps" was being rhetorical/slightly sarcastic, I don't doubt that understanding both by society and by the sufferer is a way, if not the way, forward. CP clearly understands his condition and how to, at least partly, control it to his advantage.

@teasel - CP talked about what went through his mind as he spoke and it was rarely the subject in hand.

The ABA scenes reminded me of attempts by society to "cure" left-handedness. I wish CP had asked to see Room 101.

Very enjoyable. Very brave of him to be so frank.
(& I do hope he goes to the graduation)

Apparently he was a regular at The Fox & Hounds in Bitterne for years.

Will try and remember to watch this on iPlayer later, generally I quite enjoy most TV programs he is in, albeit they are normally of a nature variety.

albeit they are normally of a nature variety.

nickjb - Member
If I'm going to watch televised nature I'd much rather watch the honesty of Packham than the fakery and anthropomorphism of Attenborough

Or Kate Humble..

Great program, always liked CP.

For me the most interesting part was the discussion about "if you could cure it... would you?" and the implications about what a person "is" and whether changing that would be either 'curing' a disorder (without resorting to the crass analogy of cancer that the American used) or removing a fundamental part of what makes a person who they are.

I'm also struck a bit by how we can value difference when it is seen as beneficial but I don't think we (not sure who I mean by "we" really, society as a whole maybe) are consistent with acceptance of difference we don't find appealing. E.g. we value psychopathy and elevate those who don't become mass murderers to positions of power, wealth and influence and we're starting to see that those with autism can be much more skilled at some stuff than those that aren't.

But if for example, rather than a trait that leads someone to be extremely knowledgeable and having a direct, no bullshit delivery that engages the viewer (Packham) you have mental health issues that can manifest in you being a bit of an annoying **** (I'm thinking of Bill Oddie) you get marginalised and mocked.

Reminds me a bit of the thing Packham has been on about for the last few years on conservation - we go all out to protect the cuddly, furry endangered species, but not so hot on nasty bugs, slimy things and 'ugly' creatures.

Packham's had a lot of stick for his entirely logical (and I can now see how he's been the one to 'go there') assertion that we should just let the Giant Pandas die out because they've backed themselves into an evolutionary cul-de-sac and that's just how life works.

the fakery and anthropomorphism of Attenborough
Or Kate Humble..

Funny, but I'm positive Chris Packham wouldn't agree with you on either of those.

Funny, but I'm positive Chris Packham wouldn't agree

I've started reading Chris Packam's book, which is fascinating. He's so interesting and his style of writing is original.
As a naturalist he's one of the best and I've been a fan for years.

However the comments about Bill Oddie (who I believe suffers from depression), Kate Humble and the amazing David Attenborough are tosh. Go and have a word with yourself.

[i]Not quite sure what point you are making[/i]

Point is - liking Chris Packham doesn't mean you have to dismiss the others. Just utterly pointless.
It's probably just to get a reaction, unfortunately like a sucker, I fell for it.

I believe Bill Oddie has bipolar disorder.

Point is - liking Chris Packham doesn't mean you have to dismiss the others. Just utterly pointless.
It's probably just to get a reaction, unfortunately like a sucker, I fell for it.

@markbrewer - the "perhaps" was being rhetorical/slightly sarcastic

After re reading it this morning I can see that now. Was probably a bit too hasty to reply last night and didn't read it properly 😳

Watched with interest as the father of a nine-year-old with ASD.

CP's confessional stuff was very brave and fascinating, however personally I felt the visit to the US clinic and school felt a bit jarring, like it was crow-barred in to create narrative interest.

The time might have been more usefully spent illustrating the diversity of ASD, as I fear many viewers will come away thinking all autistic people are just like CP.

CP talked about what went through his mind as he spoke and it was rarely the subject in hand.

Ah, I was way off mark, then.

I have the repeat set to record so I'll give it a watch.

@markbrewer - no worries, hard to discern tone from plain text.

ta for heads up - recording this.

What struck me was for someone who self admits having issues with social interaction, his conversation was so eloquent and unfaltering. There was never a pause to think of the right phrase or an 'err, ummm' which I found admirable.

not being naturally able to read facial expressions or other physical signs of emotion and/or empathise and so on, doesn't hinder your own ability to use language

However the comments about Bill Oddie (who I believe suffers from depression), Kate Humble and the amazing David Attenborough are tosh. Go and have a word with yourself.

Erm, it was me that mentioned Oddie and the point I was trying to make (and obviously not well enough) was absolutely not having a dig, quite the opposite. My point was that his traits, which are not seen as appealing / attractive are not as accommodated as others that are seen as direct / engagingly knowledgeable (in the case of Packham).

I don't think this is a subjective judgement, it was based on him having been ditched from Spring/summer/autumn/winter/apocalypse-watch programs with the reports that came out not seeming to deny that it was due to him coming across as a bit of a knob, rather than any deficiency in his knowledge, or ability to communicate.

I dunno about Bill Oddie specifically, but it's worth pointing out that people with mental illnesses or ASD can also be bell ends generally.

All part of life's rich tapestry.

I read Chris Packham's autobiography " fingers in the sparklejar " which is both very odd and quite moving-worth a read I feel

If I'm going to watch televised nature I'd much rather watch the honesty of Packham

You should try reading his submission to the Derby City Council planners and the press over the proposal for a closed track cycling circuit at Pride Park. At best you can say that he was fed a line that he didn't check but describing the landfill site for the untreatable elements of the contaminated soil scraped off Pride Park as pristine green field land wasn't his finest hour.

mrmonkfinger - Member

not being naturally able to read facial expressions or other physical signs of emotion and/or empathise and so on, doesn't hinder your own ability to use language

For my son it most definitely does. He has ASD and complex cognitive speech and language difficulties. He can talk quite eloquently about a subject that he's interested in, down to intricate detail that others, even with a good knowledge of the subject, can't. It's that most of the time it's socially inappropriate for him to do that or that he is unable to control the conversation to keep other people engaged.

Often he will use vocabulary that on the surface looks like knowledge but is often repeated without the understanding of that vocabulary. Parrot fashion. He "knows" the subject but doesn't understand it.

BBS, I probably should have qualified that with "doesn't necessarily hinder", language development in people with Aspergers is normal AFAIK, as you say, further along the spectrum language is not advanced or otherwise abnormal.

Late to the forum, but yes; I watched a bit of it by accident and thought it was a fantastic programme. Going to watch the whole thing later on Iplayer.

An aside - I mentioned the Chris Packham programme to my in-laws, and they recoiled as if his name was a bad smell. What's that about? (I suspect it might have something to do with their unquestioning consumption of The Daily Mail?)

I mentioned the Chris Packham programme to my in-laws, and they recoiled as if his name was a bad smell. What's that about? (I suspect it might have something to do with their unquestioning consumption of The Daily Mail?)

Do they own cats? He is rather vocal in opposition to the God-given right of cat owners to boot them out at night to relieve themselves in next door's garden and (in some cases) massacre the local wildlife.

I imagine he's on the Daily Heil 'lefty' list, too, which is reason enough to be repulsed by the very mention of his name.

Bodgy, are they Countryside Alliance supporters? That organisation doesn't like him at all, and frequently rants about his status at the BBC.

If he annoys them, then he must be doing something right ( IMHO of course)

39 and diagnosed with ASD/Aspergers this year. Just this minute finished watching it after seeing this thread. I can relate to him so much. It was difficult to watch

Aaaahhh; of course, [b]Jimw[/b], that'll be it. I have to ignore their hunty tendencies, for [i]the greater good[/i] of not totally falling out with my beloved in-laws. (Stuff not to [s]argue about[/s] mention to my in-laws: Brexit, Jeremy Corbyn, Theresa May, fox hunting, The Daily Mail/Guardian, the BBC, immigrants . . . the list goes on.)

And probably a dose of 'Outlawed Lefty' too, [b]Martin[/b], but no cats.

I can relate to him so much.

Me too, so many similarities to my life and how I feel. The need to force yourself to fit in with what others expect (especially at work). People still can't understand why I have never been to a single office party in 20 years.

Watched this now.

The American way is both bizarre and unpalatable. It's almost as if the attitude there is somewhat akin to that regarding homosexuality during the 40s and 50s.

Chris is lucky to be able to live in a situation that works so well for him. I is envious in many ways.

Chris is lucky to be able to live in a situation that works so well for him. I is envious in many ways.

Yeah, the show was about him I suppose - but I would have liked to see more on the lives of normal people with ASD in the UK.

Shall watch tonight.

I score borderline on this [url= https://psychcentral.com/quizzes/autism.htm ]autism and asperger's test.[/url]

Bit of a shocker. But maybe not so much. Hmmm 💡

What do others here score? Would be interesting.

The American way is both bizarre and unpalatable.

Yet, at the other extreme, American companies are going out of their way to recruit people with autism. I think Packham said that in the UK, just 14% of adults with autism are in full time employment.

There were definitely aspects of what he described that I see myself doing: having things in order or aligned for example. His comments about the lack of symmetry in various rooms and buildings he visited struck a chord as well.

The US companies hiring those with autism/Asperger's were primarily high tech businesses not things like the service/retail industry though there could be some of those doing so as well they weren't part of the programme.

But only a small part of American companies. And zero surprise that it is the tech industry where we all fit in anyway.

I score borderline on this autism and asperger's test.

41. Not sure I trust the online thingummies that much, I've previously figured I'm 'on the edge' but every test I've done indicates some asd traits. Like others I guess, I've learnt ways to "fit in" but it's always tiring.

But only a small part of American companies. And zero surprise that it is the tech industry where we all fit in anyway.

Sure, but they explained how they adapted their recruitment process and office environment, which is something open to most industries, and echoes Packham's point about societal changes.

True.

CP's confessional stuff was very brave and fascinating, however personally I felt the visit to the US clinic and school felt a bit jarring, like it was crow-barred in to create narrative interest.

I thought it was interesting how he instantly took a dislike to the environment in the school and explained how it would upset children with autism and aspergers.

An excellent programme

I thought it was interesting how he instantly took a dislike to the environment in the school and explained how it would upset children with autism and aspergers.

As he said himself all ASD people are different so odd that he would generalize about a room. The things he pointed out would not bother me at all, yet a person eating some crisps next to me would have me leaving the room

it could upset children with autism and aspergers

better?

the honesty of Packham

Oh come on this is television. Springwatch set stuff up as much as any other TV program. One example is when they 'found' some grass snakes in a compost heap. What actually happened is they searched lots of heaps until they found some grass snakes, take the snakes out, put them in the fridge to slow them down a bit, get all the cameras, lighting, sound people in place, then put the dopey snakes back in place so that Chris and co. can 'find' them.

[i]natrix[/i] -

grass snakes...

😯

ISsssssssWYDT 😉

But really ...
... 😯

Wow, just watched the programme & didn't realise what he's gone through. I liked him before but like him more now. Hats off to him.

Oh come on this is television. Springwatch set stuff up as much as any other TV program. One example is when they 'found' some grass snakes in a compost heap. What actually happened is they searched lots of heaps until they found some grass snakes, take the snakes out, put them in the fridge to slow them down a bit, get all the cameras, lighting, sound people in place, then put the dopey snakes back in place so that Chris and co. can 'find' them.

Your point being.....?

We recorded it and I just watched it this evening. Really interesting, honest and touching, I agree.

We watched it last night on iPlayer.
Excellent program.

Always liked the edge he brought to his nature broadcasting. Particularly enjoyed the black c*ck incident from a few years back. Absolute legend.

Oh come on this is television. Springwatch set stuff up as much as any other TV program. One example is when they 'found' some grass snakes in a compost heap. What actually happened is they searched lots of heaps until they found some grass snakes, take the snakes out, put them in the fridge to slow them down a bit, get all the cameras, lighting, sound people in place, then put the dopey snakes back in place so that Chris and co. can 'find' them.