Craig Gottlieb & "Nazi War Diggers"

[keystone]

Good!

[J. Wraith]

I hear the sociopath History Hunter may be working a new Serial killer show, where he demonstrates killing neighbors pets and small furry animals as he works his way episode by episode opening the mindset of murderer's who get their jolly's traveling rural roads and small town America in search of prey and how they transcend to humans. History will be handling this one and it even allows tweeter tips on how not to let victims escape your apartment and run down the street in their underwear before receiving a proper acid bath.

Episode 1- Killing Squirrels and Chipmunks

Episode 2- I really hate Cats

Episode 3- Do I want to ask her out or decapitate her?

Episode 4-Hmmmm, tastes like Chicken

Episode 5- Crock pot Extravaganza

Episode 6- You too Can kill

Episode 7- Proper escape prevention

Episode 8- Death row looks bigger on T.V!

[alexanderautogr]

Wraith, that is the most f_cked up thing I have ever seen.

[J. Wraith]

Wraith, that is the most f_cked up thing I have ever seen.

Thank you, I strive to be as sick as possible when the situation dictates it. When I am done and get up from fetal position from laughing my arse off I will proof read that one, as it went up on the fly.

[Bob Hritz]

When can the proper people expect the return of the treasures and human remains that were 'looted' by thieves who call themselves archaelogists?

Get real, half of the collectors are glad to buy ground dug relics and ignore the fact they are taken from gravesites and mass war casualty burials. The only outrage is because many do not like Craig. Get over it, he is a star and the rest of us are not. If that is what you seek, go out and work for it.

Bob Hritz

[alexanderautogr]

And so it is settled. The show is gone. The actors, produces, directors, distributors, networks and National Geographic have been properly dealt with now that the voices of hundreds of reasoning archaeologists, historians, collectors and others outraged by grave despoiling have been heard. One battle down, many more to come. I would hope that the rest of the irresponsible "digger" shows would be next.

Gentlemen, it was THIS forum, posts made HERE that brought an end to what many believe was the vilest creation ever produced for public consumption. This demonstrates the power of free speech and advocacy for a just and righteous cause.

Give your computer a pat on the back...

[J. Wraith]

Get over it, he is a star and the rest of us are not. If that is what you seek, go out and work for it.

Bob Hritz

A star?... Bigger than that and now we have a Super-Nova and his world has just imploded on itself and destroyed the degenerate white dwarf that's been sucking off the host star for a decade. We can use astronomy analogies here if you like, serial killers are more fun but I am game. Star my butt, a barnacle would be a better classification.

[Steve Sherlock]

The CG bashing aside for the moment, what I found interesting comes from Helden's post, (post 315) where he quotes from a NY Times articles which states that NG said "The show was to have been broadcast globally except in the United States."

Why do you suppose NG did not plan to show this in the USA?

Steve

[eldenwaff]

When can the proper people expect the return of the treasures and human remains that were 'looted' by thieves who call themselves archaelogists?

Get real, half of the collectors are glad to buy ground dug relics and ignore the fact they are taken from gravesites and mass war casualty burials. The only outrage is because many do not like Craig. Get over it, he is a star and the rest of us are not. If that is what you seek, go out and work for it.

Bob Hritz

Cannot take away his accomplishments, that is true, most of us will never be on any cheesy syndicated reality shows and don't want to be. But a "star" ? A bit over the top, I guess some folks are impressed easier than others.
I along with most others would be just as mortified if some no name guys were doing this, you are being very disingenuous claiming people are outraged only because it is CG. That said, sure, it probably would not have been a 20+ page thread if it was someone not already tainted with numerous notorious scams, lies, and misdeeds.
If you have any stats to back up the contention that "half of the collectors are glad to buy ground dug relics and ignore the fact they are taken from gravesites and mass war casualty burials", please post.

The CG bashing aside for the moment, what I found interesting comes from Helden's post, (post 315) where he quotes from a NY Times articles which states that NG said "The show was to have been broadcast globally except in the United States."

Why do you suppose NG did not plan to show this in the USA?

Steve

I was wondering the same, doesn't make sense to pass over the largest potential market. Don't think it was done out of PC considerations, plenty of that to go around here. More than likely just wanted to test the waters and if it succeeded, they would have started airing it here.

[Kelly w]

What a lame bunch they are. No trace left on their website of the show or any statement that would confirm the NY Times article.

[J. Wraith]

What a lame bunch they are. No trace left on their website of the show or any statement that would confirm the NY Times article.

They ran away as fast as they could, that show was a nightmare and while military collectors had something to do with that the archeologists and academics really must of put a scare into them with petitions and letters. If they ran that program they may not have recovered their reputation in circles they could not afford to lose. Could not distance themselves fast enough from guys digging up dead bodies for entertainment, absurd and lit up their offices with phones, letters, and social media. They had to dump that thing.

[kefru177]

When can the proper people expect the return of the treasures and human remains that were 'looted' by thieves who call themselves archaelogists?

Get real, half of the collectors are glad to buy ground dug relics and ignore the fact they are taken from gravesites and mass war casualty burials. The only outrage is because many do not like Craig. Get over it, he is a star and the rest of us are not. If that is what you seek, go out and work for it.

Bob Hritz

Are you trolling Bob? Your claims are really tin foil hat stuff. - "proper people" "Looted by thieves" please.

Anyway the series is dead, pulled indefinitely.

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/20...ype=blogs&_r=0

http://www.heritagedaily.com/2014/03...diggers/102632

This quote sums it up

“Given the Baltic battlefields are some of the most contaminated in the World; and apart from the ethical issues surrounding the apparently incompetent and unnecessary excavation of the grave site of a human being; these gentlemen are prime contenders for a Darwin award.

Given the amount of seventy year old high explosives in the areas they are digging they could easily end up following the instructions for actions to be taken when stepping on a mine given by Captain E Blackadder. That is to “jump about 200 feet in the air and scatter yourself over a wide area.” This time taking the TV crew with them. And they would not have any excuses because the programme’s producers were warned explicitly about all these issues over a year ago and they were also given the contact details of reputable UK based archaeologists with extensive media experience who could ensure their resulting programme would be safe and ethical.”

[Kyle Harrington]

He is a star

Making sensationalist television equates with being a "star", sorry Bob you have lost me here? I know in this age people aspire to such manifestly inane and dubious coverage as a goal if you will, however the majority of people ,I believe ,reside quite happily in obscurity.His pursuit of recognition belies a rather worrying tendency in today's world.He does our hobby no favours whatsoever , on the contrary most of us recognise the value of history and the acquisition of a better understanding through artifacts and their individual histories.This guy pursues wealth and fame, the last thing we need.

[bigschuss]

I've been enjoying the comments by the CG apologists. Some funny stuff.

[DonC]

This has been an interesting read, as most involving Craig are. Craig is an anomaly in military collecting, to be sure - I think most of us are content, even most dealers, to sort of sit back somewhat anonymously and go about our hobby quietly - part of that no doubt is due to the current climate of political correctness in the world and, I would say, an absolutely depressing and inexcusable level of ignorance on the part of most people with regard to the real history of the Second World War and the people who fought it (see current events in Crimea and the Ukraine for Exhibit A).

Craig, on the other hand, is a self-promoter in the style of PT Barnum and any number of other hucksters - that requires an enormous ego and a conscious willingness to disregard other peoples' opinions (and feelings). In my opinion, most of the criticism leveled at him in terms of business practices and his self-promoting style is fair - the personal stuff is open to debate, but it is hard to separate one from the other. The man obviously wants to be a star, and is willing to do whatever is necessary to try to make that happen.

My biggest issue with this aborted program is a purely selfish one - were that "reality" show to air, it would have painted all militaria collectors, regardless of HOW we collect, as grave robbers in the public imagination - a public that is, as I have said, woefully ignorant of the era that we are fascinated by, and is only too willing to give credence to anything on TV because it is a "reality" show. We would ALL be labeled grave robbers. The light it would shine on our hobby would not be a kind one, as the comments that we have seen directed at this program would soon be directed at collectors by the same ignorant public who know nothing about what we do and why we do it, and I think it could have damaged the hobby far more than fake Damascus blades, bogus SS lab coats, and self-authenticating Mengele passports.

I hope it stays buried, but I won't hold my breath.

Don