Mortis wrote:Whitjr, that is exactly what I was worried would happen, with thousands and thousands of people across the country. The show makes it seem like any guy can get out of his car, wander into the woods 100 feet, and dig up $1000 of ginseng in an hour. I have no problem with the show concept, if they would be a little more accurate in how they portray the business to those that know nothing about it. The show is taking advantage of human's natural tendency to get \"gold fever\" over easy money.
I agree with what you stated and it shows in what Whitjr wrote about his next door neighbor! These folks are seeing the Hollywood theactrics of this Show as being real. That anyone can go out and make a lot of money hunting and digging Ginseng, when in reality, most really can't. Imagine the true reaction of West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and Vermont (sorry but since the show centers around the Appalachian Mountains, I left out the States where Ginseng grows outside of them) longtime diggers of Ginseng when they head out to their' secret spot to find cars or trucks already there with Colorado, Texas, Kansas, New Mexico, Wyoming, etc. License Plates on them. While many folks in the Appalachians are level headed and very giving, some are not and I fear that the Show could trigger a blood bath. It also depicts poaching and trespassing as a way of life and that it is okay, when it is not and which also could get some folks killed or seriously injured. Many of the people who are taken in by the Show and the thoughts of making good money fast, will quickly come to the realization that hunting and digging Ginseng is hard work, not a way to get rich fast and can be very dangerous if you are in the wrong place at the wrong time. However, there will be those that won't come to the same realization due to their specific financial situation and/or especially those who are addicted to drugs and need money from Ginseng to supply their need.
Frank
