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Location: Australia | To say he got what he deserved is not only heartless, it's stupid. |
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Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Hobie,
I'm with you.
I believe most folks bought into his image as a philanthropic conservationist, but he wasn't. He just appeared to be and the image flourished in people's minds. "Image is everything."
He was an entertainer, who used sickeningly vogue "Reality" and "Extreme" genres as marketing ploys. And who, I'd be willing to bet, statisically, got as many or more kids hassling, strangling and caging critters, as he did getting them to "conserve the environment".
Deserve what he got?
Interesting question, Richard.
If you mean, did I "wish" this sorta thing would befall him? No. I'm not particularly moved however, by the fate of people who die driving drunk or by overdose or who, suffer stress heart attacks prior to their trial for cheating thousands of people for millions of dollars, out of their livelihoods and earned pensions, just cause they could... |
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Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I can't help but think that there are lots of marine biologists out there who are saying (at least to themselves) that he was being exceptionally foolish with his actions. This story reminds me of the tragedy a few years ago when the bonfire preparations at Texas A&M collapsed. I read an interview by someone from the logging industry in the Pacific Northwest who said something like "if those kids had any idea how dangerous logs can be, they would have never been doing that. They were fools for taking such chances."
That's my reaction here. My gut tells me that he didn't really understand how dangerous the ray was. |
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Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | For me, he turned into a fool the minute he walked into that croc pen with his infant son. Regardless how much you trust your instincts and experience, that's unquestionably a fool's move. Endanger yourself for the show (read: cash) all you want but leave your kid outside so he can at least grow up to read what an idiot his dad was. |
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Posts: 777
Location: East Wenatchee, WA | I guess the point to me is that there was a loss of life. A couple of kids lost the opportunity to grow up with Dad, a wife lost a husband, parents a child and so forth.
What ever this debate is all about (arm-chair quarterbacking mostly), let's not forget that no matter how much you may be hated by one group, there are still others who are stricken with grief right now over the loss of one they loved.
The same arguments could be applied to any activity deemed dangerous by another person, and when someone dies the "I was right" mentality seems pretty small when so many others have lost a human being whom they cared for. |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | No question, JD, and the loss to the others in his family and friends all makes what he was doing all the more pointless. |
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Location: ranson,wva | our kids liked him but i personaly thought he was a damned idiot..just my 2 cents worth..jason |
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Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I feel for his family. Whether you believe he lived on the edge for the thrill or the bucks, or just always went too far or not, the undeniable truth is that there is a loss for those left behind.
Rather than idolize or villianize someone for their life and career choices, I would prefer to say a prayer and wish compassion on those to whom he was a person, not an entertainer or conservationist.
Even in my job, I could go to work too tired one day and slip, fall into a running mixer...let's just say it would be bad, and it would be the last time I did anything ever again. Stupid mistakes are what make us human, but to assume that we know why these things happen and can judge another for them IS the height of foolishness.
On the other hand, my 20-year-old sister in-law was driving home the other day, missed her interchange, and obliviously drove 90 miles the wrong way to the far side of Seattle before her passenger realized what she'd done and told her...
...like I said, stupidity is the only thing more prevalent in the universe than hydrogen! I certainly don't want to be purely remembered for mine. |
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Location: Copenhagen Denmark | He had a great deal of knowledge that he willingly shared with many,including those who themselves wanted to try,to be there,yet who did not have the opportunity ....lack of money /skills/physical condition ya name it,to those he brought "His world to them" there are many who are grateful for that , old and young alike ... :) |
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Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Steve Irwin
You had Courage
You showed us how
Hopefully You are there
in the Biggest wilderniss of all
finding a queerie for a new quest
We wish You Best of All
Vico :) :) :) |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | Well, whether you liked him or thought he was foolish or worse, one thing is for sure. It sucks getting dead at 44. |
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Location: Chehalis, Washington | Well put. |
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Location: North Carolina | I think it is a terribly sad thing that a wife lost her husband, 2 kids lost their dad, and a man lost his life. I think what happened to him was a terrible accident. To say he shouldn't have been messing with the sting rays or it wouldn't have happened is correct. It is also true if people didn't over eat they wouldn't die of heart attacks. If people wouldn't smoke they wouldn't die of lung cancer. If people wouldn't drive cars they wouldn't die in crashes. I've seen alot of interviews with people who knew him well that said he was sincere, that his on-screen and off-screen personna was the same. Those who didn't know him well, myself included, don't really have a leg to stand on when we say we know what he was really like or how he really felt. The incident with his baby and the crocodile was , in my opinion, a stupid thing to do. However, everyone I know has done stupid things from time to time, and in my opinion that doesn't make them bad people. They're just regular people doing stupid things. For me, it comes down to the fact that a man died too young, and a family was left without a loved one. If I didn't feel for him and them, I'd be concerned a little about my own humanity. |
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Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by fillhixx:
Originally posted by Mitchrx:
The only way we'll ever get the "true" story is if one of Irwin's crew has the opportunity to make some big money with an expose'... **it happens. Why, when it happens to someone famous, do so many immediately assume there's a cover-up/conspiracy?
I certainly feel sorry for Irwin. I does suck to die at 44. However, his death cannot be compared with a tragic fatal accident that happens to someone in normal daily life or work. We've all seen people who engage in "extreme" activities. The thrill is the flirting with disaster that is part and parcel of the activity. Some people live for that stuff. Some people make a buch of money by filming it. The monetary aspect adds an incentive to take the risk.
I'm don't think that Irwin deserved what he got. I'm sure that every known precaution was taken. **it does happen, but it happens a lot more when you purposely put yourself in a dangerous situation. You take your chances, you pay the price.
R.I.P. to Mr. Irwin. He was OK in my book. He certainly left his mark on society. Hopefully something will be learned and gained from his tragic demise. |
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Location: Bluffton, SC | I don't think there's any reason in the world to show a film of a man about to die.
None. |
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Location: Parrish, FL | I’ve spent more time than most in, on , and around the sea, sailing between the Chesapeake Bay and Trinidad/Tobago over a 2 year time period. We (wife, kids 10 &11 at the time, and I) dove and snorkeled at every opportunity in waters from Florida, the Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean. Along the way we encountered lots of critters that would have hurt you bad given the chance. Animals like barracudas, sharks, rays, eels, and innocuous looking sea urchins.
The cuda’s are mostly bark and will back down if you swim towards them. The important thing is to not corner them or wear ANY jewelry in the water because they will ‘strike’. Most of the sharks are just curious, but we always got out of the water (calmly) when they were around. The rays and skates are some of the seas most graceful animals, but the only way to get close to them was to come upon them unexpectedly.
I don’t know what Irwin was doing at the time the accident, most likely marveling at the beauty and grace of the undersea world. It is very easy to be seduced and let your guard down.
All I can say is that this was a tragedy. I have never watched any of his programs so I can’t comment on the exploitation that did or did not exist. Regardless, anytime someone is lost unexpectedly, it affects those close to that individual. Give the guy a break and give the family the respect they deserve at this time. Steve died doing ‘what he does’. Seems to me there are worse ways to clock out. |
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Posts: 629
Location: Houston, Texas | Originally posted by Weaser P:
I don't think there's any reason in the world to show a film of a man about to die.
None. I don't know, I actually think it would be educational to some degree. I think that if they showed it up to the point of where he was struck it would be fine. Showing him struggling or anything after that would'nt be right, but part of why he did what he did was to show how animals react when agitated. If you don't see how fast an alligator or crocodile can move you might not think it possible. And while I do think he lacked some common sense at times, most of what he did was educational and probably has kept alot of stupid people from messing with dangerous animals or at least getting hurt by them.
I just can't get that FedEx commercial out of my head though. :rolleyes: |
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Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | Originally posted by Weaser P:
I don't think there's any reason in the world to show a film of a man about to die.
None. I agree, but I don't think that the film should be destroyed. It should be preserved but not publicly shown, at least not for now. In 20 or 30 years, who knows, maybe then, maybe never. I'm sure his kids are going to want to have the film. |
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Location: south east Michigan | I think there is plenty of film available for the kids to see their father.
I don't think they would want to see this one.
I hope it gets destroyed. |
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December 2003
Posts: 1071
Location: Carle Place, NY | The kids should decide if they want to see the film once they are adults. It would be wrong to have the film destroyed. I'm starting to think that there may be news that it was destroyed just to end some of the public interest in the story, but that in reality it will be secretly preserved.
The crew appears to be very loyal to Irwin and it's unlikely that any of them will say much more than what has alrealdy been told. The film is something valuable, but not for public "entertainment." |
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Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | I'd have to disagree. Would you want your kids seeing you go like that? I'm not sure it's their decision to make. Maybe Irwin's wife should be the deciding factor but I know I would never want my kid(s) to see that even if they wanted to. Either way, definitely not for public consumption in any way. |
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Location: south east Michigan | It's just to risky that it will end up on YouTube.
Destroy it. |
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Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | I stayed out of this because I can see all of the negatives that have come up will become a reality on the internet.
I do agree that Steve Irwin's personal level of allowable risk was higher than should have been. I see that in the Industrial Trades all the time. It usually leads to injuries and accidents.
I enjoyed the guy's zest for life. I'm glad he went out doing what he loved to do. I am sorry for his Wife and family that it had to be so soon.
No doubt that Fox and You Tube will have the full story before long.
Stuck in my head are things like "What a fabulous specimin! Good thing we saw it before it saw us!"
A Toast and a moment of prayer for Steve Irwin! |
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Location: NJ | y'might as well destroy the Zapruder Film while you're at it, then . . . |
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Location: south east Michigan | Apples and oranges, Cliff. |
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WTF OT ....CRIKEY!!!!
