Steve Irwin

When I saw the footage of him holding his baby in one arm and feeding a croc with another. This wasn't over a fence or anything - this was on bare ground. I saw a clip of him defending himself - saying he is a total professional etc.

This is hubris and bad judgement and frankly exploitive. Does anyone not think he did it for publicity? What reason is there to have a baby within a few feet of a hungry croc?

I am sad to see anyone die. The news report I saw said it was the first death from Sting Ray in Australia in 60 Years.

But don't you have to wonder, Steve had been so lucky for so long, was he "due" to run out?

I am not suggesting he wasn't skilled - clearly to handle thousands of deadly snakes and hundreds of crocs up close, you have to be skilled. But even those with skill sometimes run afoul of fate. Roy Horn raised a tiger from a cub, and it still attacked him. The more death defying things you do, the more likely you are to facing an untimely end.

James

Was at the laudrymat cleaning sleeping bags and I saw flash "The Late Steve Irwin" but couldn't hear anything about it.

Looked it up later, and it seems real odd of all the animals that he got up and dangerous with, that the stingray would be the one to take him out. Sad.

My boys watched his show all the time. I personally prefered the south Park tribute to him.

RIP Steve.

especially since he is leaving small children. But it's not a shock that he was killed by an animal. I think it was just a matter of 'when'.

Whether we drive a car, work on scaffolds, wash windows from a ladder, or even walk down a flight of stairs, just about everything we do is full of risks that are life threatening.. The outcome of these everyday things are in most cases uneventful, BUT.. How we choose to conduct ourselves are weighed one against another and applied thru experience. Many, many things we do are passed off by all as not dangerous because we've done it before and nothing happened. That doesn't make it any less dangerous but taints our outlook on life in general. Who would have thought that a scared sting ray would be placed in that particular piece of water when Steve passed by. Just like when we all cross thru a light controlled intersection in our cars. All it takes is one drunk driver and we'd all be pushing up daisies. My prayers go to his family and friends and I pray that we all learn a lifes lesson from this unfortunate event.

... Buddha. For leaving his wife and young son, and going in search of enlightenment. But I guess it is something that comes from deep within a person. Some of us who disagree might call it selfish, but to that person it could be harrowing to not do so.

edited: grammar, spelling, clarity

...don't many hunters take their kids along for hunting wild animals?

How long do you think it will be before that video is released? There are plenty of people out there that "eat that up".

Just like you can rent the video (don't remember the guys name) that lived amung the bears and defended them, only to have him AND his stupid girlfriend get eaten by one? They SAY that you don't SEE anything, but you hear it. why would someone rent a video to listen to someone get eaten alive by a bear?

I will pass either way. Just like I didn't watch any of the beheading videos, and have no intention of it.

...see the interview where he defended himself. Well that incident had made an impact on you.

but, like James, I had this guy marked down as a dangerous fool after I'd seen [b]this[/b] little incident.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/3365999.stm

Irwin: "But I would be considered a bad parent if I didn't teach my children to be croc-savvy."

Mrs Irwin said her baby enjoyed the experience. "When I put him back in the pram he had big eyes and he was smiling and it was a wonderful sensory experience for him. He dug it," she said.

The kiddy was [b]one month[/b] old. Idiots, the pair of them.

Yes, he was a fun character to watch but...

Neil

Scary ain't it...

As I was reading the discussion forum, and as I scrolled down the pictures suddenly were there. So what makes you think I DO have the heart? It will be an interesting to how you came to this opinion, as I have never gone searching for such pictures or sound bites before.

As far as the feelings, it is just a mixture of feelings. Can't put one or two words to it. And if one mulls over it, it just gets horrible.

NEVER point a loaded weapon at anyone you are not planning on shooting (for self defense).

ASSUME EVERY weapon is loaded, all the time.

------------------------------

If you remember those two simple rules, hunting is safer than driving down the highway.

As for prey, if you are hunting something dangerous or there are dangerous animals in the area you are hunting, you are never alone, and you have at least one person with a heavy firearm ready at all times looking for nothing but defense against the dangerous animals.

People that go bear hunting for example, have someone with them with a heavy rifle, just in case.

A safe walk in the woods. Just know and respect the woods.

misunderstood me.

My apologies. What I meant is that it would be heartless to NOT be affected by these images. You obviously ARE which says to me that you have a lot of heart. Are we clear now? :)

She said it shows you have "A" heart for feeling that way, not that you have the heart to enjoy the viewing of such films.

It was meant in a good way. Trust me.

misunderstood, then it is me who should ask for apologies, not you :-)

So here it goes: Sorry for misunderstanding you.

chip and dale thing here, couldn't we? No..no it was ME, I'm sorry..

to avoid that, I'll just say that I accept your apology and that you should not be so thick-headed in the future. :)

Well I am not a hunter nor a Croc expert, so I will listen to what you folks say.

But I know one thing, it is always wise to practice caution with an hungry animal around, especially with a croc :-)

When I was a young boy, we had just got a new pet - German Sheperd, and I remember it kind of growling and scratching me when my dad was feeding him. It must have considered me as a competition when I went near his food. Both the dog and me were young.

edited: sentence structure

more worried about the OTHER hunters in the woods who don't understand the two rules.. Or the ones who do, but who have had waaay too many beers to be walking around with a loaded gun.

Only a fool goes through life with no fear. It is someone that is brave that doesn't let that fear stop them from accomplishing their goal.

Fear is a sign of intellegence as well. Part of the survival mechanism.

Assume each and everyone that is in the woods is a complete moron and avoid them like the they have wolfpeople02 personality. At all costs.

Far fewer people get hurt from "friendly fire" than people that "didn't know the gun was loaded".

Two guys are out hunting, and one accidentily gets shot. The second guy bundles him up, and gets him to the hospital.

The doctor comes out of he operating room, so the man runs up and says "Well Doc, is he going to make it?"

The Doctor looks at him and replys, "I could have saved him if you hadn't gutted him".

Sorry, old joke. Bad joke. old bad joke.

You misunderstood what I said. The people I'm talking in the paragraph below ARE the apologists.

"People (the apologists) who advocate negotiation (with Al Qaeda), reasoning (with Al Qaeda), or withdrawal from the middle east (as a solution to "the problem") should watch them (the videos). They will never think that way again."

The murderers in the videos brutally murdered innocent civilians, not combatants (combatants should not get that kind of death either). What the killers did, and the way they did it, tells you very clearly the kind of crazy inhuman people we are dealing with over there.

We did not bring their wrath upon us. They already hated our guts, or people like us, and it goes back for centuries.

....ofcourse yes. But you could say Irwin had his "own" personality. Some liked it, some did not like it.

and we are talking about the same people, for the same reason.

I just don't think watching the video will change the way they "feel". I would say "think" but it is clear that they DON'T "think".

I don't think watching these videos would make any difference to the same people we are both talking about.

"...I don't think watching these videos would make any difference to the same people we are both talking about..."

Well, you might be right, and I might be wrong, about THAT. :-)

And, if so, I say "off with their nuts"! We don't want another generation of THOSE people! :-)

..perhaps :-) where I will join this discussion.

In this case it was a [b]Yank Woman[/b] who drove him on. Before his current wife came on the scene he was broke working his way just to pay for fuel on a clapped out old 4 Wheel Drive and old beat up tinny.

Then onto the scene came a Yank who dragged him into something else which he seemed to accept and do but here in this case when he died he wasn't filming for anyone but his daughter as something that she had asked for and he was doing it for her as a special gift.

Women are always at the root of all problem. :p

Col ]:)

You know, I almost put that at the end of my post! I just didn't want to add disrespect to my disagreement!

Woof! :-)

And I knew you would take it the way it was intended.

:D

Absolutely. I got a good laugh out of your reply.

Thanks. :-)

...is she doing after this incident? And what is his wife's reactions? Looks like even the Australian PM has expressed his sorrow. Must be something really big in Australia.

It is sad to see him gone. But I valued the way he chose to live. Not my choice but his wasn't my life to live.

I have felt for some time now that failure to live your passion is the greatest regret you can have. When you are living as fully as you want to, you are LIVING. I am more the skid into the end with a martini in one hand saying, "Whee, what a ride!" type.

It is terribly sad that his wife, Terri, will not have him going forward. But given that her background is zoology as well, I don't see her returning to the States. I figure her for carrying on the work that Australia Zoo has done so well over the past years, both in breeding and supporting animals.

I saw an interview with him several years ago in which he made the following prophetic statement, "I will likely die as a result of something to do with an animal. I just hope it isn't a croc. I can see you all now- 'Always knew a croc would get him!'"

Truly sorry to see such a wonderful advocate for animals pass on.

Edited for clarity

Remember the IRA who are Catholics did exactly the same thing on an almost daily basis to anyone who they thought where traitors to the cause.

Only instead of cutting off their heads they would use a Power Drill and drill out the Knee Joints as an example to others not to cross them.

Somehow eventually the Poms managed to Negotiate with the IRA. The PLO which was originally an outright Terrorist Organisation was accepted as a valid Political Party as well and many others so with time everything can be cured. It's only the rabid Religious people who believe that they are doing the right thing that scare me S H I T L E S S as to me they are the scary ones.

Col

Ok, I'm going to attempt an analogy. I believe that Steve is getting way too much flack on the one incident with his baby. Granted [b]I[/b] would [b]never[/b] put any of my kids is such a situation, but [b]he[/b] is an entirely different life.

Ok, we are not in a life-threatening field. But try to pretend that a PC virus really is.

We often tell users NOT to do certain things because we know the potential of virusess, hijackings and identity theft (and some just plain dumb errors) is huge if they do. However, because we are experienced in such things, how many of us would not be willing to teach our young children how to maneuver around such areas that we tell the ordinary person to avoid?

Because we are so familiar with our field, we have a comfort zone that is far beyond that of the ordinary person. Within this comfort zone we tend to share this knowledge and training with our children. The same principle applies to anyone, in any field.

Pick any dangerous job you can think of. Think about the children of that person who does that job. Now sometimes people with dangerous jobs don't WANT their children to follow their footsteps and avoid teaching them, but I think the majority begin exposing their children right away.

Like football star dads. Professional or not, if a dad wants his son to be a football star too, don't they immediately start exposing the young one to football everywhere and in everything? (Again, not really life-threatening...but remember this is just a scenario comparison)

Such is what happens with Steve and his kids. Steve and Terry are immersed in their life. Their life IS Crocs and Wildlife. Therefore it is only natural for them to expose their children to this Life...within the limits of [b]their[/b] comfort zone. The big difference is that their comfort zone is nothing like our own. Because we don't live our lives immersed in dangerous wildlife. So let's all take a step outside of our own shoes and realize that their perspective is not delusional, but in a completely different path than our own. Therefore it is not for us to judge such actions.

Ok I think I'm done :)
Tink
[i](mother of 3 young children whom I'd never let near a croc, but have no problems letting them play Res Evil)[/i]

that it was just JD that was wrong..

meow.

But as yet they haven't made an appearance and are sitting at home coming to terms with what has happened.

The family is staying out of the spotlight right at the moment but I think that no matter what they want something big will happen regarding Memorial Services after his funeral. His body has been brought back to his home now early this mourning actually and is now in a Funeral Home locally. I just hope that the Media leaves the family alone to get through their grief without intrusion.

At the moment they seem to be fairly decent and haven't bothered any of the workers at AU Zoo either they have just accepted the Press Announcement and it's business as usual there but there are heaps of flowers and the like being placed outside of the entrance and a lot of the children are undergoing counselling in the schools.

I never thought of Steve Irwin as a Flower person and I really think that he would much prefer donations to [b]Wildlife Warriors[/b] rather than floral tributes but maybe latter today Terri will make some sort of public statement. I just hope that she's not driven to it before she's comfortable doing it.

Currently his Manager has been the Front Person for the Press and I hope that it will stay that way.

Col
[i]Note Remember to replace the batteries in the keyboard. :(

...to my wife, that it is likely that his kids will get into zoology and wildlife. Atleast his daughter.

That her Backyard AU Zoo is her private playground and her father was only a nuisance there to stop her doing what she wanted to do. He let her play with the Elephants and the like but not the bigger Crocks or Snakes which got up her nose no end.

I think that you have a pretty safe bet going there. :)

Col

Considered to be lunatic?

Couple of points and I will shut up. He developed AU Zoo to be a combination of conservancy (breeding programmes) and education. He recognised that people fear things that they don't understand and sought to develop understanding.

His flamboyant character, in my opinion, helped that effort as people were drawn to him, drawn to watching him.

AU Zoo has been a leader in animal conservancy efforts as well as providing a home for animals in a bad way. They nursed sick animals, would answer calls from the public to remove nuisance animals and more. At one point, they were the reason that many animals were not distroyed when a zoo was closed down. They went in and got those animals out. They were able to do this becasue he was successful with a television show that was essentially about his life.

I do events like the 3 Day to draw attention to a disease in search of a cure. Over the course of fundraising for that effort, I was called fearless many times. There was nothing I wasn't willing to do. While I am not nearly as flamboyant as Steve Irwin, I certainly was as passionate about my cause as he was about his. What's the difference?

I feel strongly that animals have lost a great advocate. I firmly believe that Terri and the children will do everything they can to continue his work. I wish them all the luck.

It's amazing how people on TR like to parse words. One...false...word...and WHACK! :-)

We mainly agree here.

I think Steve took a lot of foolish risks with himself and his child (in this one incident we are picking on). But, he chose to live his life like that. Carrying his child was just "passing on the family business" to him. That's the point.

You and I think it is a foolish family business, but it was HIS family business. For me, putting his health and life on the line with huge crocs, deadly snakes, and deadly spiders was taking foolish unnecessary risks.

Tink is right. We should not be judging the man's entire extraordinary life by this one incident (feeding the croc while carrying his baby). His adventures, however risky, did bring a lot of information about animals to all of us and he loved what he did. That is how we should remember him.

As an aussie, I used to cringe whenever I saw Steve Irwin on TV, as I knew that the image he portrayed was not me.

Since hearing of his death, I've read a lot of articles on the person that was (nay IS) Steve Irwin and I have to agree with ONBLISS - one cannot help but be impressed with his energy and enthusiasm. I saw a replay of a TV interview in which he stated he was the "... proudest aussie there is ...." I'm not sure there's such a thing as the 'proudest aussie' because all aussies take our pride in who we are seriously, but one thing is for sure, Steve Irwin did a lot to promote the Australia he truly loved and it is that which should be his legacy not a single act which many feel was stupid. [PS I'm over it now, but ...:)]

It is sad to see someone so relatively young die, but as his friend said, "... He died doing what he loves best and left this world in a happy and peaceful state of mind."

Crikey, as an aussie I'd much rather be branded as a khaki wearing, crocodile hunter than a cold-hearted detainer of children in refugee centres.

Vale, Steve Irwin - rest in peace, cobber

To die and even worse for him, he may have lived if he did not remove the barb and if he had a medical crew on hand.
I would have thought he would have met his maker from a croc. Or shark. I did like watching and making fun of the crazy antics of the ausies. The other guy who keeps annoying and teasing the snakes and crocs. I thought he would get it but it was the guy that was trying to help.

did the IRA believe by blowing themselves up they would get their orgy in heaven?

Did their family recieve a million bucks to take care of them after the bread winner was gone?

Did the IRA strap bombs into children and send them into crouds?

The IRA did a lot of bad things,and I will admit to being ignorant of a lot of it, but they were amatures compared to the lunitics in radical islam. Did the IRA seek world domination as a superstate?

It's been a month, at least, now so any misunderstanding is clearly Onbliss's fault.

(I have an explanation for this post ready anytime you need it Onbliss :| )

:p

edit: "at least" is two words isn't it?

Doh!!! Steve Irwin was probably committed to strine as a conversationalist. Struth, can I dig a deeper hole here :)

he was no prefessional. He was more an adrenalin and media junky. According to those who knew him well and worked with him, before he became a media darling - he was contemptious of safety rules and never did his research properly.

He never took outrageous risks because he never did any risk calculations to say they were outrageous. Many of the people who worked with him on the shows only worked a short time as they felt there was insufficient safety thinking and insufficient checking of an area before going in.

His shows were good because he had excellent support and script writers. Also he's about as Australian as Crocodile Dundee is - and about as typically Australian as Charles Manson or George Bush are typical Americans.

I'm sorry to see him die like this, but I'm not sorry to see he's not making any more shows. Now if we can only can the reruns.

And for those who ask, many of his minders reconed, at the time, that the baby at the croc feeding was a publicity stunt as he was waning in the public eye. I wasn't there, but there is a hell of a difference between exposing the baby to crocs by having someone hold the kid at the fence and taking them into the enclosure - which by the way, was totally against the rules of that facility.

all like that. I may joke about it, but we do practice compromise in my house. I don't know the validity of birth order and behavior, but I've read that two first borns should never be a couple, because they are too head strong. My husband and I are both first borns and both very head strong. We may not always agree and we both REALLY want our own way, but we usually come to an agreement without MUCH bloodshed..

While I was on vaction this summer, My family was walking on some rocks on the shore of the Bay of Fundy when my daughter said there was a guy with a snake. Sure enough, on the sand below the rocks, there was a couple and the man was attempting to catch a snake by the tail as we watched from about 10 yards up on the rocks.

Eventually, the snake escaped from the guy and his girlfriend who had been using a long stick to keep the snake in the sand. As the couple was climbing back up the rocks I asked the guy what kind of snake it was. He said he had no idea.

I can only believe that this dork had seen one too many Croc Hunter or Jeff Corwin show and figured he knew what to do. Next time, I hope the snake has better luck.

You make a good point that all parents should consider carefully. I respect your view that it is "selfish", but just don't agree with that judgement.

There are many examples of parents where the "family business" is dangerous and is passed on from generation to generation:
- Military personnel (countless)
- Firefighter (countless)
- Fisherman (countless)
- Oil rig worker (countless)
- Race car driver (e.g. Andretti, Unser, etc)
- Daredevil circus acts (e.g. the "Great Wallendas")

I just don't agree that it is "selfish" for these people to have children. But, I do think they should think carefully about it. For example, they should make plans for their children's care should something happen to them.

I respect your view.

P.S. I'm sure you know that all of the "woof" stuff is frivolity about you and JD picking on my use of "living without fear" as opposed to "living based on fear".