Crikey! Gross Insensitivity Ahead!

[bjarvis]

Crocodile hunter Steve Irwin died this past weekend, killed by a sting ray. For all of the eulogizing of him on CNN, Yahoo! news, LJ, the Australian Parliament and other such reputable forums of discussion, my sympathy extends to his family but not to the man himself.

Every time I saw him on television chasing down some hapless critter all I could think was that if the crocodile bit his head off, it would be entirely deserved: when people do stupid things, they should expect stupid results. I guess he did love animals in his own way: he owed his fame to tracking & harassing them with abandon in their natural habitat for cheap entertainment. IMHO, if he loved critters all that much he should have demonstrated his appreciation by leaving them alone.

Irwin was killed when a ray jabbed him in the heart. He died doing what he loved, harassing wild animals for fun & profit. In a twisted sense, I suppose we should all be so lucky.

Comments

[bearfinch.livejournal.com]

I agree, absolutely (with respect to his family of course). I couldn't stand watching the show and seeing him bugging the animals.

[brunorepublic.livejournal.com]

I totally agree with you on this.

[cuyahogarvr.livejournal.com]

I have to admit, when I heard this news I kind of felt the same way. Not that I wish ill of anyone, but if you play with fire you're going to get burned. What's truly sad is the young family he left behind. As a parent, there comes a point where one has to decide the value of a thrill based on your own needs versus the needs of your family. I haven't jumped out of an airplane in more than 30 years.

[billeyler.livejournal.com]

Agreed.

There are studies about obsessive risk takers, part of those studies driven just to understand Steve Irwin. Apparently there are dopamine rushes that happen that are actually addictive and continue to push behavior like his.

I'm sure his family will be left quite well off. I'm sorry the media keeps telling people there is a video of the stingray killing him; I'm sure it'll end up on the net somewhere.

I don't have that dopamine gene, obviously.

[themacbear.livejournal.com]

I could not agree with you more on this.

goes around, comes around

[(Anonymous)]

Yes. Is too bad for Irwin's family, but he made a career out of poking animals with a stick, which most kids know... But in Animaltown this week they're buying drinks for the Batoideas.

[arktosnc.livejournal.com]

On the news today they showed him teasing a crocodile with a baby in his arms. No mention was made about this during the newscast, but everyone in my living room sure noticed it and commented. I feel for his family, though.

[trawnapanda.livejournal.com]

and there is talk of the state of Queensland giving him a state funeral no less. sheesh.

besides agreeing with what everyone has said here about "play with matches, you'll get burned", I could never abide watching him. It was the teenaged / juvenile macho posturing, "look at me! I'm doing dangerous things with crocodiles! aren't I brave / clever?" that drove me nuts. My parents used to describe that "look at me" behaviour as "showing off", and it was heavily frowned upon chez us. So I guess I've been trained from an early age not to appreciate / approve of such displays.