Remembering Steve Irwin, the "Crocodile Hunter"!

[Dien Rice]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for commenting!

Originally Posted by MichaelRoss

He was Not a Great Man, he was just a man, like you, me, anyone. In fact, there are other Men who we will never know, who are Much greater.

I agree with this. Probably the "greatest" people are not publicly well-known figures.

They do not put on fake enthusiasm everytime the camera is on them, and jump around like they've had too much coffee.

Your comment may or may not be a comment on Steve Irwin. Obviously, I didn't know Steve Irwin personally, so I can only comment on what I've heard, but I've read comments of those who knew him say that he had the same "hyper" personality when the cameras were off.

(Some people are just "hyper" - I once worked with a guy who was naturally "hyper" pretty much all the time.)

The poster who mentioned the FedEx ad... it's these kinds of things I dislike about people acting in a way in which they sustain injuries. Christopher Reeve, Steve Irwin. Their lives following their rolls?

Yeah, I don't really "pity" him because he died, or because of the way he died. I kind of think if he was going to die, he would probably want to die along the lines of the way he did. I guess I had a respect for his apparent love and enthusiasm for what he was doing - and how he wanted to share it with others! He was doing that (via the zoo) even before he was doing it through the TV cameras... Just with the TV cameras, he was able to "share his enthusiasm" with a much wider audience...

- Dien

I've posted rather extensively on the FIB board about this but I think sharing one aspect is important regarding the way he died.

Everyone is making Steve out to be this big, brave, macho, man and, in some ways, he was. Unfortunately he was also foolhardy...and paid for it with the ultimate sacrifice. What worries me is the fools who will follow him in the pursuit of the Stingrays for their own 'I can do what he couldn't...see?' stupid reasons. They'll be as surprised as Steve probably was when a stressed life form uses the only defense they have left when pursued and crowded to the point they feel threatened.

The BBC did a nice article on Steve's death. In the section, "It probably felt threatened" you can read exactly how the events took place and what the Stingray's actions and situation before the attack were. Here's the link to the article: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asis-pacific/5314918.stm?ls

There is no point in suffering unless we learn something from it. That is especially true here. Environmentalists, in their enthusiasm, often don't stop to think of the effect they have on other life forms and the very environment they seek to exploit and protect. This otherwise peaceful life form was pushed to defend itself and you see the tragic result. For all we know there were two deaths that day: Steve and the stingray who had been pushed too far and possibly stressed beyond recovery.

I find it interesting that folks don't seem to understand that stress kills...not just people but other life forms as well. Even trees respond to the cutting of other trees near them (true fact)...so why wouldn't a crockodile, gator, or stingray...or any other life form... be stressed when pursued for whatever reason or handled by one who could logically be considered a predator upon them?

We need to be more sensitive to other life forms and the effect we have upon them. That is Steve's final contribution to our understanding: his death can raise our awareness of the effect we have on other life forms and the risks involved on both sides.

Sandi Bowman

If he was such an ordinary person why has his death affected so many people?

Reminds me of that book 'How to win friends and influence people'.

Originally Posted by Dien Rice

I've read comments of those who knew him say that he had the same "hyper" personality when the cameras were off.

The cameras may have been off, but there was still an audience to play up to.

I image a guy at home eating cereal. He pours the milk and fills his bowl. He bumps the bowl to the the edge of the cupboard top and exclaims, "CRICKEY! That was Close" in his Trademark manner. I think not.

You've seen that Quarantine ad he did? That exemplifies what I am talking about. It exudes fake enthusiasm, for the camera's sake.

I'm not saying he wasn't enthusiastic about what he did... just that there was a heavy dose of Fake enthusiasm when the cameras/audience was around. That's all.

Michael Ross

I usually appreciate and TRY to understand your posts, where you're coming from and all. On this one...it just reeks of jealousy. Pathetic. You are certainly entitled to your opinion, thoughl

No matter what, Steve Irwin was a good man, making a living in a great way (like many here might hope to do), doing what he loved. What's wrong with that? It's not his fault, that now, people are saying hero and whatever.

Too much is being made of his death. He lived life like he wanted to, did what he did. Too late to over analyize things now. Doesn't matter, and quite frankly, I don't think he would care about our opinions and the media attention it is getting. Then again, I can't speak for him (or anyone else can, but they try to, especially now that he cannot speak for himself).

Richard

Richard,

Thanks for your thoughts.

Would you point out how my post "reeks of jealousy"?

Michael Ross