OT: Tribute to Steve "crocodile" Irwin

[watermock]

http://grouper.com/video/MediaDetails.aspx?id=1524821

[Spider]

I have been listening to talk shows , man people are stupid ............several people called in saying Irwin got what he deserved ......
it is obvious Steve knew what he was doing , from what I understand is , this was an unprevoked attack ...... people snorkle or Scuba near Stingrays all the time .. maybe that why Steve had his guard down ........ Crikey mate ....

[Arkansas Bronco]

Originally Posted by §Pide®

I have been listening to talk shows , man people are stupid ............several people called in saying Irwin got what he deserved ......
it is obvious Steve knew what he was doing , from what I understand is , this was an unprevoked attack ...... people snorkle or Scuba near Stingrays all the time .. maybe that why Steve had his guard down ........ Crikey mate ....

I started watching his shows along time ago, like when they would just pop up on discovery. I thought he was insane at the time but as the years past and I kept watching him it become obvious that he was a top professional at his field. I doubt anyone knows more about some of these creatures then he did. It is a sad loss for his family he looked like a good dad (somepeople may not think as much since he took his son in to the croc pen but I know he would have never put his son in harms way). It was pretty stunning the way he went out, you have a better shot at hitting powerball then getting hit in the heart by a stingray.

[Odysseus]

I am a scuba diver and the thing I hate is the media circus singing "I told you so". The guy did a lot of good things for people. I think he was really hurt by the media attacking him when he "exposed his baby to danger". Getting taken out like this? What are his kids going to think of him coming up? They will never know him as the respected zoologist he was. He's now that crazy guy that killed by a Ray.

I have a lot of respect for who he was and what he did. If you work a lot with Rays this kind of thing is not common. I understand it was Australia and they grow some monsters down there but getting poked in the chest by Ray you haven't provoked? Wow!. That is as wierd as saying this guy got scooped but by a T-Rex. The spur must have been six inches or better. Right in the heart? He was dead before he knew it.

Rest in peace Steve Irwin.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Originally Posted by quiettiger

I am a scuba diver and the thing I hate is the media circus singing "I told you so". The guy did a lot of good things for people. I think he was really hurt by the media attacking him when he "exposed his baby to danger". Getting taken out like this? What are his kids going to think of him coming up? They will never know him as the respected zoologist he was. He's now that crazy guy that killed by a Ray.

I have a lot of respect for who he was and what he did. If you work a lot with Rays this kind of thing is not common. I understand it was Australia and they grow some monsters down there but getting poked in the chest by Ray you haven't provoked? Wow!. That is as wierd as saying this guy got scooped but by a T-Rex. The spur must have been six inches or better. Right in the heart? He was dead before he knew it.

Rest in peace Steve Irwin.

They filmed him instinctively pulling the barb out of his heart right after it happened, collapsing and dieing immediately after. Not really a monster Ray, about 1 meter across.

Steve Irwin lived life like most of us only wish we could, doing what he loved every minute of every day. Along the way he informed and educated millions of people around the planet about a wide variety of our wildlife.

Too bad some people have to criticize a man, who done so much good, strictly out of ignorance.

[bendog]

A good guy. Didn't like how he kept his dog in a small boat with a croc though.

[ludo21]

only thing that he should NOT have done was pull that barb out, it may have caused him to die faster... (says doctor on radio)

[Orange_Beard]

Why is this on the main board?

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Bronco_Beerslug

They filmed him instinctively pulling the barb out of his heart right after it happened, collapsing and dieing immediately after. Not really a monster Ray, about 1 meter across.

Steve Irwin lived life like most of us only wish we could, doing what he loved every minute of every day. Along the way he informed and educated millions of people around the planet about a wide variety of our wildlife.

Too bad some people have to criticize a man, who done so much good, strictly out of ignorance.

What was the overwhelming reaction from most people after their initial expression of sorrow for his death?

"I can't say I'm surprised", was the most common response I heard. There's no denying he pursued his passion, but its also undeniable he was often reckless in the way he did things.

My opinion is he loved animals, but he didn't really show them as much respect as he probably should have. I'm never comfortable when these "wildlife enthusiasts" decide to include their children in the act. You're always reading about some idiot who keeps wild cats and then acts disgusted when authorities make him give them up after they maul his child.

[Bronco_Beerslug]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

What was the overwhelming reaction from most people after their initial expression of sorrow for his death?

"I can't say I'm surprised", was the most common response I heard. There's no denying he pursued his passion, but its also undeniable he was often reckless in the way he did things.

My opinion is he loved animals, but he didn't really show them as much respect as he probably should have. I'm never comfortable when these "wildlife enthusiasts" decide to include their children in the act. You're always reading about some idiot who keeps wild cats and then acts disgusted when authorities make him give them up after they maul his child.

He showed them more respect than 99% of the rest of the world does. That's the ignorance part for a lot of people. By doing what he done he brought awareness and conservation into light. His behind the (TV) scenes work on conservation and education on wildlife was extensive.

And his "recklessness" was calculated experience. He included his children in what he and his wife done just like his father included him in what he done.

His death was in no way from being reckless, an unfortunate accident though.

[Smiling Assassin27]

People look at this from their uneducated American pedestals and can't relate to a Queenslander from the outback who was raised among dangerous animals. The guy was genuinely respectful and in awe of nature and yet society's only goal is to tear the guy down. It's the world we live in these days. So long Steve from my 7 year old animal lover and myself...

[Rascal]

Originally Posted by Bronco_Beerslug

They filmed him instinctively pulling the barb out of his heart right after it happened, collapsing and dieing immediately after. Not really a monster Ray, about 1 meter across.

Steve Irwin lived life like most of us only wish we could, doing what he loved every minute of every day. Along the way he informed and educated millions of people around the planet about a wide variety of our wildlife.

Too bad some people have to criticize a man, who done so much good, strictly out of ignorance.

Rep.

People may get on him because of how he talked, but that's just the way Aussies talk. I remember going to Australia and going to his zoo. Wasn't able to meet him but saw some of the good stuff he did, and his love for nature and children. First class guy IMO.

[Spider]

My kids were pretty upest when they heard ......................They loved the guy ..... where as I see a spider or a snake , I go into imidate kill mode ........

[bendog]

I got this weird spider web on some monkey grass by my grill. I think it's some kind of hunter with a trap. I'm gonna go poke around it with a stick tomorrow when I'm drinking beers and grilling burgers. Last year I opened my grill after it had been closed up most of august and there was this albino spider thing. I could SEE the fangs, and it was looking right at me! I dropped the match in there so damn fast .... WHOOOSH

[Odysseus]

1 metre Ray? Wow! That isn't very big at all. A bud of mine was explaining some of his dives in Australia. I have a very healthy respect for Australian wildlife. Some of it is like Iraq. Everything stings, bites or chews on you in your sleep. There are sharks all over those waters and he gets popped by a Ray?

There is a place called Stingray city where diver from all over the world come with literally a swarm of rays. I've met people who have dove with killer whales, sharks, and the scariest stories always involve barracudas and Eels.

Stingray story. I got stung. It hurt really bad. The end.

The one thing that amazes me is the truth is always much stranger than fiction.

http://www.arkive.org/species/GES/fi...tml?size=large
This is Stingray! 1 metre? What kind of Ray was it? (This is a freshwater ray by the way)

I was planning on diving in Jan / Dec in Thailand.
http://www.stingray-divers.com/

[bendog]

My wife's eyes look like those.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Bronco_Beerslug

He showed them more respect than 99% of the rest of the world does. That's the ignorance part for a lot of people. By doing what he done he brought awareness and conservation into light. His behind the (TV) scenes work on conservation and education on wildlife was extensive.

Interesting perspective. By grabbing these animals from their nests, dens and burrows and shoving them in front of a camera (for his own fun and profit), he was showing more respect to these animals than someone like me who doesn't disturb them in their natural habitats.

And his "recklessness" was calculated experience. He included his children in what he and his wife done just like his father included him in what he done.

Is that why they're burying him this week?

His death was in no way from being reckless, an unfortunate accident though.

His death was certainly unfortunate. Its ironic it happened the way it did and not during one of the numerous times he placed himself in direct danger.

[bendog]

Slap, to be fair, he raised money for conservation, esp the crocs. He was an avid opponent of poaching. What was interesting about him was that he had practically no zoological training, officially. He learned from his dad. His enthusiasm arguably charged some kids who will do good stuff.

Plus the way his wife was portrayed on the show was old school.

I didn't like the dog in the boat with the croc though. The dog was definitely NOT happy.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by bendog

Slap, to be fair, he raised money for conservation, esp the crocs. He was an avid opponent of poaching. What was interesting about him was that he had practically no zoological training, officially. He learned from his dad. His enthusiasm arguably charged some kids who will do good stuff.

Plus the way his wife was portrayed on the show was old school.

I didn't like the dog in the boat with the croc though. The dog was definitely NOT happy.

I liked him and I'm sorry he's dead. I just thought he was pushing his luck the way he did a lot of things.

Believe me, nobody here despises poachers more than I do: http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showthr...light=poachers

[TheDave]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

I liked him and I'm sorry he's dead. I just thought he was pushing his luck the way he did a lot of things.

That's exactly how i feel, sorry it happened, sorry for the loss to his friends and family... But i'm most shocked this didn't happen alot earlier. How does that phrase go..... "Live by the sword, die by the sword"

[bendog]

Remember the old Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom? Marlin Perkins would narrate some film on something ... like a tiger. And then they'd send in Jim Fowler to 'rassle with it. Every Sunday after the one or two games we got on TV.

oh yeah, I always thought this guy was going out early. But what a way to go. Plus he raised money for his "zoo," and most likely left his wife and kids set up pretty good. Beats dying on a rubber sheet after 300K of medical bills.

[Arkie]

I always thought he would die from a dangerous snake or croc, but this was a freak accident. I read that only one other person has been killed by a sting ray in Australia. That was back in 1945.

Those Jackass Wild Boys are more careless and don't have any training with animals.

[Jason in LA]

I'd say it's wrong to say that he got what he deserved. From everything I've seen he was a great guy, and he followed his passions. But it's not unfair to say that this was bound to happen. I have a lot of repect for the guy. Not many of us can make a lot of money doing what we enjoy doing. And from what I've seen he was caring towards the animals. But when I first heard the news, I wasn't shocked. Kind of like that guy who loved the bears (not the football team), and then got eaten by one.

[Crushaholic]

I'm always amused when people put OT, but don't post it on the Off-Topics board...

[bendog]

Well, there is something sort of like dumb crazy special teams guy to the croc hunter.