- This topic has 14 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 18 years, 4 months ago by Kitsunekun.
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September 17, 2006 at 10:54 pm #38574LingsterKeymaster
I know a guy who was paralyzed from the waist down a few years back while riding an ATV over broken terrain. He flipped it, it landed on him and his lower back snapped like a twig. He was a carpenter, and now he can't work his trade. He has three kids and a wife, and now she's working 12 hours a day to support the family.
Steve Irwin was lucky to have a career that was enjoyable to him. But for him to take unnecessary risks with wildlife was irresponsible and stupid. Some will suggest that Irwin left enough money that his kids won't want, but firstly that might not be the case, and secondly it's not solely about the money.
Fett suggests that stingrays aren't normally dangerous. Let me share with you one jewel of wisdom plucked from my rural upbringing – nearly every wild animal is potentially dangerous. (This is especially true in places like the Americas and Australia, where much of the landscape remains "untamed".) I know urbanites and suburbanites often don't really grasp this, but it's the truth. If you corner a wild animal, or if you merely make it feel that it's about to be cornered, it's very likely that it will attack you.
Steve Irwin should have put his family first and not his fun. Also, I completely fail to understand the attachment some people feel for a celebrity whom they've never met. This whole idea of emotional attachment to remote strangers and the personal need to make "a statement" by selling some art on eBay is astonishing to me. Get a grip.
September 17, 2006 at 11:43 pm #38575FettParticipantSteve Irwin was lucky to have a career that was enjoyable to him. But for him to take unnecessary risks with wildlife was irresponsible and stupid. Some will suggest that Irwin left enough money that his kids won't want, but firstly that might not be the case, and secondly it's not solely about the money.
Fett suggests that stingrays aren't normally dangerous. Let me share with you one jewel of wisdom plucked from my rural upbringing – nearly every wild animal is potentially dangerous. (This is especially true in places like the Americas and Australia, where much of the landscape remains "untamed".) I know urbanites and suburbanites often don't really grasp this, but it's the truth. If you corner a wild animal, or if you merely make it feel that it's about to be cornered, it's very likely that it will attack you.
The problem I have, is that most people assume they know more about the dangers of wildlife than Steve Irwin, a man who was a foremost expert in that subject. It kinda aggravates me when people say, "He was stupid, he kept taking all these unneccessary risks" when, this man DID know what he was doing.
Stingrays, generally, do not cause fatalities in humans. Yes, there is a risk, but there's also a risk with the diving equipment he was using. It was not like he was wrestling Jaws.
Again, you talk about stingrays like you know more of the risks involved in Irwin, who always talked very intelligently and passionately about the stunts he pulled, implying consideration on his part in what he's doing and how he's doing it.
Steve Irwin should have put his family first and not his fun. Also, I completely fail to understand the attachment some people feel for a celebrity whom they've never met. This whole idea of emotional attachment to remote strangers and the personal need to make "a statement" by selling some art on eBay is astonishing to me. Get a grip.
You could say the same things about the emotional attachment people have for those inside two large towers that fell in New York. Lots of people never met them.
It's not for you to judge what people can and can't be emotionally attached to.
Also, I have to ask, did you not read what I post? You don't have to like Irwin, you can hate the guy, that's fair. I don't particularly have strong feelings about the man one way or another, but I did have a level of respect for him. This thread, is obviously intended to pay homage to his memory, and you popping in and saying "Get a grip" and passing judgment on the man is particularly shitty.
You own this damned forum. You could make another thread or front page post to say what the hell you like. But this thread is obviously a place to pay respects in this community. Passing remarks that are condescending and trivialising are inappapropriate. You should know this, and you wouldn't tolerate it in a thread you started.
September 18, 2006 at 1:25 am #38576LingsterKeymasterFett, threads are for discussion. As you note, I own this forum but even I don't get to choose what shows up on a thread. I said my bit earlier, but when you criticized John Byrne for writing something not entirely different from my thoughts on the matter, I responded.
September 18, 2006 at 1:38 am #38577FettParticipantI see your point, in fairness, but you missed mine. My criticism was not of his views, but of the appropriateness of where he chose to put those views. It was in that vein, I also criticised you.
I truly believe you have the right to your opinion, I am all for free speech, but I also believe that the freedom brings with it responsibility, and that means choosing the right place and time to say such comments.
As I said, if you had posted your views anywhere else, I wouldn't have had any sort of problem. But in this thread… well, I thought it was wrong. As you say, threads are for discussion, but not all threads are for discussions.
But I understand that you were posting a rebuttal to my comments on John Byrne, and while inappropriate, I did open the door to that discussion and as such, am as much to blame – especially considering your earlier post prior to my comments on John Byrne's views, which were wholly appropriate, and considering your views, very big of you.
In an attempt to vent some frustrations on my part, I've kind of made a mess of this thread and it's purpose. Which is somewhat infuriating, as I can't blame it on anyone else.
So, since I opened that door, I'll close it now, with humility.
September 26, 2006 at 3:05 am #38578KitsunekunParticipantAs long as there are more people fighting for nature ,he and his dreams will still be alive
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