Crocodile Hunter Killed- Page 4

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:25am

Why did he have to put his child in harm's way to teach you about crocodiles? Didn't he have enough footage of the wildlife that was shot before he had children to last a lifetime? Again, just my opinion.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:28am

but Sueleen the issue is his death, nothing else....why do you feel the need to bring that in, when it isn't even part of what this thread is about?
He enriched so many childrens (and adults) lives by his career......and you single out one stupid mistake.

To make a mans life one stupid mistake he did seems, to me, sad.

Everyone makes mistakes. I prefer to remember the good they did. And this man did a lot of good. Just my two cents.

Marc, no reason for namecalling......

Updated On: 9/4/06 at 11:28 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:34am

But Elphaba, that is not my entire point. I am not "judging" him for that one incident.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:34am

I want to send my sadness and well wishes for the family out there. The Croc Hunter will be missed.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:36am

sueleen, what you wrote, and the tone makes it seem that way.....that's what I meant.

[dramaparoxysm23]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:37am

I don't think he was a daredevil, just a man who loved animals.

What about those guys who come and get gators out of your pool? Are they daredevils?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:37am

When I think of the time my father held me BY MY SHIRT on the railing over Niagra Falls, my palms still get sweaty. I mean, the guy never liked me very much, so I guess I'm lucky.

I only hope that if I'm ever pierced through the heart by something nobody says I died doing what I love.

[ckeaton]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:38am

Depends on what that "something" is.

[mominator]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:41am

Such sad news to hear. He died doing what he loved, filming wild animals in their natural habitat so that we may learn about them.
Did he take chances? Of course he did. We all so everyday. We go to our jobs, get behind the wheel of our cars. Even if you are the best and safest driver that does not mean the person coming at you is in full control of their car (Just ask Road Case as he was sideswiped coming home from work a week ago)
That being said many prayers and good thoughts to his family (especially his children) and his many friends.
Remember people there is an old saying of never spesl ill of the dead.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:52am

Firefighters, law enforcement personnel and soldiers face mortality every day - many also have young families. I don't think anyone has put a figurative gun to their heads and forced them into such dangerous professsions. I'm sure that they are also doing the kind of work they love. He was no different. Maybe he didn't need to put himself in danger like that, but he was doing the kind of work he loved.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:53am

I'm not getting where Sueleen is being callous or out of line. Yes, it's sad that a man died. That is pretty much always sad. But it was his choice to live a risky life. And when people choose to do something risky, it...for me...takes the "tragedy" out of the equation, except for those personally affected.

I speak as someone whose husband is a climber...rock, ice, mountains...BIG stuff. He's one of those guys you'll see sleeping in a sling 2000 feet up Half Dome. It is his choice and his passion to do that and I support it because I knew the risks when I married him. If something awful should happen to him on a climb, it will be sad for those who knew OF him and tragic for those of us who loved him or knew him well, because of the loss and impact on our lives. But it will still have been his choice to take that risk, just as it was his choice to resume climbing after the broken back incident several years ago.

I, like Sueleen, don't quite understand why all rational sentiment needs to fly out the window when someone dies. If I was appalled by the Baby Bob lapse of judgement two days ago, why shouldn't I still be appalled by it today?

[jimnysf]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 11:56am

I'm with you, iflitifloat. It is always sad when someone dies but when someone who makes their living tempting fate is killed "doing what they love", it can hardly come as a shock to any thinking person.

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:01pm

The comment that I really had a hard time with was when Sueleen said "He was an egotistical and selfish person that has left fatherless children because of his own hubris."
That, to me, is not only judgemental but hateful.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:05pm

"That, to me, is not only judgemental but hateful."

But aren't you being judgemental when you judge her comment as being hateful?

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:08pm

Probably, but fully waranted.
Updated On: 9/4/06 at 12:08 PM

[dramaparoxysm23]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:14pm

I wasn't saying that he didn't take risks, I'm saying that everyone does and if I made the choice to drive the the store to buy a quart of milk and get hit by a drunk driver, will people say I was a risk taker because I got in a car? Would that make my death any less sad? It's not as if he chose to die.

[snl89]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:15pm

god, that is SO sad.

and for the record

I'm with you, iflitifloat. It is always sad when someone dies but when someone who makes their living tempting fate is killed "doing what they love", it can hardly come as a shock to any thinking person.

I understand where you're coming from and everything, but you have to remember, he WAS really good at what he did. I mean, honestly, if you think about it, if he HADNT been really careful and good at what he was doing then he would have been killed a LONG time ago. What makes this REALLY sad is that it was a total fluke. It wasn't even like he was doing anything that dangerous- I've went swimming with stingrays before! its a very common thing, and its VERY rare for that to happen. So, that just kinda tells you something. It wasnt that he was being reckless and so it should have been expected, it was just a freak accident. He may have done dangerous things, but I honestly believe that he WASNT reckless.


but anyway... his poor wife and kids

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:22pm

To compare what Irwin did to a Firefighter who risks his life to save others, and believe me when I say this is a very real subject to Chicago today, is ludicrous. Irwin may have said his intent was to "teach" people, but I think he was more drawn to the thrill, the adrenalin rush and the celebrity than any sort of altruistic desire to educate people on the eating habits of wild animals.

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:22pm

SueleenGay Updated On: 9/4/06 at 12:22 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:26pm

"We all grew up with him, hearing jokes about him, etc."

No, we all did not. Among whom do you think you are posting?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:26pm

Yes?

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:27pm

SueleenGay

[Becky]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:29pm

There have been many comments about Steve being reckless, etc....However, we all have to keep in mind that this was an idividual that knew more about wildlife than most of us ever could. He knew the environments he was in, the dangers, the habits of the animals, etc - and someeimes what seemed *really* dangerous to us wasn't nearly as dangerous as it seemed for people that know the territory and know what they're doing. Not saying that he wasn't ever in danger or that he didn't put himself in danger - but he knew what he was doing. This was a freak accident, and all the articles seem to point to the fact that something like this *rarely* ever happens.

He wasn't being selfish, and I've never thought for once that his conservation efforts and protection/education of animals was selfish. I would be willing to bet his family didn't think so either.

[iflitifloat]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:29pm

There are routine risks and there are extraordinary risks. Driving to the store, crossing a street, taking the Staten Island ferry, flying to Chicago...those are risks that come with living life. Sticking your head inside the mouth of an alligator, swimming with stingrays, climbing El Capitan, walking a high wire between the WTC towers (rememeber *that*?) ,,, those involve taking extraordinary risks. Personally, I have no problem with people who choose to take them, but they did involve a personal choice to put one's life on the line for less than noble causes (ie saving lives).

And as far as the "doing stupid things with your kids", having your three year old chug a can of beer in an unwatched moment is a little bit different than dangling an infant off of a balcony or over the head of a hungry 'gator. The latter are examples of *actively* putting your child in harm's way for the media.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 9/4/06 at 12:30pm

While I am saddened, I am not surprised.

You play with fire, sometimes, no matter how good you are, you get burned.

Or, you place with white tigers, sometimes, no matter how good you are, you get mauled.

And, the first thing I thought of when I heard this was "hey, wasn't that the guy who had his infant in his arm when he was playing with a croc?"