Steve Irwin

[SeaCat]

yes i admit there are many people who disliked him for many reasons, and yet if you look at his life you have to sit back and wonder.

Here was a man who loved animals and did what he could to protect them.

He risked his life to show us what he could. He made animals less threatening and more understandable.

He was a showman, yet underneath that he was a scientist and a Naturalist. He brought derision on himself because he showed people animals in a way they could understand.

I just watched a program about him, one that showed just how important he thought his message was. It also showed how important his wife thought his message was.

He violated laws and he put his life in danger to show us what he believed.

You have to respect that.

Cat

 

[rise_again]

he was very admirable.

not many people see him beyond "showman".

what program was it you saw, i would like to see it.

 

[Selena_Kitt]

yes i admit there are many people who disliked him for many reasons, and yet if you look at his life you have to sit back and wonder.

Here was a man who loved animals and did what he could to protect them.

He risked his life to show us what he could. He made animals less threatening and more understandable.

He was a showman, yet underneath that he was a scientist and a Naturalist. He brought derision on himself because he showed people animals in a way they could understand.

I just watched a program about him, one that showed just how important he thought his message was. It also showed how important his wife thought his message was.

He violated laws and he put his life in danger to show us what he believed.

You have to respect that.

Cat

I totally respect that. I still cry every time I see his little daughter on TV.

 

[Guest]

I remember watching an episode once that showed the birth of their daughter. Of course they had the camera crew there, filming the action and Irwin was his usual animated self.

But immediately following the delivery he changed. To see Irwin moved to tears, unable to speak while holding his first born was lovely.

I remain a fan.

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

Yeah, he was cool. I did get peeved about that little Michael Jackson stunt he pulled, dangling the infant near the croc, but everyone has their judgement lapses, and a showman always lives near the edge on that.

 

[glynndah]

Yeah, he was cool. I did get peeved about that little Michael Jackson stunt he pulled, dangling the infant near the croc, but everyone has their judgement lapses, and a showman always lives near the edge on that.

Speaking as a parent, I was concerned about that incident, but I'm also really glad there were no cameras present during some of my adventures in parenting. We all do stupid things while trying to do the best we can.

 

[TE999]

I'm in favor of anyone who promotes interest and enthusiasm regarding animals and the environment, even crocs.

Steve Irwin was interesting and fun to watch, and you always learned something when the program was over.

Yes, he was a bit over the top, but he was never boring.

The baby incident was a bit tasteless, however his love for his children was unmistakeable.

He was one of a kind and died doing what he loved.

RIP Steve.

(Where did you see that program, cat?)

 

[Misty_Morning]

I am sorry, but this guy lived on the edge...

Was it a "surprise" that he passed away the way he did?

I always think about the time he was hunting down the most deadly snakes in the world...and said (in a very Australian accent)...I've got my face just inches away from one of the most deadly snakes in the world...if I were to get bitten I'd dead in a matter of minutes..."

It reminds me of Gomer Pyle....."Surprise, surprise , surprise..."

 

[Liar]

Steve was a clown.

But, being a clown, he made his most important mark, in that people who never gave a damn about what David Attenborough said about nature, wildlife and the environment, suddenly saw Steve say "crikey!" about it, and started to give a damn.

That deserves a hat off.

 

[S-Des]

Steve was a clown.

But, being a clown, he made his most important mark, in that people who never gave a damn about what David Attenborough said about nature, wildlife and the environment, suddenly saw Steve say "crikey!" about it, and started to give a damn.

That deserves a hat off.

My daughter loved his program when she didn't really care about any other TV. I enjoyed her watching because she'd learn about cool animals she would probably never see otherwise. Granted, some of his stunts made me cringe (and say, "Now honey, you should never do that..."), but overall he made a very positive impact. Also, every interview with another wildlife expert said that he never actually put himself in the kind of danger that it appeared he did (although there was that show with the Komodo dragons....*shudder*). Much like a racecar driver, it is shocking when one of them dies because despite the risks, they're so well trained it's actually safe (fairly). I miss him.

 

[Brandii]

Australia still mourns for him.

 

[MrsDeathlynx]

I myself always enjoyed watching his programs, mostly because he made them interesting while you learned. I always liked him better than Steve Corwin, as well as a bunch of others. While he did things to risk himself he also held the animal's best interest at hand, always doing things by hand and not using any of them fancy gadgets that a lot of the nature guys use. I also liked the fact that when he wasn't sure about something he admitted it, he didn't care whether or not he was on camera. He was a realistic type of guy, I didn't know him but from what I could tell I don't think he'd be disappointed with the way he went.

I got a question though, was it true that he was offered a state (as in government equivilant in Aussie) funeral and his wife refused?

 

[UnbelievableDi]

Gonna get shouted at here, but its just my opinion..

I didn't like Steve Irwin. I feel that he disrespected the very animals he was trying to promote!
Taking the example used in someone else's post, about having his face that close to the world's most dangerous snake.. Why? Why would you do that?! Except to make "thrilling tv". To me, that shows utter disrepect to that animal's power.
The dangling his child really didn't help either. Yes, everyone makes mistakes in bringing their children up. But have any of you ever pushed your child out into a busy road? It's the same thing! It was an idiotic thing to do.

Anyways, I'm done!
Please don't be too harsh, guys, it's just my opinion!!!

 

[Lauren Hynde]

He violated laws and he put his life in danger to show us what he believed.

You have to respect that.

No, you don't. Was his belief that those laws he violated were wrong and should be repelled, or did he violate them only as a consequence of wanting to show what he believed in? How much time did he spend in jail, accepting the responsibility for having violated those laws?

You can certainly respect his beliefs and possibly argue he did good overall, but his actions weren't respectful neither to laws nor to animals, and I for one have no respect for that.

 

[Brandii]

Reply to Mrsdeathlynx

Yes. Our Premier did offer Terri a state funeral in order to honor him and the work he did within his field and Terri did turn it down choosing instead to have the ceremony on home ground [Australia Zoo.] Her opinion was that Steve would not have wanted all the pomp and pagentry of a state funeral... still anyone who was anyone in Australia was there to say goodbye to him anyway and it was like the Melbourne Cup: all of Australia stopped and watched the service and shed tears grieving his loss.

 

[TheeGoatPig]

I didn't have an opinion of him one way or the other.

My brothewr on the other hand thought that he mistreated the animals on his show, and found him a poor scientist to boot.

But I'm not him, and shouldn't be speaking for him...

 

[S-Des]

NYou can certainly respect his beliefs and possibly argue he did good overall, but his actions weren't respectful neither to laws nor to animals, and I for one have no respect for that.

That's funny because every animal expert I've seen said just the opposite. Since my expertise in animals is limited to the ones I've raised, I'll lean on the opinions of the people who make their living that way.

 

[scheherazade_79]

I thought Steve Irwin was brilliant. It was a JFK moment when I heard he'd died - I was at a hotel, having breakfast on my own and feeling kind of pissy because there wasn't enough food on the plate. I checked the news on my phone when I was waiting for a waitress to give me some more, and that's when I read what had happened

I was really sad and didn't bother asking for more breakfast.

Say what you like about him, he was one in a million.

 

[MagicaPractica]

I admired his passion for nature. I believe he did what he believed was best. I don't think he was out there just trying to make a buck. His passion led him to the public eye. I think he had a good impact on people's knowledge and respect for nature. RIP

 

[SeaCat]

Gonna get shouted at here, but its just my opinion..

I didn't like Steve Irwin. I feel that he disrespected the very animals he was trying to promote!
Taking the example used in someone else's post, about having his face that close to the world's most dangerous snake.. Why? Why would you do that?! Except to make "thrilling tv". To me, that shows utter disrepect to that animal's power.
The dangling his child really didn't help either. Yes, everyone makes mistakes in bringing their children up. But have any of you ever pushed your child out into a busy road? It's the same thing! It was an idiotic thing to do.

Anyways, I'm done!
Please don't be too harsh, guys, it's just my opinion!!!

Unbelievable,

I wont be harsh, everyone has their own feelings on things.

To me Steve irwin pushed the envelelope, but he did so with a reaon.

Yes he would get face to face with a deadly snake, and yes he would play tag with a Croc. And yet he did so to teach people that these animals were not to be feared but respected.

Steve was a wid man, something he and his wife agreed on. he was a bit of a wild man but that wildness attracted attention. That wildness allowed him to teach people without coming across as being pompous.

I could teach you to survive in the wild. I could do so in a very boring manner, which you would probably not remember, or I coud do so in the same way Steve taught people. Make it interesting, in which case you would remember. (Hee hee, I remember the time Cat made a Pine Needle Tea and the faces he made while drinking it. He said it tasted horrible, but I remember why he made it and drank it.)

Cat

 

[Guest]

Was it a "surprise" that he passed away the way he did?

Considering the dangers he took, the way he died was the equivalent of the NASCAR driver dying backing his own car out of the driveway. Anyone who's ever scuba dived in waters where there were Rays could have died the same way. As I understand it he wasn't provoking the animal.

Taking the example used in someone else's post, about having his face that close to the world's most dangerous snake.. Why? Why would you do that?! Except to make "thrilling tv".

You answered your own question. If it wasn't thrilling tv, no one would watch, and his message of conservation wouldn't get through.

 

[catalina_francisco]

There are those who love to put him down, PETA being just one organisation, but how many of them put every cent they made in bringing about recognistion of animal rights and the environment back into conserving and protecting that environment? That is commitment and one of the Irwin's family that is not highlighted enough. The zoo makes a very small income, actually little beyond what it takes to maintain it and provide a place for people to come and learn more about the animals up close and personal and what little is left over is the meagre income the family live on....the documentaries and various fund raising activities made millions for the Irwins and not one cent stayed in their pockets but went into buying areas to be reserved for conservation and areas where species habitats were being threatened by big business, thus providing an opportunity for those animals to continue to live unharmed in the environment which suported them.

Then of course there is also too little mentioned about his hands on contribution to research into animal habitats and habits which have provided world breaking research and knowledge often dispelling what has been believed to be true for decades. He is highly respected by the scientists and academic institutions he worked alongside or provided with empirical factual documentation which now provides the world with a greater understanding of how animals live and survive and why we need to protect their right to do so. In fact he has been hailed as a scientist himself for the work he did in this area and they are now in the process of rewriting the books on many species, crocodiles being one, and all because Steve Irwin showed and proved what he knew to be true to be more than a myth or fancy, but pure fact. Once again, most who choose to deride him and his work have not had the drive and enthusiasm, let alone balls to do likewise...they are too busy criticising and complaining while adding nothing to add to the knowledge we have of animals and the environment.

Why did he get in the face of snakes and various animals? Because he believed in what he was doing, and was doing it even as a child. He loved animals, didn't fear them, and was well known to have said on many occasions he expected to die doing what he loved most, being with animals. He also wantd people to begin to be less fearful of animals, not so they also would begin to pick them up but so they would stop killing them out of fear and ignorance, and feeling they were expendable when the next housing estate was needed. It was not abuse of animals...in fact like some other people I know, animals were attracted to him with no input from him (except for parrots I think I read). This is a strange phenomena which is real for rare humans (2 of which I have in my own family) where no matter what they do or don't do, where they go, animals of all types will come to them. For instance, my son is one of these I know and the most amazing time I saw it in action was on a drive when he was sitting in the back seat of the car and a spider which had been in the car crawled up onto the seat, up onto his legs, up his chest and down his arm where it settled in his hand and spun a web. He didn't do anything, in fact didn't realise it was there before it began its journey over his body, but Steve Irwin also has many similar tales throughout his life where creatures (not just pets, but animals in the wild) have come to him and have not felt threatened by his handling. It is easy to send a camera crew out to take lovely film and sit in a TV studion with someone's script as to what you need to say about the flim provided, but that to me is not someone who is a naturalist or has a huge commitment or connection to the environment, it is a presenter...Steve Irwin had more to offer than read a few pages of carefully worded scripts to the viewer.

As to the baby incident, it was a matter of media wanting to create an image more so than facts. Steve Irwin was not stupid enough to dangle his own child in front of a hungry, energetic croc. He wanted to introduce his child to the world and spent hour preparing for the moment. He had spent longer than usual playing and wrestling with the croc before taking his child into the area....the croc was tired out and ready for sleep. He had also fed the croc a huge meal so it had a full belly. He also was aware that crocs do not have great vision and bite when they feel something touching in their lower jaw, through instinct more so that visual stimulus, sort of similar to suckling a human baby. Then he also made sure there were extra staff on as watchers than what was usually used when he went in with the crocs...IOW, he had more people who were trained to know what they were doing, looking for any sign the croc was aggitated or about to move (and on land a croc is slower moving than in water) thus not arrogantly relying on just his own observations. What I think people need to remember when criticising him for this act, is not only are they not looking at al these facts, but just because they do not have the knowledge and expertise of Irwin does not mean he should reduce himself to their level of understanding. Would you be happy if someone came into your workplace and told you you shouldn't do xyz, because they didn't understand it or think it was right even though you knew through your own experience and training it was OK? I don't think anyone would think of taking the advice of an untrained person over their own training and knowledge in their own workplace or profession, why should Steve Irwin be any different?

As those who are in the industry of real environmental and animal conservation and protection acknowledge, Steve Irwin was one in a million and of a nature rarely seen and the work he has done, the money he has put where his mouth was (gee wouldn't it be great if all those who get recognised for speaking about the environment and animal rights were willing to put their money also where they say their heart is?), and the research and knowledge base he contributed to is of an amount and quality rarely seen from just one human being, and of the magnitude it likely would have taken many more years to complete without his input.

I would love the media to also get off the case of Bindi and suggesting she is being forced to continue in his image and it is possibly going to damage her. Sheesh, she was raised in this environment by 2 parents with extensive individual and joint hands on experience (Terri had her own hands on conservation and animal rescue organisation before meeting Steve so I think these kids have a double dose of it in their genes). Not only has she been raised with it as a lifestyle, lived her life in the zoo grounds where their house is and always had her duties at the zoo which she took seriously, the activities she is now doing since her father's death were already planned and in the works before he died...he died filming for her upcoming TV series for kids. If people are so concerned about her welfare and how damaged she could be by his death, why don't they think how quickly that could happen if all her usual duties and commitments and those upcoming ones were taken away and she was told to sit at home and think about her father dying, thus creating a whole life she is unfamiliar with and unprepared for. She is doing what she has always done, what she loves with a passion, and as she says, it helps her feel close to her Dad even though he is gone. As Terri pointed out in a recent interview,the children saw birth and death at the zoo and through the family work on a regular basis, so his dying is part of the life cycle Bindi already had dealt with on a regular basis and understood to be part of all our lives. Once again, people are reacting in a way which fits their life where likely their own children at that age would not have had an understanding through expereince of death so they consider it something new and mysterious, not to mention disturbing...for Bindi this does not apply as sad as she is her father has gone...she still feels his presence in everything she does with the animals and the world around her...let her be and continue to be a healthy, vital child who may eventually just give as much if not more to the world than her father did. Rant over.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/138/357495433_731043fba6_t.jpg Catalina