This has become sort of a feeding frenzy. Ok the Fellow was not quite the Nut Job Threadwell was, he was smart, able to market his antics to a real wide audiance. Good for him, the Widow and the kids will not worry about money, and that is a good thing. But to get stung the way he got hit, was stupid, most step on the dam things. One of my friends stepped on one in Florida while wade fishing with a fly rod, it was a three week stay in the hospital. Nasty buggers, to go and corner one in the shallows in the prostate position, is really well the out come was not good. Not a good way to go, 44 years old with another good 35 or 40 more years of life left, he pretty much short changed himself and the family. After all what ever Discovery pays for the Documentries he makes, its not a good trade. This horse been beat enough guys let it rest.

quote:

This horse been beat enough guys let it rest.

I wish that we could.... but you wouldn't believe the media feeding frenzy that has erupted in Australia. If the media has their way, he will be elevated to the status of a Saint!


Maybe that isn't such a bad idea....Saint Steve Irwin; the patron saint of the Darwin Awards!

Darwin Awards

Like many others, sorry for his family but not sorry to see him go.

Woodjack is this the guy you were thinking of
The original crocodile hunter

Here he is playing with a croc and his 3 months baby ....this picture says everything...he was very "irresponsable" to say something..(read stupid).

What you will think of someone holding his 3 months baby inside a lion's cage ???

Despite this, I am very sorry for his family.

L

QUOTE:
{ I admired Steve Irwin at many levels and was saddened by the news. Brave, exuberent and the best natural snake handler I've ever seen. Death came to him in the unlikeliest of ways.
My condolences to family and friends. ]

QUOTE:
{{ Agreed, I am amazed by some responses here. Yes, in the last few years he was bit of a smarmy git, cheezy numpty and all that, but he opened many couch potatoes eyes to the real value to loving wildlife and behind his disney-esque flamboyance he seemed to have a passion that few in life do...I think it is sad that he passed...anti-hunter or not, he was a person conservation needed to reach people and educate in his own manner...

as for the baby with croc thing...big bloody deal, got to mcDonalds and watch fat ass parents buying chicken nuggets for their kids and tell me thats not dangerous! Every kid I know who grew up in the bush around game and 'danger' is a solid human being!}}



Agreed! The man lived his life....... the hell with what people thought!

I'm sad for him and his family, too young to leave us!

I don't admire what he did or the way he did it but I would never celebrate the man's death. When I first heard of it I figured one of the snakes he was always bothering had finally gotten lucky but death by stingray has to rank with the liklyhood of death by meteor strike. Wild amimals are dangerous and getting around them like he did is extremely so. Wonder how many imitators got nailed trying to grab a deadly snake by the tail like they saw him do on TV?

the guys that are bagging him are only pissed off with how he wanted to stop so called hunters shooting croc's

why you would want to shoot a croc is beyond me, it would be like shooting a log and very little challange at all
mind you the same so called hunters are probable happy shooting deer in a padock and calling that hunting aswell

they guy isn't even in the ground yet and they are putting the boot in
a bit of respect for the dead would be nice rather then what some of you have said here

Steve Irwin was a good man.
Knew him personally. The world is definitely a poorer place without him.

Many here have called his life's work "antics" well he did more to promote wildlife and conservation than most people on the planet. He also did it in an enjoyable way. He loved what he did and many of us loved watching him.


I doubt many of us can say we love watching Joe the accountant, or Brave Mr. Attorney, etc.

Didn't know him. Didn't watch him, at least not after I saw a couple of his shows.

Too bad for his kids.

As far as wildlife education is conserned I think Marty Stauffer did a better job.

quote:

Originally posted by carmelo@worldshooter.com:
Steve Irwin was a good man.
Knew him personally. The world is definitely a poorer place without him.

Many here have called his life's work "antics" well he did more to promote wildlife and conservation than most people on the planet. He also did it in an enjoyable way. He loved what he did and many of us loved watching him.


I doubt many of us can say we love watching Joe the accountant, or Brave Mr. Attorney, etc.

I don't want to speak ill of the dead and I feel for his kids. However...

Steve Irwin Quotes on hunting:
"The time has come for me to expose the current ‘Hitlers of Wildlife’….‘Sustainable use’ of native wildlife is your camouflage, your disguise and your propaganda. Since when has the slaughter of native animals saved a species? Never has and never will!…. Money and greed is the root of all evil… never purchase native wildlife products….[T]here is no excuse of any inhumane cruel or torturous treatment of any animal. Perhaps free-range chickens are a solution worth researching…. We the human race have evolved beyond cannibalism and slavery. I’m confident we will continue to evolve beyond ‘sustainable use’ and wildlife abuse…. If we don’t eliminate ‘sustainable use’ now it will be too late."

http://www.huntingreport.com/conservation_force.cfm?id=67

I also believe that his wife (from Eugene, Oregon) was instumental in the promotion and passage of the Bear/Cougar huning initiative that banned huning bears and cougars with dogs and bears over bait in this state.

-Steve

Whew! I sure wouldn't want to be on an AR forum shit list. I read through the two pages of comments and thought I noticed a pattern. So, I went back and perused them again. It seems that our hunting brethern in Australia and New Zealand are about an order of magnitude more critical of Steve Irwin than the U.S. contingent. You guys must know something the rest of us don't. Pesonally, I admired him for his inate knowledge of animal behavior and pretty damn quick reflexes, but you down under fellas have a closer to the bone perception of him. I'm glad we're preaching to the choir here on this thread because hunting would get ANOTHER very black eye from the indifferent public and hostile media if they ever read this stuff. Terri seems like a sweetheart, and Bindi is her daddy's pride and joy. Little Bob was waiting in the wings and will never know his daddy. Too bad and a tough deal. Here in the U.S., about 80% of the population doesn't hunt but they're willing to let the 10% of us who do enjoy the shooting sports. As hunters we still have the power to sway public opinion and steer legislation, but only if we are responsible in our approach. There's a lot of crap on the outdoor channel. I think I'd rather be entertained by the Crock Hunter by Crikey!

I feel that he exhibited behaviour that most Australians and Kiwis would just find to be loud and obnoxious.
That is just not our way here, it is foreign to us, we like to think we have a more humble approach to life and we like to see people like that fail for some odd reason, hence the seemingly harsh comments.

I feel very sorry for the guys family, especially the small kids, but as an Aussie/kiwi I also have say he got what was coming to him.

quote:

It seems that our hunting brethern in Australia and New Zealand are about an order of magnitude more critical of Steve Irwin than the U.S. contingent. You guys must know something the rest of us don't.

One common trait amongst Aussies and Kiwis is the attitude that you just get on and do a job, quietly. Those that excell and do not crow about it, are often referred to as "quiet achievers" and are generally appreciated and respected.

Those that crow about their 'accomplishments' are referred to as wankers and are treated with suspicion and contempt. (Visitors to Australia should take note of this trait, because ignorance of this fact can lead to some difficulties with the locals.)

This is because there is a general perception, among Aussies and Kiwis, that those who sing their own praises, just as Steve Irwin did, are usually those whose real abilities are lacking.

This can be summed up as - Those who can, do. Those we can't, just talk about it.

Steve came across as a talker and I think that his only real ability was as a salesman and businessman who ran with a gimick that irritated many Australians and Kiwis. It appealed to the International market but had limited appeal here.

If he had a more humble approach to his own abilities and self-worth, then he would not have made so many enemies at home.

True, if he had have been more humble, then he may not have made it big overseas, but the question I pose is:

What is more important; doing a job properly and for the right reasons, or making loads of money?

As a comparison, there is a documentary maker here, called Malcolm Douglas who has spent a large part of his life in the Northern Australian bush. His knowledge of the environment, the indigenous people and the wildlife would be hard to beat, and is certainly more objective than Steve Irwin ever was.

Malcolm is a real 'bushy' type who takes the cameras into some wild and amazing country and simply tells it like it is without any bullshit, no gimmicks and no singing of his own praises.

Malcolm also has no qualms about speaking out on conservation issues and he says what he thinks and not what he thinks will earn himself the most accolades. Sometimes his opinion is in support of hunting, sometimes it is not - but at least you know that he speaks from real knowledge, real experience and not just to placate the cameras, the media, the bunny-huggers and his accountant, as Steve Irwin seemed to do.

I never miss a Malcolm Douglas doco, as they are always facinating, educational and he really does seem to care for bush.

At the same time, after watching a number of episodes of The Crocodile Hunter, I then went out of my way to avoid watching anything to do with Steve Irwin - he just irritated the living daylights out of me with his blatantly money-driven programs, his totally biased views on the environment and his limitless (and sickening) ability to sing his own praises.

As I said in a previous post, I feel sorry for Steve's family and I am sorry that his life was cut short, but I've said nothing in these posts that I haven't said when the man was alive and I cannot remain silent when the Australian media are trying to make him into a saint.

The media frenzy has been almost non-stop here. They are even talking about holding a state funeral for the man! We barely give our servicemen and women, our firefighters, our police and our medical teams - the real heroes and quiet achievers - a pat on the back, yet they are willing to waste tax payers dollars on a state funeral for a celebrity. It almost makes me ashamed to be an Aussie.

Nicely put BwanaBob I totally agree with your post.

I would like to state that I'm not "celebrating" his death and I do feel sorry for his family and friends.

quote:

The media frenzy has been almost non-stop here. They are even talking about holding a state funeral for the man! We barely give our servicemen and women, our firefighters, our police and our medical teams - the real heroes and quiet achievers - a pat on the back, yet they are willing to waste tax payers dollars on a state funeral for a celebrity. It almost makes me ashamed to be an Aussie.

That really disgusts me. And it seems like it's becoming a trend all over the world, while the real heros are ignored or forgotten...

An anonymous death is the best way to go. At the end, it is just you and God anyway. Who wants the press to report on any of our deaths. They will just get the name, motivations and facts wrong.

His death was ultimately a very selfish act. How many of us on the boards here have spit in danger's eye in our younger years, and then stopped that when we had a wife and kids. I certainly did. I realized I no longer had the right to explore the edge of the envelope or get close to the precipice. A real man does not deliberately place his kids in danger of being orphans, or his wife in excess danger of becoming a widow.

Ironically, in death he may have done much more real good than he did in life. Not all bunny huggers are stupid. If some of them realize that harassing large and/or venomous animals is not smart, well, that is good for the animal and the greenie.

I have personally benefitted from his death. I just learned about a real naturalist in the Northwest Territories. That area has always fascinated me. I can look at those "docos" and have a little more of a clue when I am able to visit.

I don't rejoice in his death, but I do breathe a sigh of relief. We have all known that the shoe was going drop sooner or later.

I watched one of his shows flipping through the channels at a friends house while up one night with a touch of influenza. I never did again. There is no point watching anything that presents lies as the truth. In that respect his shows were similar to much of the fare offered on the OLN.

I believe he will get a state funeral. When you have a big lie going you won't stop it at the penultimate moment. After Abraham Lincoln died, the quote was "Now he belongs to the ages." What will the quote for Steve be? "Now he belongs to Katie Couric."

I have a question for the media savy among us. How will his reruns do in syndication now that he is worm food? I THINK that they will fade away rather quickly, but I don't know.

LD

quote:

Originally posted by adrook:
Those among us on AR who are posting such things ought to be ashamed. [Quote]


I guess they are entitled to their opinion


[Quote]
It is always a tragedy when a small child loses a parent. This man had two, ages 2 and 8. I've never agreed with his views on hunting but I can't feel anything but sympathy for him knowing the heartache that his death will bring to his children. Steve Irwin and his family deserve our prayers not our condemnation.

You don't think he brought it on himself?
It is up to the man to moderate his habits if he cares about his family.
I first saw this character leading his wife around caves etc in the bush, until she was bitten by a snake. Never been impressed with him since.

If you have seen some of his "out-takes", he was quite clumsy, so it was just a matter of time. The young daughter is apparently quite precocious and may now hopefully develope more senseably.
Plenty of other families who arn't millionairs loose loved ones through no fault of their own, so save your sympathy for them.

It should be illegal to tease wild animals and I hope no young kids think they can just pick snakes up like um, whats his name.

quote:

Originally posted by JAL:

quote:

Originally posted by adrook:
Those among us on AR who are posting such things ought to be ashamed. [Quote]


I guess they are entitled to their opinion


[Quote]
It is always a tragedy when a small child loses a parent. This man had two, ages 2 and 8. I've never agreed with his views on hunting but I can't feel anything but sympathy for him knowing the heartache that his death will bring to his children. Steve Irwin and his family deserve our prayers not our condemnation.

You don't think he brought it on himself?
It is up to the man to moderate his habits if he cares about his family.
I first saw this character leading his wife around caves etc in the bush, until she was bitten by a snake. Never been impressed with him since.

If you have seen some of his "out-takes", he was quite clumsy, so it was just a matter of time. The young daughter is apparently quite precocious and may now hopefully develope more senseably.
Plenty of other families who arn't millionairs loose loved ones through no fault of their own, so save your sympathy for them.

It should be illegal to tease wild animals and I hope no young kids think they can just pick snakes up like um, whats his name.

Of course I think that he brought it on himself. My behavior changed completely once I had kids. The foolish risks that I took and the things that I did when I was younger I would never try now. He obviously didn't do the same.

My sympathies are around the fact that he was a parent as am I. I feel sorry for anyone who, through no fault of their own or in his case their own stupidity, have the misfortune to partially orphan their children and leave their wife a young widow. However stupid or irresponsible he may have been his kids didn't deserve to lose their father and his wife doesn't deserve to be widow.

As far as saving my sympathy for other families who lose loved ones who aren't millionaires I fail to see what the fact that he had made a lot of money has to do with any of this.

BwanaBob put it very well. He was nothing until a US cable company run some of his stuff, his popularity started in the US.
His family have knocked the state funeral on the head.

BwanaBob,

great post. Well done.

Good morning Gentlemen,
I very much appreciate the comments from the southern hemisphere. They are salted with depth and conviction that I did not see on the earlier posts about Steve Irwin's death. I think we all agree that a real man just does his job, takes care of his family responsibilities and enjoys his favorite past times when he can. That occurs in New Zealand, Queensland, or here in Montana. After his daughter was born, perhaps just coincidentlal, Irwin's programming on Animal Planet was cut back. I thought at the time that maybe he had grown up or Terri had told him, "Enough of this shit." Apparently that wasn't the case. Like everything else in this crazy world, Steve Irwins demise will reign in his "15 minutes of fame" and we will all go back to doing our jobs until the next media event inflates another headline or creates another crisis. I'd like to see the Aussie documentaries. They might have made the rounds on the Travel Channel before the Cros Hunter phenomemon. At anyrate, Goodaye Mates 'n let's go huntin!!!
Me and Indy, we hate snakes!!! Arg!!

I liked his shows, but I watch so little TV, that it's probably not relavent.. I enjoyed his antics, for the most part... the southpark proof was funny, even he thought so.

It' sad when a fella passes, especially with a wife and kids.


jeffe

quote:

Originally posted by Alex.Y:
If only he had worn sunscreen.....................


It might have helped block out the harmful rays!

quote:

Originally posted by BwanaBob:
One common trait amongst Aussies and Kiwis is the attitude that you just get on and do a job, quietly. ...

Steve came across as a talker and I think that his only real ability was as a salesman and businessman who ran with a gimick that irritated many Australians and Kiwis. It appealed to the International market but had limited appeal here.

..

What is more important; doing a job properly and for the right reasons, or making loads of money?

I think this can looked at as a good practical view... not taking into account Steve never once meant to do anything but sell his face, accent (that was faked, right? seemed a bit thick thick), and daring do to the crowd.

He did a fine job at that. The job was unconventional, which is why it was annoying "back home".. .as being quiet and being a celebrity are incompatable.

his death being "his fault, good ridance" is ZERO more his fault that Dale Ernhardt dying in a car crash... talk of "daring do" with families....
Dangerous work and the human condition means accidents happen, sometimes fatal ones.

It's not like he was drunk and plowed through a grade school... he got killed while performing his own stunts..

foir a hypedriven monster called popular media that requires ever greater and greater "stupidity" to sell more airtime to advertisers and "residuals"....

Why aren't our true Heros given the regard they should? **** i do not agree with the following satement***** the media feels the "common" hero, of a soldier or policeman, is not hype worthy... and no one will pay 2cents more for airtime during that segment.

So, if John Q. Public voted with his dollars, and the media guys followed those votes, Steve wouldn't be a media star.....

Or, in other words, if it didn't pay, it wouldn't be on TV in the US.

jeffe

I can't add much more to what Bob has said.

Malcolm Douglas said yesterday that he and Steve didn't always see eye to eye. If he was being truthful he would have said that Steve was actively trying to close down his business and livlihood. Malcolm is a croc farmer.

If you gave me a choice of a trip to FNQ or the Territory with Malcolm or Steve, I'd go with Malcolm everytime. His knowledge of the land is fantastic.

BwanaBob well said couldn't have said it better myself

Blommie

He was a media creation (or he created himself via the media).

Whilst he was alive I thought he was a goose, and a hypocrite. I've seen no reason to change my opinion.

Anyone know if Harry Butler is still with us?
I also enjoyed his shows, many years ago.

While his job was self made and he got on peoples nerves, he did what he liked and got filthy rich at it. Most of us would love to be able to get rich doing what we truley enjoyed. A lot of you guys make it sound evil to make a bunch of money. While I agree he was overboard alot of the time and hyped by the media all the time, somebody must have liked him . If the word "krykee" is mentioned, most people know exactly who you are talking about, be it Austrailia, the U.S. or 3/4 of the rest of the world. I agree with Jeff, what is the difference between this and a race car driver ? Most professional drivers have young families and they risk their lives every Sunday for....$$$$$$ and notoriety, and people think they are great. I don't see alot of difference. I think some are flat out jealous. I feel extremely sorry for his family. I probably did not see 5 of his shows total, but my kids loved watching his shows. Evedently, LOTS of others did too.

NO jealousy of his success,money or his fame.
He chose his path,and coped the consequences.
Life is a process of discovery.

He loved his daughter so much,yet leaves her behind to fend without him, due to his obsessive and selfish (or just plain ignorant)persuite of his ideal. We each learn our lessons. Just alittle mishap in the big picture of things. ITs the media which likes to sensationalise it into a drama/tragedy. They care not for the man or family, but for the story.
Just because some people say he didnt appeal to them,does not necessarily mean that they condemned,begrudged, or wished him ill.

quote:

Anyone know if Harry Butler is still with us?
I also enjoyed his shows, many years ago.

Good question.

I also enjoyed Jack Absolom's shows, too. He was a bit eccentric but without the self-praise and bullshit - entertaining but with integrity.

quote:

Originally posted by Woodjack:
NO jealousy of his success,money or his fame.
He chose his path,and coped the consequences.
Life is a process of discovery.

He loved his daughter so much,yet leaves her behind to fend without him, due to his obsessive and selfish (or just plain ignorant)persuite of his ideal. We each learn our lessons. Just alittle mishap in the big picture of things. ITs the media which likes to sensationalise it into a drama/tragedy.
Just because some people say he didnt appeal to them,does not necessarily mean that they condemned,begrudged, or wished him ill.

Same words could be applied to Dale Ernhardt or Hemmingway.... EVERYONE dies, and most make choices that lead to the finale.

I see that Germaine Greer agrees with a lot of you bloaks whinging about Steve Irwin.

Does that mean that you think like her or she thinks like you.

I guess she could claim PMS as an excuse. (maybe not???)

Robin down under

While everyone else praises BwanaBob's post, I must say that I have to give praise to BigDoggy700's post.. It said everything I wanted to. Excellent post sir..

And I think I detect a hint of green envy as well from some on here...

Who the hell doesn't want to get rich doing what he loves?? The man was a media mogul.. He didn't care what his fellow countrymen thought of him.. he had the WHOLE REST OF THE WORLD EATING OUT OF HIS PALMS!! He didn't need approval from a bunch of jelous and envious countrymen..
I for one give the man props.. I don't agree with everything he did and I didn't watch his shows, but he did exactly what he set out to do.. Make lots of money and become a famous figure.

I prefer Rob Bredl of "Killer Instinct" on OLN TV, less of a showboat, and more an instructor.

quote:

Originally posted by Scottyboy:

...The man was a media mogul.....

Scottyboy,

Arizona air has not made you loose your Texan ability to exaggerate things.
Murdoch,Black,Packer,Turner are media moguls. Erwin was a little side show, successful in its own right.Good luck to him his family. And yes he made lots of money and became a famous figure,and if thats all he wanted, thats all he got. He either ignored,failed to properly consider,or was unaware, of other pertitnent issues of life.
If we cast our judgment on things it looks like tragedy to some, but according to impartial universal law, its just what happened., I would not call it good or bad.
When one is on the frontier of his life its usually uncharted waters in terms of what can happen next. Life is full of all kinds of surprises, and if one lives in fear then he is already dead. Fearful he was not.
Being fearful though can also mean to respect something for its ability to harm you,be it maliciously or unmaliciously.That might even include oneself(sometimes ones own worst enemy) Cross that line, cop it sweet.One does wisely need to use his better judgement.Constant vigilance. If a person runs on the edge/redline all the time,somethings going to give.
I do have some regard for people who have a go in life, how they go about it,their style,is up to them. But sliding down a 40ft razorblade everyday and using my testicles as brakes dont appeal.
Fate Is The Hunter.

quote:

One common trait amongst Aussies and Kiwis is the attitude that you just get on and do a job, quietly. Those that excell and do not crow about it, are often referred to as "quiet achievers" and are generally appreciated and respected.

Those that crow about their 'accomplishments' are referred to as wankers and are treated with suspicion and contempt.

…that explains a lot, true about Kiwis, but (with the exception of the AATTI fellows I worked with last year) all the aussies I’ve met must have been crowers.

quote:

“Sad for his family but ...â€

“The world is a poorer place without Steve Irwin. That's debatable!â€

“His demise is certainly no loss for the hunting community.â€

“not a huge loss.â€

“There is no middle ground with the anti hunting types, good one is a dead oneâ€

“I find no pity in my heart for this man…â€.

If any of the people who made those comments claim to live by Christian or similar moral codes; I would recommend they take a long hard look in the mirror.


.

Not me,hunting is all that is important to me

quote:

Originally posted by adrook:

As far as saving my sympathy for other families who lose loved ones who aren't millionaires I fail to see what the fact that he had made a lot of money has to do with any of this.

It has just about everything to do with it. My point is a hard working father dies tragically while poor, you and such don't go bananas.

Steve's wife and kids are very well off, will want for nothing except a father, and with a bit of luck they may get a good new step dad.
And meanwhile there were quite a few close friends. I'm not worried about THAT family at all. Jees, have you any idea what orphanage kids put up with?

quote:

He didn't need approval from a bunch of jelous and envious countrymen..

You've missed our point completely. I, for one, have never been guilty of being jealous or envious of anyone who annoyed the living daylights out of me. Why would I want to be like someone I disliked? Not even for his fame or money!

quote:

If any of the people who made those comments claim to live by Christian or similar moral codes; I would recommend they take a long hard look in the mirror.

I did as you suggested and took a look in the mirror and what did I find?......

.....it seems that I need a haircut, and maybe a shave, but my opinions are still the same - I still don't like charlatans!