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Post 0

Monday, September 4, 2006 - 2:30amSanction this postReply
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Crikey! It's a shame he's gone, and how bizarre. And I was just thinking about him a couple of nights ago, wondering why I ~hadn't~ seen him on TV recently.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

God rest his soul.

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Post 1

Monday, September 4, 2006 - 2:46pmSanction this postReply
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It's tragic. His career revolved around teaching people to respect wild creatures--ironically--by getting dangerously and unnecessarily close to them and provoking them into attack. He was stung by a sting ray which only attacks in self defense. He died trying to produce a thrilling television show. What a stupid way to die and leave your two children to grow up fatherless.

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Post 2

Monday, September 4, 2006 - 8:37pmSanction this postReply
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What Mark said.  Totally irresponsible of him in my view.

(Reminds me of that of that goofy Timothy Treadwell, who lived with grizzly bears, and then got eaten by one, along with his girlfriend.)


Post 3

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 7:14amSanction this postReply
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This is really tragic. When I first came across a small piece of this news item I desperately hoped I had heard it wrong or had somehow misinterpreted it. No way to avoid being depressed for many days now. Larger-than-life Steve Irwin -- "the 'gator baiter" on South Park ;-) -- had a lot of joie de vivre and seemed to live a mostly great life.

But I always thought he was a touch crazy, out of control, and lost. He seemed to have an air of searching-without-finding that all his wildly dangerous stunts only partially obscured and compensated for. In the end, in the game of life, I think you can only go so far without a rational philosophy. Even possessing fame, fortune, terrific excitement, great fun, a sterling character, and a rich personality just aren't enough.

Nothing seems to substitute for a well-thought-out frame of reference and sound outlook in life. Nothing substitutes for a philosophy which is fundamentally rational and based solidly on logic and understanding. Irwin seemed to need a clearer apprehension of reality and proper, worthwhile, doable goals.  


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Post 4

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 7:48amSanction this postReply
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Mark wrote:

He died trying to produce a thrilling television show. What a stupid way to die and leave your two children to grow up fatherless.

Are you suggesting that stunt men and other professionals who have sometimes "died trying to produce a thrilling television show" and thus have left their "children to grow up fatherless" should have quit their passions for the sake of their children -- even if those passions had deep spiritual meaning to them and, in their own reasoning, made their lives worth living even more so than parenting?

Your statement begs many other, more profound questions regarding the rights and responsibilities of parents as well as the rationality of assuming risks in pursuit of rewards, but that one immediately came to mind.

(Edited by Luke Setzer on 9/05, 7:51am)


Post 5

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 9:15amSanction this postReply
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*Sigh*. One can only live a charmed life for so long...

Post 6

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 9:30amSanction this postReply
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How true, Hong - how true..........

Post 7

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 10:28amSanction this postReply
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Steve Irwin had an extraordinary sense of life. His ebullient optimism, boundless self-confidence, and unquenchable passion for his work were infectious, and completely overshadow any of his errors.

I for one shall miss him very much.

Post 8

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 12:14pmSanction this postReply
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Until I heard this news, I had no idea who this guy even was.


Post 9

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 4:13pmSanction this postReply
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Your statement begs many other, more profound questions regarding the rights and responsibilities of parents as well as the rationality of assuming risks in pursuit of rewards, but that one immediately came to mind.
Indeed, Luke.  I can't begin to compare a stunt man who uses nets, years of training, and real skill, planning, fire suits, helmets, and body protection with someone who openly flirts with death without such precautions.

Are you suggesting "Jack Ass" participants should be admired?  Please.    


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Post 10

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 4:25pmSanction this postReply
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Don't let Irwin's carefully cultivated image as a foolhardy daredevil fool you. He had years of experience with critters, since childhood, and had spent a lot of time alone in the bush. He knew animals cold, as other experts now attest. He knew exactly what he could get away with, and what he couldn't. What may look to us like a foolhardy stunt was usually well-planned and considered.

Steve Irwin was no more a foolish risk-taker than...well...Ragnar Danneskjold.

But the "Crikey!" guy was a consummate showman -- sincere in his enthusiasm and passion, but savvy in the ways of the camera and the need for drama and the appearance of danger and risk. If he had been less knowledgeable and careful, he'd have been dead 100 times over, and years ago.

That's why I liked the guy. His mission was to share his love for animals (which I somewhat share) and his belief in conservation (which I don't). But he pursued that mission with energy, passion, dedication, courage, and knowledge, influencing millions in the process.

If we had more with his spirit and style in the Objectivist movement, we would be much farther along than we are.



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Post 11

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 7:55pmSanction this postReply
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I think Steve Irwin lived more in his 44 years than 200 years of the lives most people choose for themselves. I raise my glass to him and try an Aussie'ism:

"Good on you, mate!".

And a Swedish cheer:

HURRAH!! HURRAH!! HURRAH!!

May your friends remember you fondly, and your enemies go to hell!

Post 12

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 8:33pmSanction this postReply
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But the "Crikey!" guy was a consummate showman -- sincere in his enthusiasm and passion, but savvy in the ways of the camera and the need for drama and the appearance of danger and risk. If he had been less knowledgeable and careful, he'd have been dead 100 times over, and years ago.
Yeah, you may be right about that.

He just annoyed the hell out of me. Oogling into the camera, "Crikey! Gooooogeous!" Geesh! Shut up!

Give me a good Nature special any day. Or that old Brit who does animal documentaries on PBS.  I love that guy. 

I feel horrible for Irwin's wife, though. I can't even pretend to know what she's going through. Awful.



 


Post 13

Tuesday, September 5, 2006 - 10:37pmSanction this postReply
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Tears of Joy

Teresa, you made me cry, for which I thank you.

My sister Andria Jerri Keer died at 20 of an un-diagnosed heart-defect in 1994, and the love of my life, Gerald Edward Wells, was murdered in a botched carjacking in 1996. I dream of them regularly - sometimes bad dreams and sometimes good - but I am always happy to have had the dreams when I awake.

I cry at least once a week when reminded of either of them, the sight of a sunflower, "Yellow Ledbetter" on the radio. I regard this grief as a poignant joy, not a form of suffering. The tears pass in a minute, and then I am profoundly "centered" if that is the word.

Had I not known and loved them, their lives and their current accidental absence would be of no significance. Our tears of grief may be sharp, but they are truly tears of joy.

Grief is the final witness of one's love, not a ~burden~ but a ~tribute.~

Irwin's widow will mourn, and I pray to god she will learn to grieve.

Ted Keer NYC 6th Sep '06

++++

My apologies for the personal nature of my comments, but I feel the issue is to important for decorum. Please do not post simply to express any condolences, call a loved one and tell them what you feel, while you can, instead.
(Edited by Ted Keer
on 9/06, 10:36am)


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Post 14

Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - 8:42amSanction this postReply
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I agree very much with Robert Bidinotto's assessment of Steve Irwin. Animal Planet has been the single most popular channel in my household and it is tremendously educational as well as entertaining. Guys like Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin are idols for many kids. They are no doubt experts of animals and nature and their programs have thrilled millions of people.

After watching Animal Planet channel for several years, I also get the sense that this a very competitive field. New personalities come and go. And everyone is trying hard to produce interesting and thrilling programs without repeating old tricks again and again. It is, in my opinion, a very worthwhile endeavor.

My husband is a naturalist and is good with snakes and insects. When I told him about Steve Irwin's death, he's surprised "but stingray is harmless!" He thinks this is a quite bizarre and freaking accident. Well, studying animals is one matter, producing a TV program to thrill audience is quite another.


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Post 15

Wednesday, September 6, 2006 - 7:24pmSanction this postReply
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Mike Erickson points out: "I think Steve Irwin lived more in his 44 years than 200 years of the lives most people choose for themselves."

I also think it's worth remembering that he was rich, famous, at the top of his field, and beloved worldwide.

He was a unique person, with an original career, and a life-style unlike any other. He led a magnificently fun, exciting, and dangerous life, with an immense variety of spills, chills, and thrills.

I think Steve probably cheated death a hundred times. He basically laughed at the Grim Reaper. Not many can say that!

And he had a zest for living and joie de vivre which matched his daring, will, and courage.

In his time, Steve Irwin also managed to marry a good woman who tolerated and even appreciated his strange line of work. And he had two kids -- a boy(2) and a girl(8). And Steve neatly avoided the sullen, ungrateful, rebellious, teenage years in them.

He also deftly avoided cancer, heart attack, and stroke -- not to mention the indignity of arthritis, incontinence, and impotence.

Steve died "with his boots on" and doing what he loved best. He died as a man, a dynamo, and a hero.

As Robert Bidinotto noted yesterday: "Steve Irwin had an extraordinary sense of life. His ebullient optimism, boundless self-confidence, and unquenchable passion for his work were infectious..."

Steve Irwin was probably one of the few men who could say, with the chivalric, heroic knights of yore:

I fought my fight
I lived my life
I drank my share of wine

 
From Troy to Tangier
'Twas never a knight
Led a merrier life than mine



Post 16

Thursday, September 7, 2006 - 7:33amSanction this postReply
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I have to say, I really don't understand the sentiments expressed here and elsewhere about Steve Irwin's death.

Yes, he had a colorful, funny persona. Yes, his professional success is admirable. And yes, it's too bad he died, especially in such a bizarre way.

But I think calling him a "hero" is absurd. Why does he deserve that distinction--or all the attention and praise he's received? Because he handled dangerous animals on television? That doesn't make someone a hero, in my view, or warrant an orgy of public eulogies for the guy.

I'm not trying to disrespect him after his death. I enjoyed his show as well. But let's not get carried away here.

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Post 17

Thursday, September 7, 2006 - 7:49amSanction this postReply
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Jon,

Recognition of a great spirit and outgoing personality with a focus on life and all of life's manifestations. And a great teacher. Positive, OPTIMISTIC sense of life. You may call what he did senseless risk taking, I call it an optimistic sense of life because he really did know what he was doing. And he obviously liked it. How about calling him a very good role model?



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Post 18

Thursday, September 7, 2006 - 9:44amSanction this postReply
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Anyone you admire, and see yourself in or model yourself after, can rightly be called a hero. Steve Irwin showed the basic virtue of courage--to act in accordance with reality, including your own estimate of your abilities, rather than retreating to a safety zone.

Realism is what, in a crisis, saves lives, and creates heroes in the other sense of the term:

"Steve Irwin saved my life, says diver"


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Post 19

Tuesday, September 12, 2006 - 6:51pmSanction this postReply
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Steve Irwin was very cool in my view. However he took to many daredevil chances. I think the fact that he cheated death so many times convinced him into beliving that he was invincible. it's said to see the Crocodile Hunter go out like that but, I still think he could've been more careful.

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