That guy was crazy

[mollyringle]

I love my friends list. When wars start somewhere in the world, I *might* see mention of it on one or two journals. But when Pluto is demoted to dwarf planet, or--to take today's case--when poor ol' Croc Hunter Steve Irwin dies--at least five of you post about it. We have our priorities straight around here, darn it. :)

That said, I really do feel bad about Steve Irwin. I loved watching him be his insane self, holding furious writhing snakes at arm's length and assuring them, "Yer awright! Yer awright!", or body-slamming crocodiles into a boat and then gently re-releasing them somewhere less problematic. I would never have thought a stingray, which people say are mostly harmless, would be the end of him. Well, possibly it isn't the career one should choose if one wants to live a long time, but all the same I feel bad for his wife and kids. Good on ya, mate.

Comments

[trilliah.livejournal.com]

Yeah, well--sad though it is, we sort of expect wars anymore. They're sort of a permanent part of the human condition, and as such we've gotten a bit numb to them. I'm not at all implying this is a GOOD thing, but really, you don't report on things you expect as much as things that really shake you.

Not the Pluto thing, though that's interesting; I was wondering what all that was about. The Steve Irwin thing, though. Animal Rights Activists just lost one of their loudest voices.

[bluesound.livejournal.com]

At least he went doing something he loved, although apparently stingray's only atack when threatened or cornered, it has been suggested he was tormenting the thing. He also managed to avoid the most obvious death most people thought he'd have by being bitten by getting ripped to bits by a crocodile.

[blagden.livejournal.com]

Apparently, stingray barbs are rarely fatal. The poor guy got his heart punctured by the thing! No one deserves that...all creatures great and small lost a wonderful champion. Let nature mourn.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, wars are not only depressing and common but rather a touchy subject. The solar system and the Crocodile Hunter had near-universal appeal, though. And I've clearly chosen my friends list well since they report on such things, which I'd much rather read about than war. :)

I hardly even thought of activism in connection with him; I just knew he was wonderfully funny, brave, and interesting. He educated us all about wild animals so smoothly that we didn't even realize we were watching something educational. You had to like the guy!

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Starting to sound like it was more of a freak accident--just happened to collide with the ray, straight in the heart. Ouch. They very seldom hurt people, as you say. At least it was probably fast, but too bad to die so relatively young.

[mollyringle.livejournal.com]

Yeah--I read later that it was basically a stab to the heart that killed him, not the venom. Ouch. No one will ever quite be that man's match...really too bad.