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Before Shark Week and ‘Jaws,’ World War II spawned America’s shark obsession
The Conversation ^ | July 9, 2021 | Janet M. Davis

Posted on 07/10/2021 5:13:02 PM PDT by Capt. Tom

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To us Freepers who were around in WW II we would realize the fear of sharks was established before the mid 70s "JAWS" Movie.

"JAW"s put fear of sharks into every American who saw the movie.

We are now into shark season, and will get plenty of shark news daily in Newspapers, TV, magazines etc.-and from Freepers like me. -Tom

1 posted on 07/10/2021 5:13:02 PM PDT by Capt. Tom
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To: Capt. Tom

You just need to swim faster than the person next to you.


2 posted on 07/10/2021 5:16:05 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
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To: Capt. Tom

We’re watching Jaws right now on prime. Don’t drink that.


3 posted on 07/10/2021 5:19:55 PM PDT by stanne
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To: Capt. Tom

Grew up near Lake Michigan where nothing could eat you when you swim.

Then saw “Jaws”.

Not an ocean fan. At all.


4 posted on 07/10/2021 5:19:57 PM PDT by lizma2
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To: Capt. Tom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9S41Kplsbs

The Indianapolis


5 posted on 07/10/2021 5:21:25 PM PDT by Eddie01
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To: Capt. Tom

People do not need to fear shark attacks as long as they wear a mask when swimming...../s


6 posted on 07/10/2021 5:23:29 PM PDT by HerrBlucher (Vaccinate this! )
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To: Capt. Tom
In this week's "The Atlantic," they have an article titled Cape Cod’s Waters Are Getting Very, Very Sharky.

Perhaps this section was most telling:

But a six-month study commissioned by the Outer Cape towns and released in October 2019 looked at the efficacy of more than two dozen shark-mitigation strategies, including the Clever Buoy, as well as nets, virtual barriers, electromagnet devices to deter sharks, and drones, among others. The report ultimately concluded that most either didn’t have enough evidence that they actually worked, had limited efficacy, or wouldn’t work on Cape Cod’s shoreline—except one: modifying human behavior.

This has been the primary way that public-safety officials have mitigated shark risk over the past eight to nine years, said Suzanne Grout Thomas, director of community services for Wellfleet, a fishing town about 15 miles from the tip of Cape Cod. Since Medici’s death, towns have stepped up their protocols, limiting how far out people can swim and closing beaches to swimming, sometimes several times a day. Lifeguards and even some members of the public are trained in “stop the bleed” practices for bites, and signs warn about the presence of sharks. “Our biggest contribution to this is educating the general public as to how sharks can be anticipated to behave,” says Thomas. And she already sees signs it is working. People swim closer to shore, or don’t swim at all, and they react faster when the lifeguards blow their whistles to clear the water.

So, let me get this right....the govt worked hard and succeeded in getting the seal population back up, but seals are a great source of food for sharks, creating this situation, but it's human behavior that has to change?

I mean, I get it...fish will be fish. But now people are being blamed for the shark attacks. That's like blaming people wearing expensive watches for getting robbed.

7 posted on 07/10/2021 5:25:25 PM PDT by DoodleBob (Gravity's waiting period is about 9.8 m/s^2)
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To: stanne

When he comes at ya, he doesn’t even seem to be livin’… ’til he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then… ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin’. The ocean turns red, and despite all your poundin’ and your hollerin’ those sharks come in and… they rip you to pieces.

Robert Shaw was really a great actor.


8 posted on 07/10/2021 5:26:11 PM PDT by hercuroc
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To: Capt. Tom

Discovery Channel “Shark Week” debuted in 1988. Odd that I’ve never even heard of it. It sounds like a big hit. Is that something like “Black Month”?


9 posted on 07/10/2021 5:30:09 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“We maintain the peace through our strength; weakness only invites aggression.” ~ Ronald Reagan)
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To: Eddie01

He got the month wrong (it was July and not June), but a fine presentation nonetheless. I think this scene in such a popular movie immortalized the sinking of the Indianapolis.


10 posted on 07/10/2021 5:30:43 PM PDT by Captain Walker ("The side that has Truth gets Humor as a bonus.")
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To: DoodleBob

More from The Atlantic….

“This is a story about fish. Not the tasty kind like you find at Long John Silvers where you can get the Steamer Special for $10 with all the napkins and straws you want.”


11 posted on 07/10/2021 5:34:47 PM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
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To: stanne; TMN78247; Makana; 1Old Pro; Roccus; Justa; Faith65; rlmorel; Red Badger; JPJones; ...
We’re watching Jaws right now on prime. Don’t drink that.

One of my sons and his friends have seen JAWS so many times, they know the dialogue and character names. He even took his boat to Martha's Vineyard to do a JAW's tour a few summers ago. - Tom

12 posted on 07/10/2021 5:39:55 PM PDT by Capt. Tom (.It's COVID 2021 - The Events, not us, are still in charge -Tom)
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To: Capt. Tom

I thought the sharks were from all the slaves thrown overboard while bringing them to North America during the 1700 and 1800’s?


13 posted on 07/10/2021 5:47:58 PM PDT by caver
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To: Capt. Tom

Stupid movie. The police chief waits halfway through the show to put the semi auto rifle to work. He had a gun on his hip too. Could have put a lot of lead in it’s head when it came up for chum.


14 posted on 07/10/2021 5:53:06 PM PDT by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
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To: DoodleBob
....snip..So, let me get this right....the govt worked hard and succeeded in getting the seal population back up, but seals are a great source of food for sharks, creating this situation, but it's human behavior that has to change?...

That is what is happening, because as long as the seals and sharks are protected by the Federal Govt. and the States, any solution will fail.

. This goes back to 2019 when a study group released its findings. Excerpt below: -Tom

"The only way to be completely safe from a shark attack, a new report released Wednesday concludes, is to stay out of the water".

"The $50,000 study by the Woods Hole Group analyzed 27 shark mitigation alternatives but did not recommend any single or group of solutions. "

15 posted on 07/10/2021 6:07:57 PM PDT by Capt. Tom (.It's COVID 2021 - The Events, not us, are still in charge -Tom)
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To: Capt. Tom
John Singleton Copley painted, "Watson and the Shark" in 1778.


16 posted on 07/10/2021 6:16:49 PM PDT by Joe 6-pack
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To: Captain Walker

That scene in “Jaws” piqued a 12-year-old boy’s curiosity and he went on to learn all he could about the USS Indianapolis. His efforts led eventually to the exoneration of its captain, James McVay, who never got over the sinking and court martial and had killed himself in the ‘60s.


17 posted on 07/10/2021 6:59:26 PM PDT by Blurb2350 (posted from my 1500-watt blow dryer)
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To: Zuriel

How long a movie would Cujo be if the Trentons had a biden shotgun...


18 posted on 07/10/2021 7:10:47 PM PDT by null and void (Our two party system is not two views fighting. There is only one view. Government needs more power!)
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To: Capt. Tom

I’d argue Jaws had a lot to do with it.

And Jaws was heavily inspired by the 1916 New Jersey shark attacks.


19 posted on 07/10/2021 7:13:38 PM PDT by the OlLine Rebel (Common sense is an uncommon virtue./Federal-run medical care is as good as state-run DMVs. I )
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To: Blurb2350
I remember reading something like that.

What the Navy did to McVay was an outrage.

20 posted on 07/10/2021 7:26:53 PM PDT by Captain Walker ("The side that has Truth gets Humor as a bonus.")
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