Cousteau: Irwin's Tactics 'Misleading' (very short)

Associated Press via Washington Times ^ | 19 Sep 2006 | no name

[Mr Rogers]

-- Marine explorer Jean-Michel Cousteau said Tuesday that while he...had "a lot of respect" for Irwin...Irwin would "interfere with nature, jump on animals, grab them, hold them, and have this very, very spectacular, dramatic way of presenting things...You don't touch nature, you just look at it. And that's why I'm still alive...I don't mess with nature."

[Mr Rogers]

Sad. I was particularly peeved that this comes when Irwin has a memorial service:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1704497/posts

and his comment "You don't touch nature, you just look at it." That is the environmentalist ideal - you just LOOK at nature. I want to PARTAKE of nature. You don't do that by watching it on TV.

Irwin had his faults, but his love of life and nature was admirable, IMHO. He doesn't merit cheap shots from rival TV producers.

[ElkGroveDan]

Shut up Frenchie.

[BigBlueJon]

"You don't touch nature, you just look at it. And that's why I'm still alive...I don't mess with nature."

And sadly, that's why you will never be famous.

[petercooper]

DON'T MESS WITH NATURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[BipolarBob]

I think he was just LOOKING at the stingray when he nailed him. Possibly spooked by his cameraman. Cousteau can stow it in his pipe and smoke it.

[Salvey]

"...And that's why I'm still alive...I don't mess with nature."

A vain, stupid, gratuitous remark.

[cripplecreek]

Cousteau is quite famous just not TV famous.

[1rudeboy]

My favorite Jacques Cousteau episode was the one where his divers found an intact, 2000-year-old bottle of "Greek" wine, brought it to the surface, and immediately sampled it . . . to heck with archeology.

[Clara Lou]

I can respect his point of view, just like I could Irwin's. Different strokes for different strokes. Freedom, and all that.

[SquirrelKing]

At least Steve wasn't traumatizing nature with the sight of Frenchmen in speedoes.

[PetroniusMaximus]

"...And that's why I'm still alive...I don't mess with nature."

That's just the voice of jealousy speaking there.

Steve probably made more money in a month than frenchie the frog made in a year.

[DBrow]

Jacques Cousteau also had a very overdramatic way of presenting things. It was very popular; it made him and his heirs loads of money.

My favorite scene has Cousteau diving in a cave; something inherently dangerous. He faked a scene in which he dropped his bubbling magnesium torch and said zuddenlee I wasss plonged into total darknessss...while being filmed in Ektachrome the whole time!

Another time he stuck his face near an octopus and the thing reached out to grab him and see if he was food (he didn't run, so he may be food...) and Jacques said I haff enterred into communication wit zeee octopuss...

I think this attack on Irwin is uncalled for. he was an entertainer who also taught, and he was a darned sight more interesting than a hands-off dry researcher- that enabled him to reach millions (like Sagan, a terrible scientist but good teacher).

[najida]

But we ARE nature ourselves, a part of it....
not seperate, but well...

There.

[hophead]

Jean-Michel Cousteau wishes he had the stage like Irwin had. Cousteau is a wannabe and will never be the man his father was.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

You don't touch nature, you just look at it.

Really? That must be the French way. I prefer stalking it, shooting it, and then usually cooking and eating it.

[jwalsh07]

This Jean-Michel Cousteau?

[NewHampshireDuo]

You don't touch nature, you just look at it.

Hmmm I say as I look at one of my hunting rifles.

[Tallguy]

Cousteau can stuff it. I remember an episode of his father's TV program in which they were exploring some pristine underwater caves. To provide light they were using a sort of underwater flare, which they promptly dropped when it was spent. Hadn't these idiots heard of chemical glow sticks & flashlights? Aquatic litterbugs.

[Sans-Culotte]

I can respect his point of view, just like I could Irwin's. Different strokes for different strokes. Freedom, and all that.

I can, too, but I've always thought it bad form to criticize others in the same field. Whether singers, actors, marine bio-whatevers. It just makes a person look small and petty and jealous when they put down a fellow of the same profession. Particularly when the object of one's disdain just got killed.

[doc1019]

And everyone knows the name “Steve Irwin” but how many know “Jean-Michel Cousteau” Cousteau yes, but Jean-Michel Cousteau? Steve Irwin has had more impact on our knowledge of the animal world then Jean-Michel will ever have. This is why Steve will have a longer lasting impact on the world then Jean-Michel.

A little envy there Jean-Michel?