Posted on 09/19/2006 6:47:53 PM PDT by 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."
(Excerpt) Read more at ap.washingtontimes.com ...
Maybe you have seen the video of his death and are aware of the setting in which he was killed, I haven't, but the fact that you consider swimming with a sting ray as low risk is the point that was being made. It's not low risk to be close to wild animals and I think Irwin's death bears that out.
We have been repeatedly exposed to risk takers, on televisions, to such an extent that we no longer realize the danger that wild animals pose to humans.
If Irwin was engaging in a low risk undertaking I wonder why a production crew was filming the event. There was nothing low risk about his television show.
I think it would be appropriate for a final episode of his show to consist of a montage of his encounters with wild animals including the last one.
I always enjoyed watching Jim Fowler wrestling the anaconda while Marlin Perkins monitored the situation from the helicopter. Good times.
Wow! A French guy is crass, tactless, self-absorbed, and mocks bravery!
File this along with the McGreevey post under BREAKING NEWS!!!
Which Cousteau son flipped the PBY Catalina & drown? That's the only aircraft related accident that I recall.
All the best spots in the parks and on remote islands seem to be reserved for government officials, university types, docum entary producers and the rich and famous. The rest of us get to look at it on t.v.
LOL LOL
I stand corrected about the helicopter. It was a crash landing of the PBY Catalina. The propeller blade separated and cut through the cabin. Killed was Philippe Cousteau, father of the Philippe Cousteau who was working with Irwin and grandson of Jacques.
[Maybe you have seen the video of his death and are aware of the setting in which he was killed, I haven't, but the fact that you consider swimming with a sting ray as low risk is the point that was being made. It's not low risk to be close to wild animals and I think Irwin's death bears that out. We have been repeatedly exposed to risk takers, on televisions, to such an extent that we no longer realize the danger that wild animals pose to humans.]
The video isn't publicly available though I wouldn't be squeamish about seeing it if it were, but the setting IS known, and the official report of his death based on the video and on interviews of those who were there says that he was snorkeling and a startled stingray lashed him with its tail. The point I made before was that people do this all the time and it's NOT considered high risk. Sting rays are normally about as dangerous to be around as bees; sure you could get stung and it's usually not a big deal, but there are rare circumstances where they can kill you. If some people wish to isolate themselves from all of nature in a futile effort to try to eliminate all risk from their lives then they lose out on a whole lot of valuable life experiences. I'm curious what your opinion is of the risk many people take who go camping for the weekend in the woods or who go hiking in rocky canyons or who just like to go swimming in the ocean. Do you think they're being foolish and would be wiser just going to the gym if they want some exercise?
[If Irwin was engaging in a low risk undertaking I wonder why a production crew was filming the event. There was nothing low risk about his television show.]
He was shooting footage for his daughter's new TV show, which is supposed to be about all the "cute" little critters, not the dangerous ones.
Cousteau never watched any of Irwin's shows.
Irwin explained exactly what he was doing and why.
LOL!!!
I wasn't sure, either. I know that they messed with a mini-helo with the "Calypso". Landing that on that little helipad must have been pretty tricky.
I have went into the outdoors since I was eight years old. However, even as a child I was armed and knew that wild animals are called wild for a reason, they are dangerous under the best of circumstances.
Stingrays may be safe to swim around if you do so at a prudent distance but that wasn't Irwin's style. He pushed the boundries of safety and good sense for the sake of the televised image.
I would encourage anyone to experience the outdoors as much as they wish but to realize that you don't get close to wild animals. Certainly not so close that you can startle one and be dead within a matter of seconds.
Some wild animals don't just kill you, they eat you as part of the killing process.
I love nature, it tastes great! Especially with garlic bread and a salad on the side.
"You don't touch nature, you just look at it. And that's why I'm still alive...I don't mess with nature."
http://www.cdnn.info/news/editorial/o011115.html
How was it?
Funny that you ask. The first diver grimaced and pronounced it vinegar, but the rest of the crew on board sampled it anyway just to say they did.
Good work!
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