sf
Veteran
Steve Irwin is an immortal character as well. His powerfully defined and eccentric character on television has created a body of work that will stick around for quite some time. He's been parodied by commedians and reflected in the works of others, and that is a sign of immortality.
I think Dane Cook that did the parody on Steve Irwin.
"I'm gonna dive into this lake FILLED with crocodfile just to see what happens."
"I'm gonna shove my head into this beehive, take a look around...Gorgeous! GORGEOUS!"
and of course, Steve himself :
"You know, you can touch a stick of dynamite, but if you touch a venomous snake it'll turn around and bite you and kill you so fast it's not even funny."
"Because when they strike it can be that quick that if they're within range, you're dead, you're dead in your tracks. And his head weighs more than my body so it's WHACK! "
I think Dane Cook that did the parody on Steve Irwin.
"I'm gonna dive into this lake FILLED with crocodfile just to see what happens."
"I'm gonna shove my head into this beehive, take a look around...Gorgeous! GORGEOUS!"
and of course, Steve himself :
"You know, you can touch a stick of dynamite, but if you touch a venomous snake it'll turn around and bite you and kill you so fast it's not even funny."
"Because when they strike it can be that quick that if they're within range, you're dead, you're dead in your tracks. And his head weighs more than my body so it's WHACK! "
RObert Budding
D'oh!
Sorry he died, but come on! The guy did so many dangerous and crazy things that I'm amazed that he made it to the age of 44. He was not a good role model for young kids.
merlin
Established
shutterflower said:
....to you, obviously, but I fear the animals he exploited will remember him simply as a pest.
reagan
hey, they're only Zorkis
...or more accurately, an advocate. There are and will be volumes written but here's how just one article described Steve Irwin -merlin said:
"He founded the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation which is at the forefront of protecting habitats and wildlife, creating rescue programs for some of Australia's most beloved creatures, as well as the leading in scientific research that will help save endangered species for generations to come."
There should be more "pests" like Irwin.
richard_l
Well-known
They generally are quite harmless to humans. They will use the barbs only in self-defense. It can be extremely unpleasant to step on a ray, but rarely lethal.ChrisPlatt said:
Richard
R
Rich Silfver
Guest
RObert Budding said:
and
merlin said:
Robert and merlin, congrats. Two of the most ignorant comments I've seen in quite a while.
From wikipedia:
Irwin was a passionate conservationist and believed in promoting environmentalism by sharing his excitement about the natural world rather than preaching to people. He was concerned with conservation of endangered animals and land clearing leading to loss of habitat. He considered conservation to be the most important part of his work: "I consider myself a wild-life warrior. My mission is to save the world's endangered species."[8] Irwin bought "large tracts of land" in Australia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the United States, which he described as "like national parks" and stressed the importance of people realising that they could each make a difference.[13]
He had urged people to take part in considerate tourism and not support illegal poaching through the purchase of items such as turtle shells, or shark-fin soup:
These Hitlers use the camouflage of science to make money out of animals... So whenever they murder our animals and call it sustainable use, I'll fight it. Since when has killing a wild animal, eating it or wearing it, ever saved a species?
There are people who butt out their cigarettes in gorilla-paw ashtrays, with wastepaper baskets that were once elephant feet, who have ivory ornaments… who wear cheetah fur. Don't buy these things! Then there'll be no market and the animals won't be killed.
We have domesticated livestock raised for consumption and perfectly good fake leather and fur, so why must we kill wild animals to satisfy the macabre taste of some rich person? [14]
He founded the Steve Irwin Conservation Foundation, which was later renamed Wildlife Warriors Worldwide, and became an independent charity. He was described after his death by the CEO of RSPCA Queensland as a "modern-day Noah", and British naturalist David Bellamy lauded his skills as a natural historian and media performer.[15] Irwin discovered a new species of turtle that now bears his name, Elseya irwini — Irwin's Turtle — a type of snapping turtle found on the coast of Queensland. [16]
He also helped to found a number of other projects, such as the International Crocodile Rescue, as well as the Lyn Irwin Memorial Fund, in memory of his mother, with proceeds going to the Iron Bark Station Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.
In 2001 Irwin was awarded the Centenary Medal for his "service to global conservation and to Australian tourism".[10]
In 2004 he was recognised as Tourism Export of the Year.[11]
Also in 2004, he was nominated for Australian of the Year, which was won by Steve Waugh.
Oh, and he waived his fee for the making of the movie 'Collision Course' and a considerable amount of the profits went towards his Zoo.
Not a role model?
Animals would see him as a pest?
You should both be ashamed of yourself.
R
Rich Silfver
Guest
What?
What?
George,
I'm not quite sure where you got that from but I would strongly disagree with that 'fact'.
Stingrays are - like all rays - dasyatids and are not aggressive and their prefered way of defending themselves is fleeing. They are rather docile creatures and the stinger is not used with any great accuracy but is rather a mechanical reaction to external threats and a deadly outcome is very rare.
Stingrays are predminantly bottom feeders that feed of mollusks and other smaller creatures that they dig out of the sandy bottoms.
I'd be curious to hear more about the information you have about how incredibly lethal they are and how accurate they can use their barb as it seems you know about it and I have never seen or read anything like that.
What?
shutterflower said:
George,
I'm not quite sure where you got that from but I would strongly disagree with that 'fact'.
Stingrays are - like all rays - dasyatids and are not aggressive and their prefered way of defending themselves is fleeing. They are rather docile creatures and the stinger is not used with any great accuracy but is rather a mechanical reaction to external threats and a deadly outcome is very rare.
Stingrays are predminantly bottom feeders that feed of mollusks and other smaller creatures that they dig out of the sandy bottoms.
I'd be curious to hear more about the information you have about how incredibly lethal they are and how accurate they can use their barb as it seems you know about it and I have never seen or read anything like that.
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J. Borger
Well-known
I agree Irwin was not a good role model.
I was done with the guy the moment i saw him feeding crocodiles for the public & TV with his own baby in his arms ....... if a less known character had done it it they would have taken the kid away from him!
I was done with the guy the moment i saw him feeding crocodiles for the public & TV with his own baby in his arms ....... if a less known character had done it it they would have taken the kid away from him!
sf
Veteran
Rich...
the barb IS potentially lethal in two ways :
1. Infection from the sting can cause sickness and death if the wound is not treated properly and bacteria entered the wound during the stab...of course a paper cut could do the same in a bad situation. Staph, for instance.
2. The barb is sharp and there are records of stingers in the range of 6 inches and longer. The whip is flung at the enemy in a mechanical response, very rapidly. It is often not useful against the rays' greatest enemy the shark, but causes a great deal of unpleasantness for humans who fail to notice their presence. I suppose the issue of accuracy is something more of an observation than a statement of fact. Given the mechanics of its motion, that they are capable of using as they do is quite a feat of design.
Lethality doesn't suggest aggresiveness. It says only that you are capable of killing. As this news of Irwin's death (and two others in history) have made clear, the ray IS lethal, regardless of its personality. A coconut would not be considered lethal
the barb IS potentially lethal in two ways :
1. Infection from the sting can cause sickness and death if the wound is not treated properly and bacteria entered the wound during the stab...of course a paper cut could do the same in a bad situation. Staph, for instance.
2. The barb is sharp and there are records of stingers in the range of 6 inches and longer. The whip is flung at the enemy in a mechanical response, very rapidly. It is often not useful against the rays' greatest enemy the shark, but causes a great deal of unpleasantness for humans who fail to notice their presence. I suppose the issue of accuracy is something more of an observation than a statement of fact. Given the mechanics of its motion, that they are capable of using as they do is quite a feat of design.
Lethality doesn't suggest aggresiveness. It says only that you are capable of killing. As this news of Irwin's death (and two others in history) have made clear, the ray IS lethal, regardless of its personality. A coconut would not be considered lethal
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sf
Veteran
Irwin might not have been wise to bring the baby into close proximity with hungry crocodiles, but his other attributes make him a very good role model to the world. His love for nature and his understanding of its relation to the human world is something that I think many conservationists over history have tried to embody so simply and sharply in their works, he just found a very popular way of communicating the most important aspects of those things. His use of a very human, very every-man kind of interaction with the wild side of the Earth, and his fantastic glow are what made him a powerful spokesman for mother nature and a good model of what man SHOULD be in relation to the other creatures on the planet.
Of course, he might have been a tad annoying to those creatures, but his benefit to them was, on the whole, infinitely more than any of them would ever know.
Of course, he might have been a tad annoying to those creatures, but his benefit to them was, on the whole, infinitely more than any of them would ever know.
tom_f77
Tom Fenwick
shutterflower said:
Does anyone have figures for deaths by falling coconuts? I wouldn't be surprised if there have been more than a couple...
Silva Lining
CanoHasseLeica
Probably simliar to people choking on peanuts or pretzels.
Opinion is divided on Irwin - he was pretty marmite - in that you either loved him or hated him. I'm in the 'loved him' camp, but each to heir own.
I guess that, what we can take from Steve Irwin was the fact that - You never know when your time is up - so get out an enjoy life a bit more - he certainly did.
Opinion is divided on Irwin - he was pretty marmite - in that you either loved him or hated him. I'm in the 'loved him' camp, but each to heir own.
I guess that, what we can take from Steve Irwin was the fact that - You never know when your time is up - so get out an enjoy life a bit more - he certainly did.
back alley
IMAGES
let's remember this thread started as a memorial.
it would be nice if we could keep it at that.
joe
it would be nice if we could keep it at that.
joe
tom_f77
Tom Fenwick
I did nearly post a caveat about not intending any disrespect by my inquiry about the lethality of coconuts.
I don't fully understand why, but I find this news more saddening than any recent similar announcement I can remember.
I guess he just seemed like an unquenchable enthusiast, and it is sad to be reminded that there is no such thing.
I hope he would excuse my flippant remark.
Tom
I don't fully understand why, but I find this news more saddening than any recent similar announcement I can remember.
I guess he just seemed like an unquenchable enthusiast, and it is sad to be reminded that there is no such thing.
I hope he would excuse my flippant remark.
Tom
RayPA
Ignore It (It'll go away)
tom_f77 said:
Which is how I'll always remember Steve Irwin, a genuine one of a kind. RIP.
.
Bill58
Native Texan
His shows were gems and greatly increased awareness of the many endangered species.
dadsm3
Well-known
I initially liked him but he lost all credibility with his Jacksonesque baby dangling....seems his disregard for his own safety extended to that of his child, which was inexcusable AFAIC. But what a bizarre way to go.....I do feel sorry for him.