Sad news

[codprawn]

I was shocked to read that the real life Crocodile Dundee - Steve Irwin - has died.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asi...ic/5313078.stm

What makes it all the more ironic is that it wasn't one of the deadly snakes or crocs that got him but a stingray.

I was annoyed by Ray Mears comments

"UK wilderness expert Ray Mears said that Mr Irwin's death was a tragedy and that his thoughts were with his family, but that the incident served as a warning that "some things in nature should be left alone".
"He clearly took a lot of risks and television encouraged him to do that," Mr Mears said. "The voyeurism we are seeing on television has a cost and it's that cost Steve Irwin's family are paying today."

IF it had been through sheer stupidity playing around with a deadly snake then fair enough but apparently this is only the 2nd death from a stingray in years. It wasn't the vewnom that killed him - it was a pure fluke that the barb went through his heart. It was a stab wound.

[Hightower]

Ray Mears might have said those things to discourage budding Steve Irwins out there from thinking that they can do as Steve has done. The ultimate lesson!

[Jon Brooks]

Very sad news.

Steve brought a very different and exciting angle to nature and was a great conservationist.
His work has brought a unique understanding of many animals to the forefront.

Reading some of the posts on the "news" forums he will be greatly missed all over the world.
His fan base is huge.

I for one am a great fan of his, as is my daughter.
Now when she see's a spider in the house she yells in a not to bad aussie voice "crikey, look at the size of this feller"

My thoughts are with his family right now, especially his young children who have not just lost a real life hero but their father to.

Best regards

[Johnwin]

Sad news indeed, its worth checking out the joe cartoon tribute, if you click on the kind words you get to see their cartoon done a few years ago-- seems rather prescient
joe cartoon

[MarkWildey]

Taken from the dark side!

[codprawn]

I reckon it must have been a feud from Neighbours - Steve Irwin looks like Joe Mangle and there is someone called Stingray in the series.

What was REALLY weird was on Sunday a mate was telling his kids all about sharks - they are going to live in Oz - one of the kids asked about stingrays killing people so my mate looked it up on the net - it said only 1 bloke had died in many years. Only the following day the news came out about poor Steve.

[Matt]

No doubt I'll get as much flack for that as when I put rib.net through the pornalyzer.

Originally Posted by MarkWildey

Taken from the dark side!

[prairie tuber]

Sad news, I enjoyed watching him. My heart goes out to his family. Nonetheless Ray Mears comments were spot on, regardless of the likelihood of being killed by a stingray. If someone contiuously plays russian roulette with an assortment of revolvers ranging from a 454 Cassul to a .77 caliber pellet revolver, and the pellet eventually does them in, the odds of a fatal result had still prevailed.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

Sad news, I enjoyed watching him. My heart goes out to his family. Nonetheless Ray Mears comments were spot on, regardless of the likelihood of being killed by a stingray. If someone contiuously plays russian roulette with an assortment of revolvers ranging from a 454 Cassul to a .77 caliber pellet revolver, and the pellet eventually does them in, the odds of a fatal result had still prevailed.

I disagree on that - would you have said the same if a goat or a deer had impaled him? The likelyhood of a Stingray stabbing you through the heart is just as remote. It was a FLUKE accident pure and simple.

In some ways similar to the motor racing driver who risked his life every day without problems but was killed driving the family car to the chip shop.(Mike Hailwood).

[prairie tuber]

Originally Posted by codprawn

would you have said the same if a goat or a deer had impaled him?

Hell, YES!

Originally Posted by codprawn

In some ways similar to the motor racing driver who risked his life every day without problems but was killed driving the family car to the chip shop.(Mike Hailwood).

Exactly, sooner or later the odds will catch up and bite regardless. My cousin once told me about afriend of hers who was once an elite skier (was in movies skiing over moutain cliffs and such), who is now a quadriplegic. I mentioned to her that their must be alot of guys who get killed or paralyzed doing that. She then told me it was from an accident inside his home when he stepped on one of his kids toys near the top of his steps and landed head first.

I'm not tying to suggest that this is some form of karma or legalism at work. Rather, quite simply that when you continually put yourself in harms way the chances of catastrophe occuring, even while doing something 'low risk' increase dramatically. Simple probability from a statistical point of view. There is nothing judgemental about either my statement or that of Ray Mears.

We all take risks in one form or another. I love bear hunting from the ground with my bow, which typically involves shot distances of 15-20 yards or less. The fool is not the one who takes risks but the one who does not understand the risks he is taking. I am sure that Steve Irwin uderstood those risks.

[Jono]

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

... I love bear hunting from the ground with my bow, which typically involves shot distances of 15-20 yards or less...

...and I hope, one day, a Bear tears your feckin' throat out.

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

I'm not tying to suggest that this is some form of karma or legalism at work. Rather, quite simply that when you continually put yourself in harms way the chances of catastrophe occuring, even while doing something 'low risk' increase dramatically. Simple probability from a statistical point of view. There is nothing judgemental about either my statement or that of Ray Mears.

I wouldn't say walking down stairs or driving to the chip shop is putting yourself in harm's way!!!

Anyway what has the bear done to you? Are you going to eat it???

[prairie tuber]

Originally Posted by codprawn

I wouldn't say walking down stairs or driving to the chip shop is putting yourself in harm's way!!!

Walking down stairs is a fairly low risk endeavor, but has an element of risk nonetheless. Why else would building codes require handrails? For the elderly it can be a high risk activity. Add toys to the top of those steps and it suddenly becomes a very high risk endeavor for people of any age.

Originally Posted by codprawn

Anyway what has the bear done to you?

What in the world does whether an animal did something to you have to do with your decision to use its resources?

Do you own any leather goods of any kind? Did those cattle that supplied the leather do anything to you?

Are you a vegetarian? If not, what did any of the animals you have eaten do to you?

Originally Posted by codprawn

Are you going to eat it???

Of course! Bear meat is delicious. You've never tried it? Lots of people over here haven't either. Nonetheless if you ever find yourself visiting this colony here, look me up and I'll cook up a nice bear steak for you.

Additionally, it is illegal for a hunter to waste edible game meat here.

Even if bear meat were not edible, I'd have no qualms about legally taking one for the sake of it's beautiful fur. Some people are not aware of this, but bears make absolutely beautiful rugs and wall hangings. As do wolves (which are highly inedible).

In Manitoba (as in much of Western Canada) there is an overpopulation of both wolves and bears. As a result, in many are destroyed by Natural Resources officials due to encroahment in populated areas. When this happens, those animal carcasses are simply disposed of and the resources from them are wasted. Legalised hunting of these animals significantly reduces the #s that Natural Resources would otherwise destroy and waste, while enriching the lives (meat and furs) of those who harvest them.

[Alan]

Ah well, you see hunting aint PC in UK these days so its difficult for yer average Brit to get their head around living somewhere where its postively encouraged.

Not sure that I would want to eat Bear but certainly very fond of Moose!

[prairie tuber]

I see. I didn't think of that. Sometimes I get swept up in facts rather than sticking to emotionalism.

[Bern Hanreck]

Without a doubt Prairie Tuber , you put up a good argument but when all is said & done , isn't it the over population of man , encroaching into the territory of bears & wolves that is the real story here ? Left to it's own devices , nature wouldn't normally get so out of balance. ( ps I've got nothing against Canadians . As Spike Milligan said , " everybody's got to be somewhere " ).

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Bern Hanreck

Without a doubt Prairie Tuber , you put up a good argument but when all is said & done , isn't it the over population of man , encroaching into the territory of bears & wolves that is the real story here ? Left to it's own devices , nature wouldn't normally get so out of balance. ( ps I've got nothing against Canadians . As Spike Milligan said , " everybody's got to be somewhere " ).

Difference is Bern that in the UK man over-encroached into the native wildlife's territory hundreds of years ago and wiped 'em out. In Canada there is still lots of open space, given that 80% of a population somewhere around 30m (or half that of the UK) lives within 200km of the US Border. I've never been to Manitoba but I'm guessing there is plenty of un-encroached land for the bears, wolves and moose!

[Richard B]

Originally Posted by Alan

...certainly very fond of Moose!

I'm still coming to terms with sitting in a British theme pub in Canada, in the company of two Canadians and a Brit... and the Brit eating a moose burger!

[codprawn]

I am NOT a veggie and I am NOT anti hunting providing it is done in as humane a manner as possible and nothing goes to waste.

[Alan]

Originally Posted by Richard B

I'm still coming to terms with sitting in a British theme pub in Canada, in the company of two Canadians and a Brit... and the Brit eating a moose burger!

Do you ever respond to PM's from Canadian residents these days?