Unfortunately it doesn't sound like it was quite instantaneous. The whole death was caught on film. His manager has been in the Australian papers today saying that he's seen the tape - which has been passed onto the police - and apparently, the stingray gets him and he pulls the barb out of his chest before collapsing and dying.
Tragic.
Man, that is bad. I can't wrap my mind around that, pulling out the thing that killed me...
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"If you can't laugh at yourself, then you don't know a good joke." ~BigGator5
I really liked him and watched his shows all the time. I feel for his family, and send them my best wishes. I also cant help but feel that its wrong that a croc. didnt get him.
R.I.P. Steve.
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"Its not the size of the dog in the fight, its the size of the fight in the dog"
I guess now it no longer feels like the same world that we live in. Most of us I'm sure probably joked around about him in some way by either doing his "Crickey!" or joking about how he went about handling crocodiles but I guess that was because he was an icon for our generation and we felt that he would always be there which makes his death even more harder to believe because we'd be losing an icon. It will be strange to wake up tomorrow with somewhat the same feeling that he'll still be messing with crocks but have to realize that it's not so. On a less sadder note though now Australia has left are their beer, accents and the Sidney Opera house and if that goes I don't know if Australia would be left on a map.
I must also say that there is an irony to it. I think it would have been alittle easier to see if he got picked off by one of his crocks. Don't think any of us would have pictured a stingray barb to be the thing that did him in.
I feel bad for his kids and hiw wife, and it IS sad he died, but he had this coming. He knew that if he kept getting extremely close like that, that he could eventually get caught. Him getting killed by an animal that isn't a croc is the equivalent of a pyro dying in a fire started after falling asleep with a lit cigarette.
To paraphrase. Any death is sad, bad this one is less said than others. Simply because he put himself in harm's way. Like the guy who was killed by the bears he was living among.
There's no denying the fact that you couldn't write a black comedy funnier than this. Of course, losing someone so young and in the prime of life is always sad, and I feel for his family and friends. But the only reason you know who Steve Irwin is, and the only reason his death is remarkable in any way, is because he made a living taunting dangerous animals. That he was accidentally killed by one of the more docile creatures in the world makes this supremely ironic (and therefore funny).
What I find really interesting about this is the heaps of praise that are pouring for Steve Irwin the "naturalist," "environmentalist" and "conservationist." He certainly had a love for animals that was infectious, and was a great spokesperson for appreciating the wonders of the natural word. No one can take that way from him. But I wonder just how much credibility he really has a serious figure in any of those fields.
Just this morning, Fabian Cousteau (Jacques' grandson) was on CNN trying to reconcile this without sounding like a total jerk...he did a pretty good job. I think that Jacques Cousteau is rightly considered all of the things that Irwin is being praised for, as he was universally respected documentarian, oceanographer and researcher. From what I can tell, Irwin was born into the reptile zoo business, and his career and documentary work seems for more geared toward shock value and pandering.
I'm not trying to denigrate him completely, as I know he has done a lot of charitable work for wildlife protection, but it's strange to see clips of him provoking crocodiles and being bitten by snakes after grabbing them by the tail while news anchors are describing him as this serious wildlife advocate. Maybe I'm just too cynical, but I'd like to hear an honest perspective from other people in the field.
Rowsdowser - I'm not suggesting that his death isn't ironic. But that's not what my comment was aimed at. The tool who I said was sick claimed that his death was funny because he could see it coming. To me, no death is funny. I guess that's just the way I am. Someone openly laughing at the death of another human being triggers an immense sense of disgust.
Despite what we think of him, for bieng a little odd, (strange at others) we all know he was a good guy. He was a great enviromentalist, and educator. He was passionate about what he did, he loved and respected animals.
It's one of the dangers of filming animals is that you might get hurt or killed, and he knew of this, sometimes joking about it.
Part of TV is to get people intrested in the shows enough to keep watching them, and his enthusaim for his work (and yes shock value of his acts) kept people intrested in the show. That's not easy with animal documataries or nature shows in general. His personality easly fit for a great tv personality and I think he used it wisely.
You will be missed by all your peers and fans, RIP.
I can remember watching his show all the time on animal planet, amazed by what he was able to do and all the different animals I learned about because of him.
My fiance and I had planned a trip to Australia to visit his animal sanctuary, so very sad.
As sad as it is to hear of his death I wasnt in any way surprized at how he went. He put himself in dangerous situations time and again, and escaped only by the skin of hi teeth on a number of them. This was going to happen eventually, still very sad though. He did alot for conservation and he will be missed. Rest In Peace.
-T-
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Standard-WW, Artifact/W Aggro.
Extended-?
Legacy-Mono Blue Fish.
I think I'm more shocked that he actually died than sad that it happened. I mean, he was always messing around with dangerous animals and got hurt a couple times, but they never killed him.
This time he actually died. I'm still shocked.
R.I.P
I was listening to the Azumanga Daioh theme song, "Soramimi Cake" while I read the news, so my emotions got all mixed up. Truly a great loss, I feel bad for his family.
NINJA EDIT: Note that Soramimi Cake is an upbeat and silly song.
It's horrible that he died. I will admit I did expect him to die at an early age due to a snake bite or something (due to the fact he stated he did not carry anti-vemon). But, for him to die like this is terrible. I've been told by some it was painless, and by others he might have felt it when it pulled out. Rest in Peace.
when i first heard from late breaking news that Steve Irwin was dead, i really didn't believe it. i was like..."how odd that someone would conjure up a story that he'd get gored in the chest with a stingray barb." But it really happened. i've been sad, but it was bound to happen. i mean, it was unbelieveable. but then again not really. Rest in peace Mr. Crocodile Hunter. thanks for the many years of crocodile antics and silly catchphrases. CRIKEY TO YOU STEVE!
Well, I suppose it was inevitable. I mean, he was running around dangerous animals all the time, it really was only a matter of time until one got the best of him. Feel bad for his family, who I'm certain were always worried about him on his expeditions. Perhaps he should have paid more attention to their concern..
Where the hell did the stingray come from? He's the effing croc hunter, he should have died fighting 15 crocs with a boonie knife or something.
crickey, i've been stabbed in the chest by a stingray, a very beautifull animal, whit it's big stinger on the tip of it's tai.....lllll.- Steve Erwin, croc hunter. last words
sorry but this was to funny to pass up, besides he had it coming the way was with animals and stuff.. but a stingray.. i always thought a croc would take him out.. such a disapointment, but funny as hell
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Thanks to SpiderBoy4 @ High-Light Studio's for the awesome banner
“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.” —Volrath
This article in the Guardian is making its way around the States now, and I'd like to see some reactions to it. Germaine Greer is an academic, but sadly not a zoologist, which is the kind of people I was really hoping to find some perspectives from.
In any case, she does bring up the points I was talking about in my previous post: Irwin was entertainer first and an educator last (if at all). As someone who studies professional wrestling, I'm always curious to determine how much a television personality is genuine and how much is crafted. With Irwin, I was always suspicious of his motives. He had made such a strong "brand" out of himself by provoking dangerous animals. It always seemed to be the actions of a person who cared more about ratings than wildlife.
Oddly enough, this topic has come up between my girlfriend and I, as she is less than approving of my love of pro-wrestling, and I am less than approving of her love of pro bull-riding. Even more oddly, these arguments are connected to media portrayals of masculinity, and Greer is best known as a feminist author. I can't imagine her criticisms of his style do not have a foot in gender theory, but I think she wisely keeps her arguments to his ostensibly cruel treatment of the animals he purported to love.
crickey, i've been stabbed in the chest by a stingray, a very beautifull animal, whit it's big stinger on the tip of it's tai.....lllll.- Steve Erwin, croc hunter. last words
sorry but this was to funny to pass up, besides he had it coming the way was with animals and stuff.. but a stingray.. i always thought a croc would take him out.. such a disapointment, but funny as hell
how is some ones tragic death funny? its funny to you that his 3 year old son is going to grow up with out his father, same with his 8 year old daughter? how did he have it coming? sure its a dangerous job but so is fire fighting. thats like saying the police and firemen who died in the WTC had it coming.
that is just cold and mean. your humor is horrific and confusing too me.
This article in the Guardian is making its way around the States now, and I'd like to see some reactions to it. Germaine Greer is an academic, but sadly not a zoologist, which is the kind of people I was really hoping to find some perspectives from.
In any case, she does bring up the points I was talking about in my previous post: Irwin was entertainer first and an educator last (if at all). As someone who studies professional wrestling, I'm always curious to determine how much a television personality is genuine and how much is crafted. With Irwin, I was always suspicious of his motives. He had made such a strong "brand" out of himself by provoking dangerous animals. It always seemed to be the actions of a person who cared more about ratings than wildlife.
Oddly enough, this topic has come up between my girlfriend and I, as she is less than approving of my love of pro-wrestling, and I am less than approving of her love of pro bull-riding. Even more oddly, these arguments are connected to media portrayals of masculinity, and Greer is best known as a feminist author. I can't imagine her criticisms of his style do not have a foot in gender theory, but I think she wisely keeps her arguments to his ostensibly cruel treatment of the animals he purported to love.
It really doesn't matter what his motives were. "Any publicity is good publicity," and this applies to the animals as well as to people. Though he may have been more entertaining than strictly educational, there remains the fact that he was a great animal publicizer, probably the greatest of contemporary times. And even if his infectious love for animals was put on (and I'm far from convinced it was), it was still infectious.
Besides, Steve Irwin could wrestle Chuck Norris to the ground. With his kid in one arm.
We'll miss him.
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Vive, vale. Siquid novisti rectius istis,
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
I suppose you are right, in his influences are more important than his motives. If the next generation is more interested in wildlife due to his work than they would be without it, that is a positive. I guess I was more surprised with his characterization by the media. Though I really shouldn't have been: it's to be expected that when someone dies in such a tragic way, they will generally get a kinder pass by history.
Maybe it is just my interest in media images and culture that has provoked so much reflection on this subject. We live in an age that values style over substance. Professional, dedicated zoologists will never be as interesting (or telegenic) as someone who deliberately breaks all of the rules as far as handling wildlife is concerned, and for that very reason. And "edutainment" is perhaps the least important manifestation of this phenomenon; think about what it has done to our political environment. Should we be OK with this? If not, what else can we do but call out examples of when a persons' image has an ambiguous (at best) relationship to their reality?
I kinda dislike his wildlife shows. Not that I dislike wildlife, in fact I love wildlife. But I hate it when you are appreciating that majestic seagull and someone in the background is yelling and blocking the view. Much like some lunatic fan who first sees their idol.
Yet I hate to see another great wildlife expert die. Then again, this way of dying sure is great, IMO. I rather get eaten by a snake than die of some heart attack. At least the snake gets his lunch of the day.
And to those people thinking this way of dying is funny, I guess dying when shot by a bullet in Baghdad is funnier. Since the soldier is shot dead while trying to do something he wants to.
Quote from Aaron Forsythe on Guildpact: Twenty Questions »
When Guildpact was handed over from design, it also had seven gold rares per guild,... and that the seventh gold rare in each guild was less important to the set than the Nephilim. So each guild is down a rare in this set.
Gruul, Izzet and Orzhov. Officially screwed by WOTC.
this sux, he was my fav of everyone.
someone told me they would do a marathon in remory of him, anyone know when?
and NO this shouldent be funny....it kind of is,but not as much as some of you sick guys are saying.
ill really miss him.
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R.I.P. Steve.
I must also say that there is an irony to it. I think it would have been alittle easier to see if he got picked off by one of his crocks. Don't think any of us would have pictured a stingray barb to be the thing that did him in.
To paraphrase. Any death is sad, bad this one is less said than others. Simply because he put himself in harm's way. Like the guy who was killed by the bears he was living among.
Official Deschanel Stalker of The Called
That's sick.
There's no denying the fact that you couldn't write a black comedy funnier than this. Of course, losing someone so young and in the prime of life is always sad, and I feel for his family and friends. But the only reason you know who Steve Irwin is, and the only reason his death is remarkable in any way, is because he made a living taunting dangerous animals. That he was accidentally killed by one of the more docile creatures in the world makes this supremely ironic (and therefore funny).
What I find really interesting about this is the heaps of praise that are pouring for Steve Irwin the "naturalist," "environmentalist" and "conservationist." He certainly had a love for animals that was infectious, and was a great spokesperson for appreciating the wonders of the natural word. No one can take that way from him. But I wonder just how much credibility he really has a serious figure in any of those fields.
Just this morning, Fabian Cousteau (Jacques' grandson) was on CNN trying to reconcile this without sounding like a total jerk...he did a pretty good job. I think that Jacques Cousteau is rightly considered all of the things that Irwin is being praised for, as he was universally respected documentarian, oceanographer and researcher. From what I can tell, Irwin was born into the reptile zoo business, and his career and documentary work seems for more geared toward shock value and pandering.
I'm not trying to denigrate him completely, as I know he has done a lot of charitable work for wildlife protection, but it's strange to see clips of him provoking crocodiles and being bitten by snakes after grabbing them by the tail while news anchors are describing him as this serious wildlife advocate. Maybe I'm just too cynical, but I'd like to hear an honest perspective from other people in the field.
It's one of the dangers of filming animals is that you might get hurt or killed, and he knew of this, sometimes joking about it.
Part of TV is to get people intrested in the shows enough to keep watching them, and his enthusaim for his work (and yes shock value of his acts) kept people intrested in the show. That's not easy with animal documataries or nature shows in general. His personality easly fit for a great tv personality and I think he used it wisely.
You will be missed by all your peers and fans, RIP.
My fiance and I had planned a trip to Australia to visit his animal sanctuary, so very sad.
RIP Steve, you will be missed.
Check out my band at www.brokeneq.com, if you like what you read, then listen to some of our songs on www.myspace.com/brokenequilibrium and become a friend!
-T-
Extended-?
Legacy-Mono Blue Fish.
This time he actually died. I'm still shocked.
R.I.P
NINJA EDIT: Note that Soramimi Cake is an upbeat and silly song.
Where the hell did the stingray come from? He's the effing croc hunter, he should have died fighting 15 crocs with a boonie knife or something.
Akuma will wreck you.
sorry but this was to funny to pass up, besides he had it coming the way was with animals and stuff.. but a stingray.. i always thought a croc would take him out.. such a disapointment, but funny as hell
“I once had an entire race killed just to listen to the rattling of their dried bones as I waded through them.”
—Volrath
In any case, she does bring up the points I was talking about in my previous post: Irwin was entertainer first and an educator last (if at all). As someone who studies professional wrestling, I'm always curious to determine how much a television personality is genuine and how much is crafted. With Irwin, I was always suspicious of his motives. He had made such a strong "brand" out of himself by provoking dangerous animals. It always seemed to be the actions of a person who cared more about ratings than wildlife.
Oddly enough, this topic has come up between my girlfriend and I, as she is less than approving of my love of pro-wrestling, and I am less than approving of her love of pro bull-riding. Even more oddly, these arguments are connected to media portrayals of masculinity, and Greer is best known as a feminist author. I can't imagine her criticisms of his style do not have a foot in gender theory, but I think she wisely keeps her arguments to his ostensibly cruel treatment of the animals he purported to love.
how is some ones tragic death funny? its funny to you that his 3 year old son is going to grow up with out his father, same with his 8 year old daughter? how did he have it coming? sure its a dangerous job but so is fire fighting. thats like saying the police and firemen who died in the WTC had it coming.
that is just cold and mean. your humor is horrific and confusing too me.
It really doesn't matter what his motives were. "Any publicity is good publicity," and this applies to the animals as well as to people. Though he may have been more entertaining than strictly educational, there remains the fact that he was a great animal publicizer, probably the greatest of contemporary times. And even if his infectious love for animals was put on (and I'm far from convinced it was), it was still infectious.
Besides, Steve Irwin could wrestle Chuck Norris to the ground. With his kid in one arm.
We'll miss him.
candidus inperti; si nil, his utere mecum.
Maybe it is just my interest in media images and culture that has provoked so much reflection on this subject. We live in an age that values style over substance. Professional, dedicated zoologists will never be as interesting (or telegenic) as someone who deliberately breaks all of the rules as far as handling wildlife is concerned, and for that very reason. And "edutainment" is perhaps the least important manifestation of this phenomenon; think about what it has done to our political environment. Should we be OK with this? If not, what else can we do but call out examples of when a persons' image has an ambiguous (at best) relationship to their reality?
Yet I hate to see another great wildlife expert die. Then again, this way of dying sure is great, IMO. I rather get eaten by a snake than die of some heart attack. At least the snake gets his lunch of the day.
And to those people thinking this way of dying is funny, I guess dying when shot by a bullet in Baghdad is funnier. Since the soldier is shot dead while trying to do something he wants to.
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Gruul, Izzet and Orzhov. Officially screwed by WOTC.
someone told me they would do a marathon in remory of him, anyone know when?
and NO this shouldent be funny....it kind of is,but not as much as some of you sick guys are saying.
ill really miss him.