Having just come back from America today, and seen the rude and nasty remarks made by a few individuals in the Steve Irwin thread, which resulted in the thread being locked, I decided to create a new thread, so that people wishing to pay their respects to him, or just talk about him, may do so. Hopefully, this thread won't go down the same road that the other one did.

I can't disagree more with people who seem to think that Steve brought his death upon himself. For one thing, stingrays aren't even usually violent. I heard they're often referred to as the "p-u-s-s-y cats" of the ocean. It's a fact that when Steve died, he wasn't even doing anything dangerous. He wasn't baiting the stingrays. His death was a horrible accident, and Steve was doing nothing dangerous at the time. I heard that it's not uncommon for people to bathe in areas where stingrays are prevalent, and many people have accidentally stepped on them, and nothing has happened. Steve did not bring this on himself.

I never actually saw much of Steve Irwin's show, but from what I did see, he seemed to be a nice, decent, friendly, down-to-earth man. I'm sorry the original thread about him disintegrated the way it did.

If anyone gets this thread locked - a thread I have started, with good intentions - then I'll be furious.

i wish i'd watched more of his show. he was fun to do impressions of. "NOW WHAT OY'M GONNA DO..."

Having just come back from America today, and seen the rude and nasty remarks made by a few individuals in the Steve Irwin thread, which resulted in the thread being locked, I decided to create a new thread, so that people wishing to pay their respects to him, or just talk about him, may do so. Hopefully, this thread won't go down the same road that the other one did.

I can't disagree more with people who seem to think that Steve brought his death upon himself. For one thing, stingrays aren't even usually violent. I heard they're often referred to as the "p-u-s-s-y cats" of the ocean. It's a fact that when Steve died, he wasn't even doing anything dangerous. He wasn't baiting the stingrays. His death was a horrible accident, and Steve was doing nothing dangerous at the time. I heard that it's not uncommon for people to bathe in areas where stingrays are prevalent, and many people have accidentally stepped on them, and nothing has happened. Steve did not bring this on himself.

I never actually saw much of Steve Irwin's show, but from what I did see, he seemed to be a nice, decent, friendly, down-to-earth man. I'm sorry the original thread about him disintegrated the way it did.

If anyone gets this thread locked - a thread I have started, with good intentions - then I'll be furious.

You say you don't want this locked and don't want crude or nasty remarks yet the first thing you start off the second paragraph with is exactly what got the other thread going. You are basically saying who ever thinks that way is wrong. Well guess what? You're probably going to get some different opinions and possibly an arguement. If you want to talk about him-fine. But don't start this whole thread off with what caused he arguenment in the other one.:crazy:

in all honesty, i can't feel too sorry for the man. he died doing something he loved. he loved working with animals. my hope is that he did not suffer too long leading up to his death. and my heart goes out to his family.

You are basically saying who ever thinks that way is wrong.

Well, I don't mean to tell people that their opinion is wrong, but I don't understand how people can think that Steve brought his death on himself, when it seems clear that he wasn't actually doing anything that was dangerous. Knowledgeable, professional people have stated that stingrays are not dangerous; it was merely unlucky that this particular one, for some reason, got scared, and attacked him.

I think Steve Irwin's death was as insane and ridiculous as John Lennon's was. Just as John Lennon didn't expect someone to shoot him outside his home, Steve didn't expect a creature that is reputed to be gentle and tame, to attack him.

:crazy: He did do crazy stuff, but he is missed. :(

Whhy are you people coming into this thread?? Just to cause fights and ruin the memory of this man? Trying to get this thread locked to? If you don't have any wishes to pass on to his family and friends, stay out please.

RIP Steve :rip:

I remember watching his show everyday after school when I was, like, in 5th grade. It was so awesome. He was a 90's icon. I loved that man.

I don't agree with them broadcasting his death on television. It's just sick. But hey, whatever makes the family happy.

I don't agree with them broadcasting his death on television. It's just sick. But hey, whatever makes the family happy.

As far as I'm aware, it's not going to be shown on television. I think it's been reported that the footage is going to be destroyed.

I frankly never understood how a show like that had a shelf life of more than one episode. You see one Crocodile hunt, you've seen 'em all.


Irwin's legacy:

1)Left behind a wife and two young children
2) He donated millions to wildlife conservation.
3) He has passed onto the world's children the fanciful notion that nature is a theme park.

From a column by Debra Saunders:

He failed to respect the lethal side of his co-star creatures. "I don't want to seem arrogant or big-headed," Irwin once told The Washington Post's Paul Farhi, "but I have a real instinct with animals. I've grown up with them. ... It's like I have an uncanny supernatural force rattling around my body. I tell you what, mate, it's magnetism."

No, mate, it's delusion. The real surprise is that a crocodile didn't finish off Irwin sooner.

When human beings mistake wildlife for Walt Disney characters, they fail to appreciate wild animals for what they truly are -- wild. Read: not susceptible to boyish charm. Add: hungry and fearful. When they are injured, they die. When they can't eat, they die. When they are afraid, they attack.

Given their druthers, they'd rather not be around human beings. That is why the proper way to view wildlife is not in a close shot next to Irwin's round face, but through a long lens, where they can be seen living in their own habitat. A crocodile is a wonder to behold because it is a crocodile, not because it snaps at Irwin's boot.

Or toward his son. In 2004, Irwin fed a 13-foot crocodile a dead chicken as he cradled his son, Robert, then 1 month old, in the other arm. Australian cameras aired the feeding; public outrage followed.

Afterward, Irwin told reporters, "I was in complete control."

Scary.

Also in 2004, Australia's Department of Environment and Heritage investigated and cleared Irwin of the charge that he got too close to penguins, whales and seals in Antarctica.

Legal issues aside, Irwin changed how television airs wildlife shows.

Now, animals aren't entertaining unless there's a comic face mugging next to them.

As "Wild Kingdom's" Jim Fowler told Fox News' Bill O'Reilly on Tuesday, when his show first aired, "people were just content with seeing the animal. Now they want, you know, confrontation with the animal. They want adventure. They want excitement. The technology and the little cameras get right in their mouth. So this stuff is going to continue to happen. It's going to get worse, I believe."

Irwin did not deserve to die -- but his death can hardly be considered a surprise. It was the predictable end that followed the marriage of a dangerous hobby with a dangerous conceit -- and better Irwin than the baby. (D. Saunders).



I grew up watching a lot of 'animal' shows, but at that time, the shows were about THE ANIMALS, not about the people that were making the show... most times, we never saw a person in the films, just the animals. Irwin took a show that should have been about Crocodiles and instead, made it all about him.

Steve seemed to me to be a really nice guy. I never watched much of his shows, so the most horrible thing about this, for me, is that someone who seemed to be really nice died at such a young age.

But I know an alternate reality exists where he is still alive. And I'm sure in this reality, he's having a fantastic time. And he'll be able to do even more to help animals. Remember, his spirit has been released. He doesn't have to follow the same rules that people in their bodies are bound to. I think that if they so wish, ghosts/spirits could be able to do amazing things. I think Steve could still have work to do.

:rip: yeah i agree with you sharop i mean i didn't even know steven irwin but from what i saw on his tv shows he seemed like a really nice guy and we'll all miss him very much....and i know how you feel about the whole people saying bad and very rude things about him like the newpapers and stuff there just one of the many people that i think anyway that doesn't have any respect for the dead....all they want is just a "story" so don't worry sharop i won't be one of those people that will give you or the memory of steve irwin a hard time :)

rest in peace steve we'll all miss you

Just about 2 or 3 weeks ago a older man was boating in Florida somewhere and a Stingray jumped in his boad and actually landed on his lap and his tail went through him like Steve's,but I never heard any thing more. Anyways he loved animals,he loved people,but,he wanted to protect animals because they can't speak. Steve Irwin leagacy will live on with his daughter,wife and hopefully his son.

RIP Mr Irwin. You are in your animal heaven.

Just about 2 or 3 weeks ago a older man was boating in Florida somewhere and a Stingray jumped in his boad and actually landed on his lap and his tail went through him like Steve's,but I never heard any thing more.

Yes, I heard about that too. He was 81 years old and it went through his chest, but apparently not his heart. As far as I know, he's still alive.

I like to think that Steve was looking after him. It's entirely possible.

It also said he didn't pull the barb out which probably saved his life.

I still can't believe Steve is gone. I loved the guy. He was a good family man, a sensitive human being and a wildlife warrior. RIP Steve.

(a rose)


@-------- rest in peace Steve :)

i know you'll always be with us