Steve Irwin

The death of Steve Irwin is regrettable. I never knew him but to read that someone you have watched on television has died is usually a bit unsettling. But I suggest there is a very important lesson to be learned.

I do not like reality TV and a lot of Steve Irwin's shows were just that. I see little difference with watching a man dodge a crocodile and watching a person eat bugs or watching a NASCAR wreck. People say Steve had a way of exciting people but so do terrorist attacks or car wrecks or natural disasters. Reality TV plays to the lowest of the inclinations of human beings. When I came across Steve provoking a crocodile or snake I changed channels. I realize if he or the animal was harmed it would have been edited out. This is supported by the video of his death not being aired. I imagine the longer that tape is around the more likely it will appear on the Internet. I encourage those who possess it to destroy it.

Steve made a living doing the very thing National Park Rangers are attempting to get tourists to NOT do and that is to intervene with an animal in their natural habitat.

Steve was reckless and he finally was caught and that is sad. He appeared to be a nice man but he had no respect for the animals. He thought he was faster or quicker or stronger or whatever and he was wrong. How close do you have to get to a stingray to have a nice picture? How long was the stingray's tail? I have no idea but it is only logical as you stay away from a crocodile's mouth or a bear's paws or a snake's fangs you stay away from a stingray's tail unless you believe you are faster or stronger or quicker etc. We have a CD of children's bear tunes and one track is on facts about bears. One fact the fellow gives is a bear can out run a horse so he tells the kids "no one and I mean no one can out run a bear." We have tourists here in Great Smoky Mountains National Park approaching bears feeding in a meadow. Sometimes there are cubs in the area but they don't deter the tourists. The tourists see them as cuddly and Steve Irwin encouraged such beliefs. He may have told the people to not do what he did but who do you believe listens to that admonition?

It would be nice if Steve's death served a purpose to make people wake up that animals are dangerous but nothing will change. Remember that young man and his girlfriend who were killed and eaten by a grizzly? They also had lost respect for the animals and lost Their experience did not deter Steve because he knew he was quicker, faster, etc. and he also was wrong. Feeding animals makes them see humans as a source of or as food.

Animals are dangerous and should be given lots of room.