Crocodile Hunter dead at 44 - Stung by Stingray

rhoenix · Post by **rhoenix** » 2006-09-07 02:10am

As a belated reply to the OP, I was shocked when I found out. However, it was an oddly appropriate way for him to die. Mind you, I'm not saying that it was appropriate for him to die - only the manner in which he did. I think it would be anticlimactic for him to die from, say, falling off his roof fixing the antenna, or dying in a car crash.

Somehow, though a deadly crocodile attack would have been a bit more appropriate, it still seemed fitting.

Given that I'm at the "well, now what?" phase of my life again, I've seriously considered putting in the time and effort into becoming a veterinarian after learning this news.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2006-09-07 05:06am

Darth Wong wrote:
Mange wrote:
Crown wrote:You guys do know that Irwin had a labotamy from a real young age though, right?
Where did you hear that?
I've heard that before but it was usually expressed as a joke, as in "someone obviously removed the part of his brain responsible for the self-preservation instinct". I would be quite interested to hear that he really did have some kind of brain surgery performed on him.

He was once on an Australian TV show (The Panel), sort of a late night mix of The Daily Show (lite), David Letterman and I guess Larry King. Anyway, it was asked if he had and he responded yes. At which point my sister, a nueral psychologist, turned around and said; Now I understand him! That explains sooooo much!

Darth Wong wrote:In any case, Steve Irwin was far more famous for exposing himself to dangerous animals than anything else. And that's how show business works; when David Suzuki dies he won't get anywhere near as much international fanfare because he was just a key figure in the science-based environmentalist movement and such people are insignificant compared to celebrities.

Holly Shit! David Suzuki ... now there's a name I hadn't heard since high school!

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2006-09-07 05:28am

Superman wrote:Extremely unlikely. Lobotomies result, usually, in personality changes that are not those of a super ADHD adult. At a 'younger age,' he would have had to have been diagnosed with schizophrenia, depression, and/or various other anxiety disorders that would have impaired him to the point of serious consequence. No lobotomy patient would reach Steve's level of functioning.

This procedure was almost phased out entirely in the 1950's. Steve died at 42. You do the math.

Let's quit spreading bullshit, crown.

Not sure whether to take offence to that. On the one hand, I don't and have never claimed to have any kind of expertise in the area of mental health (that's my sisters job) so all of what you say could very well be - as far as I know - true. However on the other your last sentence boarders on the quite rude assertation that I'm being purposefully complicit in dishonest behaviour, which according the rules to the board is a serious offence, and it also suggest that you have an opinion of me which would suggest that I would engage in such behaivour.

Interesting.

Anyway, I've named my source. Unfortunately since The Panel doesn't have a website with archives of past interviews the only way to verify what I have claimed is to ask other Australian's if they too managed to see the same show, and whether the interview went as I claimed.

But lets get one thing straight skippy; fuck you.

thejester · Post by **thejester** » 2006-09-07 08:46am

In other news, the world's biggest attention whore (otherwise known as Germaine Greer) has jumped on the I-hate-Steve-Irwin-he's-such-a-bogan-why-can't-Australia-be-more-sophisticated bandwagon. If she had any credbility left, this would surely have removed it.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2006-09-07 11:23am

I read about her reaction on CNN. I think the thing that surprised me most was this:

In other news, Irwin's father said his son's funeral would be held privately within seven days, The Associated Press reports.

He confirmed that the family had declined a state funeral for the television star.

He must really have been loved/respected to merit a state funeral. Any Australian board-member care to relate how frequently those are given?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2006-09-07 11:32am

Frankly, the offer of a state funeral is the perfect example of what irks me about the worldwide orgy of grief over Irwin's passing. We know him for one reason: he jumps on crocodiles while saying "Crikey!". Be honest; how much else did the average person know about him a week ago? But that's enough for the whole world to act as though it's lost a precious treasure, even though scientists who cure deadly diseases pass away all the time and are lucky to get a one-line obit in the back page of Newsweek. He's an example of our celebrity obsession.

CaptainChewbacca · Post by **CaptainChewbacca** » 2006-09-07 11:36am

^To me, its about on par with them having Rosa Parks lie in state when she died.

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2006-09-07 12:03pm

I think a good part of the admiration (or at least on the Internet) is semi-ironic. He seemed to have this camp factor appeal among people I've seen, so some of the tributes I've seen online are probably from people who believe they just lost an international treasure no more than they actually think Chuck Norris has a third fist under his chin.

FSTargetDrone · Post by **FSTargetDrone** » 2006-09-07 12:17pm

18-Till-I-Die wrote:The same question could be asked of both cases...what could ther possibly be to gain? What good could come from it? It wont help anyone and will, most likely, hurt more people (like his family) anyway so...why not just not show it? Same with he WTC collapse, why show it over and over again? How does that help? Who does it help? The answer to both is it helps no one and has no purpose being shown.

Exactly my feelings. Nothing is served by showing video of his death. It's one thing for biologists or other marine life experts to examine the video to see what set off the ray's attack. I just don't want to see it pop up on Youtube or some such with a loop of Irwin pulling the barb out of his own chest to the sounds of some bad metal band.

There is value in studying the collapse of the WTC. In fact, Nova just had a new program about it this past week where they have updated the explanations of exactly why the towers fell. In short, the buildings' collpase wasn't compounded by pancaking floors. Rather, the horizontal stringers sagged from the heat of the fire, pulling the load-bearing sides of the towers inwards, to the breaking point. In any event, I still have trouble watching the collpase, and I looked away when it was shown during the program.

I don't enjoy seeing people dying. I'm not going to watch it on television if I can avoid it.

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2006-09-07 12:53pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:^To me, its about on par with them having Rosa Parks lie in state when she died.

Excuse me, but what the fuck?

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2006-09-07 12:57pm

Keevan_Colton wrote:
CaptainChewbacca wrote:^To me, its about on par with them having Rosa Parks lie in state when she died.
Excuse me, but what the fuck?

Apparently, a beloved entertainer is no more or less deserving of state recognition than a catalyst for the most significant American social sea change in the second half of the twentieth century.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2006-09-07 01:01pm

By all accounts, he was just a nice guy in real life who had a lot of enthusiasm for wildlife. He was exactly the same person on TV he was in reality. And he did a whole lot for conservation of wildlife in Australia. Sad to see him go.

I'm sure his family will be well taken care-of, too. He must've had a good life insurance policy.

Post by **Darth Wong** » 2006-09-07 01:07pm

Durandal wrote:By all accounts, he was just a nice guy in real life who had a lot of enthusiasm for wildlife. He was exactly the same person on TV he was in reality. And he did a whole lot for conservation of wildlife in Australia. Sad to see him go.

I'm sure his family will be well taken care-of, too. He must've had a good life insurance policy.

Actually, most life insurance companies will refuse to underwrite you if you have a very hazardous job. But he must have made enough money that he doesn't need life insurance anyway.

momochan · Post by **momochan** » 2006-09-07 05:23pm

Over at scienceblogs.com, Pharyngula has an interesting discussion of how preacher Ken Ham implied that Irwin's death was divine retribution for believing in evolution and not converting to fundamentalism. Many people commented about being preached at during funerals -- I was relieved to see I was not the only one...

Superman · Post by **Superman** » 2006-09-07 07:38pm

Crown wrote:Not sure whether to take offence to that. On the one hand, I don't and have never claimed to have any kind of expertise in the area of mental health (that's my sisters job) so all of what you say could very well be - as far as I know - true.

First of all, if I am wrong I will take back everything I said and apologize. I've been searching for your source and can't find anything. Can you maybe tell the me the name of the television network?

However on the other your last sentence boarders on the quite rude assertation that I'm being purposefully complicit in dishonest behaviour, which according the rules to the board is a serious offence,

Look, so far your case isn't that great. I'm just tired of this little trick that fundies do; they hear a rumor, have it bounce around in their minds for a while, and then recite as if it's fact (Creationism is true, Darwin was "saved" on his death bed, Hitler was a Satanist, etc). Now, I am not calling you a fundie. If this is not what you did, then I apologize. So far, we have a source that cannot be verified. Even if he did say it, could he have been saying it as a joke? Googling "steve irwin lobotomy" brings up a couple of jokes about it being a myth, but nothing factual. So far, we've established that you have repeated something.

and it also suggest that you have an opinion of me which would suggest that I would engage in such behaivour.

Oh, yes I forgot... All that time we spent together as POW's in that war camp. Damn, how could I have forgotten about all the good times we have had together?

What the hell does my opinion of you have anything to do with anything? I don't think we have ever said more than a sentence to one another.

But lets get one thing straight skippy; fuck you.

Yes, fuck me.

Hey, if this is all true then I'm wrong and will promptly admit it.

I'm just wondering why there's no factual information out there. Frankly, this "Croc Hunter had a lobotomy" crap even sounds like an urban myth. So if this never happened, it appears you took a page out of the fundie debate book to smear the guy.

Elfdart · Post by **Elfdart** » 2006-09-07 09:58pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:^To me, its about on par with them having Rosa Parks lie in state when she died.

Fuck you, asshole.

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2006-09-07 11:17pm

Elfdart wrote:
CaptainChewbacca wrote:^To me, its about on par with them having Rosa Parks lie in state when she died.
Fuck you, asshole.

Short, eloquent and to the point...

That aside, I really can understand why they would have offered Mr. Irwin a state funeral. He's not as important as MLK Jr. or Gandhi, but he did a lot of work for the environment of Australia and indeed the world entire.

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2006-09-07 11:31pm

A counter point if I may...

This is Australia, how many famous, world changing figures does it have?
They have to honor what they have after all. Everyone mention so far in this thread as "more deserving" has failed that intial test, they are not Australia figures, they are American's figures, Britians, and other countries...

Alyeska · Post by **Alyeska** » 2006-09-07 11:37pm

CaptainChewbacca wrote:^To me, its about on par with them having Rosa Parks lie in state when she died.

Bullshit. Rosa Parks represented an important part of American history and took a very brave step fighting injustice. She became a significant symbol of a very important cause.

Stofsk · Post by **Stofsk** » 2006-09-07 11:43pm

Mr Bean wrote:A counter point if I may...

This is Australia, how many famous, world changing figures does it have?
They have to honor what they have after all.

Irwin was world-changing was he? Ok, sure Bean.

Ironically, a prominent Australian politician, Don Chipp, who created the Democrat Party died recently from a long battle with Alzheimer's. I don't think he received the same level of pulic adulation that Irwin's demise engendered.

Simply put, we as a country have no sense of proportion.

atg · Post by **atg** » 2006-09-08 12:41am

Simply put, we as a country have no sense of proportion.

At lease 50% of the world is made out of people that have no sense of proportion. Otherwise celebrity worship of all kinds wouldn't be so high.

mr friendly guy · Post by **mr friendly guy** » 2006-09-08 04:53am

Mr Bean wrote:A counter point if I may...

This is Australia, how many famous, world changing figures does it have?
They have to honor what they have after all. Everyone mention so far in this thread as "more deserving" has failed that intial test, they are not Australia figures, they are American's figures, Britians, and other countries...

Well when Barry Marshall passes away, I hope he gets offered a state funeral. I mean as a doctor he only figured out that ulcers were not caused by stress, by the bacteria Helicobacter Pylori, and after experimenting on himself. Note he also won the Nobel Prize for medicine.

At least I can argue making a medical breakthrough in how we treat ulcers is world changing, but apparently Steve Irwin counts as world changing? I would have though Irwin is more "world renowned" rather than world changing. But thats just me.

Crown · Post by **Crown** » 2006-09-08 07:37am

Superman wrote:
Crown wrote:Not sure whether to take offence to that. On the one hand, I don't and have never claimed to have any kind of expertise in the area of mental health (that's my sisters job) so all of what you say could very well be - as far as I know - true.
First of all, if I am wrong I will take back everything I said and apologize. I've been searching for your source and can't find anything. Can you maybe tell the me the name of the television network?

Channel Ten although it isn't on this year, so you won't find it in their line up. The show is called The Panel which is produced by Working Dog. I told you that there aren't any archives of the show.

Superman wrote:
Crown wrote:However on the other your last sentence boarders on the quite rude assertation that I'm being purposefully complicit in dishonest behaviour, which according the rules to the board is a serious offence,
Look, so far your case isn't that great. I'm just tired of this little trick that fundies do; they hear a rumor, have it bounce around in their minds for a while, and then recite as if it's fact (Creationism is true, Darwin was "saved" on his death bed, Hitler was a Satanist, etc). Now, I am not calling you a fundie. If this is not what you did, then I apologize. So far, we have a source that cannot be verified. Even if he did say it, could he have been saying it as a joke? Googling "steve irwin lobotomy" brings up a couple of jokes about it being a myth, but nothing factual. So far, we've established that you have repeated something.

Don't be a prat. Yes, the whole thing was a joke and I was on purpose misrepresenting him for shits and giggles...

Superman wrote:
Crown wrote:and it also suggest that you have an opinion of me which would suggest that I would engage in such behaivour.
Oh, yes I forgot... All that time we spent together as POW's in that war camp. Damn, how could I have forgotten about all the good times we have had together?

What the hell does my opinion of you have anything to do with anything? I don't think we have ever said more than a sentence to one another.

Of course your opinion of me has a lot to do with what's going on here. You wouldn't have responded as such if it were; Edi, Durandal or Darth Wong (to name a few) who posted what I posted because you would believe that they wouldn't lie. With me however, you have demonstrably shown, that you believe that I would lie over such a ridiculous non-issue.

Superman wrote:
Crown wrote:But lets get one thing straight skippy; fuck you.
Yes, fuck me.

Hey, if this is all true then I'm wrong and will promptly admit it.

I'm just wondering why there's no factual information out there. Frankly, this "Croc Hunter had a lobotomy" crap even sounds like an urban myth.

I've given you my source. I've said that I regretted that I couldn't find an archive of the show. What's left is my intergrity, my intelligence and my word.

Superman wrote:So if this never happened, it appears you took a page out of the fundie debate book to smear the guy.

Now your displaying a reading comprehension problem. I never used the lobotomy as a way to 'smear' the guy. I said it in an effort to highlight his ... odd ... behaivour in a contextual light that could be understood.

Anyway, here's an article of a man who had a lobotomy at the age of 12 in 1960. Things to note; he's a functional adult. Lobotomy patients tend not to adveritse about it, so that could cover why there isn't a mountain of press about it, Irwin just didn't want to talk about it.

Hillary · Post by **Hillary** » 2006-09-08 07:50am

Mr Bean wrote:A counter point if I may...

This is Australia, how many famous, world changing figures does it have?

Rolf Harris - icon

Post by **weemadando** » 2006-09-08 07:57am

You said the name. Why do people have to say the name?

StarDestroyer.Net BBS

Crocodile Hunter dead at 44 - Stung by Stingray

science blog's pharyngula