This is almost not worth addressing, but there's a few things I can't let go.
Vinman, if you're so concerned, I'd be delighted to hear how many letters you wrote to Steve Irwin, The Australia Zoo, or the Discovery Network in the last 14 years to express your strife? I'm guessing you didn't pick up a pen and paper once.
Instead, you want to step on and tarnish the accomplishments and legacy of a man after he passed. It takes an awful lot of gall to come along and speak of someone the way you have. His style wasn't your taste. That's fine. Say so and move on. Your comments were insensitive, unfounded and uncalled for.
We must all be overlooking the fact that you were right there on the set as he filmed each of his television shows. Afterall, if the network would never show him injuring an animal on TV, then you must have been there in person looking over his shoulder as it happened in order to know such a fact. You shouldn't make unfounded declarations and pass them off as fact. The truth of the matter is that you don't know anything at all beyond what you saw on the television period.
I don't think he ever did anything for ratings the way it was also suggested in this thread. Think about everything you've ever heard or seen Steve Irwin do/say and the way he has always acted. Does anything about that man suggest that he would walk a tight rope for network executives to get ratings if it meant putting animals at risk? Did you ever see any of the episodes where he was almost moved to tears over some of the things he saw? I bet he squeezed those out for ratings too.
The fact is that Steve Irwin has done more for animal conservation, education, and awareness in his last 14 years in the spotlight than most people with related occupations will do in their entire lifetime.
I certainly hope his wife and kids never have to read senseless ridicules like this. There's a time, a place, and a way to address such issues. I fail to see how comments like "I really don't feel sorry that he died." accomplish anything.
Vinman, if you're so concerned, I'd be delighted to hear how many letters you wrote to Steve Irwin, The Australia Zoo, or the Discovery Network in the last 14 years to express your strife? I'm guessing you didn't pick up a pen and paper once.
Instead, you want to step on and tarnish the accomplishments and legacy of a man after he passed. It takes an awful lot of gall to come along and speak of someone the way you have. His style wasn't your taste. That's fine. Say so and move on. Your comments were insensitive, unfounded and uncalled for.
We must all be overlooking the fact that you were right there on the set as he filmed each of his television shows. Afterall, if the network would never show him injuring an animal on TV, then you must have been there in person looking over his shoulder as it happened in order to know such a fact. You shouldn't make unfounded declarations and pass them off as fact. The truth of the matter is that you don't know anything at all beyond what you saw on the television period.
I don't think he ever did anything for ratings the way it was also suggested in this thread. Think about everything you've ever heard or seen Steve Irwin do/say and the way he has always acted. Does anything about that man suggest that he would walk a tight rope for network executives to get ratings if it meant putting animals at risk? Did you ever see any of the episodes where he was almost moved to tears over some of the things he saw? I bet he squeezed those out for ratings too.
The fact is that Steve Irwin has done more for animal conservation, education, and awareness in his last 14 years in the spotlight than most people with related occupations will do in their entire lifetime.
I certainly hope his wife and kids never have to read senseless ridicules like this. There's a time, a place, and a way to address such issues. I fail to see how comments like "I really don't feel sorry that he died." accomplish anything.
Funny dude. And ultimately, he did so many great things for animals and for people. Who knows how many people out there right now have a pet they never would have had if it weren't for Steve? Who knows how many of them go to zoos and vote to save animals' habitats because someone raised awareness? Who knows how many species and individual animals owe that man a huge debt? Right now, there's some snake or lizard out there, slithering or crawling along, who would have been dead if it weren't for Steve Irwin.
