Steve Irwin RIP

"He was the Australian we all aspire to be. He touched my heart. I believed in him. I'll miss him,"

Russell Crowe's turn of phrase might be unfortunate, but the sentiment is real and worthy - Steve Irwin's death is deeply tragic, but what makes it all the more horrible is the reaction by rival broadcasters, and some of the media.

Irwin's methods have got the goat in the past, with Terry Nutkin's once saying: "He's put himself up as the star with animals as extras. It's dreadful television". If there's two things that we all know about Irwin it's that he's down to earth, and he loves animals. This image of an egotistical superstar, exploiting nature is perverse, but is sadly prominent amongst the reaction. According to The Mirror: "TV presenter Chris Packham said Irwin's style was to use animals as a sideshow to his own showmanship", and last night I heard Packham claim that if you constantly provoke dangerous animal, you'll eventually be bitten. He seemed to be saying that Irwin got what was coming to him. Ray Mear's has also played this card: ""Dangerous animals, you leave them alone, because nature defends itself - it isn't all hugging animals and going, 'Ahh'. You have to be sensible and keep a safe distance."

But Steve Irwin wasn't a television presenter who played with animals, he was a conservationist - a good one - who stumbled upon a career to make wildlife accessable for kids. The insinuation that he was reckless is insenstive and probably false, "At the time of his death Mr Irwin was interacting with a sting ray on the Great Barrier Reef, there is no evidence that Mr Irwin was intimidating or threatening the stingray. My advice is that he was observing the stingray." (Police Superintendent Mike Keating). But it also smacks of envy, as if Steve Irwin's enthusiasm and affable nature detracts from his professionalism. Why do British people find it so hard to respect popularity? It's like an instinctive assumption that to be popular implies that you cater to ignorance. I suspect that Nutkins, Packham, and Mears can't see beyond the caricature, and that is their fault. We shouldn't belittle those we envy, we should tax the envious.

And why can't the media report this tragedy without feeling the need to search for controversy, and undermine Irwin's achievements? Once more the non story about him feeding a crocodile with his baby son surfaces - it is ludicrous to criticise him, and outrageous to think it's in any way similar to the Michael Jackson incident. People who say it is are offensive and vindictive morons.

So i'm gutted  by all this, and disgusted by those who seek to portray Steve Irwin as reckless and somehow deserving of his fate. Those sentiments are driven by envy, and a snobbish attitude that seeks to monopolise learning and curb enthusiasm. I have recurring nightmares about crocodiles and always enjoy watching Steve Irwin demonstrate how man and nature should coexist - with respect but without fear.

Comments

[Quinn]

Fair enough in the main; but why is it "ludicrous to criticise" Steve Irwin over the baby incident, and why is it "outrageous to think it's in any way similar to" the way Michael jackson behaved?

[AJE]

I think that he cares about his son's safety more than anyone else, and is also in the best position to judge the risk of that situation. To criticise would be to claim that one either has more love or better knowledge - and I think that's ludicrous.

As for the Michael Jackson thing, he *did* needlessly endanger his child, and it's a smear to associate two random instances of a parent holding their baby.

[dearieme]

Many environmentalists come across as prim, puritanical, joy-hating twerps. Bravo for Irwin.

[brittany]

steve irwin was a hero and he is aorry for that insadent with the baby and he is a legend why did he have to die so young

[Adrian Constantin Popescu]

you are the best crocobile hunter ,Steve

[Popescu]

Steve Irwin R.I.P. YOU ARE THE BEST.

[paulina gonzlaez]

can't you talk about anything but his death? it's like you see the glass half empty, not half full! talk about the good things in life he did, like his achievements, not just his death.By the way, it's not like i'm trying to sound mean or anything, but cheer up, his life wasn't all about his death!!!

[Josie]

i miss him he was my rolemodel!

[Cheap Jordan 1]

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