"I am NOT Michael Jackson!" says Steve Irwin . . .

[OneBlueSky]

Crikey! I'm not a bad dad, says hurt Irwin
By Christine Sams and Johanna Leggatt
January 4, 2004

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/03/1072908954912.html

TV star Steve Irwin yesterday defended himself against claims of child neglect, after holding his baby, Bob, within metres of a crocodile on Friday. Yesterday, he claimed he was hurt by the allegations.

"I am hurt; I am as hurt as I get," he told reporters outside Australia Zoo in Beerwah, Queensland, flanked by his father Bob, wife Terri and five-year-old daughter Bindi Sue.

Irwin was particularly distressed by comparisons to singer Michael Jackson - who dangled his own baby off a balcony, an Australia Zoo spokesman said.

"Steve is very upset he would be compared to Michael Jackson in any way, just as any dad would be," the spokesman said. He said he had received more than 500 calls from international media.

- more . . .

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/03/1072908954912.html

[trof]

1. Bindi Sue? BINDI SUE?

Jeez...the poor kid.

[Blue-Jay]

5. It gets worse for Bindi Sue...

If I remember correctly, She's named after his favorite croc (Bindi) and his favorite dog (Suey).

Poor Steve-o. What he did was ill advised (OK, stupid), but he doesn't deserve the kind of flack he's getting for it.

[maha]

2. Well, there goes Irwin's career.

One slip and baby would have been an hor d'oeurve. Terrible judgment.

[patricia92243]

3. I will not watch his program any more

[nannah]

4. did you ever put your babies in your car and drive???

while croc feeding is projected as frightening and dangerous to generate entertainment dollars by and for mr. irwin, he was raised on a croc farm. He is familiar with the laws and rules that control croc behavior. He has a very different perception of their danger to him.

To someone unfamiliar with our traffic laws and rules, watching cars driving toward each other, often with no barrier between them; turning across lanes of traffic; and stopping in the middle of traffic could appear to be wildly dangerous and risky. Perhaps they would be appalled that we calmly load our children into our cars and drive into the melee.

on edit: funny... my reply above came from a conversation i had with a friend yesterday, i did not read the irwin article until after i posted my reply.

I value opportunities to see how variations in experience create perceptions that result in intuitive behavioural choices that seem bizarre to others with different experience and knowledge basis.

[jpgray]

6. I tend to agree

It is more because he is a celebrity that this gets attention. The guy hasn't lost any appendages to a croc, and he kept the baby well away, from the pictures I've seen. Plus he knows crocs better than almost anyone I can think of--dumb thing for Irwin to do, but hey, all his family deals with crocs in close proximity. I'd be more concerned if he put his kid up front in a car, I guess.

jpgray's view: Dumb, but blown a little out of proportion.

Thank you.

:D

[Dogmudgeon]

7. How ironic!

Steve Irwin, who has made his career from dealing with the bloodthirsty reptiles of Australia, will probably be devoured by the bloodthirsty reptiles of the tabloid press.

I suppose, since this is the Internet, I should throw a "BWHAHAHA" in there, too.

And naming his daughter "Bindi Sue" ... the cad! Scoundrel! Blighter! Blackguard! Aussie!

Good thing for Steve that Australia doesn't have the self-promoting prosecuting attorneys we have here in the States.

--bkl
Just more fodder for Law and Order.

[neebob]

8. What he did was actually worse than Michael Jackson

Because it was done with forethought, and the child's mother apparently agreed to it. I guess they figured if the beauuuuuutiful croc ate Baby Bob, it would just poo him out!

[BringEmOn]

9. Jacko dangles baby Steve

[peekaloo]

10. LOL