So what have YOU done?

[WindRavenX]

Irwin, whatever your feelings on him, lived a life to educate and promote a better understanding and appreciation of the wild world and the creatures that inhabit it; he came up close and personal in order to show us, in order to inspire us, why the natural world was worth loving and saving.
He lived this life to make US give a damn.
When I was younger, I was never inspired to continue working in science because I was discouraged. My mom always saw how happy and hyper I got when I worked doing things I liked-- learning how animals lived and behaved, learning how to help them, etc.
We needed someone like Irwin on our side to help the planet and make people realize that the world IS worth saving, that is IS full of KICK ASS (albeit dangerous, lol) life.
He died doing this. I understand his passion COMPLETELY. I wish I could explain it better-- when I realized how fragile life was after reading "The Future of Life" and visiting rehabbing giant sea turtles at the NE aquarium, I knew that I had to tell as many people as possible about this. Inspire them to GIVE. A. DAMN.
Someone who DID give a damn has died prematurely. But I thank him for inspiring me to care.

So shame on the DUers who piss on his legacy-- what the fuck have you done to promote a better understanding of the natural world?

What do you WANT? We HAD someone who cared PASSIONATELY about this world and wanted our children to have a world where we didn't NEED zoos or rehabbing centers. And now he's gone. And some of you are glad.

Just what the fuck do you want?

[kentuck]

1. Why are people critical of the "Crocodile Hunter"??

I liked him. :shrug:

[PresidentWar]

16. yeah I liked him too

I'm just not sure when he was cannonized and deserved a dozen "why are people so mean to Steve Irwin" threads. It's beyond bizarre.

[WindRavenX]

20. no one is "cannonizing him"

Jesus christ. I admire him for what he's done because he's led a life of educative services-- which is more than I can say for a lot of people who would rather just bitch and moan.

[PresidentWar]

31. A eulogy gets worn out, especially after so much hyperbole.

Thats my point.

[WindRavenX]

32. No one has refuted a thing he's done

It's not hyperbolic to say what I or others have said.

Be my guest to refute any claims that I have made.

[PresidentWar]

34. Actually, no one has proferred a single example.

So if you'd be so kind....we can discuss it.

[WindRavenX]

37. enjoy:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Irwin#Environmentalism

[Initech]

18. I dont get it either

And I admit - I used to watch his show quite a bit.

[dorktv]

2. Nothing more then what I have actually.

And I really do want to be off of this diet. :cry:

[Skittles]

3. I donate money to the people who take risks!

I cannot seem to actually do stuff myself so I do the next best thing - give money to their cause! And I loved Steve Irwin.

[Midlodemocrat]

4. Nothing even remotely as important.

Although I didn't piss on his grave, so I guess that puts me a little bit above those who did.

I think the grave dancing is disgusting and those posters should be ashamed.

That being said, don't leave DU over those assholes. There are a lot more like you and me here than them.

:hug:

[WindRavenX]

6. I know

But it's the same old whinny bullshit.

I'm in debt to my eyeballs so I could TEACH HIGH FUCKING SCHOOL BIOLOGY PEOPLE. HS biology. WHY? Because I want people to see WHY I get so passionate about science and the beautiful diversity of life. It's the same with Irwin-- he has said many times he wants people to care and share his passion for protecting wildlife.

I don't care that he's a celebrity-- celebrities often don't do much-- I care that he cared about teaching people about the world. And he LIVED and DIED living that life.

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

8. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Midlodemocrat]

10. Why don't you stop posting in them if you have such contempt

for those who feel the loss? Trust me, no one would miss you.

[PresidentWar]

11. What I have contempt for is endless righteous indignation

by people who try to one up each other over who feels the worst about Mr. Irwins tragic death.

Your turn.

[Midlodemocrat]

14. That's not what she's doing.

At. all.

:eyes:

[PresidentWar]

17. We have a difference of opinion.

And I'm not the only who feels this way, mind you.

[Midlodemocrat]

24. And, your opinion is more important than hers because?

You've contributed so much here? Done amazing things IRL and posted about it?

Didn't think so.


There are some of us here who don't believe in grave dancing and are fed up with the disruptors who are being shockingly assholish about it.

If you don't want to mourn fine. Don't piss all over the people who feel badly. It's something the freepers do.

[PresidentWar]

28. Who said it was more important? I said we have different opinions.

Is that difficult to comprehend?

[WindRavenX]

15. What have you done to promote the public's understand of the natural world

He lived a life trying to promote understanding-- what can you claim?

There's an ignore fuction and "hide thread" function. Utilize it and stop polluting threads with your bullshit.

[PresidentWar]

19. Not played with cobras. Their bite is deadly.

Ask a snarky question, get a snarky answer - eh?

[countingbluecars]

21. Your type of comments

are the reason for the many threads. But you know that.

[PresidentWar]

23. Goodness, why? Irwin taught me that playing with cobras is dangerous

So I'm grateful

[countingbluecars]

27. My, aren't you clever.

[PresidentWar]

29. Just inquisitive. Is that a bad thing?

[WindRavenX]

22. so in other words...

Nothing. :hi:

[Midlodemocrat]

25. Sweetie. Don't waste your time or the bandwidth.

[PresidentWar]

26. I expect mischaracterizations on FreeRepublic, but not here.

So would you like to try some civil discourse?

[WindRavenX]

30. what have you done to have people appreciate the natural world?

Coz so far, much like your character, you've got nothing.

[PresidentWar]

33. Show a respect to the power of nature.

Because in a shoving contest, you'll lose. We pull enough out of staters' bodies from our lakes and rivers to back that one up, every spring. Many of them just didnt think that little old pond or lazy river would get as violent as it did.

[WindRavenX]

35. ...which he did.

Every single time he went on that show it was a demonstration of the power and killing ability of nature. He made no attempts to subdue or conquer nature, because, as you said, you'll lose. He wanted a world where nature COULD be wild.

[PresidentWar]

41. I guess that makes two of us then

hoo-rah.

[OzarkDem]

36. Well then you don't know much

about Steve Irwin or you would know his show didn't promote that kind of thing.

Rather than post ignorant knee jerk reactions, you should think more carefully and take aim at people who deserve it.

Well, that would be the Democratic way, anyway.

[PresidentWar]

42. His show didnt promote a solid respect of Nature?

I think you're getting bamboozled. In fact, that is what he tried to promote. Unfortunately, it made him an example.

[seabeyond]

40. my kids are sad. they have talked about his death, what he has brought

to their life. what the event has given them in thought and experience. irwins family, having watched them too. the little girl they can so identify with.

would you like to tell my boys to shut up. that they are simply one upping. that they cannot be sincere. that their feeling today mean nothing.

who the hell are you to judge, do tell

[Deja Q]

7. We all do what we can. And how many more Steve threads can be made today?

500? (not by you personally; by DUers who prefer to litter the place with subjects pertaining to the same thing. Holy spam...)

Who said people are glad he's dead? That's a bit of a stretch!

And how many of US give a damn about the critters more than HIM?

I'll give you credit; you're the first person to ask others what we've done to help the environment and other animals (albeit because of him, which makes him sound like some sort of deity...)

[PresidentWar]

12. LOL, don't challenge them to make more!

I beg of you....

[OzarkDem]

13. People have had enough

I think a lot of people are tired of the incivility here and are finally taking a stand.

[OwnedByFerrets]

9. Right on!

I've never cursed another member on this board, but if I saw some of the things that I"ve heard are going on here I would never be able to say that again. I feel like I have lost one of my best friends and the world has certainly lost a great person.
Thank you for posting this.

[WindRavenX]

38. deafening

:eyes:

[riderinthestorm]

39. Anyone who has done any kind of work towards saving their corner of the

planet: politically, environmentally, socially, educationally - whatever, are mourning the loss of a REAL activist, Steve Irwin.

You (metaphorical you) may not entirely agree with everything he has done but indisputably he has DONE his fair share. More than his fair share within his particular area of activism.

I mourn him. I know what it takes to put yourself out there for a cause and do whatever must be done to ensure your voice is heard, to ensure your cause is supported, to raise awareness. Anyone slamming Steve Irwin hasn't walked the walk imho.

[alarimer]

43. Jacques Cousteau was one of my heroes

The reason I became a marine biologist- I watched too many of those damn shows! So when I heard that he was not necessarily a nice man, it didn't really matter to me because he paid attention to the ocean and was one of the first (along with Rachel Carson) to document the decline of the oceans. To me that was far more important than any negative thing anyone could say about him. And every marine biologist I know says the same thing, that they would not have been in the field without his shows. And people like Steve Irwin, through their enthusiasm and obvious concern for the enviroment, are just as important now.
Are they perfect? Certainly not but they have a way of connecting with people, especially kids, and make them interested in the outdoors and animals. And, especially, teach them not to fear animals but to respect them because they are potentially dangerous.