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Saturday, January 03, 2004 - (see all news for this day)
steve irwin - 06:53 PM
(filed under 'general')
did anyone see the thing in the news about steve irwin going near a crocodile with his baby? it's been all over the news, you could hardly have missed it.
personally, i don't think he did anything wrong.
to me, it equates to a race car driver taking his baby in his car, or a tight rope walker taking his baby up on the ropes. they know exactly what they are doing & they are taking a calculated risk. i wouldn't do it, because i don't know crocodiles, but he is an expert in his field, & as he said himself, there's no way known he would put his baby in danger.
he was enjoying showing off his baby while doing what he does. he did say in an interview that he would do it differently if he had his time over again, but obviously only because everyone kicked up such a big stink about it. his wife, the baby's mother, didn't have a problem with it, she trusts him & his judgement, so i think others should too.
comment posted by Jillis on January 3, 2004 08:34 PM:
Well .. I hope that he actually did know what he was doing. He's said to be the croc expert - or are those his own words? - but we all know what happened (or didn't happen) in Hong Kong ..
To me, holding your baby in one arm while concentrating on your other not to be snapped off doesn't seem to be the smartest thing to do.
Well .. I hope that he actually did know what he was doing. He's said to be the croc expert - or are those his own words? - but we all know what happened (or didn't happen) in Hong Kong ..
To me, holding your baby in one arm while concentrating on your other not to be snapped off doesn't seem to be the smartest thing to do.
comment posted by jade on January 3, 2004 10:16 PM:
crikey.
er, no pun intended.
i agree that it's probably not that most smart thing to do but i don't think that either he or his wife would willingly place their child in danger just for the entertainment value. he used his jugdement for his child based on his expertise, and that should be enough. he's obviously not going to do it again after all the uproar. but i do think that police and other investigations are going a bit far.
crikey.
er, no pun intended.
i agree that it's probably not that most smart thing to do but i don't think that either he or his wife would willingly place their child in danger just for the entertainment value. he used his jugdement for his child based on his expertise, and that should be enough. he's obviously not going to do it again after all the uproar. but i do think that police and other investigations are going a bit far.
comment posted by Sarah on January 3, 2004 10:32 PM:
Perhaps the first contrary argument I have heard.
My personal view; I shrieked with horror! Cannot fathom a parent placing their child in this situation.
I had a hard enough time letting other people even hold my baby when he was a newborn, so call me sooky la-la
Perhaps the first contrary argument I have heard.
My personal view; I shrieked with horror! Cannot fathom a parent placing their child in this situation.
I had a hard enough time letting other people even hold my baby when he was a newborn, so call me sooky la-la
comment posted by Nicola on January 4, 2004 01:22 AM:
I don't really think the baby was in danger, but I do think this was a cheap publicity stunt
I don't really think the baby was in danger, but I do think this was a cheap publicity stunt
comment posted by dave on January 4, 2004 03:40 AM:
my opinion...not a good idea. accidents happen so quickly and never when you expect it. i don't think its worth the chance no matter how careful one is. reminds me of michael jackson and hanging his baby over a balcony.
my opinion...not a good idea. accidents happen so quickly and never when you expect it. i don't think its worth the chance no matter how careful one is. reminds me of michael jackson and hanging his baby over a balcony.
comment posted by dennis on January 4, 2004 06:47 AM:
OH MY GOD !! A CROCS GOT MY BABY !! fair dinkum the blokes a deadset wanker ..how can you teach a month old baby to be so called ' croc savy ' AND Coralie if you think its just a calcualted risk would you take a calucalted risk with smiley Riley .
OH MY GOD !! A CROCS GOT MY BABY !! fair dinkum the blokes a deadset wanker ..how can you teach a month old baby to be so called ' croc savy ' AND Coralie if you think its just a calcualted risk would you take a calucalted risk with smiley Riley .
comment posted by Charly on January 4, 2004 07:02 AM:
LISTEN!!!! Steve Irwin is a legend!! He's been messin around with crocs since he could walk! He knows what he's doing when it comes to the ozzy animals! Trust him! & whoever disses him is just a sad loser who obviously doesn't get out much!
LISTEN!!!! Steve Irwin is a legend!! He's been messin around with crocs since he could walk! He knows what he's doing when it comes to the ozzy animals! Trust him! & whoever disses him is just a sad loser who obviously doesn't get out much!
comment posted by edwin on January 4, 2004 08:12 AM:
overhere i saw it on tv. he is right that he let his kids now, how the animals behave. but a croc is something else than a cow. maybe start with something simple, like the cow or sheep?
overhere i saw it on tv. he is right that he let his kids now, how the animals behave. but a croc is something else than a cow. maybe start with something simple, like the cow or sheep?
comment posted by TJ on January 4, 2004 10:24 AM:
I'm happy to see that no charges were filed against the Irwins. We are all forced to take calculated risks with our children. We do every time we strap them into a car seat, get onto an airplane with them, feed them foods processed God knows where with God knows what in it, etc. When the government can nail us for doing anything that MIGHT harm our children, it's gone too far.
I wouldn't choose to enter an enclosement of any wild animal with my child, but then again, I don't know these crocs as well as Steve Irwin does. I did hold our first son over a balcony once, like Michael Jackson did. It was for just a few seconds, for a picture. At that moment I felt in complete control of the situation. I'm sure Steve Irwin felt the same way.
I'm happy to see that no charges were filed against the Irwins. We are all forced to take calculated risks with our children. We do every time we strap them into a car seat, get onto an airplane with them, feed them foods processed God knows where with God knows what in it, etc. When the government can nail us for doing anything that MIGHT harm our children, it's gone too far.
I wouldn't choose to enter an enclosement of any wild animal with my child, but then again, I don't know these crocs as well as Steve Irwin does. I did hold our first son over a balcony once, like Michael Jackson did. It was for just a few seconds, for a picture. At that moment I felt in complete control of the situation. I'm sure Steve Irwin felt the same way.
comment posted by melanie on January 4, 2004 01:32 PM:
when I got home from hospital with Jade, I gave her to my cat. He had a sniff, thought she wasn't very interesting, and that was the end of that.
Obviously you wouldn't let a croc sniff your baby, but I think it's pretty much the same principle.
I don't see that he did anything wrong. but, saying that, I wouldn't take a one month old camping at ayers rock. no matter how often I went camping usually!
when I got home from hospital with Jade, I gave her to my cat. He had a sniff, thought she wasn't very interesting, and that was the end of that.
Obviously you wouldn't let a croc sniff your baby, but I think it's pretty much the same principle.
I don't see that he did anything wrong. but, saying that, I wouldn't take a one month old camping at ayers rock. no matter how often I went camping usually!
comment posted by Angela on January 4, 2004 07:33 PM:
I've got mixed views on it. In some ways he does know what he was doing but I don't see how taking his month old child in there teaches the child or anyone else how to be safe around crocs.
I think I was more concerned about the fact he wasn't supporting the baby's head or that the baby was out in the full Australian sun. I don't know what it's like there but here in NZ people are getting sunburnt in 5-10 minutes, not good for a baby at all! Perhaps I'm just being anal though.
I've got mixed views on it. In some ways he does know what he was doing but I don't see how taking his month old child in there teaches the child or anyone else how to be safe around crocs.
I think I was more concerned about the fact he wasn't supporting the baby's head or that the baby was out in the full Australian sun. I don't know what it's like there but here in NZ people are getting sunburnt in 5-10 minutes, not good for a baby at all! Perhaps I'm just being anal though.
comment posted by Helen on January 5, 2004 07:38 AM:
I agree with you Corri - None of us would do it, because none of us know the animals like he does. Steve's dad had the park when he was a kid too, so he's been immersed in contact with them. (His dad probably took him in too!)And while taking your baby into a crocodile pen is quite extreme for most people, parents who are farmers or live on properties find risks coming from contact with animals relatively natural, whereas they'd be terrified to let their kids do half the things that city kids get to do! (Take it from me having grown up in the country!)Its all a bit of a different viewpoint of risk.
I agree with you Corri - None of us would do it, because none of us know the animals like he does. Steve's dad had the park when he was a kid too, so he's been immersed in contact with them. (His dad probably took him in too!)And while taking your baby into a crocodile pen is quite extreme for most people, parents who are farmers or live on properties find risks coming from contact with animals relatively natural, whereas they'd be terrified to let their kids do half the things that city kids get to do! (Take it from me having grown up in the country!)Its all a bit of a different viewpoint of risk.
comment posted by Lisa on January 5, 2004 11:48 PM:
I actually cannot believe how many of you back Steve Irwin's actions. Should it also be ok for police officers or fire fighters to take their children to work with them? What about what happened to Roy? He has worked with tigers for 30 years, yet he was attacked recently and nearly killed.
It's sad that you underestimate wild animals, especially around an innocent baby. If Steve wants to take the risk, he's an adult and has every right. But you don't take your baby around dangerous wild animals! There is just no point, and a tiny infant is too young to learn how to behave around them. Use your comment sense!!
I actually cannot believe how many of you back Steve Irwin's actions. Should it also be ok for police officers or fire fighters to take their children to work with them? What about what happened to Roy? He has worked with tigers for 30 years, yet he was attacked recently and nearly killed.
It's sad that you underestimate wild animals, especially around an innocent baby. If Steve wants to take the risk, he's an adult and has every right. But you don't take your baby around dangerous wild animals! There is just no point, and a tiny infant is too young to learn how to behave around them. Use your comment sense!!
comment posted by ... on January 6, 2004 09:29 AM:
i think that steve irwin did nothing wrong. he is an expert and i think his baby was in no danger whatsoever. i cant believe that some people think his baby was in danger. that's rediculis! come on people! his baby enjoyed it and probably wants to do it again!
i think that steve irwin did nothing wrong. he is an expert and i think his baby was in no danger whatsoever. i cant believe that some people think his baby was in danger. that's rediculis! come on people! his baby enjoyed it and probably wants to do it again!
comment posted by smitty on January 7, 2004 03:07 PM:
My opinion is that Steve just wasn't thinking. My son was really upset and sent him an email. Steve wrote back that in retrospect he wished he hadn't done it. He basically said that he wasn't really thinking about his child's safety - at least he was honest about it.
My opinion is that Steve just wasn't thinking. My son was really upset and sent him an email. Steve wrote back that in retrospect he wished he hadn't done it. He basically said that he wasn't really thinking about his child's safety - at least he was honest about it.
comment posted by katie on January 9, 2004 11:59 AM:
Everybody likes to critizise everybody elses parenting style, but nobody ever likes to be critizised themseleves!.I don"t think he would have taken his child in their if he thought that any danger was posed to the child. I"ve seen lots of parents do stupid things with their kids over the years,I woudn"t call it child abuse, just perhaps a bit careless or thoughtless, but nothing seriously dangerous. Our neighbours used to sit their infant on their lap in the front seat of the car and let him steer the car up the driveway...and come to think of it my dad used to have me on his knee while riding a bike using no hands!! I think everybody takes risks sometimes, but thats part of the thrill.
Everybody likes to critizise everybody elses parenting style, but nobody ever likes to be critizised themseleves!.I don"t think he would have taken his child in their if he thought that any danger was posed to the child. I"ve seen lots of parents do stupid things with their kids over the years,I woudn"t call it child abuse, just perhaps a bit careless or thoughtless, but nothing seriously dangerous. Our neighbours used to sit their infant on their lap in the front seat of the car and let him steer the car up the driveway...and come to think of it my dad used to have me on his knee while riding a bike using no hands!! I think everybody takes risks sometimes, but thats part of the thrill.
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hmm. Undecided on this one. Yeah he does know what he's doing as far as the animals go, though as all parents know, parenting is a constant learning experience.
Besides, trying to make out he's teaching a 1 month old boy about crocs is obviously... well, a crock