Monday, September 04, 2006

Hunted like a crocodile

So long Steve Irwin...

Well this guy who is slightly famous for doing documentaries on snakes, crocodiles and other dangerous animals has passed away after being hit by a Stingray in his chest. And the whole world goes bonkers…

I’m fed up of this adulation that celebrities get when they die. It all started with Princess Diana and since then we’ve had numerous over-flowing gushing tributes to celebrities, every crash scene has thousands of flowers by people who didn’t know the victim. And now we have the pain that is the BBC ‘send us your reaction’ page. Let’s look at some of the ridiculous comments on that page:

“No man in living memory has done more for nature & wildlife conservation than Steve Irwin”

“It is sad, sad, day for everyone who has watched Steve's show. His death is a tragedy for Australia and for conservation as a whole.”

“[I’m] Shocked, heart broken, and deeply saddened, he was, and will remain to be my favourite Animal lover hero”

These are real comments made by real people. "No man in living memory" has done more for nature and wildife conservation? Hmmm, not sure about that one. His death is a "tragedy for Australia"? I'm sure that the Aussie politicians will remedy this with a public holiday called Steve Irwin Day on September 4th every year. Someone else is "Shocked, heart-broken, and deeply saddened" ... I can't imagine what his family are feeling if someone who doesn't know him feels this way.

It's not meant as an anti Steve Irwin rant in anyway. I just feel that this has all gone out of hand. Yes he did a lot of work for animal conservation, but he also appeared in that appauling hollywood film about his life (DVD sales of which will no doubt explode this week). Let's be honest most of us thought he was a bit of a dick and then turned over when his documentaries came on TV. Let's not forget that just because he has died. Not every celebrity deserves martyr status.

Shelter from the Storm

5 comments:

Will said...

Just to annoy you a bit more... Aussie PM John Howard: "Australia has lost a wonderful and colourful son."

Will said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
* (asterisk) said...

I did a wee tribute to Irwin because I thought he was a cool, funny guy who died too early. I, too, am wary of those who mourn celebs to an extreme. It seems perhaps people don't have enough misery in their lives, so they have to find it elsewhere. Sad, really.

That said, I wept for a week when Kurt Cobain died. I guess he was the first idol of my generation to die so young.

Red said...

People who react so over the top have not had a real heartbreak in their lives. Lucky them.

For the rest of us, it's a great shame, sure, but that's what can happen when you go prodding wild animals looking for a reaction and some good footage.

(Hi, I came via Blog About Nowt.)

James K said...

I'm glad that i'm not the only one... I was begining to think that I was the one who was going mad.



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