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martinlivingsSteve Irwin is dead.
Some have said hoo-fucking-ray.
Personally, I've watched enough of Irwin's shows to realise that at least 95% of what he did was nowhere near as sensationalistic as people think. I suspect most, especially Australians, haven't actually watched his show terribly much, and thus based their preconceptions on the stereotypical perceptions of the man, especially the South Park parody. "Oi'm gonna creep up behind 'im... and shove me thumb up 'is butt-hole! Aw yeah, he's really pissed now!".
I have to admit, I used to be in this camp too. It's knee-jerk cultural cringe, hard-wired into the Australian psyche. But since being in the UK, I've watched quite a few of the Crocodile Hunter Diaries shows, and perhaps he's calmed down in more recent years, but these shows were very respectful of nature, albeit in Irwin's own inimitable (ie, manic and over-enthusiastic) style. That, combined with his amazing interview on Andrew Denton's ABC show "Enough Rope" (to be repeated this week as a tribute, all nay sayers should watch it), greatly increased my respect for the man. Sure, he had his Michael Jackson moment, but I think that's just a sign of passion, not stupidity.
The man was many things, but he wasn't stupid. And, while some are gloating that he died the way he deserved, I say he died doing what he loved. And that brings a whole different smile to my face.
Some have said hoo-fucking-ray.
Personally, I've watched enough of Irwin's shows to realise that at least 95% of what he did was nowhere near as sensationalistic as people think. I suspect most, especially Australians, haven't actually watched his show terribly much, and thus based their preconceptions on the stereotypical perceptions of the man, especially the South Park parody. "Oi'm gonna creep up behind 'im... and shove me thumb up 'is butt-hole! Aw yeah, he's really pissed now!".
I have to admit, I used to be in this camp too. It's knee-jerk cultural cringe, hard-wired into the Australian psyche. But since being in the UK, I've watched quite a few of the Crocodile Hunter Diaries shows, and perhaps he's calmed down in more recent years, but these shows were very respectful of nature, albeit in Irwin's own inimitable (ie, manic and over-enthusiastic) style. That, combined with his amazing interview on Andrew Denton's ABC show "Enough Rope" (to be repeated this week as a tribute, all nay sayers should watch it), greatly increased my respect for the man. Sure, he had his Michael Jackson moment, but I think that's just a sign of passion, not stupidity.
The man was many things, but he wasn't stupid. And, while some are gloating that he died the way he deserved, I say he died doing what he loved. And that brings a whole different smile to my face.
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Date: 2006-09-04 12:09 pm (UTC)