# I don't care who you are, this is fucking stupid! **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 2, 2004, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386 "2004-01-02T22:29:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/41 "2004-01-03T23:37:07Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Annie-Xmas \* > **After eating the chicken, the croc might want seconds.** This is just your uneducated guess. You who probably have never been anywhere near a crocodile in your life. Whereas Steve Irwin knows crocodiles better than anybody else in the world, and knows exactly what to look for, and when he’s likely to actually be in real danger. > [@](#): > > "Three years ago, a worker from Australia Zoo was admitted to hospital after being mauled by a crocodile. > > The zoo was fined $300 for not reporting the incident to Workplace Health and Safety." If I recall correctly, that incident was when there was a flood, and many people were in the water, and unexpectedly the crocodiles got very close to them and bit one of the handlers when he wasn’t in a position to defend himself. A very unusual situation, as opposed to how the shows are done at the Zoo, which are ultra-carefully controlled and performed regularly. ---
**Author:** ![deadeyesdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dec6dc/32.png) [@deadeyesdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deadeyesdad)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/42 "2004-01-03T23:48:19Z")
Would it be considered reckless or no big deal if Jeff Gordon strapped one of his youngsters(I don’t know if he has any but use any racer and his young child) into his #24 and raced the Daytona 500 with him? After all he is a expert on racing and know the risks. It was a stupid move by Steve. ---
**Author:** ![butter\_pie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/aca169/32.png) [@butter\_pie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/butter_pie)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2004, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/43 "2004-01-03T23:56:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gex gex \* > \*\*That he was even using his one month old kid for his circus act (which, let’s be honest, is not about caring for animals, but is about him making shitloads) shows him to be an unscrupulous whore. \*\* Bullshit. I know people that have lived very close to the zoo where he works, he was doing what he does for years before he ever had a TV show or much of any publicity at all. I don’t even think they set out to be famous or anything, it just kind of happened upon him. You may think he’s a tool but he truly does care about and help the animals that he runs across. One of the programs they do in Australia is to move crocs that are infringing on farm land or whatever to safer areas, so that they can live in peace rather than be shot by farmers. He’s involved in tons of conservation and education work. There are a lot of people doing a lot of things just for the money, but he is not one of them. Whoever said he’s not been bitten by snakes – have you seen his bloopers videos? It’s about two hours of him being bitten by snakes and crocs, among other critters. He most certainly does get bit, but I think he’s learned how to take and minimize an attack as well as he’s learned to handle the animals to begin with. I can think of a lot of worse things than what he did. He spends so much time around these animals, it probably felt very natural to him at the time. With a crowd of onlookers, his wife watching, and I’m sure a group of medical professionals/animal handlers watching in case anything went wrong, I seriously doubt the kid was in any real danger. Crap, he probably picked one of the oldest and slowest crocs in the zoo to begin with. He was just chucking a chicken at it. Not like he was sticking his head in its mouth while holding the baby or anything. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/44 "2004-01-04T01:14:59Z")
The dude’s just auditioning to become a babysitter for Michael Jackson. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/45 "2004-01-04T02:13:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by GuanoLad \* > \*\*This is just your uneducated guess. You who probably have never been anywhere near a crocodile in your life. > > Whereas Steve Irwin knows crocodiles better than anybody else in the world, and knows exactly what to look for, and when he’s likely to actually be in real danger. > > \*\* But doesn’t Steve say it’s _always_ a little risky being so close to these predators? Isn’t that what makes his show interesting? ---
**Author:** ![Computer\_Guru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Computer\_Guru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Computer_Guru)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/46 "2004-01-04T03:05:25Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Q.E.D. \* > \*\*Exactly. Once again, people are overreacting left and right. Steve knows crocs better than any many alive, just about. Plus it’s clear from the video that he was carefully keeping himself between the animal and his baby. I trust him to know what he was doing. If he and his wife are cool with it, then so am I. \*\* I also trust Steve’s judgment. Also, remember the part of the world they live in. You have to be crocodile savvy over there. ---
**Author:** ![AfterAugust](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dfb087/32.png) [@AfterAugust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AfterAugust)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/47 "2004-01-04T03:10:23Z")
I don’t think it was a safe thing to do at all. I like the Irwins, but that was too much. So many things that Steve should have thought about, that would have made NOT taking the baby out the wise decision. - First off, the safety issues. Being around wild animals is always dangerous, whether you’re a professional or not. Shit happens, you can’t control everything that’s going on. Involving a helpless baby is just _stupid_. You can risk yourself, but not someone who can’t voice a decision in the matter. - The baby is barely one month old. They claim they were doing it for the baby’s experience. HE’S ONE MONTH OLD!! The only things he cares about at this point are boobies and what’s doing on in his diaper. He’s not going to remember this. - Steve and Terri are celebrities. They should know that the possibility of camaras being around taping whatever they’re doing is very high. - They should have considered the reactions of others. They don’t think they did anything wrong, but other people obviously did, and they should have suspected as such. If I were on the same wavelength, and was thinking about taking my newborn child out to feed a wild and hungry crocodile, I would take into consideration the unneeded and unwanted attention it could generate, thus deciding to leave lil’ Bob with mummy. It was a very poorly thought out decision they made. ---
**Author:** ![Computer\_Guru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ed655f/32.png) [@Computer\_Guru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Computer_Guru)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/48 "2004-01-04T05:46:52Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by gluteus maximus \* > \*\*It’s never too late (or too early) to become a candidate for a Darwin Award. > > Makes you wonder where ol’ Steve was when Jacko did essentially the same thing… hardly original, now, eh? \*\* [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/03/1072908951073.html](http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/03/1072908951073.html) Steve said he was in complete control and the danger there was only perceived. He said he would never do it again, but they live in a crocodile prone area and the people and kids have to be crocodile savvy. I think people are taking this way out of proportion. ---
**Author:** ![treis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bc79bd/32.png) [@treis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/treis)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/49 "2004-01-04T06:08:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by robertliguori \* > \*\*Can you evaluate the relative risks of feeding a crocodile with an infant vs., say, driving with an infant? That is, are you a sufficent expert on crocodile behavior to predict the risk of it lunging accurately? 'Cause he kind of is. > > Can we get a cite that this was irresponsible behavior? \*\* Are you serious? This is your argument? I can almost garuntee that more infants die in automobile accidents but in the world we live in it is very hard to impossible to get to baby’s doctor appointments or visit the grandparents etc. etc. It however is not the least bit nessecary to bring your child to feed a fucking croc. You don’t need to be an expert to realize that a croc is dangerous you have millions of years of evolution. I am actually surprised your genes lasted this long with your attitude towards predators. ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/50 "2004-01-04T06:18:17Z")
It’s not necessary to let your children ride in a car without their seat belt on, either…but than doesn’t stop “evolved” folks from doing so. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2004, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/51 "2004-01-04T07:45:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Can you evaluate the relative risks of feeding a crocodile with an infant vs., say, driving with an infant? This is a strawman argument. Comparing dangers in a completely differant situation does not have any relevance as to wether it is dangerous for a one month old to be dangled within a few feet of a feeding crocodile. Not strapping in children in a car is dangerous, owning large dogs in a household can be dangerous, but neither situation is meaningful in a risk assessment of the croc affair, each situation must be taken upon its own merits. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/52 "2004-01-05T02:09:34Z")
I think there’s been so many strawmen in this debate from both sides that this thread is starting to look like a harvest festival. If you don’t mind a quick poll, is there anyone in this thread who has any sort of experience with crocodiles or alligators? Or any large reptile? Is there anyone in this thread who knows anything about crocodiles that they didn’t learn from watching The Crocodile Hunter? Because I sure don’t. I went to Gator Land in Florida once, where they had alligators that could leap fifteen feet out of the water to snatch a raw chicken hanging from a wire. I’ve seen 'em eat a bunch of cultists in _Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom_. I’ve seen Steve Irwin talk about incisor length and pounds of pressure per square inch. But that’s not knowledge, that’s just entertainment. I don’t know jack shit about crocodiles. Can you domesticate a crocodile? Are they trainable? what kind of tranquilizers work well if you want a docile croc for your animal show? I have no way of judging how dangerous that crocodile was in that cage with that baby, and neither does anyone else in this thread. You want to talk about straw men? How about that Daytona 500 one? That’s a fucking moronic comparison, because _everyone knows about cars._ Everyone has relevent personal experience about cars, and can make an informed decision about how dangerous it would be to take a baby on the Daytona 500. We can also judge degrees of risk: Baby on board for 500 laps: too dangerous. Baby sitting in car for photo op day before the race: not too dangerous. Is this situation more like the former, or the latter? On what basis do you make that judgement? How do _you_ know? ---
**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/53 "2004-01-05T02:57:45Z")
The number #1 accidental death for toddlers (in the U.S.) is drowning. Doesn’t stop everyone from putting that pool in the backyard, does it? NO-ONE on this thread has experience with crocs, but I, for one, having watched Steve’s show, assume he has a better chance in a cage with a croc than I do driving down the highway. ---
**Author:** ![auliya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/90db22/32.png) [@auliya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auliya)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/54 "2004-01-05T11:31:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Computer Guru \* > \*\*I also trust Steve’s judgment. Also, remember the part of the world they live in. You have to be crocodile savvy over there. \*\* Bugger! I live not 40 minutes from Australia Zoo and the Irwin circus - and I have to come onto the SDMB to find out that I have to be crocodile savvy. How have I survived this long? Should I be fearful in case a croc escapes from the zoo and somehow finds its way over to my place? Seriously - there are no crocodiles outside the zoos and theme parks in southern Queensland. No matter what Steve Irwin’s show might tell you. They live in the [far north](http://www.ozmagic15.homestead.com/) of Australia ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/55 "2004-01-05T14:46:14Z")
[Roy Horn] The behaviour of a wild animal is, of course, completely predictable. [/Roy Horn] ---
**Author:** ![Coldfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@Coldfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coldfire)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/56 "2004-01-05T15:19:01Z")
I’m just bummed that we _still_ didn’t find out the answer to that age old question: do humans really taste like chicken? 😛 ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/57 "2004-01-05T16:36:03Z")
What was the point of bringing his child in with him? The only possible explanation is for a photo op. In my book that makes him a moron. ---
**Author:** ![Diane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/2acd7d/32.png) [@Diane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diane)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/58 "2004-01-05T18:58:49Z")
Just to clarify a bit, he wasn’t just holding the baby in his arms, he later held him by his arms and _walked him across the floor._ The grizzly expert and his girlfriend were mauled to death in Alaska last October. We all know what happened to Roy and the tiger. I don’t care how much of an expert you are, shit happens. No matter how minutely small the risk, it is a fact that Irwin upped the odds of something happening to his baby the moment he brought him into the pen. Aside from the physical danger to his baby (no matter how small), how stupid for him to not realize that this was an idiotic move that would hurt his public image? ---
**Author:** ![Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7cd45c/32.png) [@Misery\_Loves\_Co](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misery_Loves_Co)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/59 "2004-01-05T19:18:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Coldfire \* > \*\*I’m just bummed that we _still_ didn’t find out the answer to that age old question: do humans really taste like chicken? 😛 \*\* Well, since it seems absurdly appropriate given what Steve-o was holding in each of his hands, I’ll paraphrase my latest favorite comic: **Actually, chicken tastes like babies!** [sub]If everything tastes like chicken, then babies must taste like chickens, and if you’ve got a sick sense of humor, that means . . . thanks to Eddie Izzard for bringing this thought into my life[/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Ostrya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/35a633/32.png) [@Ostrya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ostrya)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2004, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386/60 "2004-01-05T21:10:59Z")
I don’t think the child was in any _real_ danger, but to impy danger to the child as an apparent attempt to WOW the crowd? ‘Tacky’ is a mild word to use here to describe the stunt. Sensational bullshit. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-who-you-are-this-is-fucking-stupid/222386.md?page=4)