# In light of the recent shark attack.... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 12, 2001, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248 "2001-07-12T18:46:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Winnie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e480ec/32.png) [@Winnie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winnie)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2001, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/1 "2001-07-12T18:46:14Z")
Has anyone ever been bitten by a shark? Where, when, what was it like? ---
**Author:** ![tevya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tevya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tevya)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/2 "2001-07-13T00:39:31Z")
Nope. I saw JAWS when I was 7 (yeah, I know, what the hell were my parents thinking!) and I have been afraid of water ever since. I hardly ever go swimming in large bodies of water and have only been in the ocean a few times. Everytime I do, I must have someone else very close by. I also like to always be able to touch the ground if possible. I understand this did not help that young boy out much, though. ---
**Author:** ![zensi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@zensi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zensi)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/3 "2001-07-13T07:01:00Z")
i am so friggin’ afraid of fish. its insane. i have never been anywhere remotely near to a shark. i once passed out at the MN zoo (there’s this deal where you can stand in a dark tunnel with this HUGE glass window into this HUGE fish tank with SHARKS and all kinds of CRAZY FISH). i can’t swim in the ocean or in lakes. i get freaked out in the shower, and have to get out, because im afraid that gigantic man-eating fish will either magically swim up through the drain or magically appear in the water that pools at the bottom of the tub, and then will proceed to swim viciously around my ankles and attack. ---
**Author:** ![minty\_green](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@minty\_green](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minty_green)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/4 "2001-07-13T20:28:22Z")
Seen a dozen or more nurse sharks while diving, some so close I could have reached out and touched them. Also saw a 5-6 ft. Caribbean reef shark crusing past me about 15 feet away last summer. Now THAT is an impressive looking fish! Guess what? No bites. You’re far more likely to get bit by the average dog than the average shark. ---
**Author:** ![Superdude](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/superdude/32/13450_2.png) [@Superdude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superdude)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/5 "2001-07-13T20:59:32Z")
Nope. I’ve eaten shark, though. And really enjoyed it. Next time I go fishing or boating in the ocean, though. I’m taking Richard Dreyfuss along. ---
**Author:** ![seriousart](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@seriousart](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seriousart)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/6 "2001-07-13T21:13:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*You’re far more likely to get bit by the average dog than the average shark. \*\* Yeah, but you’re far less likely to see a dog bite off and swallow your arm. Personally, the idea of this kid’s uncle pulling a 7ft shark out of the water and dragging it onto the beach blows my mind. Talk about yer man’s man. “Oh, you think you so tough, shark? Let’s see if your flippery ass’ so tough on land!” Or something like that. While not as chronicly neurotic as zensi here :), I have my own little fear of deep dark water. And I have been known to get a little unrationally weirded-out in pools at night. Showers? no problem. ---
**Author:** ![bobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@bobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/7 "2001-07-13T21:38:39Z")
> [@](#): > > - > > Personally, the idea of this kid’s uncle pulling a 7ft shark out of the water and dragging it onto the beach blows my mind. Talk about yer man’s man. > “Oh, you think you so tough, shark? Let’s see if your flippery ass’ so tough on land!” > > Or something like that. > \* What made me was WTF?!? was (well aside from the uncle wrestling the shark out of the water) that they shot the shark after they got it up on land… hold on a minute, I’m not saying they were wrong in killing it, the kid still has an arm because of it… but why did the uncle have to wrestle with a LIVING shark when there is a gun handy. Uncle, “officer, officer! there’s the shark that bit him… shoot him! SHOOT HIM!” Officer, “but he’s so far away, I’d walk out there, but I’d get my boots wet… bring him a little closer and then I’ll do it” ---
**Author:** ![bobo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/f9ae1b/32.png) [@bobo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/8 "2001-07-13T21:42:54Z")
> [@](#): > > - > > What made me was WTF?!? - that would make a bit more sense as "What made me _ **SAY** _ Proof read you stupid monkey… bad monkey, no banana ---
**Author:** ![DougC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@DougC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DougC)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2001, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/9 "2001-07-13T23:32:18Z")
- - - Years ago a friend and his buddy were walking in the Florida surf, and a sand shark only about a foot long jumped up and bit the other kid, taking a golf-ball-sized chunk out of his rear. I have met the guy but haven’t seen his rear. They said smaller sharks (~1-2 ft long) were much more likely to bite you than larger ones, because the smaller ones are harder to spot and avoid. - MC ---
**Author:** ![Lockfist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@Lockfist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lockfist)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 5:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/10 "2001-07-14T05:57:23Z")
> [@](#): > > **Superdude** said: Nope. I’ve eaten shark, though. And really enjoyed it. Ah, now this is where you went wrong **Superdude**. You see I have this “deal” with sharks. I dont eat **them** and they dont eat **me**! Just in case they forget, I make it a point to avoid wandering too far out into the ocean. It might not be too late to make ammends, I’ll cross my fingers for 'ya. ---
**Author:** ![BooBoo316](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e0b2c6/32.png) [@BooBoo316](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BooBoo316)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2001, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/in-light-of-the-recent-shark-attack/72248/11 "2001-07-14T08:00:56Z")
Never been bitten by a shark. I was swimming in about 12 feet of water in the Gulf of Mexico back in 1988 when I got bumped by something **big**. I didn’t get a good look at it because I was too busy walking on water back to shore, so I can’t say what kind it was. I haven’t been back in the ocean since and don’t think I’m going back soon. The only water I swim in now is chlorinated.