# Is the "live among bears" guy that was killed and eaten to be admired or not? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 8, 2003, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281 "2003-10-08T13:29:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/41 "2003-10-09T04:40:32Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Govindha \* > Why would you suppose his gf or the bears life was not yet fully lived? Why the assumption? I do not believe any of us really know about that now do we? No, we don’t. It’s perfectly possible that the bears were decrepit and likely to perish this winter. It’s possible the GF had no more to contribute to life and no relatives to wish she was still around. But I suspect neither of these is likely. > [@](#): > > Hiking and camping amongst these creatures always, or just in the out of doors alwasy involves risk now doesn’t it? It does. Some of those risks can be influenced by our actions. My view is that this guy did a questionable job in this area. I’ll support his right to risk his own life. I’m less inclined to support his right to take others with him. ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/42 "2003-10-09T04:44:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Govindha \* > \*\* > > He didn’t kill either bear though. The park service and state police decided to kill the bears. If killing is what bears do, then they should have let the bears live simply because the damage was already done. > > \*\* If this is your honest opinion, then I am forced to wonder how much you actually do know about bears and other wildlife, despite your claims to having watched the occasional discovery, animal planet, national geographic type shows. As I said, bears do not generally views humans as prey. They have a natural fear for us, and they prefer to avoid us rather than consume us. As proof of this, was this not the case, the incidence of bear attacks around populated areas where bears frequent would be much, much higher. As it is, most bears are comfortable to bugger off when people come around. They may attack due to defending their young, food caches, or territory, but rarely is it that they are hungry. Now, it does happen occasionally that bears decide that they want a meal on two legs rather than four. They may attack and bring down a human. Thing is, once they realize how easy it is to do, there isn’t much to discourage them from doing it again, much like bears who hang around camp sites or park highways where they are fed by well meaning, but dumb, tourists. So, to stop the bears from taking down more people, the bears themselves have to be put down. Sad, but true. ---
**Author:** ![Govindha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5fc32e/32.png) [@Govindha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Govindha)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/43 "2003-10-09T04:47:34Z")
Take others with him? You all are acting as if his gf had no ay in the matter. I’m sure they did quite a bit of talking and exploring points in this matter. My god, I’m having a hard time with this. I’m beginning to think that some of you are blaming him for her death. I’m sure she was of sound mind and body and she went on her own accord. It’s not as if they were camping at the local mall, she knew where they were going and she wanted to go. It’s no ones fault. It happened and I sincerely wish it did not. ---
**Author:** ![Govindha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5fc32e/32.png) [@Govindha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Govindha)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/44 "2003-10-09T04:56:31Z")
EP, I realize this for the sake of all that is good I swear to you I know this. I’m just responding to those that say it’s a shame that the lives of these bears was lost. However, I guess human life is too precious to try and see otherwise. Unles of course, your name happens to be treadwell and you love bears. I am a lover of nature, I sometimes watch those shows, but mostly I enjoy the experience up close and personal. ---
**Author:** ![Emperor\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c2a13f/32.png) [@Emperor\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emperor_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/45 "2003-10-09T04:59:04Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Govindha \* > Ok, you seem to need this explanation, so here goes. When I think of something faggoty, I tend to think of something that is un-cool, weak and lame. Any sexual or bigoted meaning in the term" faggoty" in the way I used it is something you added, not I. > > Many people use the word"faggoty" and do not mean harm or hate towards ones sexual preference. Ah yes, the “it isn’t offensive because I say it isn’t offensive” tact. I suggest that you brush up on your debate skills a bit. That really doesn’t cut it around these here parts pilgrim. We’ve had many a debate on this board concerning this subject, and general consensus is “hey it is offensive, no matter what you may think”. Really nobody made you the arbiter of what is offensive or not, despite that fact that you seem to have taken on that title on your own. If you continue to use that particular phrase, you will be called on it, much like I have called you on it. > [@](#): > > How you get over is up to you. I suggest, however, you go for a hike and get up close and personal with these fuzzy creatures we are discussing if you continue to dwell on something that was not mean to insult or disregard the sexual preference of another. If you do not like my suggestion, I have another for you, but I’m afraid you’ll not like that one either… \*\* Cute. ---
**Author:** ![Govindha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5fc32e/32.png) [@Govindha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Govindha)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/46 "2003-10-09T05:06:42Z")
You know what partner, I don’t really give a shit. I’m not claiming to be the arbiter of much at all. But, just so i don’t get warned or banned by a mod I know when to give up. Other than that i stand behind what I said. So, in the immortal words of vonnegut…“ting-a-ling you son of a bitch”…and goodnight. ---
**Author:** ![Xema](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/9de053/32.png) [@Xema](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xema)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/47 "2003-10-09T05:16:31Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Govindha \* > Take others with him? You all are acting as if his gf had no ay in the matter. I’m sure they did quite a bit of talking and exploring points in this matter. My god, I’m having a hard time with this. I’m beginning to think that some of you are blaming him for her death. Two of the “others” I referred to are the bears. I think he must be charged with responsibility there. I think he may also carry some responsibility for his GF’s death. I have no reason to believe she wasn’t there of her own free will. But it seems clear that this was his scheme. Would she have been there without him? Here’s a quote from a recent Yahoo story about some video recovered from the scene: "Much of the footage is close-up shots of bears — for which Treadwell was well-known. Some scenes show bears no more than a few feet from Treadwell, co-author of “Among Grizzlies: Living With Wild Bears in Alaska.” Others show a more timid Huguenard leaning away as bears come close to her on the bank of a river. " That may simply be the reporter’s view, but it may imply something about the relative eagerness of the two people. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/48 "2003-10-09T08:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > “He died doing what he loved,” Palovak said. “If he had to pick a way to do it, it would be that way. He always knew they were wild animals and he accepted them on those terms.” I know this is just the kind of rationalisation that people often say after an untimely death, but there’s something about it that is just _wrong_ on some kind of level - who in their right mind would, when forced to choose one out of all the possible ways to die, say “I’ll take ‘eaten alive by bears’ please, Bob”? ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Ellis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@Michael\_Ellis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Michael_Ellis)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/49 "2003-10-09T09:44:46Z")
I say Darwin Award. ---
**Author:** ![Cholo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Cholo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cholo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/50 "2003-10-09T11:15:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Michael Ellis \* > \*\*I say Darwin Award. \*\* Agreed ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 11:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/51 "2003-10-09T11:51:13Z")
To paraphrase one of the most amusing usernames to have passed through the SDMB “Don’t poke the bear!” People are constantly doing stupid things to get themselves killed. All I do is roll my eyes at them and wonder what brings them to give up 50 or more years of their life for a thrill. And that’s all he was getting. There was no higher purpose served, nothing that couldn’t have been done better and more efficiently some other way. Doof. ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/52 "2003-10-09T15:34:03Z")
Okay, back to The Revolution. That part was so funny I nominated this thread for Threadspotting. [Apparently the sharks are moving inland in Australia](http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_748629.html?menu=). ---
**Author:** ![lno](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a8b319/32.png) [@lno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lno)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/53 "2003-10-09T15:42:18Z")
And from the “eeeagh” department: [Sounds of bear mauling recorded on tape](http://www.startribune.com/stories/484/4144378.html) > [@](#): > > ANCHORAGE, Alaska – The graphic sounds of a deadly bear attack in the Alaska wilderness were captured on tape, revealing a wildlife author’s final, frantic screams as he tried to fend off the beast, authorities said Wednesday. > > Trooper Chris Hill said the tape suggests a video camera was turned on just before Timothy Treadwell was attacked at his campsite. His girlfriend, Amie Huguenard, was later mauled to death by a bear. The recording is audio only, and the screen is blank for all six minutes. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/54 "2003-10-09T19:15:40Z")
One of the last things heard on the tape was the voice of Mr. Treadwell telling his GF to hit the bear with a cooking pan. It was probably her last act on planet Earth. The bear turns out to have been an older one, somewhat emaciated and with bad teeth. It was probably unable to successfully hunt for itself and when it came upon helpless prey, decided to follow its nature rather than starve to death. It was killed when it attacked the rangers. The second one was a healthy adult and charged the rangers, who had to kill it, also in self defense. I see that our resident belligerant in this thread has been banned for some reason, which is probably just as well. His ignorance of nature and people is astounding in its shallowness. I’ve visited the Katmai National Park and hiked in The Valley of 10,000 Smokes. The camp is situated right on top of bear trails and very close to where they fish. Bears come through the camp and are plentiful. Nobody, repeat _nobody_, has ever been killed or seriously injured in a bear confrontation there. The reason for that is that visitors are thoroughly indoctrinated and the rangers know better than to get within 50 feet of a bear, regardless of the abundance of other foods. Bears have complete right-of-way and are accorded a healthy respect. Mr. Treadwell considered himself to be some sort of “horse-whisperer”, and to have a special relationship with bears. He was lucky, pure and simple. They were somewhat habituated to him and tolerated him. He did many things right, but taking them for granted and having nothing on hand for protection was just plain stupid. Bears that attack humans are emboldened by their success, and learn that humans are easy prey. They are routinely, tragically, and _rightly_ (PETA to the contrary) put down when they can be identified. ---
**Author:** ![Tygr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/df788c/32.png) [@Tygr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tygr)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/55 "2003-10-09T19:49:31Z")
Yep. This fellow should get the Darwin Award, same as those fool “tree sitters” that end up taking the final plunge. He who lives by “noble” stupidity shall die by the same. Too bad **Govindha** didn’t learn this rule. ---
**Author:** ![Cholo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/58f4c7/32.png) [@Cholo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cholo)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/56 "2003-10-09T23:03:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tygr \* > \*\*Too bad **Govindha** didn’t learn this rule. \*\* I come back to this post 2 days later and was SHOCKED to see that he was banned from SDMB. Shocked, I tell you. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2003, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/57 "2003-10-09T23:35:00Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Chefguy \* > **One of the last things heard on the tape was the voice of Mr. Treadwell telling his GF to hit the bear with a cooking pan.** It’s how he would have wanted it… ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 7:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/58 "2003-10-10T07:35:42Z")
**The scene: A dinner party.** **Richard (A bear):** _(Eats)_ I say, this is really rather good - what did you put in it? **Simon (A bear):** Humans **Richard :** Humans eh? Well, it’s fantastic! My compliments to your good lady wife. _(Richard eats some more)_ **Richard :** _(Sudden realisation)_ Not _ **The** _ Humans is it?; oh Simon, don’t tell me that you’ve… **Simon :** Yes, of course _ **’The’** _ Humans; you can’t afford to be half-hearted with this self-sufficiency lifestyle **Richard :** But I know, it’s just that I thought… **Simon :** The cubs were devastated, naturally, they wanted to keep it, well, keep both of them as _pets_ - they had grown quite attached, even thought up proper little names for them and all **Richard :** The poor dears! **Simon :** But I told them; there was never any question of keeping them; they were destined for the table from day one **Richard :** Yes, but your _own_ Humans, how could you? **Simon :** Look Richard, the way I see it, eating is what Humans are _meant for_ - there’s no point getting all sentimental about it; start down that road and before long, you’ll be feeling sorry for the salmon too, then all you’ll be eating is nuts and berries; **Richard :** _(Brightening)_ Anyway, it’s jolly tasty! - Is there any more? **Simon :** Sure, loads, help yourself **Richard :** Don’t mind if I do… ---
**Author:** ![Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Laughing\_Lagomorph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Laughing_Lagomorph)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 11:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/59 "2003-10-10T11:08:39Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Cholo re **Govindha** _ > \*\*I come back to this post 2 days later and was SHOCKED to see that he was banned from SDMB. > > Shocked, I tell you. > > :rolleyes: \*\* Yeah. [Who saw that coming?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=194134&highlight=Govindha) Re: the bear guy. Not to be admired IMHO. Wild animals are wild animals. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2003, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281/60 "2003-10-10T13:05:01Z")
Sheesh! Spend a day on the golf course away from the dope and look what happens! I’m surprised you guys didn’t realize that a faggoty trail is one with plenty of brush and dead wood. You know - in case you need a bundle of sticks? 😃 Thank heavens folks have been tracking the animal insurgency lo these many years. [http://www.igorilla.com/gorilla/animal/archives\_99.html](http://www.igorilla.com/gorilla/animal/archives_99.html) > **[Animal Rampage](http://www.pigdog.org/categories/animal_rampage.html)** Courtesy of my son the dungeon master - just make sure the squirrel that is eyeing you isn’t of the scarlet variety. [http://dndfiles.dfxwebs.com/prestige/squirrel.html](http://dndfiles.dfxwebs.com/prestige/squirrel.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-live-among-bears-guy-that-was-killed-and-eaten-to-be-admired-or-not/206281.md?page=4)