A wee rant about death

[weaktwos]

Steve Irwin has passed away recently, and my friends list was loaded with posts about his death.

As if we wouldn't find out through normal news channels.

Here's the thing: while loss to us was sad, for he was entertaining, he died doing what he loves to do. He molests wild sea creatures for a living. I don't feel bad for his death--this risk was something he willingly faced.

Now, I didn't see my friendslist spend some time mourning the loss of a group of tourists, who were merely trying to see some Roman ruins in Jordan, and were shot instead by a religious extremist. Six people shot in something not normally involving inherent risk. The risks relative to wrangling a saucy sea creature are at least greater than visiting a popular tourist spot.

Irwin's death was a good death. The tourists, not so good.

Comments

[torsoheap.livejournal.com]

Irwin wasn't molesting the stingray; he just swam near it, it got startled and he got a barb in the heart. Very freaky since the venom isn't all that toxic.

I thought he'd die from a croc attack or a snake bite.

[weaktwos.livejournal.com]

Yes, a freak accident indeed. And rumor has it he pulled the serated barb out of his heart before he passed out and died. Yikes.

While it is sad, it was expected. The dude was playing russian roullette.