Comments on: Steve Irwin’s Last Research Paper http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/26/steve-irwin%e2%80%99s-last-research-paper/ The Neat Side of the Web Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:56:20 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Laurel http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/26/steve-irwin%e2%80%99s-last-research-paper/comment-page-1/#comment-236643 Laurel Fri, 28 Sep 2007 14:28:02 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/26/steve-irwin%e2%80%99s-last-research-paper/#comment-236643 Agreed. I don't go to circuses, and I don't know what value the field of animal behavior could possibly find in answering questions like "What happens if I pick this thing up by the tail and holler 'Crikey!' at it?" As for other scientists not daring to do this experiment, is tracking big dangerous reptiles not part of what herpetologists do? Speaking as a grad student, I'd rather collar a croc than teach another English 101 course containing 45 hostile students who've never written anything more complicated than a five-paragraph essay. The animal behaviorists get to use tranquilizer guns. ;-) Agreed. I don't go to circuses, and I don't know what value the field of animal behavior could possibly find in answering questions like "What happens if I pick this thing up by the tail and holler 'Crikey!' at it?"

As for other scientists not daring to do this experiment, is tracking big dangerous reptiles not part of what herpetologists do? Speaking as a grad student, I'd rather collar a croc than teach another English 101 course containing 45 hostile students who've never written anything more complicated than a five-paragraph essay. The animal behaviorists get to use tranquilizer guns. ;-)

]]> By: fluff http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/26/steve-irwin%e2%80%99s-last-research-paper/comment-page-1/#comment-235864 fluff Thu, 27 Sep 2007 18:09:41 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/26/steve-irwin%e2%80%99s-last-research-paper/#comment-235864 It's just that he ignored the most basic of all principles in animal observing; only interfere as little as possible (eg the cameras are somehow unavoidable). But pulling off stunts with wild animals is something that belongs into the circus. And there it's called abuse in my opinion. It's just that he ignored the most basic of all principles in animal observing; only interfere as little as possible (eg the cameras are somehow unavoidable). But pulling off stunts with wild animals is something that belongs into the circus. And there it's called abuse in my opinion.

]]> By: Laurel http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/26/steve-irwin%e2%80%99s-last-research-paper/comment-page-1/#comment-235534 Laurel Thu, 27 Sep 2007 10:53:54 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/26/steve-irwin%e2%80%99s-last-research-paper/#comment-235534 Agreed, fluff. As far as I can see the only thing Irwin taught us about wild animals is that it's fun to mess with them for no reason at all. Not to tag them for tracking, not to learn anything about them, but for the sheer hell of it. (And it's even more fun to dangle your infant in front of their noses.) Everyone I know who actually works with animals (veterinary assistants, trainers, zookeepers) always hated the guy. Agreed, fluff. As far as I can see the only thing Irwin taught us about wild animals is that it's fun to mess with them for no reason at all. Not to tag them for tracking, not to learn anything about them, but for the sheer hell of it. (And it's even more fun to dangle your infant in front of their noses.) Everyone I know who actually works with animals (veterinary assistants, trainers, zookeepers) always hated the guy.

]]> By: fluff http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/26/steve-irwin%e2%80%99s-last-research-paper/comment-page-1/#comment-235443 fluff Thu, 27 Sep 2007 09:34:08 +0000 http://www.neatorama.com/2007/09/26/steve-irwin%e2%80%99s-last-research-paper/#comment-235443 Serious research? They must be kidding. No even remotely serious researcher would tease an animal like this stupid dork did. He was an entertainer nothing more. And in my opinion he got what he was going for... Serious research? They must be kidding. No even remotely serious researcher would tease an animal like this stupid dork did. He was an entertainer nothing more. And in my opinion he got what he was going for...

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