Clues for the Clueless
Sep. 6th, 2006 10:24 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
furtechSome of us are truly sad at Steve Irwin's passing. We're connected by the grief we feel at the untimely death of a person we genuinely liked-- who had passion and enthusiasm for things we care about. We share our feelings to get us through this sadness.
Some of you gripe about this outpouring. Some of you are cynical about all the media attention. One person commented in the journal of one of those grieving that it was hypocritical to make such a fuss over just a guy, when we would never do the same for an "everyday Joe".
[Those of you who feel sad at Steve's passing, skip this cut; the ones griping over the outpouring of grief should read this and get a clue. Sorry Frysco-- can't filter a public post (so just skip it)]
There is no hypocrisy here. "Everyday Joe"'s don't share their lives with us. We don't see them work hard and passionately to further good causes, with good humor and an intimacy that makes you feel like you are part of their family.
It's unfortunate when an everyday Joe dies in an accident; it's tragic when a close friend or family member dies of the same.
Steve Irwin let us into his life-- showed us things not normally seen in a typical nature show. And he was a nice guy-- the kind of person who most of us now mourning him would LOVE to have gone hiking with because he's friendly, funny and shares his knowledge freely. While we may never have met him in real life, he touched us in ways that even some family and friends aren't able to.
Voicing how much you hate the public outpouring over Steve Irwin's death is unlikely to get much support or make you look good in the eyes of those sad at his passing. Saying those things on a post mourning his death is rude and clueless. Think what you want, but have consideration for those of us truly sad at the passing of someone we felt a kinship to.
EDIT: If there is any confusion-- yes, you can post contrary opinions and negative posts about Irwin here. This post is targeted at the nay-sayers, so speak your minds if you feel so inclined.
Some of you gripe about this outpouring. Some of you are cynical about all the media attention. One person commented in the journal of one of those grieving that it was hypocritical to make such a fuss over just a guy, when we would never do the same for an "everyday Joe".
[Those of you who feel sad at Steve's passing, skip this cut; the ones griping over the outpouring of grief should read this and get a clue. Sorry Frysco-- can't filter a public post (so just skip it)]
There is no hypocrisy here. "Everyday Joe"'s don't share their lives with us. We don't see them work hard and passionately to further good causes, with good humor and an intimacy that makes you feel like you are part of their family.
It's unfortunate when an everyday Joe dies in an accident; it's tragic when a close friend or family member dies of the same.
Steve Irwin let us into his life-- showed us things not normally seen in a typical nature show. And he was a nice guy-- the kind of person who most of us now mourning him would LOVE to have gone hiking with because he's friendly, funny and shares his knowledge freely. While we may never have met him in real life, he touched us in ways that even some family and friends aren't able to.
Voicing how much you hate the public outpouring over Steve Irwin's death is unlikely to get much support or make you look good in the eyes of those sad at his passing. Saying those things on a post mourning his death is rude and clueless. Think what you want, but have consideration for those of us truly sad at the passing of someone we felt a kinship to.
EDIT: If there is any confusion-- yes, you can post contrary opinions and negative posts about Irwin here. This post is targeted at the nay-sayers, so speak your minds if you feel so inclined.
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no subject
Date: 2006-09-06 06:23 pm (UTC)Ever since I heard the news, I've woken up several times a night with 'Steve Irwin's dead!" ringing through my mind. I'm amazed at how much this has affected me. Yes, I admired him greatly and considered him one of my heros. But I'm having the same reaction I did when I heard my friend Karen died in a horrible car accident last year. "My gods... this person who I thought would always be around, is no longer there."
I still get tears thinking about it. I think about poor Terri, and maybe she's dealing with this way better than I am, I don't know. They had only 16 years together which was hardly long enough. Their marriage was something I'd love to have but probably never will. They literally fell in love at first sight, and he was obviously devoted to her and his kids, and his parents.
As for never having met him in real life- my mother actually DID meet him in real life. He and his family were on a flight from Sydney to Melbourne that my mother was on. She said he told the other passengers stories about the animals he worked with, and was as funny and personable and entertaining to them as he was on camera. She is also shocked at his untimely death, though she never watched any of his shows (to my knowledge.