Is it just me? I mean, I'm the first to admit that I am not overly pro-child. My wife lacks a real maternal instinct, and it's rubbed off on me a bit. So, maybe I'm being a little hard...
But to me, there's absolutely nothing wrong with Steve Irwin walking his infant like a marionette towards the waiting jaws of a hungry croc. Why? Well, first of all, the croc wasn't hungry. He just fed it, with baby safely held at his shoulder. Secondly, this is STEVE IRWIN. He's been doing this since... I don't know. I bet it's been for a long time. I'm willing to bet that his dad dangled him in front of a croc when he was a lil' babe.
In short, I don't think there is a problem with the behavior because I honestly believe that he was in complete control and that the baby was in no real danger. I could be wrong. If I am wrong, than yes Steve did a bad thing.
But this whole tirade comes down to an observation that does two things:
- Targets me for attack. Really, I'm not anti-kid. I'm not a horrible man. I would never suggest anything other than that parents should keep their children safe at all times.
- Well, that's all it accomplishes really. Maybe I should just keep my mouth shut.
The observation is this: Why are people so incensed by the croc-hunter "potentially putting his child in harms way" while at the same time turning a blind eye (or at least a quiet one) to definitely harmful situations that children live in every day. I think the child of a parent who chain-smokes is in more danger than Irwin Junior. As are children who live in crime-infested neighborhoods. The children of crack addicts are probably at high risk also.
You get my point, I'm sure. Putting things in perspective, I think that Crocodile Dundee is pretty harmless. He's still a complete weird-o, but a harmless one.
But still, I have one question for Steve. Click here to hear it.