What's wrong with Steve Irwin?

[IronBrig4]

Over time, I've noticed that a lot of Australian members hate Steve Irwin. What's he done wrong? Crocodile Steve is such a cool guy.

[the_stalker]

I dont know, I guess he reinforces Australian accent stareotypes?

[Guderian]

Who hates him? I don't, he owns a reptile and wildlife park, and this one time he tried to feed a crocodile while holding onto his baby and speaking an ocker accent which sounds like theres something up his arse...he's a good bloke...

[IronBrig4]

If anybody were to dangle my kid in front of a crocodile, I'd want Crocodile Steve to do it. He knows what he's doing.

Several years ago, there were some FedEx commercials featuring Steve Irwin.

"Here's the venomous Fierce Snake, the deadliest in the world! One bite from him and it's all over, mate! *gets bitten* Ahhh!! No worries, though. We use FedEx, which can get me the antivenim in five minutes. In my line of work, if you're not absolutely sure, you're absolutely dead. *assistant whispers in his ear* Crickey! We've just switched to a new courier that hasn't arrived yet. That's okay because- *falls over dead*

[Marcus Scaurus]

WTF is wrong with Steve? He's the only cool guy on Animal Planet! Last week, I saw an awesome episode. Steve was driving through the Serengeti when he suddenly saw a cobra. He stopped and stepped out, putting his sunglasses on. The cobra spit about five time. If the guy had no glasses he would've been dead. He's really a crazy bloke.

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

Originally Posted by Red Baron

He's really a crazy bloke.

Here in Australia we call him "a flamin' d*ckhead".

What's wrong with Steve Irwin is the fact that he was created by an American TV network as some American TV executive's idea of what an Aussie is like. Most real Aussies find him painful to watch because he's like an American cartoon version of an Aussie. His constant babbling, exaggerated, hammy facial expressions and ridiculous mugging for the camera are about as far from the average, laid-back, taciturn Australian as you can get. He's like a an excruciatingly goofy Californian in an Australian suit.

And no-one has used the expression 'Crikey!' seriously since about 1932.

But if Americans like him all I can say is 'Please take him.' Permanently. Keep him in California where he belongs.

[Aristocrat]

Crikey thats just not ocka mate, wheres your Australian partio...patro....pride?
Your right you know he doesn't represent the average Aussie at all, to do that he woukd have to put on 40kg's, get diabetes and gamble all the time.
Frankly I think his a better ambassador for our country than our Prime Minister for example. (annoying as Steve Erwin may be).

Oh, and I finally saw someone crazier than him on tv, some guy doing a snake finding trek across Africa, he done everything just like Steve Erwin, except that he'd like to try and pat the snake on the head for some reason.

[Saint-Germain]

Originally Posted by ThiudareiksGunthigg

Here in Australia we call him "a flamin' d*ckhead".

What's wrong with Steve Irwin is the fact that he was created by an American TV network as some American TV executive's idea of what an Aussie is like. Most real Aussies find him painful to watch because he's like an American cartoon version of an Aussie. His constant babbling, exaggerated, hammy facial expressions and ridiculous mugging for the camera are about as far from the average, laid-back, taciturn Australian as you can get. He's like a an excruciatingly goofy Californian in an Australian suit.

And no-one has used the expression 'Crikey!' seriously since about 1932.

But if Americans like him all I can say is 'Please take him.' Permanently. Keep him in California where he belongs.

Amen. He is a complete moron.

[Seleukos]

I didnt find him that entertaining when I watched his show. A while back, he seemed too over the top. He is playing this Aussie thing way to much, its not even like a normal aussie. Also, he is from a place called Eugene no more than 50 miles away from where I am at this very minute. the North West coast of America. Close to California, but we can pick them.

[Justinian]

Don't take ol' Stevey seriously and he's good fun.

"Crikey, don't try this at home!"

[RZZZA]

Who gives a crap where hes from or how he talks? He's an animal expert, and in that field he does very well. He's over the top and eccentric but thats part of the entertainment...He's got to do SOMETHING to bring excitement to such boring crap as looking for snakes and crocadiles and bugs.

[Justinian]

I just like how he's noting how incredibly stupid it is to pick a snake up by its tail because it can bite you, then he picks one up by its tail...

And I loved that episode where they're filming and the snake smashes the camera with its head... good stuff.

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

Originally Posted by RZZZA

Who gives a crap where hes from or how he talks?

Obviously several Aussies on this thread 'give a crap'. We were asked why we don't like this goggle-eyed bufoon and we replied.

You find him entertaining or informative or something? Great. If I want to be entertained by a real, true-blue Aussie, I'll watch a film with Bryan Brown in it. And if I want informed and detailed information about the animal world, I'll watch a David Attenborough documentary.

Steve 'Squarking Galah' Irwin is a brainless circus act.

[Justinian]

Originally Posted by ThiudareiksGunthigg

Steve 'Squarking Galah' Irwin is a brainless circus act.

But he's funny. And that's all I care about, really.

[RZZZA]

Yeah, my point was that we non-aussies dont give a crap if hes an authentic aussie or not...he does what he does and he does it well, so good for him.

[Marshal Qin]

Over time, I've noticed that a lot of Australian members hate Steve Irwin. What's he done wrong? Crocodile Steve is such a cool guy

*specifically asked why Australians don't seem to like him*

Personally, having lived through Crocodile Dundee and Rolf Harris, I can live with the way this guy acts. What I can't stand though, having spent a lot of time in the Northern Territory, is the way he teaches people to disrepect the power of nature. You do that once, and your dead - especially in outback Oz. He might say: "don't do this at home" but its guaranteed to encourage people to copy him.
In the NT we would say about crocs, because of the Steve Irwin act, - "Crocs like dogs (they're like candy to them afaik) and American tourists". You wouldn't believe how many people think that they can handle dangerous wild animals as casually as he does.

[Kanaric]

I bet if I actually went to australia I would find people like him somewhere.

[RZZZA]

"You wouldn't believe how many people think that they can handle dangerous wild animals as casually as he does."

Heh, its funny that you mention Americans specifically. You wouldnt believe how many shows we have here in America about people who get mauled by animals. It's always white people for some reason, too...

"*sigh* why do we always have to be the stupid country?"-Bill Maher

[ThiudareiksGunthigg]

Originally Posted by Kanaric

I bet if I actually went to australia I would find people like him somewhere.

His mum lives here. She probably likes him.

And I agree with MQ - he treats the more dangerous elements in the Aussie bush like entertainment. There were no crocs where I grew up (it's a bit chilly for them in Tasmania), but plenty of deadly snakes. The first rule I learned as a kid about encountering snakes is to give them the widesr berth possible. They hate us more than we hate them and they'll do anything they can to get away from us. It's only when some goofy moron starts messing with them that things tend to turn nasty.

And you don't want a Tiger Snake getting annoyed with you.

[Aristocrat]

Originally Posted by Kanaric

I bet if I actually went to australia I would find people like him somewhere.

Try the mental asylum or a hospital for the criminally insane, or possibly the US embassy. (psyche).