To have 0 sympathy for people who get too close to wild animals and end up injured?

[AlternativePerspective]

Article on the BBC this morning, two women have been injured by hump backed whales in Australia this week. Both diving with the whales, one got trapped between two whales and the other one came between a mother and baby.

Yes, it was an organised trip etc etc etc but when will people realise that when you mess with wild animals you run the risk of being hurt?

It’s the same with people who go into game parks and get out of their cars and get eaten by lions etc.

So sometimes these animals tolerate us nearby, doesn’t mean they don’t get pissed off with us though does it?

WTF can’t we just leave animals in the wild and look at them from a decent distance rather than thinking it’s our right to engage with them up close and personal?

Every time I read about a matador getting gored by a bull I cheer a little.

And that big game hunter who got trampled to death by an elephant. I cheered a lot when I read that

@Ishihtzuknot
Rottweilers on the other hand, they’re far worse...they plot and stalk more than a lion you know grin
Yep, complete bastards those cunning Rottweilers, plotting and planning everywhere you go. 😂
I agree Op, I have no sympathy for anyone who gets too close to a wild animal,

@CasuallyMasculine

Every time I read about a matador getting gored by a bull I cheer a little.

And that big game hunter who got trampled to death by an elephant. I cheered a lot when I read that

Yes, that was rather satisfying, wasn't it. I like to call it poetic justice. The perfect dose of Karma in action.

YANBU

I live near a public park that has herds of deer wandering around. The deer are used to people and the majority of people watch them from a distance or move away if the deer walk across their path.

But there's a significant minority who I see getting their small children to stand next to them for a photo. Try to reach out and stroke them etc.
These are red deer stags, they're massive and could cause serious injury. It really annoys me because if someone was injured, it's the deer who'll pay the ultimate price. I just wish people would leave them alone. They're wild animals, it's not a petting zoo.

There was one with a family in the car right next to a pride of lions. A lion came to take a look, sniffing around their car and popped open the car door (where the kids were). Luckily, they zoomed off immediately. No you wouldn't expect a lion to have learned to open a car door (It could have even been an accident and the lion discovered a new trick from then) but have you no sense of danger/security/safety especially when kids are around and you are right next to a pride of lions?

Another one where a tourist had their windows down and elbow sticking out. A lion was stalking them unknowingly and he barely managed to get the window up as the lion leaped at him. He had kids in the car and they were crying afterwards. Imagine the shock and what would have happened if the Lion had pounced 2 seconds earlier. The woman filming was laughing (probably in shock) and saying the lion's gone now. No you didn't see the lion coming but isn't that the point of the park rules to keep windows up and doors locked at all times?

Just people being reckless and irresponsible.

I think they are one of those creatures who deserve the respect of a little distance

There is a distance you have to maintain and they lecture you seriously about it before you get in the water but I guess since the whales are intelligent (and massive) so they can get curious and accidentally whomp you when they change direction. The whale sharks just ignore you or dive down if they've had enough. The tour we went with were really respectful and knowledgeable and several of the staff were marine biologists. I'm thinking we might do the one where you watch from the boat not the actual swim now though!

I don't know how true this is, maybe there's a shark expert who can tell me, but it's funny. I do recall seeing sharks in aquariums swimming around with other fish and the keepers explaining that they aren't aggressive and don't attack unless they're hungry; so they live fine with other fish as they get fed regularly.

I think it's mainly if they're startled or if they're big enough to think a human sized "seal" looks delicious. The guy in Bussleton WA last week was very lucky, it ate almost all of his board! When we were on the reef we saw sharks while snorkeling just hanging out, so many fish around they weren't fussed at all. The cod on the other hand are really aggressive!!

Animals are NOT on this planet for our amusement.

Dont get the love for Steve Irwin. He was forever manhandling and disturbing animals for his TV fame.

I remember joking with a friend many years ago about Ross Kemp. IIRC, his TV shows were usually titled something like:
'ROSS KEMP is doing such and such!'
'ROSS KEMP is something something!', etc. Just dramatic titles. He was always putting on a show for his viewers. "Look, I'm going to touch this sleeping lion" - that type of thing.

We said to each other at the rate he's going, one day we might see 'ROSS KEMP is dead!' and we won't be surprised.

Anyway the point is that humans say "shark infested water" as if sharks lived anywhere else. The only ones doing the 'infesting' in water are humans. We live on land.

Yes we live on land but plenty of people around the globe have to enter the sea to feed themselves. They don't have the option to pop to Sainsburys. So yes I do have sympathy for people who get attacked for going in the water.

What about people who enter animals territory to film animals in their natural habitat so those at home can see/learn about them. Are they fair game?

Sharks don't tend to "eat" humans. Most attacks involve a bite & then they swim off, but people die of the resulting blood loss/trauma.

You're missing the point. There's doing what you have to do and there's "having fun" while putting your life (and others') in danger. THEN when the danger strikes, you act like it's abnormal for it to happen.

Someone mentioned Chris Rock's statement. An animal isn't "crazy" when they do what an animal does.

I pity anyone who gets hurt, regardless because I feel easily for people but I'm also realistic enough to know some bring it upon themselves (see my examples on this thread) out of stupidity, recklessness, being irresponsible, etc.

YANBU. All wild animals deserve a healthy, respectful distance from humans. You’re not only taking your life into your own hands by interfering with that, you’re potentially causing the animals harm as well.

I can't say I have zero sympathy exactly but they do seem spectacularly dim. Why would you swim next to a whale? Just leave it alone, it's not interested in you.

The parents who let their children run up to my dog and try to touch him are the bane of my existence. Asking is one thing but he doesn't like it so I always say no.

He's not a rottweiler so no stalking or prowling, thank God.

@Andthewinnerislucky no
you're missing the point. I personally think it's a difficult to draw the line. So if your in the sea doing a water sport & get bitten sympathy or not? Your the one who said Get off my property!"

Or take the OPs diving trip example who's worse the people paying for the experience or the operators that offer them.

Plenty of people don't wear helmets when cycling which is stupid, I still have sympathy if they are injured.

but I'm also realistic enough to know some bring it upon themselves (see my examples on this thread) out of stupidity, recklessness, being irresponsible, etc.

That's humans for you, they bring all sorts of diseases, illnesses, deaths upon themselves because of stupidity, recklessness, irresponsibility etc. I still have sympathy for them.

Don't think I'm missing my own point, I think you're missing the point of my posts. Again, have you taken a look at the examples I've listed? Your examples are different from mine.

You're the one who said Get off my property!"*

That was tongue in cheek. Sharks don't say 'Get off my property'...or perhaps they do.

You also missed what I wrote here (I pity anyone who gets hurt, regardless because I feel easily for people) + what you quoted, which is essentially saying the same thing you've written here (what I quoted).

@gogorogo

but I'm also realistic enough to know some bring it upon themselves (see my examples on this thread) out of stupidity, recklessness, being irresponsible, etc.

That's humans for you, they bring all sorts of diseases, illnesses, deaths upon themselves because of stupidity, recklessness, irresponsibility etc. I still have sympathy for them.

This quote. Forgot to add it.

@Andthewinnerislucky so i'm missing your point but you're also agreeing with me because my point hasn't changed throughout the thread 😆

@LakieLady

Every time I read about a matador getting gored by a bull I cheer a little

You and me both, @RunningFromInsanity.

I can't remember when I first heard about bullfighting, but I was primary school age, and I was horrified. I have never been to Spain, and I won't go all the time bullfighting is legal (although iirc it is now illegal in Catalonia, so I can go there with a clear conscience).

To my shame, I didn't know they had bullfighting in parts of France until we stopped in a town in the Gers that had one. I have now vowed to avoid any of the departments where it goes on.

Bloody disgusting pasttime.

Vic Fezensac perhaps? My dad used to live near there.

There’s a difference though between filming animals in the wild and actively wanting to interact with them.

the filming of animals is often done from a need to educate people about them without having to view them in a zoo etc. Sometimes there is a need for zoos for conservation purposes but other than that it’s caging wild animals.

The distinction could perhaps be made between a naturalist filming in the wild who happens to be attacked something which is unlikely because they should be taking precautions and filming at a distance they know to be safe, and a tourist getting out of their car with a camera to film the lions which are just three feet away.

Also, in terms of swimming with whales, a whale doesn’t actually have to do much to cause an injury. A whale only has to lift its tail up and down and you could be hurt purely because of that. And if you want to go swimming with something the size of my lounge then don’t be surprised when it goes wrong, even without malice.

WRT dangerous sports, again, most people who do them take the necessary precautions, and as a rule they’re doing them for their own benefit without interfering with other creatures’ environments to do so.

But there come times when those people don’t take the right precautions, and act irresponsibly, e.g. people who go up Ben Nevis when heavy storms are predicted, meaning others have to put their lives at risk to save them. or people who go out surfing in storms meaning the life boat crews are put at risk when they get into trouble.

Those people can and do help them, but IMO there should be severe fines for people who are that stupid.

To answer your questions in case it isn't clear yet:

So if your in the sea doing a water sport & get bitten sympathy or not? Sympathy but not a surprise.

Or take the OPs diving trip example who's worse the people paying for the experience or the operators that offer them

I generally lay "blame" at Demand's door for most things blame-worthy, rather than Supply. Without demand, there'll be no need for supply. Even if supply came first, without customers/clients/viewers/participants, etc, saying "shut up and take my money!", supply will close up shop. Demand is what makes the business.

So those who are paying to go hold the key here if people want it to shut down, which means it won't.

To be clear, I'm not saying people should stop going diving or whatever. Just be as careful and respectful as you can if you really need to go and know its not your land, water, property, pet. Don't expect anything less than what it is.

Those who live in remote places or places close to wild animal habitat know and respect this and will tell off any out-of-towner, tourist, researcher, diver, etc if they don't.

Of course, accidents still happen when all necessary precautions have been taken.

[quote gogorogo]@Andthewinnerislucky so i'm missing your point but you're also agreeing with me because my point hasn't changed throughout the thread 😆[/quote]
You missed my point (possibly still missing it?) because:

1. you're trying to argue about sympathy when we've said the same thing. I literally wrote it there yet you quoted the second half, stating essentially the same thing, as though mine didn't exist 😄

2. You're bringing up different examples to argue with, ignoring the examples I've given in my posts as what I find reckless.😄😆

3. Missing a tongue in cheek comment 😄😆🤣