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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Shark Attack

525 replies

JayAlfredPrufrock · 09/06/2023 17:46

Nice to see that the shark that killed a swimmer in Egypt was caught and beaten to death on the beach.

<Slow handclap>

OP posts:
Chypre · 09/06/2023 19:28

I’ve seen the video of actual attack, on Telegram. What rubbed me really wrong way is this - Egypt, know problem with sharks (tourists been attacked in December I think?), men running back and forward on the pier, all swimmers trying to make it ashore on their own, not a single motor vessel/dinghy or anything at all to either disrupt the attack or shield the swimmers. Nothing. And then they beat the shark - well the shark only took the opportunity YOU have created. Oh.

Boudicasbeard · 09/06/2023 19:28

@ClaraThePigeon

You’ve mentioned this a few times. Who are these people who have been attacked by sharks but are passion shark conservationists?

And you have obviously never seen a gator attack in real life- otherwise you wouldn’t be so flippant. Imagine your life but every walk by a river or lake involved always being on the look out for being lunch. Gators feel no pity. As they showed when they took that four year old at Disney a few years ago.

Bananananananananana · 09/06/2023 19:29

troubg · 09/06/2023 19:27

But as a species, we have NO business in the sea to swim around.

@Bananananananananana Out of interest where do we have business? And why do we have no business in the sea?

You have no business in the sea. Because you'll get eaten.

No hard to work out, surely!

ClaraThePigeon · 09/06/2023 19:29

This is very easy to say if you livelihood doesn’t rely on fishing/ sailing/ swimming or tourism by the sea. Stay out of the water because if you get eaten by a shark then it is your own fault is the weirdest thing I’ve come across in a long time!

If that's the weirdest thing you've ever read then you clearly don't get out much or even spend much time on MN. It is common sense that the sea is full of risks and that you are accepting some of those risks when you get in the water. We all run risks every day. There's a lot of things that can kill you in the sea. Sharks are just one more.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 09/06/2023 19:29

They probably wanted to retrieve his body. If your DC was eaten by a shark you are telling me you wouldn't want to get their remains back?

We're talking a shark, not a blue whale, and even a large one could hardly ingest an entire human body. Also, dreadul as it is to think about, it probably spat out anything which became detached, realising this isn't what it would normally eat

PoeAFighterAResistanceFighter · 09/06/2023 19:29

ClaraThePigeon · 09/06/2023 19:27

Do sharks feel terror? Fear? I agree that we shouldn't club sharks or any animals to death. I don't think we need to anthropomorphise a tiger shark

Yes sharks are capable of feeling fear and pain. It's a survival instinct. Do you really think that humans are the only animal capable of suffering?

All animals suffer when killed.
Including the ones you have just eaten for tea.
Or is suffering only important when it's a exotic animal.

TooJoy · 09/06/2023 19:29

Oreoo · 09/06/2023 19:22

They probably wanted to retrieve his body. If your DC was eaten by a shark you are telling me you wouldn't want to get their remains back? They should have killed it humanely not clubbed it to death.

If he was eaten then his remains would be mush and half way through its digestive system.

I know some people can’t have a funeral without a body but I personally would not want my loved one back if their body had been so badly damaged.

Dooopylally · 09/06/2023 19:30

I do hope everyone posting (quite callously, imo) about the death of this man is a vegan.
I'm a vegetarian but am well aware that my life still involves a degree of animal suffering. In any life or death situation I'd still prioritise human life.

Hols8 · 09/06/2023 19:30

Papernotplastic · 09/06/2023 18:05

Horrific. I think they thought this would help protect the tourist industry …

I quite liked the idea of a holiday in Egypt before but now I definitely don’t intend to ever go. And shark-infested waters has never put me off a holiday destination in the past. Animal cruelty does though.

Newnamefor2021 · 09/06/2023 19:31

LunaMay · 09/06/2023 19:26

An awful way to go for both. How sad if there is a video going around of the young mans death. We had a similar attack in Australia a year or so again and i unwittingly viewed it before realising exactly what i was looking at. Took ages to get it out of my head.

I don't go in water past my waist and i stress out when i know others are going swimming! Terrified of sharks but also fascinated by them.

There is a video unfortunately, which is probably why it caused such a mob mentality regarding seeking revenge.

troubg · 09/06/2023 19:31

Stay out of the water because if you get eaten by a shark then it is your own fault is the weirdest thing I’ve come across in a long time!

It's bizarre! We have no business being there apparently. Surely we have less business being in the air since we can't fly but we can swim & aviation kills thousands of birds. I don't think I read one comment about bird strikes & plane accidents where people have said we shouldn't be in the air. Maybe birds aren't so cool?

troubg · 09/06/2023 19:32

I do hope everyone posting (quite callously, imo) about the death of this man is a vegan.

That will be a no

deepdeepblue · 09/06/2023 19:32

troubg · 09/06/2023 19:23

@deepdeepblue it's not an analogy. Why is it arrogant to go into the sea?

Comparing one scenario to another (as you did) is precisely what an analogy is 😂

ClaraThePigeon · 09/06/2023 19:32

All animals suffer when killed.
Including the ones you have just eaten for tea.
Or is suffering only important when it's a exotic animal.

Yes my roast vegetable pasta really fought for its life.

Bananananananananana · 09/06/2023 19:32

ClaraThePigeon · 09/06/2023 19:29

This is very easy to say if you livelihood doesn’t rely on fishing/ sailing/ swimming or tourism by the sea. Stay out of the water because if you get eaten by a shark then it is your own fault is the weirdest thing I’ve come across in a long time!

If that's the weirdest thing you've ever read then you clearly don't get out much or even spend much time on MN. It is common sense that the sea is full of risks and that you are accepting some of those risks when you get in the water. We all run risks every day. There's a lot of things that can kill you in the sea. Sharks are just one more.

Fishing in a boat is not equal to recreation in any capacity, either.

Nobody needs to sail or swim in the ocean. And if you choose to, you need to accept the risks and not just butcher any animal that crosses you.

Humans as a species are so entitled we think our desire to swim in the ocean (rather than a pool or lake) outweighs the lives of other animals and gives us the right to kill them.

PoeAFighterAResistanceFighter · 09/06/2023 19:32

Dooopylally · 09/06/2023 19:30

I do hope everyone posting (quite callously, imo) about the death of this man is a vegan.
I'm a vegetarian but am well aware that my life still involves a degree of animal suffering. In any life or death situation I'd still prioritise human life.

Well exactly, I'm not usually a preachy vegan but the hypocrisy is strong on this thread.

troubg · 09/06/2023 19:34

All animals suffer when killed.Including the ones you have just eaten for tea. Or is suffering only important when it's a exotic animal.

I had fish today...

Newnamefor2021 · 09/06/2023 19:35

Boudicasbeard · 09/06/2023 19:28

@ClaraThePigeon

You’ve mentioned this a few times. Who are these people who have been attacked by sharks but are passion shark conservationists?

And you have obviously never seen a gator attack in real life- otherwise you wouldn’t be so flippant. Imagine your life but every walk by a river or lake involved always being on the look out for being lunch. Gators feel no pity. As they showed when they took that four year old at Disney a few years ago.

I know of Bethany, there was a film called soul surfer about her attack and recovery. I'm not sure she's a passionate advocate for shark welfare but she respects them and doesn't blame them despite her injuries. I was always really into sharks growing up, I've read a few accounts that are similar to hers, not about advocating for welfare of sharks but definitely not blaming them.

PoeAFighterAResistanceFighter · 09/06/2023 19:35

troubg · 09/06/2023 19:34

All animals suffer when killed.Including the ones you have just eaten for tea. Or is suffering only important when it's a exotic animal.

I had fish today...

The way fish are killed is not dissimilar.
I know this is an mmm bacon sort of comment, but you might want to consider that when moralising.

Elevel · 09/06/2023 19:35

Yes, because everyone on this thread hasn't completely eliminated any degree of animal suffering in their lives, they shouldn't be allowed to say that "an eye for an eye", as this was, is wrong.

Ihavekids · 09/06/2023 19:36

This thread is mental.

The shark was not behaving normally and there's a chance it would have attacked again, especially if it was seen eating the man's remains.

For those who are saying the shark shouldn't have been killed- how would you feel if you knew that next time you went on holiday your children might get eaten by one specific shark? Because that's the reality. Someone's kid or parent was next.

Sad yes, but no other real option. A human life is worth more than a shark life. Anyone who denies that is living in cloud cuckoo land.

Given the choice between your child being eaten, or a shark being killed- what's the reality?

Ffs.

VitoCorleoneOfMNMafia · 09/06/2023 19:36

Papernotplastic · 09/06/2023 18:11

Again, gunshots are quick.

Only headshots are quick. If the body is hit, you are talking long painful death from blood loss and scrambled internal organs.

Bananananananananana · 09/06/2023 19:36

Dooopylally · 09/06/2023 19:30

I do hope everyone posting (quite callously, imo) about the death of this man is a vegan.
I'm a vegetarian but am well aware that my life still involves a degree of animal suffering. In any life or death situation I'd still prioritise human life.

100% agree. If you eat meat, I should never criticise animal cruelty and unnecessary suffering, or work in conservation to help animals. It's so hypocritical.

troubg · 09/06/2023 19:36

Humans as a species are so entitled we think our desire to swim in the ocean (rather than a pool or lake) outweighs the lives of other animals and gives us the right to kill them.

Er Crocs can be in lakes...
I don't think everyone constructing their own pools is better for the environment.

I don't understand this entitlement point. It's not entitlement to go into the sea. @Bananananananananana so you don't eat any animals or use anything that has been shipped from abroad? unlikely!