Shark Week

OK, so I am watching Shark Week last night...a show called "Summer Of The Shark". Long story short, several people in a very short amount of time during the Summer of 2008 (I think) were mauled by sharks (whites and bulls) all around the Austrailian coastline (not just in one place). I think it ended up being a couple dozen or so encounters and everything from sharks bumping kayaks to people being dragged under and eaten.

There was, of course, this trumped up TV drama about how the sharks were "invading" and people acting dumbfounded that sharks would actually have the nerve to attack people.

Now, my heart goes out to anyone mauled or killed by a shark...what a horrific way to die...I mean NO disrespect to them or their families.

But if there was suddenly reports all over the news that people left, right and center were being mauled and killed by sharks, why do you continue to get in the water? More importantly, if you see these reports, all concentrated within a few days, get in the water, get attacked and survive, why do you act surprised?

They are sharks. They eat other animals...hell they eat other sharks. You are going into where they live and eat. It's not like the sharks are sprouting legs and walking onto shore and eating people. Yeah, THAT would be a shock. But to act shocked, angry and puzzled at being bitten by a shark IN THE OCEAN??? Come on. It's like someone breaking into your house, you kicking their ass to the point of sending them to the hospital, and having them say "I don't understand it...I had no idea I probably shouldn't do that..."

There was also this mentality of revenge (just like in the Jaws movie). A person was attacked and killed by a great white shark...only a torn bit of his wetsuit washed up on shore. The authorities cornered the shark they believed to be the culprit and there was this public outcry of "KILL THE SHARK!! HE ATTACKED A HUMAN!!!". Again, the person was swimming in the Austrailian ocean in the summer...sharks are everywhere. It took the man's WIDOW to shut the public up by telling them her husband knew full well the risks and respected the ocean...he would not want the shark killed simply for being a shark...the shark (something like an 18' white)was let go.

I say the same thing when some hiker gets mauled by a bear. It's one thing if a bear ventures into a town and attacks but if you're going out in the middle of nowhere in known bear country, why are you surprised when a bear attacks?

I live in Bear Country and live by the mantra "Don't mess with the bears and they won't mess with you."

Shawn Of Fire wrote:

OK, so I am watching Shark Week last night...a show called "Summer Of The Shark". Long story short, several people in a very short amount of time during the Summer of 2008 (I think) were mauled by sharks (whites and bulls) all around the Austrailian coastline (not just in one place). I think it ended up being a couple dozen or so encounters and everything from sharks bumping kayaks to people being dragged under and eaten.

There was, of course, this trumped up TV drama about how the sharks were "invading" and people acting dumbfounded that sharks would actually have the nerve to attack people.

Now, my heart goes out to anyone mauled or killed by a shark...what a horrific way to die...I mean NO disrespect to them or their families.

But if there was suddenly reports all over the news that people left, right and center were being mauled and killed by sharks, why do you continue to get in the water? More importantly, if you see these reports, all concentrated within a few days, get in the water, get attacked and survive, why do you act surprised?

They are sharks. They eat other animals...hell they eat other sharks. You are going into where they live and eat. It's not like the sharks are sprouting legs and walking onto shore and eating people. Yeah, THAT would be a shock. But to act shocked, angry and puzzled at being bitten by a shark IN THE OCEAN??? Come on. It's like someone breaking into your house, you kicking their ass to the point of sending them to the hospital, and having them say "I don't understand it...I had no idea I probably shouldn't do that..."

There was also this mentality of revenge (just like in the Jaws movie). A person was attacked and killed by a great white shark...only a torn bit of his wetsuit washed up on shore. The authorities cornered the shark they believed to be the culprit and there was this public outcry of "KILL THE SHARK!! HE ATTACKED A HUMAN!!!". Again, the person was swimming in the Austrailian ocean in the summer...sharks are everywhere. It took the man's WIDOW to shut the public up by telling them her husband knew full well the risks and respected the ocean...he would not want the shark killed simply for being a shark...the shark (something like an 18' white)was let go.

when you look at it logically, it makes perfect sense not to go into the ocean when you know there are sharks. The problem is that people dont think.

Plus nowadays, if you beat up someone who broke into your house - they would probably sue and win for you hurting them.

Shark week is the best week of TV in the whole year!

That being said, people who are surprised at being attacked in a area known to have shark attacks are idiots. It's a classic example of "It can't happen to me" mentality.

I always like how they say people dying by the teeth of a shark is more rare than dying by bee stings. However, how many people are in areas inhabited by bees compared people in shark inhabited areas.

I enjoy Shark Week and I enjoyed Shawn O' Fire's post. I agree.