saintfletcher, there is no need to wait to discuss Steve Irwin's death or life. If you don't want to read such discussions, you know what to do.

Irwin was a public figure, and his death is an occasion to discuss his life. There has been much hagiography about Irwin and much less honest analysis. Maybe that's because amidst the near-beatification and mass hysteria of the public grieving, it's been seen as something near sacrilege and treason to venture some criticism of Irwin. Why? He was a public figure. Any discussion, short of baseless slander or vituperation, is in order. Injunctions that invoke 'respect for the family' do not apply. We who comment, whether in praise or criticism, mostly did not know Irwin nor are we present at a private family funeral where strict comventions of compassion and respect apply.

We have had John Howard weighing in with the usual glib, populist platitiudes, and he's done it again following the death of Peter Brock - is Howard now Australia's official Chief Mourner? We have had the now customary media circus, thirsting for pictures of the grieving family, or the holy grail itself, the Irwin death-vid. We have had manufactured media outrage at the article published by Germaine Greer, which dared to question Irwin's work, and which lead to a straw poll conducted by a TV channel of reaction to Greer's article among the Irwin mourners outside his animal theme park. What a surprise - they all disagreed with Greer.

And the charge has been lead by Queen Naomi Robson, dressed respectfully and empathetically in Irwin uniform, with a lizard on her shoulder, solemnly lecturing viewers to counsel their kiddies to 'take Steve's death seriously'. Thanks, Naomi.

We have had near-hysterical mass-grieving expressed in many blogs including this one. If the idea of sainthood was still really in vogue, I'm sure that the Vatican would have a team working on 'St Steve of Oz' around the clock.

Altogether a bizarre episode in the cultural history of Australia and one that calls into question our national maturity and sophistication.

One does NOT have to intimately know another to have a feeling of love and respect for them PK.

I agree with your assertions regarding the media...they are opportunistic and these phone polls would have been a lot more palateable if there was an 1800. to ring instead of the usual revenue raising 19 number...and yes of course only "Steve Lovers are going to ring these lines and rightly so.

Would you have all the 'cynics' such as yourself out there not expressing any love or respect for the man...How hard is it to please you?
We get the love and respect we deserve and that is ALL that is happening here...

Do you have lack of respect isssues in your own life PK is that what is this is all about?
Learn to be a bigger man...if you cant say anything nice(or [positive) say nothing.

As for a Saint hood for Steve what a great idea and I support it 100%

OZ-GIRL - learn not to make disparaging character assessments on blogs like this, simply on the basis of a few posts made by fellow bloggers that you disagree with, and both you and the topics being debated will better for it.

Dont see any disparaging remarks PK..a couple of questions maybe, which you did not answer..you however HAVE been disparaging about Steve and I take exception to that...

Thank goodness cynicism is treated by most people exactly as it deserves to be....with little or no due consideration....be nice PK.

Oz-girl - I must say nice things - I must say nice things - I must say nice things - Nothing negative - nothing negative -- nothing negative.

Thanks for putting me straight. I'll see you in the church of St Steve.

PK now thats better...im glad I could help with ur unfortunate attitude towards a great man...

The even darker side to you is on another thread about Steve and his moniker is 'Proud to be Indonesian' and he even agrees with you ..heaven help us...now you are being supported by the likes of that creep..we judge people by the company they keep PK.
This low life is truly disparaging and creepy...I think they all are
creepy that is)..read all his posts and then tell me his is not way out of line.

If he keeps up his TROLL like behaviuor Im going to try to have him banned...he can go and infect an asian forum somewhere....