Sharks = Public enemy number one?
 

Somebody had to bring this topic up again in light of the past weekend's attacks. I feel soooo guilty! We were in South Carolina last week and I kept reassuring my children that they were in no danger of shark attacks since we were so far North! Was I (and they), shocked to learn about the deaths in Virginia and North Carolina! I think they lost faith in Mom while watching the news this morning. Call me a scaredy cat, alarmist or anything you want, but no way would I be in the ocean for the rest of this season! FYI, did anyone catch Howard Stern this a.m.? He's starting a crusade to kill all sharks and bears!

If you're concerned about teaching your children honesty, morality and respect, public enemy number one is Howard Stern. <BR> <BR>As for the shark issue, your kids won't hold anything against you. Parents can't be right 100% of the time. This latest attack even has me, a true skeptic, a little nervous.

Curious, even with all the media hype and publicity, the statistics STILL indicate that there have been LESS shark attacks this year than in previous years. Why all the hype and publicity? Because a child's arm was severed and reattached and the attacking shark was wrestled onto shore. AT least that's my reasoning.

Sharks attacks are the best thing that happened to Gary Condit

It's a tradgedy when there are fatalities when sharks bite. My prayers and sympathies go out to the families involved. <BR>If we examine the recent attacks,(except for the surfers who look like seals to sharks) all the attacks occured around dusk and on holiday weekends when more people are in the water. It's a lot like crime in the city, if you realize that most crime happens in the dark hours, then stay away from those areas. Sharks have been around for eons and will probably be here long after we are gone. Just use care and common sense.

x, it's more than just the little boy whoses arm was severed, did you read about the three attacks this past weekend in Northern waters? It's freaky! <BR>I am a Stern fan from way back (No my children do not listen to him). I understand that his crassness and crudeness are are part of the facade and that his persona is to be taken as a joke. It really does help to have a sense of humor. Most people realize that as even he states, nothing he says should be taken seriously.

It appears that different x's are floating around on this one. <BR> <BR>Howard can be very funny, but his humor can also send the wrong signal, especially to teenage males, who grow up thinking it's acceptable to be degrading to women and to hold nothing in reverence. I, like you, can separate the fact from the fiction, but it's the others among us who can't that worry me. <BR> <BR>As for the sharks, the odds of you or I becoming fish food are still incredibly small, but all this media coverage is starting to make that pool look mighty good.

curious, <BR>The numbers I heard on GMA this morning were that there have been 39 shark attacks in/around the US this year. Last year the figures were 56. (Give or take no more than 5 on each of these numbers) <BR> <BR>Fewer shark attacks. More publicity. So far, the only major reasoning I can see for the difference in publicity is the UNCOMMON occurance of the boy's uncle wrestling the actual shark to shore and retrieving the severed arm quickly enough that it could be reattached. <BR> <BR>It goes back to the days of the movie, Jaws. Sharks have always been there. Will always be there. As long as we don't have to think about them, we enjoy the water. Personally, I've never like going out into the ocean/gulf deep enough where I can't touch the bottom. But that's just me. Next time, only swim early or late if you see porpoise/dolphins - from what I understand sharks vacate the area when they're around. Or is that just an urban legend? <BR> <BR>Howard Stern? Major League jerk (to be polite). I won't even go there.

The final piece to the puzzle has been found. According to one of those tabloids found in grocery stores, the sharks are under the control of Fidel Castro. Apparently, Castro is "using" the sharks to get back at the U.S. <BR>It's in print so it MUST be the truth! <BR>

There does seem to be more media coverage. What is scary about the attacks is that they do not seem to be in deep water, no more than 4 feet for one of the attacks over the weekend, same thing for the little boy in FLA. <BR> <BR>As for Howard- He should definately NOT be taken too seriously!! Remember he is there for entertainment purposes only- he is not meant to be taken to heart!

Would this, by chance, be the same tabloid in which a space alien endorsed George W. Bush? <BR> <BR>Call it nonsense, but that same alien endorsed Bill Clinton, so he's 2 for 2.

Didn't Orwell predict something like this happening in "Animal Farm"? I also read about some attacks from Sea gulls in Maine this summer . . spooky

I agree the recent attacks are sad. However, I'm not sure why the media has everyone hyped so much about it. The statistics are true that there were MORE attacks LAST year and I don't really recall it being in the news that much last year!?!! On another note, if anyone gets the Encore movie channel, i noticed they ran an entire day of JAWS yesterday complete with movies 1-4 showed in order and then they started again, showing everything twice! I don't know whether this was coinncidence or not. Maybe it was a message to stay out of the water, but it seems painfully ironic considering the attacks over the weekend.

More people die from bee stings each year than from shark attacks. Life is a risk and you never know when your number is up!!! What are you going to do, cower in fear or live life to the fullest????

Could this have anything to do with the great tanning salon lobby, who will do anything to keep people from tanning the natural way?

Well, I won't be quite so smug about sharks never attacking at a Northern beach in the future, that's for sure. <BR> <BR>The whole thing is so weird. Yes, the stats are quite good that nothing will ever happen. But the publicity has robbed me of the one thing I need when I take the kids to the beach -- peace of mind. I'm trying to take comfort in the knowledge that more people have died in drownings at the Delaware/Maryland beaches in the last couple of weeks than the few publicized shark deaths. Drowning is the real risk at the beach, IMHO. <BR> <BR>So far, I've shielded the kids from the media reports entirely, so they did fine at the beach a few weeks ago. And when we go next year, we'll all still go out in the water. I figure letting my kids swim at the beach despite my irrational fears of sharks will prepare me to give them the car keys in a few years. That's when they really will be at substantial risk of injury.

Alright, they say that this year is no different than last year, I see the numbers too, BUT, where were those attacks? <BR>Does anyone know where I can find this info? <BR>I home is Pensacola and for the 25 years there, I never heard about an attack. <BR>I use to always go to the same place that litle boy did to swim (of course not during those hours). <BR>I am originally from Norfolk and my father has always lived in Va.Beach. <BR>They have never had any attacks. <BR> <BR>Why now? THIS IS DIFFERENT from the other years. <BR>

Yes Gina, for awhile anyway I'm going to cower in fear. I don't plan on going back in the water until at least next year!

Sharks are like mice..if they are hungry you are constantly battling their infestation. I propose placing giant glue traps offshore. Large floating cranes could dispose of the traps at the end of the season. Any humans who by accident get stuck will have paid the price of swimming too far out in the first place.

The only place I would go swimming in the ocean is in the Carribean or Meditteranian. The American coastline is dirty & polluted. God knows what's in the water, let alone some sharks nearby. I quit going in the ocean about 10 years ago. NO desire to go back in.