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05-08-2011, 12:33
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#16
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Naples, FL
Boat: Leopard Catamaran
Posts: 2,572
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Re: Maybe we should not be that afraid of sharks?
Quote:
Originally Posted by martinjrichter
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You can't believe everything you read on snopes either.
I have personally encountered water moccosins here in Texas, and I can say they are very agressive. Like most snakes they are good climbers, and unlike most pit vipers, bite with no provocation.
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05-08-2011, 12:54
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#17
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Naples, FL
Boat: Leopard Catamaran
Posts: 2,572
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
Two problems with the snope analysis.
1. Cottenmouths DO form mating balls, or clusters like several other varieties of snakes with multiple males competing for a female.
2. One death per year is a lot in a small geographic area, (it is irrelevant that Snopes points out that, "that is small compared to the 300 million people in the US", someone living in Alaska has a ZERO chance of encountering a water moccosin that lives in semi tropical waterways).
3. A water Moccosin is fiercely territorial, bites without provocation, and has a deadly venom, (3rd deadliest in US). 1 coral snake, 2 copperhead, 4th rattlesnake).
And may act irrationally during mating season.
4. Did the event EVER happen? With one death per year in this area it is quite likely that at least one time someone was bitten multiple times if they were it is very likely that they died. Entanglement in barbed wire while swimming in man made lakes that were once fenced farmland is also not that uncommon an experience.
When someone dies in a rural area, the story of their death is often repeated by families and friends multiple times with details being confused and lost, does that mean it never happened?
I have personaly seen a newspaper article with pictures, names, and dates of an incident dissmissed as "urban legend" by snopes, but I guess since they said it didn't happen it was just my imagination.
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05-08-2011, 13:07
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#18
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Portland, OR
Boat: Garcia Passoa 48
Posts: 58
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
Sharks, bears, cougars, snakes are all something to be respected. 2 ton marine mammals who want to play with you also fall into that category.. (the best part of the video is at about minute 6)
Spiders are to be feared. Irrational maybe but I'm standing by it.
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05-08-2011, 13:51
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#19
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Avalon, NJ
Boat: Albin 40 double cabin Trawler
Posts: 1,886
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Re: Maybe we should not be that afraid of sharks?
Quote:
Originally Posted by martinjrichter
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I was only kidding...but snopes is wrong on that one...yes they don't form "nests" but moccasins ARE aggressive and if you don't belive me fine...paddle down all the Mobile river creeks you want too...especially those with low overhanging branches...
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05-08-2011, 14:04
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#20
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,363
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
On the water I'm most afraid of ................ people with boats! And if I ever see one named shark I'm giving them as much of the water way as possible!
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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05-08-2011, 14:11
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#21
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Oahu, HI
Boat: Pearson Vanguard 32
Posts: 47
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
I've been attacked (and bitten) by dogs. I've been bumped by sharks while surfing. Neither experience was enjoyable (although the adrenaline feels pretty good).
Past that, the number of people driving motor vehicles while impaired (cell phones, texting, sleep deprived, intoxicated, under the influence, *other*) is more of a concern than the others.
And besides, the bigger animal risk is #4, Hippos. The Hippopotamus kills more humans than all other animals put together.
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05-08-2011, 14:25
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#22
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Van Isle
Boat: 40' Northstar Ketch
Posts: 130
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeepFrz
Well, I honestly don't know anyone who was bitten and maimed by a shark, but I do personally know one person who was bitten and maimed by another person. Had his nose bitten off...so what virginia boy says must be a true fact.
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Agreed
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05-08-2011, 14:31
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#23
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Northern British Columbia, part of the time in Prince Rupert and part of the time on Moresby Island.
Boat: 50-ft steel Ketch
Posts: 1,884
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
Quote:
The Hippopotamus kills more humans than all other animals put together.
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Excepting of course, other humans.
__________________
'Tis evening on the moorland free,The starlit wave is still: Home is the sailor from the sea, The hunter from the hill.
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05-08-2011, 14:36
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#24
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Oahu, HI
Boat: Pearson Vanguard 32
Posts: 47
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Astrid
Excepting of course, other humans.
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Sad but true.
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05-08-2011, 16:17
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#25
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Moderator
Join Date: May 2008
Location: cruising SW Pacific
Boat: Jon Sayer 1-off 46 ft fract rig sloop strip plank in W Red Cedar
Posts: 21,151
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Acedude
And besides, the bigger animal risk is #4, Hippos. The Hippopotamus kills more humans than all other animals put together.
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Humans are pretty bad these days (as always?), but do not forget the lowly mosquito. Mozzie-borne disease kills millions each year.
And I will add my vote for crocks being far scarier than sharks in Oz,
Cheers,
Jim
__________________
Jim and Ann s/v Insatiable II, lying Port Cygnet Tasmania once again.
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06-08-2011, 07:33
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#26
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Senior Cruiser
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Coos Bay, Oregon
Boat: Valiant 40 (1975)
Posts: 4,073
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
Jaws was based on a real story of a shark that developed a taste for humans about 1915 along the New Jersey coast. Some Tigers develop a liking for humans too, we are pretty much the easiest and most abundant prey around. Don't take it personal, they are just opportunist predators just like we are. The only time I would want to kill a large predator is if it took a liking to me, then I would be darn right ornery in hopes that they would choose an easier prey. But I wouldn't blame them, because they are just trying to live like everything else in this world. Do I fear you because you eat cows? (gasp)
BTW- the original article list obesity as only killing 300k a year. I think that number is much higher, with obesity the number one health threat in the US. When you look at Diabetes, Hypertension, Sleep Apnea, heart disease and failure, I'm sure we are killing off a million a year if not more.
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08-08-2011, 07:24
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#27
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Naples, FL
Boat: Leopard Catamaran
Posts: 2,572
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tori
Like we used to tell clients " sharks eat people in Hollywood"
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The only problem with this is the 79 people that got bitten last year, ...I'll bet we taste just like seals, (another warm blooded semiaquatic mammal with a thick coating of fat, and a white underbelly that swims at the surface)
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08-08-2011, 08:04
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#28
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Sanford, FL
Boat: 1977 S2 8.0
Posts: 310
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Considering that millions of people were swimming and only 79 were bitten NOT eaten I don't think that is too risky.
__________________
Joe & Tori
"Knot Looking Back" 1977 S2 8.0
Clara , Ducky, Miranda and Nalla the Critters
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08-08-2011, 08:15
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#29
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Murrells Inlet, SC
Boat: mt34dt
Posts: 308
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
IMO, fear of the unfamiliar is part of the human condition. Getting behind the wheel of a car is probably the most dangerous thing one can do, but we feel no fear because we are comfortable with it. Being on a boat in open water is probably one of the safest things one can do, being in the water--not much different.
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08-08-2011, 14:35
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#30
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Armchair Bucketeer
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,012
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Re: Maybe We Should Not Be that Afraid of Sharks
I think perfectly natural to be afraid of sharks (or at least wary of) when both of you are in the water. They might not (statistically) eat you - but if they wanted to they could
On land of course the balance of power changes
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