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Scuba Forum / General / April 2006Global warnig and ..sharks
From: The Times Friday June 17 2005 NEWS 27 by Simon De Bruxelles --------begin------- Sighiting of the sharks have increased by 65 percent in Scottish waters over the past four years while reports from Cornwall and the South west, where these pictures were taken last weekend, have fallen by 66 per cent [cut] These basking sharks look fearsome but the surfers and swimmers are no in danger, the sharks, probably a mother and baby, may be the largest wild animals, (the newspaper show one picture with a couple of swimmers happily close to the basking sharks) to regulary visit british waters, but they are also one of the most harmless. Scientists belive that the sharks, which can grow up to 18 m. (59ft) long, are gradually moving north as a result of global warming. [cut] ---------------end------ Questions: Are only the harmeless sharks moving north 'cause the global warming ? Are the swimmers (while in the waters) able to discern the species of sharks ? LOL P.S. English is not my first language > Are only the harmeless sharks moving north 'cause the global warming ? Probably not, but I don't think there are any dangerous sharks in or near British waters. Actually very few sharks are dangerous, there are even scientists studying the Great White while swimming without any protection. The few shark attacks that do occur seems to be mistakes. > Are the swimmers (while in the waters) able to discern the species of > sharks ? They should be able to recognize the basking shark: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/baskingshark/baskingshark.ht ml At least when it is feeding it is *very* distinct from a predator. > > Are only the harmeless sharks moving north 'cause the global warming ? > > Probably not, but I don't think there are any dangerous sharks in or near > British waters. Actually very few sharks are dangerous, there are even > scientists studying the Great White while swimming without any protection. Yeah, I know, the Great Whites never ate humans, only that it was extremely rare. > The few shark attacks that do occur seems to be mistakes. Yep ! Scientists think that in the few attacks that do occur, swimmer/surfers are mistaken for seal lions, their ..favorite meal. > > Are the swimmers (while in the waters) able to discern the species of > > sharks ? [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > ml > At least when it is feeding it is *very* distinct from a predator. Ok guys, I give up. :( http://www.sharkattacks.com/ >Ok guys, I give up. >:( > >http://www.sharkattacks.com/ It seems clear from all evidence, including from that site, that there is a strong correlation indeed, between being of Anglo-Saxon family/social upbringing, and suffering shark attacks. So, if English is not your first language, statistically, you should be relatively safe. Afaik, sharks of the type that have been known to attack humans, already do come quite far up north, regardless of global warming, certainly to the shores of Norway. But you never hear about a Norwegian there being attacked by these animals, whereas in America they appear to be attacking Americans quite frequently. > Afaik, sharks of the type that have been known to attack humans, > already do come quite far up north, regardless of global warming, > certainly to the shores of Norway. But you never hear about a > Norwegian there being attacked by these animals, whereas in > America they appear to be attacking Americans quite frequently. That's because Americans taste better. Sharks don't like popsicles. http://www.sharkattacks.com/ Are the swimmers (while in the waters) able to discern the species of sharks ? Thomas Palm wrote: > They should be able to recognize the basking shark: > http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/baskingshark/baskingshark.html > At least when it is feeding it is *very* distinct from a predator. Just a question: What the heck was going on with people like you ? Dear Thomas Palm, I don't want to convince others that all the sharks are some kind of monsters that should be eliminated from the face of earth. I agree that we humans should protects all the species, even the predator species, my point was that people shouldn't be so "Naive and Mislead" by someone from the media that said: "These basking sharks look fearsome but the surfers and swimmers are no in danger, the sharks, probably a mother and baby, may be the largest wild animals, to regulary visit british waters, but they are also one of the most harmless". (And since the scientists belive that sharks, gradually are moving north as a result of global warming). How can people discern an harmeless or predator sharks, while are swimming to the surface ? > Sharks are not normally man eating, not even the Great White. One of > South Africa's most popular beaches is located only a few km from one of > the world's largest concentration of Great Whites. I doubt most of the > people there even know about it, because those sharks stay away from the > beach, instead circling an island that is a large seal colony. Realy ? Isn't the truth that the "smell" of blood in the water drive the sharks crazy ? ..They even start to eat each other ! If humans are mistaken for seal lions, why after the sharks attack humans, they keep to chase and bite the "wrong" animal ? I don't hate these animals, I just want to say: If you are swimming in the sea/ocean next to a shark you could be in danger, unless you are like ..Saint Francis of Assisi. regards Pietro P.S. English is not my first language >> They should be able to recognize the basking shark: >> http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/baskingshark/baskingsha >> rk.html At least when it is feeding it is *very* distinct from a >> predator. > How can people discern an harmeless or predator sharks, while are > swimming to the surface ? Plankton eaters like the basking shark swim with wide open mouth when eating. If you see a shark you are uncertain about, just keep your distance or get out of the water. >> Sharks are not normally man eating, not even the Great White. One of >> South Africa's most popular beaches is located only a few km from one [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Realy ? Isn't the truth that the "smell" of blood in the water drive > the sharks crazy ? ..They even start to eat each other ! This is a bit exagerated. Nature shows like to make nature a lot more dramatic than it really is. > If humans are mistaken for seal lions, why after the sharks attack > humans, they keep to chase and bite the "wrong" animal ? Most shark attacks consist of only one bite. > I don't hate these animals, I just want to say: > If you are swimming in the sea/ocean next to a shark you could be in > danger, unless you are like ..Saint Francis of Assisi. Do you know how to find the scuba divers on a beach? Just yell "shark!". The people who get *in* the water are divers, the ones who get *out* aren't. I've dived close to a number of sharks and never felt the least bit threatened. Compared to the number of people in the sea the number of attacks are very few, it's just not something you need to worry about compared to all other risks: drowning, getting run over by a speed boat, getting cramps in deep water, stepping on a poisonous fish etc. Just don't try to swim up to a shark. Even small sharks can attack if they feel threatened. Thomas Palm ha scritto: > >> They should be able to recognize the basking shark: > >> http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Gallery/Descript/baskingshark/baskingsha [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > eating. If you see a shark you are uncertain about, just keep your distance > or get out of the water. [Basker Shark] http://www.guideliner.co.uk/images/basker5.jpg [Great White Shark] http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/frontpagepics/gwsfin.jpg (Remember you are swimming on the surface). regards Pietro > [Basker Shark] > http://www.guideliner.co.uk/images/basker5.jpg [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > (Remember you are swimming on the surface). Uhhh.... Not for long... > Plankton eaters like the basking shark swim with wide open mouth when > eating. If you see a shark you are uncertain about, just keep your > distance > or get out of the water. That's easy for you to say. Often it's not so easy to just get out of the water or keep one's distance. The mistake was getting in the water in the first place. >> Realy ? Isn't the truth that the "smell" of blood in the water drive >> the sharks crazy ? ..They even start to eat each other ! > > This is a bit exagerated. Nature shows like to make nature a lot more > dramatic than it really is. Feeding frenzies are what they are. Nature shows don't agitate the sharks by calling them mean names and such. They simply put food in the water and let the sharks do what they do. Have you ever seen a feeding frenzy up close? > Most shark attacks consist of only one bite. Because one is usally all that it takes. I've heard of plenty multiple bite attacks, or where the victim fended off a subsequent bite by punching the shark in the nose. > Do you know how to find the scuba divers on a beach? Just yell "shark!". > The people who get *in* the water are divers, the ones who get *out* [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > compared to all other risks: drowning, getting run over by a speed boat, > getting cramps in deep water, stepping on a poisonous fish etc. You said earlier that you've never been that close to a shark. Besides, everyone knows that scuba divers scare away sharks with their foul tasting neoprene, obnoxious bubbles, and tooth-shattering aluminum tanks. Getting cramps in deep water? Talk about myths. And what are you doing stepping on fish? > Just don't try to swim up to a shark. Even small sharks can attack if they > feel threatened. So you go around stepping on fish, but you won't even swim up to a shark? Whatever. If I were a fish, I'd take being stepped on as a sure sign of aggression. > You said earlier that you've never been that close to a shark. About two meters. Not close enough to touch any, but close enough. If the sharks had wanted to attack I certainly wouldn't have had time to get out of the way. > Besides, everyone knows that scuba divers scare away sharks with their > foul tasting neoprene, obnoxious bubbles, and tooth-shattering > aluminum tanks. Actually they didn't much care, and I wasn't wearing neoprene at the moment. When it comes to metal it seems to disrupt their electrical sense, annoying them. That's why those researchers I talked about earlier didn't want to sit in a cage observing Great Whites. The cage meant they didn't behave naturally. > Getting cramps in deep water? Talk about myths. How ofter do you think it happens? My guess is that it is far more common than shark attacks, but, of course, it isn't dramatic enough to cause any global headlines. > And what are you doing stepping on fish? We have a poisonous fish here in Sweden that hides in the sand. You don't see it before you step on it. (Not that this is a common event, but it's more common than shark attacks). Down in tropical reefs there are plenty of poisonous fish, and if you are careless you may hit one by accident. >> Just don't try to swim up to a shark. Even small sharks can attack if >> they feel threatened. > > So you go around stepping on fish, but you won't even swim up to a > shark? I don't get it. On one hand you describe sharks as vicious man-eaters, on the other hand you go around swimming up to them and try to pet them. > Whatever. If I were a fish, I'd take being stepped on as a > sure sign of aggression. I don't blame those fish either. But accident or not, some of those fish are so poisonous that you are in real danger if you get it in you. <crossposting-snipped> > The cage meant they didn't behave naturally. Natural behaviour for them is to be a killing eating machine... They are rather good at it... I would just as soon they didn't behave 'naturally' when I was in the water... I know my limits... I might spearfish for some of the smaller and more docile species of sharks, but I'll be damned if I'm going to go out searching for a species that doesn't quite know that man is 'supposed' to be at the top of the food chain... > <crossposting-snipped> > > The cage meant they didn't behave naturally. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > going to go out searching for a species that doesn't quite know that man is > 'supposed' to be at the top of the food chain... Underwater, we aren't... >> You said earlier that you've never been that close to a shark. > > About two meters. Not close enough to touch any, but close enough. If the > sharks had wanted to attack I certainly wouldn't have had time to get out > of the way. So how did you get so close? Did you approach the shark (a sure sign of aggression) or did the shark approach you (a sure sign of aggression)? > Actually they didn't much care, and I wasn't wearing neoprene at the > moment. When it comes to metal it seems to disrupt their electrical sense, > annoying them. That's why those researchers I talked about earlier didn't > want to sit in a cage observing Great Whites. The cage meant they didn't > behave naturally. Especially when the metal is in the form of a spear or hook. But it's quite possible that they didn't behave naturally because there were scientists in a cage watching them and it doesn't really matter whether the cage was metal, wood, or china. How would you behave if you were being observed by a cage full of scientists? > How ofter do you think it happens? My guess is that it is far more common > than shark attacks, but, of course, it isn't dramatic enough to cause any > global headlines. Zero. Name one fatality due to cramps and I'll name ten due to vicious maneating shark bites. And how many people lose arms or legs to cramps? > We have a poisonous fish here in Sweden that hides in the sand. You don't > see it before you step on it. (Not that this is a common event, but it's > more common than shark attacks). Down in tropical reefs there are plenty > of > poisonous fish, and if you are careless you may hit one by accident. Suuuure you do. Another old wife's tale and here I thought all the Swedish wives were young and blonde. How many people die each year from your poisonous Swedish sand fish? Even in the tropics, death from such beasties is very rare. Most of them just won't out and out kill you like vicious maneating sharks. And, as you said, your 'victim' has 'hit' one by accident. If I 'hit' a shark by accident, I'd understand why it wanted to kill and eat me. In fact, the only time I was bitten, I had already hit the shark three times. But I don't recall that too many of the horrendous gory shark attack stories involved the victim hitting the shark first. > I don't get it. On one hand you describe sharks as vicious man-eaters, on > the other hand you go around swimming up to them and try to pet them. It's much more exciting to pet a vicious maneater than to pet a pussycat. > I don't blame those fish either. But accident or not, some of those fish > are so poisonous that you are in real danger if you get it in you. Yeah, I finally have to agree with you on something. And the evil poisonous bastards are unfortunately some of the only ones that survive the dynamite fishing. I don't pet them, as a rule. But I have gone diving with some crazy guy who liked to tickle them under the chin. It takes all kinds. > Probably not, but I don't think there are any dangerous sharks in or near > British waters. Actually very few sharks are dangerous, there are even > scientists studying the Great White while swimming without any protection. > The few shark attacks that do occur seems to be mistakes. Only a fool would swim with a Great White without protection. Obviously some scientists are fools. Almost all sharks are potentially dangerous, especially if you piss them off or when they're really hungry. When you're missing an arm, are you going to comfort yourself by declaring that it was probably a mistake? Greg Mossman True Sharkbite Victim and Tsunami Survivor >> Probably not, but I don't think there are any dangerous sharks in or >> near British waters. Actually very few sharks are dangerous, there [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Only a fool would swim with a Great White without protection. > Obviously some scientists are fools. It's a risk, but some scientists are willing to take risks to gain more knowledge. It's hardly more dangerous than climbing active volcanos to get samples or other crazy stuff done by scientists, and it is considerably more useful than climbing Mount Everest for the xxx times as done by non- scientists out for a thrill. Not that I'd go swim with a great white, you'd better know what you are doing and be able to read their behavior. > Almost all sharks are potentially dangerous, especially if you piss > them off or when they're really hungry. That's why you should start off by observing sharks for a long time with protection before you meet them unprotected. It's no different from other potentially dangerous animals. > When you're missing an arm, > are you going to comfort yourself by declaring that it was probably a > mistake? Some people who have been bitten by sharks have done just that. Myself, I've never been closer to a shark than two meters or so, and those were 'friendly' nurse sharks or medium sized [~2 m) reef sharks. Ramoras OTOH, those are sneaky bastards you have to look out for. You don't one of those sucking up to you. > It's a risk, but some scientists are willing to take risks to gain more > knowledge. It's hardly more dangerous than climbing active volcanos to get [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > you'd > better know what you are doing and be able to read their behavior. "Be able to read their behavior"??? You are nuts. Their behavior is strictly man-eating killer. And they've taken a bite of you before you even have a chance to see them coming. > That's why you should start off by observing sharks for a long time with > protection before you meet them unprotected. It's no different from other > potentially dangerous animals. That's what Sigfried said before the tiger bit off his head. Or was that Roy? > Some people who have been bitten by sharks have done just that. Myself, > I've never been closer to a shark than two meters or so, and those were > 'friendly' nurse sharks or medium sized [~2 m) reef sharks. Ramoras OTOH, > those are sneaky bastards you have to look out for. You don't one of those > sucking up to you. Remoras go for the balls. That's what makes them especially dangerous. Myself, I've poked plenty of sharks. Trust me, you'd rather have the remora after you. >> It's a risk, but some scientists are willing to take risks to gain >> more knowledge. It's hardly more dangerous than climbing active [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > strictly man-eating killer. And they've taken a bite of you before > you even have a chance to see them coming. "If sharks liked to eat people, people wouldn't be swimming in the ocean". I don't remember who said it, but it's a nice summary. You can read the behavior of sharks, and people who have lived through swimming hundreds of times with Great Whites prove it. Sharks are not normally man eating, not even the Great White. One of South Africa's most popular beaches is located only a few km from one of the world's largest concentration of Great Whites. I doubt most of the people there even know about it, because those sharks stay away from the beach, instead circling an island that is a large seal colony. >> That's why you should start off by observing sharks for a long time >> with protection before you meet them unprotected. It's no different >> from other potentially dangerous animals. > > That's what Sigfried said before the tiger bit off his head. Or was > that Roy? That was Roy Horn, and he is still alive and has recovered reasonably well. Sure, there are risks, but there are risks with everything. Do you ever cross the street? People get run over every day doing that. I'm sure Siegried and Roy were quite aware that there were risks involved in their job. That tiger wasn't a killer, it got startled by someone in the audience, so this example just shows that it is dangerous to have strangers around. >> Some people who have been bitten by sharks have done just that. >> Myself, I've never been closer to a shark than two meters or so, and [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > Remoras go for the balls. That's what makes them especially > dangerous. ???? Remoras stick wherever they can, preferably close to the mouth. They don't really hurt sharks or other animals they stick to, they just eat food scraps. Humans just have very soft skin. I know a guy who had one suck on to the side of his neck, and he was *not* happy. > Myself, I've poked plenty of sharks. Trust me, you'd rather have the > remora after you. I've been close to both, and the remora is the only one who has been 'aggressive' trying to sneak up under my belly. Of course, I haven't actually tried to poke any shark, that is just begging for trouble. If you keep the distance so do they. > "If sharks liked to eat people, people wouldn't be swimming in the > ocean". I don't remember who said it, but it's a nice summary. You can > read the behavior of sharks, and people who have lived through swimming > hundreds of times with Great Whites prove it. It just proves that Great Whites aren't always hungry. After all, fish swim in the ocean too and sharks like to eat fish. How many fish do you see walking around on land? > Sharks are not normally man eating, not even the Great White. One of > South Africa's most popular beaches is located only a few km from one of > the world's largest concentration of Great Whites. I doubt most of the > people there even know about it, because those sharks stay away from the > beach, instead circling an island that is a large seal colony. That just proves that Great Whites prefer seal flesh to human flesh. You had better hope the seals stick around, 'cause once they're all eaten, the sharks will turn on you next. Do they have all those shark nets off the beaches just for looks, then? >> Remoras go for the balls. That's what makes them especially >> dangerous. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > food scraps. Humans just have very soft skin. I know a guy who had one > suck on to the side of his neck, and he was *not* happy. I've never been sucked by a remora. Given that they go for the balls, I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or not. > I've been close to both, and the remora is the only one who has been > 'aggressive' trying to sneak up under my belly. Of course, I haven't > actually tried to poke any shark, that is just begging for trouble. If > you keep the distance so do they. I've had sharks come straight at me. They don't always keep their distance. And poking them might be begging for trouble, but how else are you gonna know what they feel like? > "Thomas Palm" <Thomas.Palm@chello.removethis.se> wrote in message >> Sharks are not normally man eating, not even the Great White. One of >> South Africa's most popular beaches is located only a few km from one [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > You had better hope the seals stick around, 'cause once they're all > eaten, the sharks will turn on you next. If the seals run out the sharks are likely to move. They aren't even outside that island more than part of the year when the seals are there. I'm not sure if anyone knows where they go the rest of the year. We just aren't a natural food for sharks. > Do they have all those shark nets off the beaches just for looks, > then? More or less, yes. It's to comfort the swimmers. Just like the anti-shark substance given to US sailors during WW II, which later showed that if it had any effect at all it was to weakly attract sharks. The price of those nets are atrocious,though. They don't just catch sharks but anything large enough that swims past. Most species of sharks are threatened by now, so the question really isn't if sharks are dangerous to us, but if we are so dangerous to them that we are going to wipe them all out. We are the monsters, not them. (Especially peple who eat shark fin soup. Killing an entire shark just for the fins is outrageous). >>> Remoras go for the balls. That's what makes them especially >>> dangerous. [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > I've never been sucked by a remora. Given that they go for the balls, > I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or not. Except that they don't go for the balls. You seem to believe in a lot of myths. >> I've been close to both, and the remora is the only one who has been >> 'aggressive' trying to sneak up under my belly. Of course, I haven't [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > distance. And poking them might be begging for trouble, but how else > are you gonna know what they feel like? Why would you need to? Are you the kind of guy who walks up to strange women squeezing their breasts too "just to know what they feels like"? Places like Sea World have petting pools if you are really despecrate. I can well understand why you should stay away from sharks, though. You just don't seem to have the common sense necessary to be around potentially dangerous animals. > If the seals run out the sharks are likely to move. They aren't even > outside that island more than part of the year when the seals are there. > I'm not sure if anyone knows where they go the rest of the year. We just > aren't a natural food for sharks. Sure we are. Look at all the plane and ship wrecks where sharks ate all the survivors. If the survivors weren't viewed as food, then were the sharks just maliciously playing with them like a cat plays with a mouse, or eating them out of spite and revenge because they hate humans for eating their fins? > More or less, yes. It's to comfort the swimmers. Just like the anti-shark > substance given to US sailors during WW II, which later showed that if it > had any effect at all it was to weakly attract sharks. The price of those > nets are atrocious,though. They don't just catch sharks but anything > large enough that swims past. But they do catch sharks. Sharks that would otherwise feast on the swimmers. "CAPE TOWN, South Africa - A British surfer attacked by a great white shark described Wednesday how he kicked and lashed out wildly to free his leg from the shark's jaws, which sliced his flesh 'like a knife through butter.'" "Chris Sullivan was surfing with friends Monday when the 13-foot shark attacked. . . . The attack at Nordhoek on a stunning stretch of beach about 12 miles from Cape Town occurred at the same point where a bodyboarder was killed 18 months ago. A great white bit off the leg of a teenage surfer one year ago nearby, and a 77-year-old swimmer was eaten by a great white in nearby Fish Hoek last October. http://www.macon.com/mld/macon/news/world/11269120.htm Sounds lovely. > Most species of sharks are threatened by now, so the question really > isn't if sharks are dangerous to us, but if we are so dangerous to them > that we are going to wipe them all out. We are the monsters, not them. > (Especially peple who eat shark fin soup. Killing an entire shark just > for the fins is outrageous). I'm with you there. I hate to even see wontons suffer needlessly. Sharks should only be butchered out of revenge, like my hero Leo DiCaprio did in The Beach before the tsunami washed everything away. And Jaws. I was happy when they finally took him down, the bastard. >> I've never been sucked by a remora. Given that they go for the balls, >> I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or not. > > Except that they don't go for the balls. You seem to believe in a lot of > myths. Most myths are based in truth. I've witnessed such behavior with my own eyes and I know others, or at least other, who have(has) suffered the same fate. Just because they avoid your balls doesn't mean they don't go for the balls in general. It just says something about your hygiene. You must have washed off the fishy smell. > Why would you need to? Are you the kind of guy who walks up to strange > women squeezing their breasts too "just to know what they feels like"? > Places like Sea World have petting pools if you are really despecrate. > I can well understand why you should stay away from sharks, though. You > just don't seem to have the common sense necessary to be around > potentially dangerous animals. I already know what the breasts of strange women feel like, but there are a lot of shark species that I have yet to poke, including a whale shark (though I got damn close), a Great White (I'd do this one from a cage), and a few others. There's (usually) no law that says that the fishies can only been seen and occasionally heard. To properly appreciate the underwater environment, it's necessary to caress and fondle your way through a dive, interacting in a physical and spiritual manner with the creatures you poke. The loving suction of an octopus's or an anemone's tentacles, the hard yet yielding surface of a jellyfish's head that can only be described as "turgid", the delicate sliminess of a moray, or the rough and randy texture of a vicious man-eating shark . . it's all good. >> If the seals run out the sharks are likely to move. They aren't even >> outside that island more than part of the year when the seals are [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > mouse, or eating them out of spite and revenge because they hate > humans for eating their fins? These incidents aren't as common as you might think, but sure, it seems as if shipwrecks with all the noise, strange chemicals in the water and lots of bodies sometimes drives sharks into a frenzy. Nothing like this happens around beaches where there also are lots of people. Add in the habit people have had of dumping trash overboard, leading to sharks who follow ships in the search of food and you have a dangerous situation. Feeding wild animals is a good way of eventually getting attacked. >> More or less, yes. It's to comfort the swimmers. Just like the >> anti-shark substance given to US sailors during WW II, which later [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > But they do catch sharks. Sharks that would otherwise feast on the > swimmers. I hope you are aware that these nets do not encircle the beaches. They cover some stretches, but there are also large gaps where sharks can get in. The idea is that if you have some nets they will catch sharks (and everything else) in the area, but a new shark could swim in any time and take a bite out of you. But, of course, sharks don't feast on swimmers, net or no net. > "CAPE TOWN, South Africa - A British surfer attacked by a great white > shark described Wednesday how he kicked and lashed out wildly to free > his leg from the shark's jaws, which sliced his flesh 'like a knife > through butter.'" It happes occasionally. Compared to other accidents with animals it is extremely rare, but the newspapers love to write about it. I think I saw an interview with that guy and he intended to go back surfing. He was certain the attack was just a mistake and not likely to reoccur. >> Most species of sharks are threatened by now, so the question really >> isn't if sharks are dangerous to us, but if we are so dangerous to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > DiCaprio did in The Beach before the tsunami washed everything away. > And Jaws. I was happy when they finally took him down, the bastard. Well, if you get your view about sharks from the movies I can understand if it is distorted. It was like when Cousteau started the shark scare with his programs. They claimed they had to be in cages while filming the ferocious sharks just to add some excitement to the show. What they didn't tell was that the divers were scared about getting stuck in a cage while it was winched down, so they swam down in free water and didn't enter the cage until it was time to start shooting. >>> I've never been sucked by a remora. Given that they go for the >>> balls, I'm not sure whether that's a good thing or not. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > don't go for the balls in general. It just says something about your > hygiene. You must have washed off the fishy smell. Do you f.ck the fish? > I already know what the breasts of strange women feel like, but there > are a lot of shark species that I have yet to poke, including a whale [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > delicate sliminess of a moray, or the rough and randy texture of a > vicious man-eating shark . . it's all good. Then you are even more crazy than those scientists who swim with Great Whites. At least they have enough common sense not to be aggressive. (Swimming up to a strange animal and petting it can be interpreted as aggression). If you get bitten you have only yourself to blame. Consider the bite as a spiritual experience as the shark 'fondles' you to see if you are good. > But, of course, sharks don't feast on swimmers, > net or no net. Does it really matter whether it is a feast or just a snack when you're missing a leg and probably going to bleed to death? "Grumman-581" <grumman###@gmail.com> wrote in news:iV9te.85116$xm3.68845 @attbi_s21: >> But, of course, sharks don't feast on swimmers, >> net or no net. > > Does it really matter whether it is a feast or just a snack when you're > missing a leg and probably going to bleed to death? It matters because if sharks liked to eat humans people wouldn't be swimming in the sea. Early on shark attacks would have been so common that the few who tried would soon have perished since we are totally helpless against a shark in the water. Only the fact that sharks don't normally eat people has made it possible for people to get into the habit of swimming, so paradoxically, it is the lack of shark attacks that has led to the shark nets being put up. People occassionally get bitten by dogs too, but how many do you think would have dogs if they liked to eat people whenever they got a chance? <crossposting-snipped> > People occassionally get bitten by dogs too, but how many do you think > would have dogs if they liked to eat people whenever they got a chance? That behavior was bred out of them for the most part... The dogs who were too aggressive soon found out that WE were at the top of the food chain... I will not stand for a dog of mine to bite me... If he does, I put a bullet in his head and bury him behind the house... He doesn't get a second chance... If he growls and is possessive of his food, I'll hit him hard enough to let him know that since I give him the food, I can take it away anytime I want... They are a pack animal and you have to let them know that you are the Alpha Male in the pack... > People occassionally get bitten by dogs too, but how many do you think > would have dogs if they liked to eat people whenever they got a chance? Dogs are lazy and much smarter than sharks. They realize that they need us to feed them and they've been taught to not bite the hand that feeds them or else they don't get fed. Sharks can eat anything and everything. They just don't give a damn. Besides, I'm a lot bigger than most of the dogs I know, and give me a good long stick and I'll take on some of the biggest. I'm only about average for a shark, and barely an amuse geule for a Great White. > Sharks can eat anything and everything. They just don't give a damn. The same is often said about goats. Oh, my Gawd... It' a goat... Run for your lives.... >> Sharks can eat anything and everything. They just don't give a damn. > > The same is often said about goats. > > Oh, my Gawd... It' a goat... Run for your lives.... You forgot the oboe music.  Signaturedillon Linux, it's not just an OS, it's a way of life. And a damn fine one, at that. > >> Sharks can eat anything and everything. They just don't give a damn. > > [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > You forgot the oboe music. >dillon >Linux, it's not just an OS, it's a way >of life. >And a damn fine one, at that. >X-Newsreader: Forte Agent 2.0/32.652 Opera/Wine, right? ;-) >> >> Sharks can eat anything and everything. They just don't give a damn. >> > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > >;-) No, I'm currently stranded on Windblows for compatibility reasons with my customers. But I use as few MS products as possible, Agent, Eudora, Firefox, Open Office, etc. Signaturedillon Linux, it's not just an OS, it's a way of life. And a damn fine one, at that. > These incidents aren't as common as you might think, but sure, it seems > as if shipwrecks with all the noise, strange chemicals in the water and [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > follow ships in the search of food and you have a dangerous situation. > Feeding wild animals is a good way of eventually getting attacked. These incidents aren't as common as I might think only because ship and plane wrecks are rare, not because the sharks aren't hungry for human flesh. Why should it be any different on the beaches, with all the noise, the strange chemicals in the water, and lots of bodies? Maybe your beaches have just been lucky so far. When the sharks get sick of eating plane crash survivors they'll turn on the beaches next. > It happes occasionally. Compared to other accidents with animals it is > extremely rare, but the newspapers love to write about it. I think I saw > an interview with that guy and he intended to go back surfing. He was > certain the attack was just a mistake and not likely to reoccur. So what other animals attack so ferociously and without warning? We've had a couple mountain lion attacks here in Southern California, but I'd take on a local mountain lion over a local great white any day. The mountain lion is a sentient mammal and I could likely connect with its brain and convince it not to attack me. Sharks don't give a damn. No amount of pleading or posturing will get them to leave you alone. > Well, if you get your view about sharks from the movies I can understand > if it is distorted. It was like when Cousteau started the shark scare [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > while it was winched down, so they swam down in free water and didn't > enter the cage until it was time to start shooting. And then there was that other movie where they enhanced the sharks' brains. Spooky. I can't see why anyone is dumb enough to get in the water nowadays. > Do you f.ck the fish? Uh, not the fish. What are you, some kind of perv? No wonder the sharks leave you alone. > Then you are even more crazy than those scientists who swim with Great > Whites. At least they have enough common sense not to be aggressive. > (Swimming up to a strange animal and petting it can be interpreted as > aggression). If you get bitten you have only yourself to blame. Consider > the bite as a spiritual experience as the shark 'fondles' you to see if > you are good. Just looking like a shark and displaying all those teeth is interpreted as aggression where I come from. The trick is to be the first one showing aggression, which throws them off guard. Then, just like puppy dogs, they have no choice but to become submissive, roll over, and let you scratch their bellies. The occasional nip isn't any more than the love bites that puppies often inflict. But if you let the shark get aggressive first, that puppy becomes a vicious junkyard pitbull. Always approach a shark before it approaches you. > "Thomas Palm" <Thomas.Palm@chello.removethis.se> wrote in message [....] >>It happes occasionally. Compared to other accidents with animals it is >>extremely rare, but the newspapers love to write about it. I think I saw [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > it not to attack me. Sharks don't give a damn. No amount of pleading or > posturing will get them to leave you alone. You make some interesting observations about shark behaviour - maybe I've got more in common with sharks than I thought, albeit with a more discriminating diet plan. [....] Signaturejer email reply - I am not a 'ten' > "CAPE TOWN, South Africa - A British surfer attacked by a great white shark > described Wednesday how he kicked and lashed out wildly to free his leg from > the shark's jaws, which sliced his flesh 'like a knife through butter.'" MMMMMMMmmmmm Butter...... Delicious creamery Butter...... > We just aren't a natural food for sharks. So they only eat half of us instead of the all of us... Not going to make much of a difference if you are on the menu for that day... > (Especially peple who eat shark fin soup. Killing an entire shark just > for the fins is outrageous). Definitely wasteful... They should eat the rest of the shark also... As long as the rest of the shark is harvested, I don't have a problem with it... They're good grilled... It's *good* to be at the TOP of the food chain... > And poking them might be begging for trouble, but how else are you gonna > know what they feel like? Wasn't that what Michael Jackson said? > That just proves that Great Whites prefer seal flesh to human flesh. You > had better hope the seals stick around, 'cause once they're all eaten, the > sharks will turn on you next. Ya, I've heard the same thing said about Nuns. Really Greg, take your meds. -- "We must create a <economic> crisis in order to ensure that there is no alternative to a smaller government." - Bush - Imprimus Magazine 1995. "We seek to remove resources from the control of the state, thereby starving it." - International Society for Individual Liberty - NeoCon Libertarian. "Throughout his term, Bush has implied tax cuts would starve the government, paying for themselves by causing budget deficits that, in turn, would place heavy pressure on Congress to lower spending." - Jeff Lemieux - Senior Economist - Progressive Policy Institute. "They have an agenda which is to starve the government of revenue. But in order to get it through, they keep on having to pretend that the tax cuts are affordable, and so they've been suppressing the likely cost of everything, including the war on terror." - Paul Krugman - Economist. To give it an Australian flavour, you should be more afraid of trees than sharks. More people are killed by falling trees in this country than are killed by sharks............and the government has a program in place at the moment called the Greening of Australia in which it wants to plant a billion more trees. Is the government trying to get rid of us?? On a serious note bees kill more people here than all the sharks, crocs, spiders, snakes and jellyfish put together!! So why arent the tourists warned about them instead of all the 'nasty' animals?? 12 people died last year by falling off a horse.....maybe we should go and shoot all the horses........... etc etc >> It's a risk, but some scientists are willing to take risks to gain more >> knowledge. It's hardly more dangerous than climbing active volcanos to [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > Myself, I've poked plenty of sharks. Trust me, you'd rather have the > remora after you. > To give it an Australian flavour, you should be more afraid of trees than > sharks. More people are killed by falling trees in this country than are > killed by sharks............and the government has a program in place at > the moment called the Greening of Australia in which it wants to plant a > billion more trees. Is the government trying to get rid of us?? That Australians are killed by falling trees says a lot more about Australians than it does about sharks. If I were your government, I'd be trying to get rid of you too. > On a serious note bees kill more people here than all the sharks, crocs, > spiders, snakes and jellyfish put together!! So why arent the tourists > warned about them instead of all the 'nasty' animals?? They don't warn the tourists about much of anything dangerous, even drunk Australians who hate Americans. For some reason, scaring tourists somehow depresses tourism. > 12 people died last year by falling off a horse.....maybe we should go and > shoot all the horses........... Horses stink and they haven't been useful in a century or so. I have no problem with you shooting all of them. And shoot those koala while you're at it. I've heard they too can become quite vicious when fondled. But you really can't equate "falling off a horse" with "being eaten by a shark". When the horses starting eating people at random, I'm sure more will join my anti-horse crusade. In the meantime, it's simpler to stick with pointing out the evil ways of the shark kingdom. Greg Mossman: > And shoot those koala while you're at it. I've heard they too can become quite > vicious when fondled. Greg doesn't recommend fondling Koala's It leaves his hands sticky and his blue dress stained. > > 12 people died last year by falling off a horse.....maybe we should go and > > shoot all the horses........... Lets not let the cats slide just because some are cute. http://dawn.com/2005/07/04/nat39.htm Leopard kills 2 women ABBOTTABAD, July 3: A woman and her mother-in-law were killed by a leopard in vilage Chatri near Thandiyani here on Saturday. The victims, identified as Khurshid Bibi and Ferozan Bibi, had gone to work in their fields when they were attacked by the beast. The residents have demanded that the govenrment should to adopt measures against the danger of wild beasts, which, they said had caused huge losses to people by killing their cattle and also posing a threat to human life.-Correspondent Charlie > > To give it an Australian flavour, you should be more afraid of trees than > > sharks. More people are killed by falling trees in this country than are [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > Australians than it does about sharks. If I were your government, I'd be > trying to get rid of you too. Eucalyptus are notorious for just dropping a limb spontaneously with no warning. > Remoras go for the balls. That's what makes them especially dangerous. Except to women. Don't worry, they will go away as soon as the UK freeze solid due to the gulf stream shutting down. > Don't worry, they will go away as soon as the UK freeze solid due to the > gulf stream shutting down. Last time there was a spike in shark attacks off the US Atlantic coast, it was followed by 9/11. Raise the terror alert level to red!!!! > > Don't worry, they will go away as soon as the UK freeze solid due to the > > gulf stream shutting down. > > Last time there was a spike in shark attacks off the US Atlantic coast, > it was followed by 9/11. Raise the terror alert level to red!!!! Jeezus I was right. > From: The Times Friday June 17 2005 NEWS 27 > by Simon De Bruxelles [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > P.S. > English is not my first language Don't worry if they come near Britain we will probably eat them what does sharks and chips taste like? chips a long thin piece of potato that is fried and usually eaten hot: fish and chips. Beans/egg/sausage shark? and chips lovely lovely lovely!!!! _____________________________ ID signature Philip Davidson, 10 Ronald Avenue West Ham E15 3AH East London Phone: ( 020 ) 511 9341 Mobile phone 07906821566 > Don't worry if they come near Britain we will probably eat them > what does sharks and chips taste like? Ask the Newquay seagulls. Mattias > > Don't worry if they come near Britain we will probably eat them > > what does sharks and chips taste like? > > Ask the Newquay seagulls. > Mattias I haven't been there since the 70s dead seagulls wrapped up in seaweed when they wasn't shiting on you. Lovely area. http://www.liquidgeneration.com/poptoons/michaeljackson_smoothcriminal.swf _____________________________ ID signature Philip Davidson, 10 Ronald Avenue West Ham E15 3AH East London Phone: ( 020 ) 511 9341 Mobile phone 07906821566 > I haven't been there since the 70s > dead seagulls wrapped up in seaweed > when they wasn't shiting on you. Last been there in 1978. Lovely, yes, though a bit crowded. And the Seagulls lined up for yer left over fish'n chips. Except, they decided when it was apt to be classified as leftover. Somewhere between the plate and your mouth. Matthias > > From: The Times Friday June 17 2005 NEWS 27 > > by Simon De Bruxelles [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > Phone: ( 020 ) 511 9341 > Mobile phone 07906821566 Shark's probably like swordfish, I imagine. They don't do decent fish and chips here in the US (based on intermittent sampling around New England for many years). That drive to make it "more" that infests most food products, makes it end up excessively thick and the interior kind of reminiscent of steamed cod. Perhaps that's related to the relative popularity of fish sticks here, which do not suffer from this giantism. > From: The Times Friday June 17 2005 NEWS 27 > by Simon De Bruxelles [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > Are the swimmers (while in the waters) able to discern the species of > sharks ? There always have been large numbers of Basking sharks off the Scottish and northern Irish coasts so much so that there was an industry for producing shark liver oil as a feedstock for the pharmaceutical industry. If there is an increase in sightings it's probably related to the results of shutting down the harpooners? Basking and Porbeagle sharks have always been indigenous to that coastline. That may be one cause. However, another may be that their food source is being depleated due to polution and over fishing. They may be moving into shore to hunt. > > From: The Times Friday June 17 2005 NEWS 27 > > by Simon De Bruxelles [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > to the results of shutting down the harpooners? Basking and Porbeagle > sharks have always been indigenous to that coastline. Thomas Palm wrote: > "Pietro Sommavilla" <judoka1...@yahoo.com> wrote in > news:1119097536.660066.48320@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com: > > Are only the harmeless sharks moving north 'cause the global warming ? > Probably not, but I don't think there are any dangerous sharks in or near > British waters. > Actually very few sharks are dangerous, there are even > scientists studying the Great White while swimming without any protection. August 24, 2005 Marine biologist, 23, killed by a shark off Gleneig Beach, near Adelaide, Australia. [Definitely not a good idea] Sharks shows a poor sense of discernment when they launch themselves skywards towards any *natural* food source. :( > Thomas Palm wrote: >> "Pietro Sommavilla" <judoka1...@yahoo.com> wrote in [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > skywards towards any *natural* food source. > :( global warming! > > Thomas Palm wrote: > >> "Pietro Sommavilla" <judoka1...@yahoo.com> wrote in [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > > global warming! I feel that we should not list his grammar errors, or typos, or broken URLs, or any errors like this. ;-) > That may be one cause. However, another may be that their food source is > being depleated due to polution and over fishing. They may be moving into > shore to hunt. This is also true. > > > From: The Times Friday June 17 2005 NEWS 27 > > > by Simon De Bruxelles [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > > to the results of shutting down the harpooners? Basking and Porbeagle > > sharks have always been indigenous to that coastline. |
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