Does anyone else think the media needs to move on from the Seaworld story?

[Disney1fan2002]

They are again, trying to make a story that is not there. The whale did not murder this woman. He pulled her into the tank and she drowned. He did not maul her to death. One of the trainers said he could have even been trying to play with her.

I was watching the Today show this morning, while Matt Lauer interviewed a witness. The questions he was asking her were ridiculous. She was under ground, wacthing from a viewing tank, and he was trying to get her to say things that she couldn't, because all in all, she didn't actually see much. That interview didn't last long.

So I switched channels, and it's the same thing everywhere, these reporters are asking all these questions, trying to get someone to say the whale was wildy out of control or whatever.

Yes, they say he was acting a little strange before the "accident". I am not going to say attack, because I honestly don't think he attcked her. That doesn't mean he was out of his mind in a rage, and wanted to kill.

 

[wdwfan16]

They are again, trying to make a story that is not there. The whale did not murder this woman. He pulled her into the tank and she drowned. He did not maul her to death. One of the trainers said he could have even been trying to play with her.

I was watching the Today show this morning, while Matt Lauer interviewed a witness. The questions he was asking her were ridiculous. She was under ground, wacthing from a viewing tank, and he was trying to get her to say things that she couldn't, because all in all, she didn't actually see much. That interview didn't last long.

So I switched channels, and it's the same thing everywhere, these reporters are asking all these questions, trying to get someone to say the whale was wildy out of control or whatever.

Yes, they say he was acting a little strange before the "accident". I am not going to say attack, because I honestly don't think he attcked her. That doesn't mean he was out of his mind in a rage, and wanted to kill.

Where did it happen? At the Shamu show, Shamu lunch/dinner or in a holding tank? So many conflicting stories.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

It doesn't bother me. It offers a reminder - no matter how much you have domesticated a wild animal, you can never lose sight of the fact that they still have the instincts of a wild animal. Too many people think that their pets are perfectly safe. The harsh reality is that they are not...

 

[ols386]

If the media has a story, they always want to drag it out for as long as possible. For them it's all about the ratings/money.

 

[Wishing on a star]

The whale did not murder this woman. He pulled her into the tank and she drowned.

Okay, I have to respectfully disagree with this.

Whales, and other swimming mammals, KNOW what drowning is... They KNOW the need to breath... (They rush their newborn to the surface when born)

This is not the first time that this whale has 'acted strange' and endangered a human life.

Now, don't get me wrong... I LOVE whales and animals!!!!
I am not making this whale out to be an evil, mean, bloodthirsty, beast.
But, the fact remains that they are large, wild, predatory, animals...

I think it is bad enough that these whales are used to perform shows 'for your entertainment' ( to quote a dubious album title)... But, even at a reputable place like SeaWorld, these whales are now being overworked and abused in the name of entertainment and the almighty dollar.

When they started doing multiple shows, seven days a week, 365 a year, now including night shows with loud fireworks and strong special effects etc.... (like this is respectful and good for these animals...) That is when I went from being a SeaWorld proponent to going...

I know that the media is going to take this 'drama' for all it is worth.
But, IMHO, this is bringing forth some VALID questions and bringing coverage to a worthy situation.

 

[FireDancer]

If the media has a story, they always want to drag it out for as long as possible. For them it's all about the ratings/money.

The media will beat every story in the ground until there is something new to take it's place and get the beating. Look at the over coverage of the Tiger Woods story and The Michael Jackson Death.

The other thing they do is pretend to care about a story until something new comes up. Then they pretend to care about the new story and the one they just pretended to care about gets no coverage at all. When that Natalie Holloway chick was killed the news covered that to death until Katrina happened and then they fled that island like nothing ever happened down there and moved on to the next story.

 

[bookgirl]

They are again, trying to make a story that is not there. The whale did not murder this woman. He pulled her into the tank and she drowned. He did not maul her to death. One of the trainers said he could have even been trying to play with her.

I was watching the Today show this morning, while Matt Lauer interviewed a witness. The questions he was asking her were ridiculous. She was under ground, wacthing from a viewing tank, and he was trying to get her to say things that she couldn't, because all in all, she didn't actually see much. That interview didn't last long.

So I switched channels, and it's the same thing everywhere, these reporters are asking all these questions, trying to get someone to say the whale was wildy out of control or whatever.

Yes, they say he was acting a little strange before the "accident". I am not going to say attack, because I honestly don't think he attcked her. That doesn't mean he was out of his mind in a rage, and wanted to kill.

I think the problem is this particular Orca has two other deaths attatched to it (one where it drug another trainer underwater and drowned him and the death of a tresspassor that was found in the tank with the whale and had bite marks). It has a rep for aggression and was sold to Seaworld in the first place with the understanding that it would not be used for shows but for breeding only.

I think the media is gearing up for showing negligence or at least poor judgement on the part of seaworld.

 

[Geoff_M]

Does anyone remember the media going bonkers like this after the Sigfried & Roy tiger attack???

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Does anyone remember the media going bonkers like this after the Sigfried & Roy tiger attack???

It was covered extensively up here...

 

[palmtreegirl]

It hasn't even been 24 hours, if they're still going a week from now I'll agree with you.

 

[Trish Bessette]

I think the problem is this particular Orca has two other deaths attatched to it (one where it drug another trainer underwater and drowned him and the death of a tresspassor that was found in the tank with the whale and had bite marks). It has a rep for aggression and was sold to Seaworld in the first place with the understanding that it would not be used for shows but for breeding only.

I think the media is gearing up for showing negligence or at least poor judgement on the part of seaworld.

Exactly! My thought after I saw this on the news is why in the world did SeaWorld take this whale after two other deathsJust a matter of time before something else happened, and it did.My heart is sad for this woman's family but very upset at SeaWorld's bad judgment.

 

[PeterPan09]

First of all-one of the deaths was a man who snuck into the park after closing-so I'm not blaming the whale or Sea World for that one. I'm blaming the stupid human.

The other thing is-let's remember that a whale cannot form criminal intent to commit a murder. A whale acts on instinct. If the human does something that triggers an instinctual response in the animal and the animal acts on that instinct-it's a tragedy, not a murder.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

First of all-one of the deaths was a man who snuck into the park after closing-so I'm not blaming the whale or Sea World for that one. I'm blaming the stupid human.

The other thing is-let's remember that a whale cannot form criminal intent to commit a murder. A whale acts on instinct. If the human does something that triggers an instinctual response in the animal and the animal acts on that instinct-it's a tragedy, not a murder.

Agreed - these are not murders, but they demonstrate that this whale isn't as domesticated as they thought. Its instincts have taken 3 lives. I wouldn't blame it for any - the blame belongs on the people who place themselves in a position to be killed by a wild animal's instinctive behavior...

 

[RadioNate]

It's been less than 24 hours. If they are still talking about it in depth next week I'll agree they need to move on.

But I also agree with WOAS that this brings up very vaild questions about the safety and treatment of these animals in captivity.

I agree that the whale acted on instinct, that doesn't take away the fact that this woman was the 3rd to drown in this whale's tank.

 

[krcit]

It hasn't even been 24 hours, if they're still going a week from now I'll agree with you.

This.

 

[wvjules]

If the media has a story, they always want to drag it out for as long as possible. For them it's all about the ratings/money.

As long as possible? It was less than 24 hours ago. If the story is still headlines next week then maybe it has been drug out too long. But being less than 24 hours...no.

 

[FireDancer]

I just realized that the name of the whale, Tillikum, is an anagram of "Um, Kill it." Strange.

 

[lillygator]

if it hadn't been for the whale the woman would not be dead today.

 

[cabanafrau]

The entire thing boils down to the ridiculous notion of keeping such massive wild creatures in captivity. Simply should not be done.

Despite the fact this animal has been in captivity for decades and is quite used to human interaction, that does not qualify it as domesticated. Domestication takes much, much longer.

 

[luvmy3]

if it hadn't been for the whale the woman would not be dead today.

Or if it hadn't been for humans keeping the whale in captivity the woman would be alive today. You can't blame an animal for acting on instinct.