Animal Attacks

[JWags85]

Sharks have been disparaged and misunderstood for quite some time.  Since 1975 to be exact.  I get it, but they're essential to maintaining healthy seas.  I'm not suggesting they understand they've been vilified, and falsely characterized, but I wouldn't fk with them regardless. 

I'm trying to think of another broad animal type where the overarching category is characterized as scary and dangerous, but only a few are truly worth worrying about (snakes maybe?).

Obviously Great Whites are the T Rex of the shark world, but contrary to Jaws lore, they aren't picking people off the beach.  Bull sharks are nasty vicious mofos, made even worse by their ability/tendency to tolerate fresh/brackish water which lets them into rivers and estuaries to F stuff up.  But otherwise the majority of them are anywhere from harmless to terrified of people.

Ive snorkeled near 4-5 different species of sharks and its absolutely surreal.  You get almost this visceral fear, not panic or terror, but like your body is programmed to recognize the apex predator of the setting accordingly.  Then you settle into this kind of wonder watching them silently glide.

You always hear stories about situations where people say they forgot time existed, and usually its a hindset addition.  But on my honeymoon in the Maldives, I came across 5 blacktip reef sharks at the drop off from the shallows on our atoll.  They were swimming in this back and forth pattern from about 10-15 in front of me, then out just past the sightline, then back in and around.  I remember just floating and watching them, occasionally hearing my breathing, but just mesmerized.  Eventually my wife swam out and grabbed me and said she'd been calling me, and I'd been in the same spot watching them for 35 min and it had felt like 5.  It was one of the coolest things Ive ever experienced.

Fun fact...most shark bites are the equivalent of you reaching out to touch something to see what it is.

[MuggsyB]

I'm trying to think of another broad animal type where the overarching category is characterized as scary and dangerous, but only a few are truly worth worrying about (snakes maybe?).

Obviously Great Whites are the T Rex of the shark world, but contrary to Jaws lore, they aren't picking people off the beach.  Bull sharks are nasty vicious mofos, made even worse by their ability/tendency to tolerate fresh/brackish water which lets them into rivers and estuaries to F stuff up.  But otherwise the majority of them are anywhere from harmless to terrified of people.

Ive snorkeled near 4-5 different species of sharks and its absolutely surreal.  You get almost this visceral fear, not panic or terror, but like your body is programmed to recognize the apex predator of the setting accordingly.  Then you settle into this kind of wonder watching them silently glide.

You always hear stories about situations where people say they forgot time existed, and usually its a hindset addition.  But on my honeymoon in the Maldives, I came across 5 blacktip reef sharks at the drop off from the shallows on our atoll.  They were swimming in this back and forth pattern from about 10-15 in front of me, then out just past the sightline, then back in and around.  I remember just floating and watching them, occasionally hearing my breathing, but just mesmerized.  Eventually my wife swam out and grabbed me and said she'd been calling me, and I'd been in the same spot watching them for 35 min and it had felt like 5.  It was one of the coolest things Ive ever experienced.

Fun fact...most shark bites are the equivalent of you reaching out to touch something to see what it is.

Excellent points JWags.  I havd been beyond fortunate to dive at various locations surrounded by hammerheads, tiger, bull, and blacktip sharks.  Makos have also zoomed with incomprehensible speed within my vicinity.  The only words I can use to describe it is awe and euphoria.  Incredible members of our animal kingdom.  And you're 100% correct, they do not aimlessly or viciously attack.  My fear the first time was certainly there , but within minutes I was absolutely mesmerized.

[MU82]

Wags: Jaws was real, and you know it. Jeesh!

[MuggsyB]

I wonder where Deep Blue is hanging these days?  Last known sighting was off the coast of Oahu in 2019.  Hopefully she's okay. 

[MuggsyB]

Wags: Jaws was real, and you know it. Jeesh!

Jaws is a great film, but was about as accurate as Batman.  

[MU82]

Wait? What are you trying to say about Batman?

[PGsHeroes32]

Sharks have been disparaged and misunderstood for quite some time.  Since 1975 to be exact.  I get it, but they're essential to maintaining healthy seas.  I'm not suggesting they understand they've been vilified, and falsely characterized, but I wouldn't fk with them regardless. 

Sharks are dumb cowards

[MuggsyB]

Sharks are dumb cowards

They're not geniuses, but are vital to the health of our oceans.  Besmirching them is another stain on the human race. 

[MuggsyB]

Wait? What are you trying to say about Batman?

Batman is a joke and a complete disgrace to our mighty bat population.  Our land ecosystems depend on bats a lot, and they should be deeply admired and respected.  Fk Batman. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Batman is a joke and a complete disgrace to our mighty bat population.  Our land ecosystems depend on bats a lot, and they should be deeply admired and respected.  Fk Batman. 

Batman is a hero to children everywhere

[MuggsyB]

Batman is a hero to children everywhere

That's bad parenting. 

[Uncle Rico]

That's bad parenting. 

Batman could beat up a shark

[MuggsyB]

Batman could beat up a shark

Or not.  That would end very badly for that fraud. 

[MuggsyB]

I've never cared for "superheroes".  The fact that most humans drool and drivel over them is further evidence of our severe issues as a race.  And I couldn't stand them as a young tyke. 

[cheebs09]

Or not.  That would end very badly for that fraud. 

Not sure why this is even a debate. The Batman movie from 1966 showed how it would go down.

[Uncle Rico]

Not sure why this is even a debate. The Batman movie from 1966 showed how it would go down.

That just shows how stupid sharks are.  Batman had the high ground

[tower912]

If Statham can take out a Meg with a fishing knife, they can't be that smart.

[MuggsyB]

If Statham can take out a Meg with a fishing knife, they can't be that smart.

I like Statham but that goes beyond suspending disbelief.  That said, I bought him taking out those scammer jagofffs in the Beekeeper. 

[PGsHeroes32]

I like Statham but that goes beyond suspending disbelief.  That said, I bought him taking out those scammer jagofffs in the Beekeeper. 

The beekeeper needed more statham stomping on bees

[MuggsyB]

The beekeeper needed more statham stomping on bees

Our environment would completely collapse without bees. 

[Uncle Rico]

Our environment would completely collapse without bees. 

We'll get there soon enough

[PGsHeroes32]

Our environment would completely collapse without bees. 

Bees die after throwing a single punch

Completely worthless and cowardly creatures.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

We'll get there soon enough

It's part of a grand plan that you simply lack the foresight to understand:

No bees ---> everything pollinated by hand ---> FULL EMPLOYMENT~!

[MuggsyB]

Bees die after throwing a single punch

Completely worthless and cowardly creatures.

Or, they're literally the most important land species on the planet.