ALERT!.. News is canceled for the day... There has been a bear attack

[SoCalDem]

CNN will be all over this.. and MSRNC's "Breathless in Aruba" will be headed , microphone in hand to the hospital for an up-close and person head-bobbing interview.

The sad part is that a little girl was killed and her mother & brother hurt, but WHY would people think that springtime is a good time to go to the woods.. Mother bears are super protective of their own young and their shrinking habitat..


I guess bears are the new shark..

[Virginia Dare]

1. Stephen Colbert will be all over this...

seriously, I'm sure the whores at CNN, FOX, et al are just pissing themselves over this story. It has all the earmarks of a good car wreck.

[DemGirl7]

27. That was my first thought when I heard about it

I love his thing against Bears, its so funny.

[crispini]

39. That is exactly what I thought too!

I like bears.

[jbnow]

69. I was thinking he'd back off bears for a while

because this is so not funny. But I did think of him right away too.

[poleepafrog]

2. My cousin was killed by a bear....thanx.

Alaska 1962

[SoCalDem]

4. And I would know that because?

Seriously, though.. I am sorry that happened in your family..but that does not excuse the fact that park rangers should warn people against tramping around in the woods when mother bears have young cubs nearby..

[MissB]

5. Didn't you know

you were supposed to have the standard disclaimer at the bottom of your post?

Ex: I would like to apologize in advance for any pain this post may cause.

:eyes:

[poleepafrog]

11. You would know that because...

...being a kind, thoughtful person you know that things like that happen in life and are enough of a tragedy--without someone being flip about it. You would know that and, therefore, you'd take a split second more thought as to the wording of your subject line; I know you have the talent and vocab that would easily enable you to do that and still retain all you meant.

I see WAY too many flip subject lines about Natalie, White girls, blondes, people who have passed away--now dead 6 year-olds--that are probably typed out before the poster has given any thought to who might read them (maybe a 'who' who has led quite a different life from theirs). Nobody here would jest about a Katrina victim, or a half-drown Cuban boat person, or an earthquake sufferer.

Imagine the Grandma of the 6 year-old reading what you wrote. Imagine the mother of ANY other six year-old reading what you wrote (or what some post about Natalie, or women, or blondes or anything) and wondering what kind of people we are, would BE, if HER child turned up dead.

I want us to be the kind of people that other people want to JOIN with.

[FlaGranny]

44. You really should

lighten up a bit. Other people have family members who have been killed or died by any number of ways. I had a daughter who was murdered. I don't complain every time someone mentions a murder on this board, even if they were murdered in the same fashion. Taking things so personally will only make you unhappy - especially if you're still holding onto those feelings after such a long time.

[poleepafrog]

48. Perhaps...

But this is my first day posting and I am absolutely floored by the....the..... unkindness...

[FlaGranny]

52. Sometimes it seems so, but

all kinds of folks are here, some kind, some not so kind. As message boards go on the internet, there are MUCH worse ones. Sometimes things seem unkind when all it is is a vicious sense of humor, which many develop once they've been posting a while. When you're new it's best just to feel your way around and not be too controversial at first and try not to be too sensitive. If this is the right place for you, you'll eventually feel at home. There is no place else in the world, web or not, where you can become better informed than you can here. Please be patient. And welcome to the board.

Edit: As you can see, this thread is mostly very biting humor, but I guarantee you that everyone is saddened by this event.

[Thtwudbeme]

60. OK, I know you meant to be kind

and I adore you on DU...

but "BITING humor????"

STOP ME, please, somebody stop me now----

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH

[SoCalDem]

61. chomp...

[FlaGranny]

62. Whaaaa did I say?

HeheheHAHAHA yurself.

It really was unintentional, but maybe just a little subconscious thought coming through. The hubby was at the door saying "hurry up" - I actually forgot the original reason for the thread when I wrote that. Geez, we CAN be sick around here sometimes can't we?

;-)

[SoCalDem]

65. true dat...

I feel terrible about the actual event, but the post was about what the media would do with a "new" heartstring idea, and froggie tugged at my sarcasm instincts :evilgrin:..and then steph got my back and others joined in.. oh well...

whaddayahgonnado

[mtnsnake]

66. unkindness my ass

Anyone who checks out your initial posts will see you came on here with a pretty confrontational attitude.

Nice act, though.

[poleepafrog]

71. I was NOT just referring to what was said to ME.

Not by a LONG shot. I've lurked here for several months--and, yes, I can give as good as I get--but I'm not often unkind unless pushed. Any 'confrontational' aspects of my posts are either to ask a question, clarify a position--or restate a deliberate misunderstanding of my posts.

I'm sorry if you feel so threatened by that (I thought that what I was doing was called 'honesty'). Perhaps the best way to deal with it is to simply skip my posts, answer the questions, have your position clarified, and/or understand what I type and respond to it straightforwardly--instead of trying to pick a fight, or show how nasty you can be.

[mtnsnake]

72. You asked for what you're getting. You generalized how "unkind" it is here

in your first day of posting....how you were "absolutely floored by the....the..... unkindness..."

You got on the OPer's case because she satirized a bear attack, something 99% of the posters here would find nothing wrong with. As if she knew that one of the .000000000000000000000000001% of people in this country who were killed by bears just happened to be your cousin. Gimme a break.

Now you're telling me right there in your subject title that it's not just about you, the unkindness, that is....but how you've lurked here for months, so it's the unkindness in general: "I was NOT just referring to what was said to ME. Not by a LONG shot. I've lurked here for several months"

Well if you've lurked here for several months, and you already knew how "unkind" it is here, then why were you "absolutely floored by the....the..... unkindness..." in your "first day of posting?"

Sorry, but it doesn't add up, no matter which way you spin it.

[poleepafrog]

75. I call it like I see 'em.

And lurking is one thing; it's a different thing to have it personally directed at you--for small reason. You all love to play 'gotcha', you love to deliberately misunderstand a post (as you did) and use that as an excuse to blast someone--and that's unkind.

[mtnsnake]

76. There is nothing to "deliberately misunderstand" about anything you said

It was clear. Go back and read what you said for yourself.

When someone with only a few posts under their belts generalizes in negative fashion about our forum, you should expect to be scrutinized.

[iamthebandfanman]

73. :)

sorry for the 'unkindness' youve gotten in other threads (i duno what was said to you exactly).
on du u kinda hafta harden your emotions sometimes... people are ready to argue or debate with anything you say ..regardless of what its content is and regardless of whether ur actually agreeing with them or not. i dunno y that is exactly.. but.. it is. anybody that is rude to u on DU is easily ignored for all the useful information you can get outa the site..trust me.

anywho
welcome to DU :b

[poleepafrog]

74. Thanks--you sound very decent and reasonable!

:toast:

[SmokingJacket]

54. And I have a relative who was eaten by a shark.

It's true. Shit happens -- and I'm not going to flip out if someone makes fun of shark attacks.

Though I do think it's wrong to hold the family responsible, unless they were taunting the bear.

[poleepafrog]

55. Nah....it wasn't a shark.

It was Kingshakabobo. (Tell FlaGranny I believe I'm getting the hang of this).B-)

[alittlelark]

70. When the # of bear attack deaths= or go above The BFEE's war dead #'s

We can chat about the evils that are inherant in bears..... until then.....?

[WhoseMarie]

78. Right-o ! Bears = shark = deflection for Bushco

It's like the fear-mongers and the shark attacks. Well, DUH friggin' DUH! When you go in murky water (surf and sand) and you are hanging with something the sharks like to eat (bait, small fish) and the sharks can't see ('cause of the sand and goo in the surf) well...you get confused with shark food. Sharks don't prefer humans...too big, too bony. Sharks like small fish, seals..that kind of thing.

I am a diver and I love looking at sharks - and totally respect them. We're in their world and by their good graces, we get out in one piece. Those who go on shark-hunting frenzies because they bit someone are the same types who massacred the original native Americans. They feel they have the right to be there, thus anything or anyone that goes against that thinking should be eradicated.

Typical.

I'm sorry the bear hurt the family and killed the child - but again, you're in the FOREST in SPRING TIME. HellO? I firmly believe that bears don't do this kind of thing unless they're worried someone will hurt their cubs, their den....or unless they've been fed and encouraged.

Besides, his is just what the Bushits want - anything to take the attention away from the Scooter/Dickie/Georgie show right now.

[Kingshakabobo]

10. My cousin was killed by a cousin.

Thanks a lot....:cry:

[poleepafrog]

16. Thank you.

I'm SURE that was the kindest thing you could think up to say.

[SeveneightyWhoa]

20. What are you thanking him/her for?

He had nothing to do with the bear's attack on your cousin.

[poleepafrog]

23. I never said he had anything to do with my cousin.

I thanked him because his extremely unpleasant post was obviously the kindest one he could think up to make.

[Kingshakabobo]

42. Why don't you hang around for a while before you start acting as net nanny

[Ignis]

51. How rude.

My nanny was once caught in a net...as I'm sure you know!

A little more sensitivity here, please! ;)

[poleepafrog]

58. I have the right to correct it...

...when someone has deliberately misstated and/or misunderstood one of my posts.

[CottonBear]

3. Very sad story and an unusual attack.

Our Southern black bears rarely attack. This was an unusual event. The mother and surviving child are in critical condition in hospital in Chattanooga. They are expected to survive.

However, the rest of the news should not be ignored although we know the Corporate Media will not lt this story go.

I hope the mom and child will be OK. :(

[asjr]

15. This was the first attack I have heard about

in a very long time. When I lived in E. TN back in the 50s and 60s my family would go to that same location quite often. Beautiful country. It was possibly a young bear finally out on its own and was panicked by the humans.

[CottonBear]

18. The families were playing in the creek and the bear was on the road.

The children had walked back up the road, saw the bear, teh bear chased them and then attacked. The mom and others tried to help and the bear hurt them too.

I too grew up in NC and East TN. My family is from the mountains. I've never heard of bear attacks except on coolers and packs full of food. Once, a friend of mine had a baby bear get into her staff cabin at Mount LeConte Lodge. She grabbed it a tossed it out the door where the mama bear was waiting! She didn't see mama bear until she opened the door!

[nonconformist]

28. Very sad. We've been having issues with black bears here lately

No attacks, thankfully, but there have been dozens upon dozens of reports of the bears coming into populated areas and getting in people's yards and stuff. One kind of funny story is that a family was in their backyard with some steaks on the grill and a bear came through the bushes, grabbed the entire grill and ran off with it.

So far, like I've said, nobody's been hurt. But it's disturbing that so many are not afraid of humans. The area wildlife experts say this has a lot to do with our tourists who have been feeding the bears or leaving food out for them.

I'm in SE Kentucky.

[Virginia Dare]

33. Precisely...

I have seen some people do some very stupid things around wild life, including trying to feed bears. This is a tragic story, but I think the point of the original post is that it will be exploited and blown beyond all proportion by the corporate whores who run the national news media outlets. This is to the detriment of the poor people involved, as well as to the general public.

[MissB]

41. .

:spray:

The bear grabbed the GRILL? Ouch. Good meal, but damn. :rofl:

[poleepafrog]

45. People need to get more savvy.

It's not smart to feed them--and it's not good for the bear! I know we went through the park near where the little gal was killed several years ago. I sure don't ever remember so many bear problems. (We also drove right up to Loretta Lynne's front door in Butcher Holler. Stayed the night at the 'Heart's' motel in Van Lear!)

[CottonBear]

63. The attack did not take place in a park. It was in a National Forest.

Are you Tina Turner?

You don't remember bear problems because we don't really have any here in East TN and NE GA.

[The Stranger]

6. Let me guess: They'll round up all the bears for 50 miles for slaughter.

That is usually how those still governed by the vestige of the reptilian brain respond (my apologies to all reptiles).

[SoCalDem]

8. and then they will search for the half-starved cubs left behind

and make a great "human interest" story about how they "saved" them..

When humans enter nature, things often go horribly awry:cry: for all

[poleepafrog]

24. Who is 'they'?

And how do you know who they are or what they will do?

[SoCalDem]

25. game wardens, park officials etc

[poleepafrog]

30. I know many many Fish and Wildlife people...

Why would you spread the story that they would kill wildlife without caring?

[Thtwudbeme]

32. Dear, I am so sorry you had a bad bear experience in your family, but

this thread is NOT about you, your family and friends.

you really, seriously need to let it go, and put this thread on ignore if it bothers you that badly.

[poleepafrog]

34. Uh *Cupcake*, I wasn't talking about a bear.

I was commenting on why you'd post about the indiscriminate killing of wildlife by the government when you have no proof. (There are PLENTY of Democrats that work in the government too, you know.)

[Thtwudbeme]

38. oh bullshit. You have personalized this thread in every single one of

your responses.

As far as your relative dying from a bear attack didn't you mention that was in Alaska in the sixties? Hell, are you going to take the Tsunami threads personally also? Maybe some earthquake ones? Were you even alive then?

I used to know people in fish and wildlife also---but, I didn't take any comments here personally.

[nonconformist]

29. Black bears are protected wildlife. nt

[SlipperySlope]

7. I hope this doesn't take the spotlight off Natalee Holloway

Our media needs to keep their attention on what is important: bringing Natalee Holloway home!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

12. Damn, I thought the BIG story

Was about some baseball guy taking Arnold's performance enhancing drugs.

[Ron Green]

31. What about the Duke players?

Aren't they missing? Did the bear get them?

I'M SO CONFUSED!!!!

:cry:

[SoCalDem]

36. Barry Bonds..can't forget him

Barry---B
Bonds---B
bears---B

Call CNN ..there's a whole new angle to the story

[Warpy]

9. Bears and cougars

and around here, they're increasingly threatened by exurbanites chasing the good life into their habitat.

Most attacks are against fluffy yappy little dogs and housecats who have been allowed to roam. Attacks against people are rare, presumably because we don't taste very nice.

People around here don't curtail their hiking in the spring and fall, bear seasons, because that's when the weather is best for hiking. Some go armed. The rest just keep their eyes peeled and back off if they see bears or cougars.

This is a sad story. Wild country is that, though, and anybody who visits it needs to know what precautions to take if potentially dangerous animals are sighted.

[medeak]

13. In Alaska everyone wears "bear bells"

and dogs as well..

[mrcheerful]

14. Right there is the real problem. People seem to think that going out into

wilderness is like a trip to the zoo and they are safe to walk like they do back home in their neighborhoods. Anyone who has a understanding of nature knows that when your out in wilderness areas you keep your eyes on everything an not just walk around with mouth gaping at the "wonders" of nature. Theres all kinds of nasty critters out in the wild, thats why its called wilderness.

[CottonBear]

21. This isn't quite the wilderness. It is a populat camping spot in TN.

Again, this is an unusual and rare attack to occur here in the Southeast.

[CottonBear]

19. This is unusual because our Southeastern black bears rarely attack

anything other than coolers and backpacks full of food.

[Lars39]

57. There was a woman killed on/near(?) Little River Road a few yrs ago.

Was it Cucumber Gap Trail? Can't remember. :shrug:

[leftofthedial]

17. sharks and bears and blondes

Oh my!

[yodermon]

22. There were lots of shark attacks the summer before 9/11.

At least it was reported as if there was a huge increase.

[RebelOne]

26. This is a very tragic story. Why shouldn't it make headlines?

[DeaconBlues]

35. it should make headlines

it is my fear, and I suppose the fear of many other here, that all the media coverage will blow out of proportion how threatening this animal is.

That, and the fact that disproportionate time spent on this story will distract from more important stories (the war, Plamegate, etc.).

[Thtwudbeme]

37. Hi SoCal!

I remember that you grew up in the midwest, but wasn't sure how much time you spent in the South, or on the East Coast--

Our black bears are nothing like the big meanies you guys have out there that eat tourists on a regular basis--these guys are pretty small, and primarily chomp on veggies, insects...and occasionally meat.

I have run into them a few times out hiking...normally they run the other direction--however, the past few years, more and more humans have been encroaching on their territory...and now we are becoming a problem to them.

The last time a mother and cub chowed down a person, the bears were found to be starving. I suspect an autopsy will be done on this bear, and something will be found to be wrong with it.

So sad--for the people and the bear.

However, I am like you....I don't understand why someone getting killed by wildlife should be headline news. I guess it's so rare---usually we are so busy killing and being ugly to our own species that we are shocked when an animal does something fairly natural.

And we call them "animals."

Yeah.

[SoCalDem]

40. Hi Steph.. Kansas doesn't have bears.. ( I think)

No place to hide..

There are bears here in CA and cougars too, but I am never where they are:)

but Like you, I think human encroachment has to factor into most attacks.. I mean.. if the people were not THERE, the bear would not have bothered them..

Our little friend seems to a Forrest Gump frog :)

[Thtwudbeme]

43. Heh--Scary Kansas Bears!

Dorothy had to be carried a looong way from home to be worried about Lions and Tigers and Bears!

Oh my!

Michael and I are heading to Kansas in June this year---KC, and then a small town in the middle of a big field--

Good to see you!

[nonconformist]

46. But they have LOCUSTS in Kansas!

Big, scary locusts! I lived in Kansas (Ft Riley) from 1994-1999, and damn those things scared me. We would be walking up our sidewalk and thousands of those beasts would jump out of the bushes. Ack!

And don't even get me started on the spiders. We killed one that got on our back porch the size of my fucking HAND - including the fingers! Hairy legs and all. Damn thing looked like it escaped from the zoo.

*full body shudder*

[WhoseMarie]

79. Kansas has something far scarier - Repigs with big trucks

Yuppers...my husband's family is there (similar as stated above - town in the middle of a big field) and these people are still obsessing about how they feel Kennedy 'stole' the election in 1960.

Man....Frank's book was so right on.

Nope...no bears there, just an alarming number of 'ostrich' types with their heads in the sand - on purpose and loving it.

[Kenergy]

47. Don't worry, Homeland Security will protect us n/t

[Jack Rabbit]

49. Hey, CNN . . .

Image from Kill Your Television

[DaveJ]

50. That's not funny

Someone broke my TV with a sledge hammer once and it costs a lot of money to replace.
Please show some sensitivity to my personal issues. :hippie:

[SmokingJacket]

53. Do bears get mad cow disease?

Because it's *really* rare for a black bear to attack anyone... I don't think those people were doing anything improper -- who gets killed by a bear in Tennessee?

[YouthInAsia]

56. Im sure they'll kill the poor bear. Why cant ppl figure out

that bears/sharks/big cats are WILDlife. They do not REASON (ie, thats a human child, I shouldnt kill it.)

[Thtwudbeme]

59. This attack sounded really weird

like something was wrong with the bear.

I don't think the family was doing anything wrong. Something like this happened a couple of years ago...a woman was attacked and partially eaten in NC or TN (I am from here...see above post)...and turns out the bears that attacked were starving to death.

[jbnow]

67. You're right. The bear

didn't back off when the people around the pool and parking lot tried to scare it off. This wasn't the middle of the forest, it was at a public spot that is a tourist attraction. Black bears usually would shy away and for sure don't chase people there.

They wondered about the bear having rabies or a brain tumor because of the odd behavior.

[YouthInAsia]

77. maybe it was a momma bear and her babies were around?

[jbnow]

68. I'm sure they will kill the bear

but I don't know what choice they have. This wasn't normal black bear behavior. There were a lot of people around the parking lot and pool, it didn't shy away. It chased and attacked people. It wasn't the middle of the forest.

[savemefromdumbya]

64. dumbya has a lot of friends in the media hence the bears!

sad