Posted on 08/19/2005 6:47:26 AM PDT by Undertow
My gosh, tigers are magnificient animals aren't they? And I love that picture. Doesn't exactly make me want to go out and hug a tiger though. I'll be happy to continue to admire them from afar, thank you very much.
"A news release from the Labette County Sheriff's Office said the big cat was being restrained by its handler, but it attacked the teenager, anyway."
Ever try to "restrain" a 7 year old kid who is out of control? Now try it with a tiger.
That's great!!!
Very good point. Guess people do a lot of stupid things.
GREAT List. Tack me on.
I'm with you.
...and after a night of heavy drinking
I agree with you. I feel sorry for everyone.
This reminds me of a story that appeared in the local media about 20 years ago. We have an amusement park called "Marine World Africa USA" in northern California, in the city of Vallejo for those of you who know California.
During this time the Marine World use to feature Bengal tigers walking freely around the park restrained only by a thin chain that could not hold a determined angry toy poodle! When I took my eight year old son to the park and we were suddenly confronted by one of these tigers he could not stop petting the beautiful cat. My heart was in my throat the entire time and I gently pulled my son away and walked in the opposite direction. I gave the handler a scowl and he told me "He would not hurt anyone. He was born here and is completely domesticated."
Apparently the handlers were very confindent with their ability to control these "domesticated" cats and started showing them at the local high schools.
Freemont High School's mascot is a tiger. You guessed it. Marine World thought it would be a great idea to feature one its cats at the Friday afternoon school football rally in the main auditorium. The students were not aware that a live Bengal tiger was going to come on stage to kick off the rally.
At the start of the rally a announcement was made and the students were told they could expect a "neat" surprise. Very shortly after the announcement, from behind the curtain a 450 pound Bengal tiger came on stage with a handler who was restraining the cat with a very thin chain.
At the sight of the tiger the students collectively gasped and then fell silent. Within moments they started cheering and screaming wildly. They thought this was the "coolest" thing in the world. The high pitched screams of 2,000 students freaked the tiger and it stood up on its hind legs and growled -- very loudly.
The students shocked back into reality immediately stopped screaming and looked petrified. The tiger returned to all fours and fell silent. The students relieved and visions of being eaten alive gone, soon started talking. At first in only hushed tones. Then they started giggling nervously within no time at all they were yelling, screaming and cheering again.
Freaked again, the tiger this time bolted from his handler and leaped into the crowd of students. Two thousand students were in sheer panic. They were screaming, crying, pushing, running and shoving their way to the exit doors. Meanwhile the tiger is literally on the backs of students leaping from one group of huddled and terrified students to another.
Nobody could control the students or the tiger. The exit doors were smashed, the counselors, teachers and coaches looked on in horror, and the handler tried desperately to control the vaulting tiger with verbal commands.
After about two minutes of absolute terror the tiger was restrained. Amazingly not one student was killed. Officials at Marine World told the media that the tiger was not angry. It was just very happy and excited like the students. When the students started cheering and yelling the tiger just wanted to be part of the celebration.
I do not remember everything that happened but I do remember one 16 year old male required over 70 stitches to close the wound on his back. Apparently while leaping from student to student the tiger's claws ripped the clothes and flesh off many young students.
Hey, if a happy tiger can send dozens of students to the hospital by being playful can you imagine how much damage and angry tiger could do?
I pleased to note that the policy of allowing tigers to walk freely around the park with minimal restraints has been curtailed at Marine World for the past 20 years.
You are a really funny guy.
> Very good point.
This site has devolved to the point where that post is considered a very good point.
Guess people do a lot of stupid things.
This thread, and its completely classless replies, is proof of that.
Just keep an eye out for those folks with no sense of humor, and it'll be all right.
The Tiger
In what distant deeps or skies
Burnt the fire of thine eyes?
On what wings dare he aspire?
What the hand dare seize the fire?
And what shoulder and what art
Could twist the sinews of thy heart?
And when thy heart began to beat,
What dread hand and what dread feet?
What the hammer? what the chain?
In what furnace was thy brain?
What the anvil? What dread grasp
Dare its deadly terrors clasp?
When the stars threw down their spears,
And water'd heaven with their tears,
Did He smile His work to see?
Did He who made the lamb make thee?
Tiger, tiger, burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?
Okay. Thanks for sharing that with me and the rest of the site.
BWAHAHAHAAHAHA!!!!
I'm stealing that.
I'm not sure if morons are bred or made, but I do know morons exist.
Gallows humor is sometimes the only way people can deal with this sort of stuff.
It speaks to the point that parents need to assume some responsibility for what they facilitate in their children's activities.
And that *is* a very good point.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.