Goodreads Ireland discussion
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I agree the zoo has to be responsible but that doesn't mean parents should turn off completely either .No one takes responsibility anymore and the more we allow people pass the buck the worse it will get.
Shared responsibility has to be the way .
In this case the child climbed a fence his own height and crawled through thick bushes .
The parents had to have been completely turned off for all that to happen.
Yes the zoo should look at their safety but the parents were definitely negligent too.
We can't idiot proof the world
Paul wrote: "The parents have to bear some responsibility here as well. I know the child shouldn't be able to get in but If you are with a young child in a potentially dangerous location your awareness should ..."
That's the truth! I worked in a daycare center (so does that boy's mother) you're senses are always keyed up around small children, especially your own! It's hard for me to excuse that.
Paul wrote: "I agree the zoo has to be responsible but that doesn't mean parents should turn off completely either .No one takes responsibility anymore and the more we allow people pass the buck the worse it w..."
I heard that he told his mother he was going to do it,if that is true I wouldn't have let him loose or I would have left the zoo.I wonder how he will feel when he is older and realizes that he was the reason that gorilla had to die. That enclosure has been there and no one has done that before. I just can't see how its possible that no one saw him climbing and stopped him. I saw just a little while ago that some idiot parent was dangling their 2 year old son over the cheetah exhibit in Cleveland Ohio and the child dropped and has a leg injury but thankfully the cheetahs never went near him. The zoo has filed charges of child endangerment against the parents
That's sick! Terrorizing a child and endanging his/her life in that way is sick and twisted! No decent parent does that!
Sherry wrote: "That's sick! Terrorizing a child and endanging his/her life in that way is sick and twisted! No decent parent does that!"You are so right but I'm sure that won't be the last sadly.
Paul wrote: "I agree the zoo has to be responsible but that doesn't mean parents should turn off completely either .No one takes responsibility anymore and the more we allow people pass the buck the worse it w..."
There could be any number of reasons for a parent not to see what a child is doing ever second, the more obvious being sudden illness or separation. In this case I agree, the parents seem to have been careless. But I still say the zoo was at fault. With wild animals around children, you pretty much do have to idiot proof the environment. And the innocent beast paid the ultimate price.
Colleen, your story is just insane! That parent should to jail.
That's true Margo, like I said earlier, if a tiny child can climb over that fence it's way too easy. Everyone is at fault here.
Yes everyone is at fault except the gorilla. I just think that it wasn't a small fence so someone should have seen him climbing. As a parent I know you can't watch them 24 hours a day but I'm sorry I feel sad about the gorilla
I agree the zoo is at fault and it seems to have a bit of bad recent history in that respects. Still amazed parents can be that oblivious to a child at a zoo though. And how no one else stopped the child I dont know. Weird all round.Sadly whatever else went on the poor gorilla paid the price
Yes on a side note did anyone see the amazing photo taken after the gorilla in Dublin zoo died? Taken at the Phoenix park its a cloud that looks like a gorilla kissing the sun!
Margo wrote: "Emma wrote: "Susan wrote: "Did you hear about the gorilla killed at an Ohio zoo? A four year old child got into the pen somehow and they were afraid for his life. There was a large outcry that he w..."I don't think the gorilla would have intentionally harmed the child. Unfortunately his size and strength might have caused severe harm, or death. However, there was a situation just like this in Jersey zoo, and the gorilla was curious, but quite gentle with the little boy, and the keepers went into the enclosure and lured it away with food.
Very sad story all round.
Awesome photos Seraphina A sad story indeed Isabella :'(
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I have decided, however, that Márquez's work doesn't make for the best time reading, so last night I started A Deadly Cambodian Crime Spree. The cover blurb compares it to No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency books which I know have been enjoyed by many in this group.
How many of his books do you have to cover for the course Sara. It's not exactly easy reading!
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Week 1 covers Innocent Erendira and Other Stories
Weeks 2 and 3 are devoted to the longest of the bunch, The Autumn of the Patriarch
Week 4 is Chronicle of a Death Foretold
Week 5 is Love in the Time of Cholera
Week 6 and 7 is another longer one, The General in His Labyrinth
In Week 8, we finish up with Of Love and Other Demons.
So after hitting a slump I've finally finished reading 'The Feathered Man' by Jeremy De Quidt and it was all around weird and delightful. Now, what to pick next!
Sara wrote: "We read 6 over 8 weeks. It's an ambitious schedule, but since I'm unemployed right now and a relatively fast reader, I should be able to handle it.Week 1 covers Innocent Erendira and Other ..."
It's so strange that you mention Marquez and then the same day I found one of his books in a hostel I was staying in that day. It's Strange Pilgrims, a collection of short stories, and I literally can't put it down.
I know what you mean about the macabre themes in his work, this one is the same. Where are you taking the course, Sara? It sounds so interesting!
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I enjoyed reading this book. It gave me insight into the man who wrote "On the Origin of Species" and provided the world with a scientific explanation for the evolution of species of plants, animals and man. I did not know that he wrote 24 other scientific books, on a wide variety of subjects, including: worms, barnacles , insectivorous plants, and the fertilization of orchids by insects. Despite accusations by religious fanatics, he did not mean to cast aspersions upon belief in god, but to report on what he observed in a precise, scientific manner.
There is a great deal of detail on his family life. He was a devoted family man. If you want to know more about the human side of one of the world's greatest scientists, this is an excellent book, although rather long, 743p.
Even though we are now in the 21st century, over 150 years since his Origin of Species book was published, there are still religious fanatics who want evolution to be classified as a theory and taught alongside "intelligent design" or "creationism".
I've begun reading The Hare With Amber Eyes: A Family's Century of Art and Loss. This is a wonderfully literate book in which the author, a master ceramicist, traces his Jewish family's history from the mid-nineteenth century to the present. One of his great grand uncles was a patron of the Impressionists and a model for Proust's character Swann while his grandmother corresponded with Rilke. The family was prominent in society in both Paris and Vienna before it was all swept away by the Holocaust. It's a marvelous portrait of a cultured world that's now irrevocably lost.
I was swamped with visitors all weekend (it's a holiday weekend here) and my head is still reeling from it all, so I'm rereading When the Bough Breaks the first installment of an old favorite series.
I used to like this series too, Margo, until I met this author. He was probably one of the biggest ass that I've ever met. He was condescending and rude. I never read another one of his books.
Susan wrote: "I used to like this series too, Margo, until I met this author. He was probably one of the biggest ass that I've ever met. He was condescending and rude. I never read another one of his books."Oh I hate when that happens! I had a similar experiances as a kid when I met John Inman (UK comedy actor) and then John Pertwee (Dr Who). Devistating :-(
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I have never read any of his books, but knew about him. He is now off my list.
There are probably a lot of them like that. Success can make some people very conceited.
Ah he started off well, but like so many others kept the series going too long. I actually preferred his wifes books about Peter Decker, and I learned a lot the jewish faith through her writing. I once tried to read a book that they wrote together - it was awful!
Margo wrote: "Susan wrote: "I used to like this series too, Margo, until I met this author. He was probably one of the biggest ass that I've ever met. He was condescending and rude. I never read another one of h..."Really? John Inman was rude?
I wouldn't have imagined he'd be rude. How disappointing. :(
I'm reading The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant, and I'm finding it very interesting. That's an area only about an hour from where I live, and I've long had an interest in it. The community was for impoverished widows, singles, and others who either didn't fit in or were excluded from the surrounding coastal towns. The people (mostly women) who lived in Dogtown were accused of being witches and everything else under the sun.
Cathleen, that sounds very good.
Cathleen, I found that book so depressing. I did like her Red Tent. Did you read that one? BTW, have you read any of the Geraldine Brooks books? If so, what do you think?
Susan wrote: "Cathleen, I found that book so depressing. I did like her Red Tent. Did you read that one? BTW, have you read any of the Geraldine Brooks books? If so, what do you think?"Susan, it certainly is a somber book, but I think because I'm so interested in the history of that area, that the bleakness doesn't bother me. [Also, since Thomas Hardy is one of my favorite authors, bleak and depressing doesn't faze me ;)] I haven't read The Red Tent. I liked Caleb's Crossing. I'm going to read March this summer.
Cathleen, you always make me chuckle. Yes, Thomas Hardy is the definition of bleak and depressing. Allan would be smiling too.Emma, I am so glad you liked The Last Kingdom. I love the series and Uhtred. It was so thrilling when Alfred and Uhtred were backed up into that little swamp area.
I am currently enamored with the History Channel's The Vikings so I picked up The Long Ships recommended by Cphe. I am loving it. It's a wonderful story about Orme, the Viking, who travels Europe in 1000 A.D. There are quite a few bits about Ireland in it including the travelling jesters from Ireland who state that no one would leave Ireland willingly.
I'm trudging through The Little Red Chairs. As I ranted on the spoiler thread, no more Edna O'Brien for me! Lol
Yay, you've joined my club Sherry ;-)
I've just started The Gap of Time which is a cover version of The Winter's Tale. I'm only about an hour into the narration, but thus far I'm hooked :-)
Margo wrote: "Yay, you're joined my club Sherry ;-)"Yay we are not alone! Lol
Cathleen wrote: "I'm reading The Last Days of Dogtown by Anita Diamant, and I'm finding it very interesting. That's an area only about an hour from where I live, and I've long had an interest in it. Th..."That sounds really interesting Cathleen, I've added it to my tbr list. Although it'll have to wait. Somber isn't exactly the best holiday reading.
I'm just finished Dark Places by Gillian Flynn, hence the avoidance of more somber books. LOL. It was really thrilling and I was hooked. Everytime I thought I'd figured the mystery out I was stumped pages later. And that happened a lot!
For a palette cleanser I'm reading The Van. I really enjoy this book, it'll be about the thrid or fourth reading for me.
Dark places was really good Emmet. Have you read Sharp Objects? It's even ...darker lolGotta love the Barrytown stuff too ;-)
Football tournament with Ireland in it might be a good enough reason Margo :-(
Take it you're a football fan Paul? Or was that another attemt at a smiley that went wrong LOL
Bad smiley again. Oops. Football is my next passion after reading and maps ( which of course are all behind Trelawn )
Glad to hear you've got your priorities in order ;-)I'm not looking forward to the footy at all. Pitty me having to put up with a sad english man when they once again go out on penalties. I'll say "ah sure it's only a game" and that's whan the fun really starts ;-(
(proper sad face XD)
Best thing about these tournaments is watching England inflate their hopes ,sing about 66 , slag the Germans then crash and burn in the quarter finals .
LOL It's not that great ones husband nearly has a heart attack and then cries like a baby ;-)
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I know the child shouldn't be able to get in but If you are with a young child in a potentially dangerous location your awareness should ..."
Good point about the work zoos do with endangered species Paul, but can't agree with the rest.
Anyone who manages a potentially dangerous enviroment must take the view that the end user is going to be stupid. During my working life I was involved with various potentially lethal chemicals/processes. The onus is on management, not on whatever idiot happens to wander along. It is Murphys law - if it can go wrong, it will.
The question is, did the zoo take all reasonable practicable safety measures? Could they prevented this? Unfortunatly, the main motivator for safety is usually financial.