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In Reply to: Disturbed how? posted by njjohn on January 2, 2006 at 09:53:18:
and I would say it is a good word. I see him quite a bit differently than you do. It was explicit in the movie that he had problems with drinking and drugs and went so far as to go to courthouses to see criminals sentenced- his girlfriend of the time said she thought it was to remind himself what could happen to him.At any rate, I believe he was disturbed in the following ways. He had a very grandiose view of his own role in protecting the bears. How many bears did he actually protect from hunters or poachers? I would guess none.
He was very openly courting death. Many of his words in the movie were of the danger he was in. When you engage in life threatening behavior for year after year, and when you obviously intend to do this for the rest of your life, it is very close to suicide.
It seems that you admire him for taking these risks and living close to the dangerous animals. I find it fascinating, but I don't admire it. I would admire it if I felt he had actually helped the animals, but I think the only one who benefited was Treadwell himself.
Some time ago, I read a news story about some man who set a world record for staying in an enclosure with deadly poisonous snakes. I feel more or less the same about Treadwell, it's fascinating, it's brave, it's foolhardy, and it's done for the benefit of human ego, not for the animals.
Follow Ups:
I think you have to give some validation to Treadwell's own position and understanding.Yes, in a way he was courting death but he really was not. He thought he could handle the situation even though it was extremely dangerous. I do not think he was actively suicidal but rather perhaps put one foot too far and slipped off the precipitice.
I admire his giving up a previous life-style and choosing the life-style that he did. That's what I admire about him. I also admire the perspective and insight that he gained living the new life-style.
He said he loved it and I believe he did. It is something great what he did. It's unfortunate that the locals as well as most people don't appreciate what he did with his life.
There really is a lack of support for what he did. It is lonely in more than one way. The lack of support perhaps was what he could not handle.
He did not tune into his own girlfriend's fear of the animals. He perhaps was less sensitive to her.
But I admire what he attained with the animals. He developed insights and understandings that exceed general understanding. I think he added new knowledge to our understanding.
Perhaps someone else will follow his footsteps and go further without dying.
Imagine if the world really listened to him and that he was fully able to attain what he wanted for the wild animals. He is cast aside.
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