“Nobody ever shot themselves with a bow while cleaning it.” Never said a bow and arrow was more dangerous to the user than a gun. My claim is that while a gun is more dangerous, like the Tiger, a bow and arrow can also be dangerous, like the crocodile. Both are dangerous and should be avoided by children! Not an outlandish statement.
I agree with you that children can in fact do more than many adults give them credit for. The parent who trys protect them from every possible normal daily risk is almost equally as foolish as the parent who exposes them to an unnecessary risk for personal gain or pure ego.
“I personally think Steve Irwin is a bit off and always have.” You agree with me again! When you place your infant son in harms way for no good reason you are at least “a bit off.”
“It could be that different carnivorous animals pose different levels of risk to the handlers depending on the animal and the situation.” We agree once more. You stated it best, “levels of risk.” Just because an animal is “more dangerous” under certain conditions does not mean that the same animal is not also dangerous, albeit less so, under better conditions!
A crocodile is most dangerous in water when it is hungry, and least dangerous on land when it is hungry. However, just because the “level of risk” changed, does not mean that it is a safe place to carry your infant son into.