Talk:Michael Rockefeller

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This article was automatically assessed because at least one article was rated and this bot brought all the other ratings up to at least that level. BetacommandBot 23:52, 27 August 2007 (UTC)

Skulls
With modern technology, I think it should be easy to estimate whether one of the skulls has belonged to Rockefeller or not, provided they were still in good shape. 惑乱 Wakuran (talk) 14:21, 24 February 2010 (UTC)

Some corrections
There was an interview with Carl Hoffman today on NPR's Fresh Air program (hosted by Terry Gross, regarding Hoffman's newly released book, "Fatal Harvest." http://www.amazon.com/Savage-Harvest-Cannibals-Colonialism-Rockefellers-ebook/dp/B00DB30K30/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1395188198&sr=1-4&keywords=harvest

I am sure there are people reading this book right this minute in preparation for updating the entry, but I wanted to mention a couple of things. First, the boat that capsized was a catamaran and secondly there are discrepancies in how far the boat was from the shore when Rockefeller decided to swim there. Also, what happened to the two assistants (local teenagers) who volunteered to swim to shore for help? Were they killed too, or drowned on their way there, or decided not to do anything once they got there or did they contact the Dutch Royal Airforce whose plane discovered the boat with Rockefeller's colleague still aboard later that day?

Another thing I'm hoping the revised entry would go into in more depth is what exactly happened that resulted in the reciprocal murder of Rockefeller. In the interview Hoffman implied that Rockefeller was part of it, either that he shot the Asmat people who died or that he was there when it happened.

I'm really looking forward to reading the updated entry. Rissa -- bossy, obsessive/compulsive editor 00:35, 19 March 2014 (UTC)


 * The word "admit" in the lead is inherently POV. In the "Speculation" section, we have "Most believe that Rockefeller either drowned or was attacked by a shark or saltwater crocodile. Because headhunting and cannibalism were still present in some areas of Asmat in 1961, some have speculated that Rockefeller was killed and eaten by local people." That is sort of balanced, though it does say that the natural-causes theory is a majority view. But then we get to the section about Hoffman's book, in which "murders" are described. That section is badly written, and it is difficult for to tell, from context, whether this refers to the 1958 killing of villagers by Dutch officials (that makes little sense, in view of the statement that the people participating in the murders both personally benefitted and wanted to avenge their fellow tribesmen), or to the killing of Rockefeller. The timeline is further confused by, "Soon after the murders, the villages were swept by a cholera epidemic and believed that it was revenge for the killing of Rockefeller" So maybe "murders" refers to Rockerfeller's alleged killing, but why is the plural used, if it was only one murder? (Maybe that goes to Rissa's question about what happened to the two assistants.) So, I am too confused by this section to try fixing it, but it needs clarify the various theories, and the fact that they are only theories. I have not read the book, but that might be helpful in sorting this out. Peter Chastain (talk) 03:08, 19 March 2014 (UTC)

twin sister
I added mention of Michael's twin sister, but the early life section also says Michael was the last child of Nelson and Mary. Do we know for sure which twin was born last? (A trivial point to be sure, but I'd like it to be correct.) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.199.76.177 (talk) 23:37, 20 July 2014 (UTC)

Per the Wiki, the pontoon boat was 3 miles from shore when it was overturned, and Michael had to swim 12 miles to shore. Does this mean that the pontoon boot drifted 9 miles further from shore before Michael attempted to swim to shore? Doesn't seem likely. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.183.112.93 (talk) 16:24, 4 March 2015 (UTC)

Difference in Information
Great article about a little known person but I recently watched a well made documentary on Netflix and it also said the distance to shore that Michael would have had to swim was approximately three miles. It made no mention of any drifting until after Michael departed the upturned boat. You might want to check that with your references. Perhaps there is more than one estimate made. The documentary also gives the source for the theory of a revenge killing for murder of some natives by the Dutch authorities. The information seemed to be based on a missionary who knew Michael when he was in the same area and blames the tribe's leader whom he knew. The tribal leader was filmed. 32.208.247.47 (talk) 20:15, 27 August 2015 (UTC)

Hoffman book
Those of you who argue against the thesis of this book should at least read it. I just have - it makes a very persuasive case. ~

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