Teen sailor missing

[Obsessed]

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/37618875/ns/sports-other_sports/

Stuff like this makes me so angry I can't really find the words to express it. (Remember Jessica Dubroff, the seven-year old killed attempting to fly cross-country?) I can't believe she was allowed to attempt this.

 

[The Knize]

I probably do not have your level of anger about it but I am with you. She may be okay yet, but still.

Actually, I am not very supportive of any of this daredevil or extreme adventure stuff. The Everest stuff is a good example. I used to like it, I admit, and admire these folks that put themselves out on a limb. But now I realize someone is out there generally for personal glory, but their putting themselves in danger often means someone else spends incredible money and putting themselves in danger to try to rescue them when things or wrong. And often leaving young children behind when they do not make it back alive. Seems rather egocentric to me.

But I agree, this seems like some very bad child rearing. Parents should exercise better judgement than supporting this kind of endeavor. A sailboat in the middle of the ocean is not a safe place. Not all danger is "subjective" as they say in the mountaineering community. The best, most skilled, and contentious folks get killed all the time doing this kind of thing. It means nothing to me that they died doing what they loved best.

It would be mean to say "Darwin in action."

Just ready the story of Percy Fawcett "The City of Z." By the way. A great read. And I suppose his story is different because he was exploring parts of the world that were unknown, where no white man had ever been, etc. But for goodness sake, he nearly died many times before, so it was goiing to get him eventually, and he managed to take his older son with him when it did. For what?

 

[Obsessed]

But I agree, this seems like some very bad child rearing. Parents should exercise better judgement than supporting this kind of endeavor.

Very, very bad child rearing.

It means nothing to me that they died doing what they loved best.

I remember the mother or some other relative of Jessica Dubroff saying something about her dying doing what she loved. As if the parents hadn't pushed her into it and she hadn't died in terror as the plane crashed. I realize the missing sailor is older, but still.

Actually, I am not very supportive of any of this daredevil or extreme adventure stuff.

I'll admit that I've done some dangerous and arguably stupid things, like skydiving and bungy jumping. But at least I was an adult, and was doing them at outfits run by pros with good safety records. Would I let my kids do that when they're older? I really don't know. But the "extreme adventure" stuff as you put it is in a different category altogether.

 

[Amer]

Her brother made this same trip last year. It's a family of sailors. Probably a rich family of sailors. It was originally a record attempt until she had to stop. I doubt the parents pushed her into it at all. That other 16 year old girl just did it too. It must not be that difficult.

 

[dartmn9]

I hope she is OK. My thought go out to her family. Having a newborn baby girl definitely puts this in perspective for me.

 

[Stevestan]

"DARWIN!" All part of the gene pool cleansing process.

 

[toucanlamp]

I don't really know what the stats are on around the world sailing and how many have died in the process.

The same point could be argued about enrolling your kid in a football league because they can get seriously injured and deaths occur as a result.

I don't know what the solution is. Are we going to create some government department that follows everyone around each day to make sure they don't have their child engage in some dangerous activity?

 

[Kevan]

While I think all the daredevil stuff is pretty stupid, the girl is 16. In most other countries, she's of age. And besides, we let 16 year olds drive, play football, etc.

I know that's not the same as sailing around the world, but the girl obviously did this because she had confidence in herself. Would it really have made much of a difference if she were 18 and this happened?

I hope she's okay though.

 

[raisindot]

We may let 16 year olds drive, but how many of us would let us our 16 year olds drive from Alaska to Patagonia on their own? Actually, it'd be more appropriate to compare this to biking, since there's no power involved. The difference here is if your bike broke, you'd at least be able to walk to safety.

The other issue is that now hundreds of thousands of dollars are going to be spent by various coast guards trying to find her.

Jeff in Boston

 

[The Nid Hog]

I don't know what the solution is. Are we going to create some government department that follows everyone around each day to make sure they don't have their child engage in some dangerous activity?

Actually we have plenty of laws on the books to prevent parents from abusing or neglecting children in their charge. I don't see anything wrong with applying them to the yachting set too.

 

[DunEdinRanger]

I just hope she is OK.

 

[Walter Sobchak]

i just hope she is ok.

+1

 

[toucanlamp]

Actually we have plenty of laws on the books to prevent parents from abusing or neglecting children in their charge. I don't see anything wrong with applying them to the yachting set too.

But did you read what I wrote above that, the very same thing could be said about enrolling your kid in a rough contact sport like Football where countless serious, serious injuries occur every year.

The only real difference is that one is common and widely participated in and the other isn't.

 

[toucanlamp]

We may let 16 year olds drive, but how many of us would let us our 16 year olds drive from Alaska to Patagonia on their own? Actually, it'd be more appropriate to compare this to biking, since there's no power involved. The difference here is if your bike broke, you'd at least be able to walk to safety.

The other issue is that now hundreds of thousands of dollars are going to be spent by various coast guards trying to find her.

Jeff in Boston

Well, if a 16 year old has a driver's license and car and wants to drive across the country they are free to do that.

 

[Don]

Sailing into a storm, communications lost at last report.

http://www.theage.com.au/world/teen...known-location-20100611-y0tq.html?autostart=1

 

[DavyRay]

Break a leg, Abby.

 

[azmark]

Besides the fact of what the hell is a 16 year old doing sailing around the world. Yes she is in our prayers.

 

[SUMMERSRL]

Besides the fact of what the hell is a 16 year old doing sailing around the world...

Yes. That is the unfortunate question to be asked. I'll never understand how a parent could allow their child to attempt such a feat. That said, my heart goes out to her family and loved ones. This must be a horrible day for all.

 

[rm71]

Let's hope she is OK. Last month Jessica Watson sailed into Sydney harbour after 7 months sailing solo around the world. She was only 16.

 

[garyg]

Yes, hope she is ok, and learns something. Whoever funded this stunt should go to jail for child endangerment, or contributing to the delinquency of a minor. She didn't just jump in the family jalopy & head for Hollywood, this was quite a major, very expensive undertaking, to what end I don't know. A website, maybe a TV series?

Those who pushed her into that boat should share her fate, after paying up for the government resources used.