Abby's Odyssey: In Defense of the Sunderlands (Should they be blamed for this dangerous adventure?)

American Thinker ^ | 06/13/2010 | Tim Gordon

[Fletcher J]

Sounds like a great experience. I wish I had investigated the Coast Guard when I was her age...

Thanks for the info! Fletcher J

[SeekAndFind]

Btw, what age is too young for you?

No age is too young for me. It's the MATURITY of the person. Some 15 year olds are ore mature than some 30 year olds. We can say IN GENERAL, a 30 year old is more mature than a 15 or 16 year old. But then, we can also say that IN SOME CASES, the reverse is true.

Hence, we have to take things on a case by case basis. The question in Abby's case is this -- IS SHE MATURED ENOUGH ?

The way she carried herself in this endeavor showed a lot of poise, stregnth of character, presence of mind and maturity.

[DJ MacWoW]

So, if a 30 year person is RESPONSIBLE for his own choice, you would be OK if he endangered his own life, but not a 16 year old ?

There was a time in history when 16 year olds could take up arms and even marry.

All of this has been addressed ad nauseum.

YOU answer something: what age is too young for you?

[Ready4Freddy]

Maybe the American Sailing Association will follow aviations lead and set an age limit.

The American Sailing Assoc is hardly a 'spokesman' for the US sailing community (being a for-profit entity involved in sailing intruction), much less capable of 'setting an age limit'. The age limit you speak of is enforced by the FAA, a government agency.

In any event, Laura Dekker is Dutch. She plans on stopping numerous times, which leads me to surmise that she may well be planning to sail to the north of Australia. She's taking the 'easy' way around, even in the event that she chooses to round Agulhas.

A significantly less risky RTW than what Abby Sunderland attempted and Jess Watson completed. And she has far more sailing experience than either.

[hennie pennie]

I can’t remember the particulars but the physical brain is not fully developed until some time in the young twenty-somethings.

[DJ MacWoW]

So now a 15 year old will try. Do you have a cutoff age when you think the risk is too great?

[DJ MacWoW]

No age is too young for me.

Yup. No limits. It isn't a parents job to protect their children so they live to adulthood! I say let's get a 7 year old out there! Just because a 7 year old killed her instructor and father in a plane crash is no reason to not let one drown! /s

[DJ MacWoW]

I can’t remember the particulars but the physical brain is not fully developed until some time in the young twenty-somethings.

Yeah. I posted that last week. But there are a lot of people that think daredevil stunts by children is character building even if they can end up dead. And it gives them something to watch on Oprah.

[SeekAndFind]

Yup. No limits. It isn't a parents job to protect their children so they live to adulthood! I say let's get a 7 year old out there! Just because a 7 year old killed her instructor and father in a plane crash is no reason to not let one drown! /s

You're not getting my point --- MATURITY my friend is what counts. I did not say no limits.

I cannot find a 7 year old with the maturity and physical strength of a 30 or 16 year old. If you can find one, tell me and I'd have no problems letting him attempt the sail.

[DJ MacWoW]

I did not say no limits.

Your post 162: No age is too young for me.

Have a nice day.

[SeekAndFind]

No age is too young for me.

Let me qualify that for your edification so that I don't get misunderstood : With the proviso that MATURITY AND PHYSICAL STRENGTH are attributes possessed by whoever attempts the sail.

Have a nice day.

Thank you. Same to you.

[DJ MacWoW]

Thank you. Same to you.

I spend too much time on FR. I REALLY have to go do something. :-)