Do you know her parents? Or Abby? Many of my friend know them and you do not know WTF you are talking about. Just because people build a certain level of capability into their children and then allow those capability to be tested doesn’t make them irresponsible... rather it shows that you are too much of a coward to raise your kids at that level. So don’t speak where you do not know.
Or should they just throw Abby back to see if her swimming capabilities can be tested as well ...
They are irresponsible because they expect the taxpayer to foot the $300,000 bill.
A responsible person would pay for it themselves, or not undertake the venture knowing they can’t afford a rescue.
If you think they are so great, how much are YOU going to chip in to pay the Australian government for the search and help bring the boat back to the US?
I think it’s fine what they did, risking their daughter’s life for publicity. But when things screw up , the daughter has to be allowed to die, or else what’s the point of the publicity stunt?
Your comment is even more reflective of our times—and even more repulsive—than the Welfare Mama’s was.
I know what the article says. They’ve already mooched $300,000 dollars of expense and resources for their little attention-seeking adventure, and now they want the US taxpayers to pay for it. I say toss her back in the water. Feed her to the sharks. Make a tv movie out of that.
Parents making a child skip a year or more off school and risking death in the pursuit of fame, is not instilling capability. If she or her parents are that adventure minded, she could first *be* something - like Steve Foster, and then finance her own trips and rescues.
I think this discussion is about money.
What are they teaching their kid about money?
“Just because people build a certain level of capability into their children and then allow those capability to be tested doesn’t make them irresponsible... rather it shows that you are too much of a coward to raise your kids at that level.”
I don’t sail. I live in southern Arizona, about 60 miles from the border.
Suppose I encouraged my 12 year old daughter to hike the Arizona/Mexico border alone to set a record as the youngest girl to hike the border alone. And had her do it in summer, because winter would be too late to set the record. And plug a reality TV show about her hike, and my worrying about her.
That would be repulsive, and it is the equivalent of what these parents did.
Axe one of them "friend" to smack 'em all upside the head for me.
it shows that you are too much of a coward to raise your kids at that level
I've got one son in the Army, he'll show you about "level".
So don’t speak where you do not know.
Follow your own advice, you poopy-head spastic.
They do have the right to allow their daughter to try this stunt if they like. What they don't have the right to do is demand that other people fund the failure of said stunt.
I'm glad the girl was rescued, but the parents most definitely were irresponsible, at least as far as not being able to fund this properly.
If she had a “certain level of capability” she would be thankful to be alive and would not be casually passing the cost of losing the boat off to the US taxpayer.
I’ll insist my kids get their pilots licenses. If they crash a plane, we won’t insist you pay for it.
Well, I’d call it “child abandonment” by letting a minor go, completely unattended in a vast ocean, such that the girl needed help at all.
If the parents had gone with her, that might be a better thing, but as it was, they left her to die.
As for the costs of saving her, for them to suggest they have no money and that the US government ought to pay for them shows their cards. This is all about fame and fortune and taking no responsibility for poor judgment or injury along the way.
If your friends know these people and defend them, obviously they are poor judges of character. Sadly, this then reflects on you.
If you can, please extend my congratulations to her family and to Abby. Sorry that she couldn’t finish the trip, but the sea is like that sometimes.
I support her 100% and I think everyone in this project did a wonderful job. Abby is a real jewel.
This is not the 1500 century pervert, we have child abuse and labor laws today!!
The entire thing was a publicity stunt.
It is obvious this family is milking this for all they can get.
The asinine comments made by this mother indicates to me that something is not right here in this family, and that is not just my humble opinion, but the humble opinions of many other on this forum!
I feel sorry for her daughter! :^(
Walkingfeather;
I see your getting roundly scolded, and in retrospect, I believe that you spoke as if you were “somebody”, which of course, your not.
Do I know her parents? Of course not, and neither do you. Children are recognized as products of their parents. The good and the bad.
As you say, many of your friends know them, not you, so they know as much about them as you do...I am not impressed.
Capability and cash are not synonomous. Capability is in part learned, in part instinct, and in part desire. None of which money can buy, one is intertwined with the other. You do not build it into your children, you avail them of opportunities and they do or do not capitalize on them, many a wealthy child is a bum, and will always be a bum.
Responsibility is a two way street, with every opportunity, there comes risk, responsibility is the intestinal fortitude to persevere thru obstacles, and win or lose grow from the experience. In this case, she was lucky to be rescued, many people are rescued and for that we are all grateful. A damaged boat and lack of recovery is part of that responsibility. The parents invested in the possibility of success of their daughter. When they did this it was both financial and emotional. Financially they invested in the boat and all their daughter would need to possibly succeed. Emotionally, they put their daughters life on the line, and while she was not of age, and there were no considerations for her welfare should something go wrong with the minor child, they could/should be held up on abuse charges, as they just taught her that her life was forfiet for their bravery in allowing their daughter to risk her life IMO.
Raising your children to the level of capability, both physically, and academically, as well as instilling the spirit of high adventure is wonderful, but purposefully taking a minor child and purposely putting their life at risk is irresponsible.
So Walkingfeather, get your nose out of the air, before you trip and hurt yourself.
Part of responsiblity is to accept that the boat, for the time being is lost, it may drift up on shore someplace and you may retrieve it, but more than likely its insured, so as a responsible parent, they need to call their agent and collect. As for the daughters safe return, they can thank the hard work of their rescuers, and donate what they can to the the coast guard, the beer fund for the sailors, whatever, and don’t forget to pay that sailboat off with the insurance check.