Sunderland "reality" show preplanned before Abby's misadventure

(Info derived from linked article)
Sunderland "reality" show was preplanned before Abby's misadventure:

Adventures in Sunderland (Reality TV Show) Distribution Rights: Magnetic Entertainment Exec Producer: Magnetic Entertainment

"A family oriented Adventure show, based on the Sunderland Family of Thousand Oaks, CA. We follow the family in their day-to-day lives as shipbuilder Laurence Sunderland and mother/teacher Marianne try to balance work and family."

"Magnetic Entertainment" is the sponsor of the ill-fated voyage. (pdf list of sponsors)

Where do I show knowledge of Schiavo threads?

The Schiavo case was national news. I simply don’t see how people who wanted to ‘pull the plug’ on Terry Schiavo are being compared to these people who are encouraging their children to excel. I certainly didn’t support what happened to her. That was a horrible thing to do.

I’m not trying to say there was no risk for Abby. She did put her life on the line. Her parents allowed it (as they did their son).

I do not think her parents are heartless monsters who shoved her out on a sailboat to die just to get a reality show. I also don’t think they are publicity whores whose sole intent with their childrens sailing adventures is to generate income for themselves.

I’m a little surprised to so many people accuse the parents of wrong doing on a right leaning site. Some of that talk starts to sound like ‘nanny state’ talk to my ears. Most of it here seems to be subtle jabs at Abby supporters and not the more extreme ‘take the kids away’ comments I’ve seen elsewhere.

I admit the ‘Balloon Boy’ comparison is kind of funny when you are just talkin’ with friends. I don’t think it is a fair comparison, and the Schiavo comparison is just wrong.

Given how we’ve seen the media operate in the past

"How the media has acted in the past" just is not a viable excuse for yachtgirl's parents shameful attempts to cash in on their risking their children's lives. They made those decisions, not the media. In fact, they tried to use the media to attain celebrity status and $$$ but the attempt came back to bite 'em on their backsides. I'm the first to blame the media for it's wrongs but in this case the family, especially the father, desperately needs to learn to accept responsibility for actions they have taken.

I simply don’t see how people who wanted to ‘pull the plug’ on Terry Schiavo are being compared to these people who are encouraging their children to excel.

Ahhhhhhhh, I see what happened. You misunderstood. They were comparing the posters and resultant flamewar.

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