Posted on 06/12/2010 7:04:01 AM PDT by jimbo123
A French fishing vessel rescued a California teenager Saturday from her crippled sailboat in the turbulent southern Indian Ocean, bringing relief to her family but ending her around-the-world sailing effort.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Well, I accept your point about freedom not being some arbitrary age. That is why we leave parents in charge of what their kids can and cannot do. I would not change that. BUT, some parents go too far and do get criminally prosecuted. For instance, deciding your five year old can swim by himself in your backyard pool will get your custody revoked. Or deciding he can smoke. Or deciding he can live by himself in a cabin in the woods.
The parents in this case had the right to make their decision. I just disagree with it, and that’s what we are discussing.
Some are indeed very mature at 17. Some are totally immature at 19. Our culture has set the bar at 18. It is an average. We need some sort of law, or the difference between minors and adults gets blurred to the point of exploitation.
Ten year olds having sex with a 25 year old - the guy could claim they were “mature.” Twelve year olds signing a contract to serve on a ship for ten years - the captain could claim they were “mature.” Fifteen year olds signing to do a porn film - the director could say they were “mature.” Etc. So the law set 18 years of age. I think it is a good law.
Yes, when one is 16 one can drive. Also, by the time one is 13 one can usually babysit. With a work permit, you can work at 15 1/2. So we have allowances for an intermediate step, somewhere between little kid and adult.
Think about other situations less glamourous and inspiring than sailing.
Say a 16 year old wanted to be a nighttime NYC cab driver. Would you think the parents were responsible to let her do that?
Say a 16 year old wanted to get plastic surgery to improve her already perfectly nice appearance. Would you think the parents responsible to let her do that?
Say a 16 year old wanted to marry the old lech down the street. Would you think the parents responsible to let her do that?
I’d guess no, and the reason would be, you know, if she wants to do these extreme things, let her do them as an adult. Same with the solo ocean sailing IMO.
“So there’s risk, should we bottle up our teens? Or let them drive? ‘
Everything is a calculated risk. What about your kids and the deer? I don’t know. Maybe say they can’t drive at times when deer are active, or require a very slow speed, assuming you believe they are trustworthy about it.
It’s your call. They are your kids. But I don’t have to think you necessarily made the right call, depending on what you decide!
I appreciate the spirit of the prose. I just don’t apply it to the extreme for minors.
One might quote it while watching a ten year old go solo deep sea diving. That wouldn’t inspire me, either.
” Just because it happened in the 18th and 19th century doesn’t mean that it is necessarily a good thing.
Likewise, the 21st. “
Absolutely, we must do what is right by our kids, regardless of the spirit of the current age.
Well, I appreciate your honest and articulate post.
“Yeah, at least Columbus borrowed the money before he went off and did something this stupid...”
How ‘bout Ferdinand Magellan?
Can you converse without personal attacks?
I'm all for individual liberty - but also for real individual responsibility when a person “chooses” to place themselves needlessly in great peril
But this girls mother admitted in a CNN interview awhile back that sailing the Indian Ocean was dangerous in winter. This expensive rescue could have been avoided. They knew it was risky.
Can you take the time to read what you are discussing?
There are kids that collect winter coats for the needy but they aren't cheering them.
There are kids that collect food for soup kitchens. But they aren't cheering them.
They're cheering a kid that simply WANTED to sail the world.....to benefit no one but herself. And those of us that quietly go about our lives are denigrated because we aren't selfish too. Oprah-esque indeed.
I refuse to read or converse with rude posters. Go attack someone else for not mirroring your opinion.
1. They don't have a great deal of money (nearly bankrupt)
2. And. Yes you are right.
“Don’t understand the backlash on Free Republic?”
The forums generally result in a “diversity” (don’t you just hate that word) of opinions. I generally agree with your remarks. Her handling of the boat under severely adverse conditions certainly exudes competence and bravery well beyond her years. Other teens have embarked on similar attempts (mountain climbing, etc.). Most criticism arises when there is a failure to succeed that makes a pretty girl get national/international headlines.
Paid and unpaid rescuers frequently risk their lives to save others - ie hikers, forest fires, shark attacks, etc. so criticizing for that is dubious; the captain of the rescue vessel certainly knew the risks.
All of that being said, the real problem was apparently advertiser control related to the poor choice of departure times. That’s when the parents should have stepped in. Most parents love their children dearly and want them to be happy and successful. All parents have made erroneous decisions regarding the best interests of their children at one time or another. Some on here are far too quick to judge without looking at the whole picture.
You misinterpret.... (misread) what I have posted and feel you have been personally attacked? Truly no attack on you has been made, only your thin-skinned perception. The only true attacks I have seen on these Abby threads are from those of you who do not like what she has done and so feel it is okay to attack her and her family in very personal ways. You seek to defend these posts as “discussion”. Okay, if that makes you feel better about gossipy, buttinski behavior - go ahead, enjoy yourself.
Two words: Chay Blyth. When he set out in the 1968 solo Golden Globe Race. he did not know how to sail yet he made it all the way to the Indian Ocean in an unsuitable boat before storm damage forced abandoning the attempt (hmmm) (but he managed to get the boat back to port)
The world is an unsafe place.
Careful don’t fall out of your chair, as the medics may hurt themselves when they rush in to pick you up off the floor.
Thank God the pioneers were built of better stuff than you, or we would still be living in Europe.
If it wasn't risky, it would have already been done.
The record was already set. By a 16 year old Australian.
NO seasoned sailor sails in the Indian Ocean in winter.
What was this kid pioneering?
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