Posted on 06/14/2010 12:04:54 PM PDT by NoLibZone
Here's a dose of reality.
The father of teen sailor Abby Sunderland told The NY Post that he's broke and had signed a contract to do a reality show, "Adventures in Sunderland," about his family of daredevil kids weeks after she set off on her doomed and dangerous solo sail around the globe.
Laurence Sunderland, a sailing instructor who lives in the middle-class Los Angeles suburb of Thousand Oaks with his pregnant wife and seven kids, opened their home to film crews four months ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Here, here!
Thanks for yelling, that really drove your point home =o)
I don’t know why so many are so quick to defend this couple.
This child is not old enough to understand the danger. There, I said it. For similar reasons, juvenile offenders are often tried as...well...juveniles.
When we are young, we presume our parents are looking out for our safety...and if they endorse a solo sail around the world, it seems ‘safe’....but it was certainly not safe.
I have talked to some sailers. They make some common sense points:
1. Going solo at sea never a good idea.
2. Entering the Indian Ocean this time of year not good (probably had to do it before she aged out of the record books).
I know others have survived the trip before...but that doesn’t make it safe.
Why doesn’t good ole dad make the next attempt :)
If I judge her competent and that was her desire, sure.
Talk about a fool, you have more than shown you are one.
You’re a total jerk!
Glad you weren’t my parent!
There’s nothing wrong with risking your life!
I’ve done it since I was a small child!
Are you effing serious? Child rape is a CRIME. Sailing a boat is NOT a CRIME. And if it does not take talent to sail a boat, many more teens would be making teh same attempt.
That being said, I think that these parents are completely nuts.
At what age should she be allowed to sail around the world by herself.
Don’t come back with 18 because if she truly wanted to do this, she could go down to a courthouse and become an emancipated minor.
Meaning she is now on her own and requires no adult permission and has all the responsibilities of an adult.
Still can’t drink until 21 but then again you join the army at 18 and still aren’t allowed to drink.
So far there have been no calls for reimbursement. If there are, since the family is evangelical, I have every reason to believe that they will do what they can to raise the money to reimburse those who spent money on the rescue as that would be the right thing to do.
Yeah, and not too long ago she was old enough to have and raise a family, buy a house and sail around the world had she wanted. Modern removal of personal responsibility in lieu of government internvention has taken this liberty from us. The nanny staters are in full effect on this thread! Do it for the children!! Won’t someone think of the children?! Oh, the humanity!
OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG! OMG!
Big deal!
Most people wouldn’t let their kid walk off into the woods alone as they are not prepared. I did it regularly and still do.
I was trained in search and rescue as part of the Sheriff Explorer but I already possessed many of the skill required to hike alone.
What you consider dangerous is just another day for many of us.
Not an adrenaline junky, just find some activities fun, stimulating and relaxing.
It takes no talent to sail a boat anyone one can do , yes it is a mechanical function, and forcing your child to make a living for you is exploitation of the child.
In our winter? It’s their summer.
All over the news you have governments and the fishing boat that lost money and they want to start with reimbursement of well over 400k.
Daddy says he is broke and should get free help because this was a CHILD (what of the corn?).
It's bad, they should for sure attach the reality TV show money.
These people to me are approaching balloon boy status the way they are avoiding the consequences and costs of their choices.
bump
Its a shame so many here have the knee jerk reaction that those of use who oppose her efforts are having a knee jerk reaction...
I was cutting wood and topping trees at 14.
For the uninitiated, topping trees requires climbing to a point where the tree will be well... topped.
Secure yourself in and get to work with a chainsaw 30-50+ above ground.
And the reason you top it is because there is not enough room for the tree to fall, which is even more dangerous.
I think that sums up the comments on Abby and her family quite well. Those who are not wired for this kind of thing can't understand it and post negative comments projecting their opinions on Abby or the parents. The rest of us say "GO ABBY!" (and never the twain shall meet.")
Its middle of June in the US, but in the Southern Hemisphere the season is middle of December, Christmassy and Big Storms.
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