Regarding her "not understanding the consequences" - her brother did the same thing last year when he was 17. She and her family both knew the dangers.
16-year old solo round-the-world Abby Sunderland lost at sea
- Thread starter gturner
- Start date
WTF is wrong with this goofball parents?
"Oh hey let's pay for our kid to climb Mt. Everest!
Oh here we'll have our daughter sail around the world. Alone!
Parenting fail. I guess the possible book sails and tv interviews were too much for common sense to win out.
These parents are like some sick combination of beauty pageant moms and little league dads.
"Oh hey let's pay for our kid to climb Mt. Everest!
Oh here we'll have our daughter sail around the world. Alone!
Parenting fail. I guess the possible book sails and tv interviews were too much for common sense to win out.
These parents are like some sick combination of beauty pageant moms and little league dads.
Wow! I didn't see this thread last night, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway. I swear, many comments here are from such snively, knee-jerk reacting overprotective ninnies that it isn't funny. It reminds me of all of the 
emoticons and blubbery posts when initial reports of "balloon boy" were coming out.
She's trained for a hardy voyage, is experienced in her seamanship, and has the full support of her parents. She also has emergency gear and a game plan. To see people come out with "she's too young for this" is laughable. I know some of these comments come from people who post in TNZ (the Blubbering Vagina Zone) that it's OK for children to engage in safe sex and nothing should be done to stop it as it's "natural". Well, some people are naturally ambitious, have drive and determination toward something constructive. Rather than running to the wailing wall during a bad moment, how about stepping back, taking a deep breath, and wait for the results rather than getting out the ladder and climbing up on your high horses and passing judgment? She's fine, her ship will get repaired, and she'll continue her journey. She's a smart gal and very determined. Hopefully, she completes her journey without any further issues.
emoticons and blubbery posts when initial reports of "balloon boy" were coming out.She's trained for a hardy voyage, is experienced in her seamanship, and has the full support of her parents. She also has emergency gear and a game plan. To see people come out with "she's too young for this" is laughable. I know some of these comments come from people who post in TNZ (the Blubbering Vagina Zone) that it's OK for children to engage in safe sex and nothing should be done to stop it as it's "natural". Well, some people are naturally ambitious, have drive and determination toward something constructive. Rather than running to the wailing wall during a bad moment, how about stepping back, taking a deep breath, and wait for the results rather than getting out the ladder and climbing up on your high horses and passing judgment? She's fine, her ship will get repaired, and she'll continue her journey. She's a smart gal and very determined. Hopefully, she completes her journey without any further issues.
Wow! I didn't see this thread last night, but it wouldn't have mattered anyway. I swear, many comments here are from such snively, knee-jerk reacting overprotective ninnies that it isn't funny. It reminds me of all of the
I agree. It's not like she was a 9 year old, a 16 year old is a young woman.
If she was 17, she could chose to go into the US Armed forces to kill or be killed in some desert hell-hole. A hundred years ago, 16 years old probably meant you'd been working full time for the last 2-4 years. In the UK, up until 1929, a boy of 14 and a girl of 12 could be married with parental agreement.
If her parents knew her mental and physical constitution could handle this, why the fuck not? Not every 16 year old is equal.
And she's cute, so yeah I'd imagine successful or not, she'll be able to further parlay the sailing thing into an income generator for herself.
She was warned about the Indian Ocean at this time of year but doesn't seem to have listened.
Also the boat builder who prepared Jessica Watson's yacht for her recently completed around the world voyage said Sunderland's boat was unsuited to singled handed sailing and that while very going down wind, not suited for a circumnavigation. So while it's good she's safe her situation is very much of her own making.
I hope that if Sunderland receives any money for tv interviews etc that she first makes sure QANTAS is reimbursed for the costs of putting up at Airbus that found her.
I don't see how it's that much different than parents getting their kids horseriding or surfing lessons or something.
And then there are those 16-year olds who are responsible, have a grasp of accountability, and are more prepared at dealing with life than many 26-year olds.
What's your point
You know what your 16-year-old sister is like.
I've taught 16 year olds, some are extremely immature, but there are some who are more mature, well-spoken and intelligent than many so-called professional adults.
I've taught 16 year olds, some are extremely immature, but there are some who are more mature, well-spoken and intelligent than many so-called professional adults.
and she''s not having to pay for the cost of her rescue.
Glad she's okay.
That's actually pretty common. You don't want to discourage people from activating emergency beacons when they need help, after all.
Because at that age, you are basically on probationary status. It should be codified as such more clearly, but as far as I'm concerned, once you're old enough to operate a deadly piece of machinery (a car) then you need to do so understanding the gravity of the full consequences, NOT being shielded by Mommy and Daddy. At the same time, until full maturity, parents should have full power to revoke any privileges that they see fit in order to instill discipline, if their child gets out of hand.
(Unfortunately responsible parenting is not exactly common these days--so at least if teens will not respect their parents, they should at least fear the law.)
Wow, that's unnecessary, irrelevant, and sexist. Good job!
If you're unable to see the difference between a kid horseback riding or surfing and trying to sail around the world solo or climb Mt. Everest then I can't help you with that.
