Posted on 06/14/2010 9:50:22 AM PDT by Ron C.
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.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
What exactly does this accomplish? I assume you’ve pulled out your checkbook to repay the Aussies in full for the hundreds of thousands of dollars in rescue expenses, since the family tried to dump them on the US Government (ie. taxpayers)??
I don't know but the American public seems to find this type of record-breaking as OK.
I grew up taking many 'risks' - (had parental, and grand-parental training.) I climbed mountains, lived off the land in deserts - while younger than the girl in this story. Once I literally had to crawl to civilization after I broke an ankle on a mountain side.
Funny thing though - every other kid was doing the same kind of stuff - many far more 'dangerous' than anything I did. By today's wimpy standards, our grandfathers would not have settled the West - it would have been ceded to Mexico.
Well I doubt Australia is footing the bill! I think he would be a pretty cheap clean up!
Address what I said. Your premise was that people watch too much TV. I responded that the Sunderlands want you to watch their new reality show.
Tell me, is endangering your 16 year old daughter when even the American Sailing Association wont endorse the voyage, and then contracting for a reality show now the new American way and just spiffy?
Abortion and video games have NOTHING to do with this and is a deflection. Unless you believe that her ONLY 3 choices in life are sailing in dangerous waters, abortion and video games.
how ‘bout a reality show were we put a bunch of exploitative d-bag parents into an arena full of hungry lions?
Your grandfathers footed their own bills!
Yes that is true, some are more mature than others. But parents bear responsibility until their child is 18.
Even if my daughter was 30 years old and I had no control over her anymore, I would STILL discourage such a dangerous voyage ALL BY HERSELF. I would at least ask her to let me go with her.
So, do you think strength could have kept the power of the ocean from damaging the sailboat?
It's admirable to bring children up to do innovative things.
However, how about doing it with your own money? These people borrowed the money for her boat & expect other people to be responsible for paying their way.
They are asking the public for money to salvage the boat & who will be responsible for paying back the boat loan?
It's nice to follow your dreams - but do so with some responsibility & not expect other people to pay for your journey.
This man, with soon to be eight children to support, made no plans for taking care of them, in the case that this adventure failed...which it did!!
There's a whole lot of deception, both in the media's negative spinning and attacks, and by the critics here on FR.
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http://www.abby16.com/
Funniest post on FR this month, by far!
You might like a “Abby16 Autographed Vinyl Poster” for $19.99
Seems to me that the sanctioning body that would certify and record the record should require some kind of rescue insurance. Otherwise there is no record. Insurance company would then make sure that the thing is a likely, “GO”.
If ya’ can’t get out of, what ya’ got into, you shouldn’t play the game.
This is great can you imagine how many TOYs, SHOES, SANDALS, BOOTS AND T-SHIRTS they could sell!
Lose patience - it’s the American way these days.
Are you telling me my grandparents were child abusers because they let my father join the Merchant Marines @ age 17? He made over 20 Atlantic crossing surrounded by U-Boats lurking all around. Dangerous waters.
They did this for financial gain - living in Britain they wanted the finer things like food.
If 16 is too young, what is the proper age? 18, 20, 24, 26?
What’s more dangerous, giving your underaged child the keys to the family SUV (Oh my) on prom night or letting a trained one manage a boat with all the modern safety devices.
This follows Obama’s edict of keeping “children” on their parent’s medical plans till age 26.
How old were the Pony Express riders? Our soldiers in Iraq / Afghanistan? Too young? Child abuse?
“All by herself” was the whole point of the journey. There are people who push envelopes out there, and I respect them for it.
....especially for those who come into harm's way in the course of more routine pursuits
However If you bother to check - many that attempt to set global non-stop records for fame / financial gain(airplane, ballon, etc) DO in fact have the teams and additional funding in place to self-fund a “rescue” effort
In this case the mother, when contacted about the $300,000 incurred by the Australian government - replied to the effect that they could not begin to pay, and said they should contact the US gov’t = MEANING YOUR TAX DOLLARS
And that is precisely what I object to - i.e. the arrogant presumption that others will risk their lives, property and funds when an attempted "money making" stunt such as this goes sour
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