When Adults Help Kids Flirt With Death

[marmar]

from truthdig:




When Adults Help Kids Flirt With Death

Posted on Jul 18, 2010
By T.L. Caswell


Thousands around the world were relieved to learn late last month that Abby Sunderland, 16, is safely back in the bosom of her family in Southern California.

If you weren’t one of those, at this moment you’re probably asking, “Who?”

Abby Sunderland, the international hero and role model to admirers near and far, that’s who. The girl whose name fetches almost 7 million hits on Google, that’s who.

The teenager—called an adventurer by some and a daredevil by others—returned to her home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., on June 28 after being plucked out of the Indian Ocean following an accident that terminated a colossal solo voyage. She and her 40-foot sailboat had ended up in quite a pickle when a heavy sea snapped off the racing vessel’s 60-foot mast, leaving, as she later told a throng of reporters in California, a 1-inch stub.

The mast broke when the sloop Wild Eyes encountered a 30-foot wave during a squall and turned upside-down, briefly knocking the young sailor unconscious. Largely because of the emergency radio beacons onboard, she was rescued two days later. But during the long hours when there was no way for her to tell anyone she had survived, anxiety over her fate ran high. (A few pessimists declared she probably was dead.)

Abby’s brother Zac—who last year became the first person under the age of 18 to complete a solo circumnavigation—said at the time: “Everyone’s praying. It’s kind of a waiting game at this point. The main hope is to get a plane out there.” .......(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/when_adults_help_kids_flirt_with_death_20100718/

[zipplewrath]

1. Bad headline

She wasn't "flirting with death". She was sailing. That various activities have potential lethal consequences, doesn't mean they are exercises in "flirting with death". Every effort to avoid death was taken, short of not sailing at all. The purpose of the trip was not to see "how dangerous we can make it".

The underlying problem with the whole piece is that the author really makes no attempt to define when something becomes "too dangerous" for minors to participate. The vast majority of people, minors or otherwise" who set out on these journeys don't die. She didn't die. That vast majority just fail and end up back at home. So when does something become "too dangerous"?

The problem with the trip wasn't that she was a minor. She coulda been 40 and the exact same things would have happened on this trip. Nothing in it was blamed upon her age or experience. In fact the primary criticism was that the trip was done at all, by anyone, at that time of year. A decision made by her, and adults, on land before she ever left.

If we are going to protect children from engaging in activities with danger, the nations military acadamies are in serious trouble.

[marmar]

2. Agree with you on military academies, but I'm sorry, letting a 16-year-old sail alone.....

.....her decision or not, is insane.

[zipplewrath]

3. Put it in context

That's an easy claim to make, but really there was nothing in the outcome that happened because she was 16. I'm curious what activities you consider "not insane" for a 16 year old? I rode a bike all over the county in which I grew up. I went on survival trianing camps in boy scouts. I hiked Philmont, and walked right past the plaque for the 16 years olds that were struck by lightning on the Tooth of Time. 16 year olds hike the Appliation Trail (really, not like the Governor of South Carolina). Truth is sailing solo has risks and 16 year olds do it all the time, it doesn't have to be around the world to be dangerous. They drive cars. My problem with the whole piece is everyone wants to claim this was somehow "too dangerous" but they aren't willing to explain why it is anymore dangerous that a whole host of activities which 16 year olds regularly participate, and die doing. She didn't die, and didn't particularly get hurt anymore than a snow boarder occasionally does. And nothing that happened was attributed to age or experience.

[marmar]

4. Yeah, but if she gets into a car accident, an ambulance can get to her quickly......

nt

[zipplewrath]

5. And she can still be dead

Like I say, the issue here is when is an activity "too" dangerous for minors to participate. In a country where we start football for kids as young as 12, sailing solo seems fairly "sane".

[BlancheSplanchnik]

6. Maybe that headline should be, "When Adults let GIRLS Take Risks"

The mention of Abby's brother Zac is made free of criticism, with seemingy no awareness of the irony:

Abby’s brother Zac—who last year became the first person under the age of 18 to complete a solo circumnavigation—said at the time: “Everyone’s praying. It’s kind of a waiting game at this point. The main hope is to get a plane out there.”


The author does not subject Zac or his parents to excoriation for the risks HE took.

Does the author write essays about all of the dangerous XXXTREME sports boys under the age of 18 engage in, with full support of their parents?

Or is it only when girls venture into the masculine world of dangerous adventure that it is time for adult reprimands?

When TL practices a little gender equivalence, then I'll be impressed.