But Mom, he got to sail around the world!

Age plays a role. Your decision-making abilities aren't fully developed at 16.

 

What can the Coast Guard do? Do they have anything remotely close to the Indian Ocean?

 

You only cover us when we get lost at sea. [/too soon?]

 

So you'd be just as angry at the parents of an 18- or 20-year-old who bought their child a ship for a solo circumnavigation?

And, really, do we need the pissing match attitude here?

 

High-achievers find a way. They are wired differently. Can't explain it any better than that.

Some even drop out of Harvard at age 19 to chase some silly pipe dream about starting a computer software company, becoming a billionaire and changing the world. Yeah, right. Good luck with that, Mr. Gates.

There really is a reason 1% of the people own 40% of the wealth.

 

That's my thought. If her life was worth enough to appease an adrenaline rush, I'm sure these well-heeled people would like to assist with the finances of the rescue effort.

 

I have a 16 year old daughter at home. She is the best daughter I could ever hope for. And the thought of her parents sending her on a trip traveling alone in the middle of the fucking ocean, in 50 foot waves, in the middle of the winter, with the closest person 40 hours away, is about the STUPIDEST thing I could possibly imagine.

 

Oh, for pete's sake.

 

That's fine. Nothing wrong with that.

Other people have much more broad and complex imaginations. Sometimes I wish I was one of them. A kid I sat next to in U.S. History class in high school became the founding president of Google China. I've played it safe all my life, took only one bold step in my 31 years as an adult. The bold step evolved into a godsend. And what did the "safe" route get me? A career completely at the mercy of whatever wrecking ball the Tribune Company slams into my shop every few months. Well done, BTExpress.

 

Dropping out of college to start Dell is bold.
Attempting to solo sail around the world is Russian Roulette.

 

Your (or my) career decisions are just not the same thing as this girl going out alone in the middle of the ocean at 16 years old.

Bill Gates starting MSFT is not the same thing. Gates didn't need bailing out by the Australian Coast Guard.