Reply by lroseart June 10, 2010 03:53pm PDTReport Abuse

Great!! I agree

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 04:20pm PDTReport Abuse

My family is praying for her safety...

Reply by slimakobecny June 10, 2010 04:27pm PDTReport Abuse

get anger management moron...lmao ... we all die & if its in what U love doing than what beter way..... & if she makes it good for her.....

Reply by jo blazer June 10, 2010 04:40pm PDTReport Abuse

Freeverse95: Wow, name calling - how mature. Take a deep breath and try to enjoy life. If that doesn't work take a pill. Your hateful remarks are uncalled for.

Reply by mmoore45 June 10, 2010 04:45pm PDTReport Abuse

WTF.. What youre saying is just madness. This girl, nor her search should have anything to do with the government whatsoever. There are plenty of agencies in place for such a thing. It has nothing to do with the president. Pull your head out...Of course I hope she is rescued and ok, but bottom line, this is irresponsible parenting for me. I mean sure, its great if she makes it, but if she doesnt, and is lost at sea or the boat capsized, you can be sure the parents will be crucified. There is no way ANY 16 year old should be allowed to do such a thing. It doesnt matter how much experience the family may have had at sea. If the something bad or tragic has happened, was it even worth the risk? I think not.

Reply by timotomtime June 10, 2010 04:50pm PDTReport Abuse

you are all stupid, shes a junior in high and she risked her life.... she is soooo stupid not to have a rescue boat near her the entire time.... if she really loved it, she could wait until she was atleast 18

Reply by janinec June 10, 2010 04:51pm PDTReport Abuse

Freeverse95, that jab at Fox was not only uncalled for but completely WRONG. You obviously have never watched Fox if you think the people on that station are heartless and evil. Just the opposite. Don't believe the garbage hype and attacks by their competitor and ideological opponent, MSNBC... Sickening.

God bless her and I hope she is found safe and sound.

Reply by simone cadoppi June 10, 2010 04:54pm PDTReport Abuse

why? because when you turn 18 you become magically capable of things?

Reply by pookieg24 June 10, 2010 04:55pm PDTReport Abuse

I wish people would quit saying experienced. Really at 16 have got 2 be kidding me. Just because your family knows about sailing doesnt mean you do. 2 all u uneducated people ocean life this the most dangerous occupation in the world so u want me 2 believe she was ready for this at 16 i just cant believe that. When your ship capsizes being 16 does prepare u 4 that. EXPERIENCED how damn funny

Reply by pgeters June 10, 2010 04:59pm PDTReport Abuse

It's easy to say "it's irresponsible", but you have no idea how well thought through this plan was and why she did it. Anyone who sails near the ocean knows the risks and that death is a real possibility. Apparently her desire was bigger than her fear. Since it says the parents held a prayer vigil, we can probably assume that she was a Christian as well and that she may actually have some faith that God will take care of her, no matter what happens. She is not letting fear run her life. It would be easy for her and her parents to listen to fear and prohibit her from going, but no, they had the balls and faith to let her go. At some point, if you are a Christian, you really need to believe in this stuff and look at life from a different perspective. It's very simple. If she has faith in Jesus, then she is covered no matter what. Cudos to the parents for not taking the easy, fearful, faithless route and showing some real character.

Reply by charles noble June 10, 2010 05:13pm PDTReport Abuse

Well..regardless, I admire the courage she had to take this on, and she seems quite capable for her age. I think we need more young folks with this sort of ambition . Regardless of the argument over whether she was ready for this voyage, I do hope that she'll be ok.

Reply by tararichelle June 10, 2010 05:51pm PDTReport Abuse

This wasn't just something trying to be accomplished, because she could have accomplished this at anytime in her life. They just wanted her to beat a meaningless record that no one really cares about. It even states in the story that they were criticized for the timing of the trip because of the storm season (I am sure by people who know what they are talking about seeing as how she is now in danger) But they all decided to put her life in danger for a meaningless record. Which is very stupid on her part and the part of her parents (because it is their job to make these kind of very IMPORTANT decisions for her). I will be praying for this girl and hope that she is found safe. But even though she may be a trained sailor (which still doesn't mean she knew what she was doing because a "trained sailor" looks at the conditions of the water and takes that into account) this wasn't to accomplish sailing across the world it was for a dumb record. And now all these resources are having to be used for her not because she is just some young girl but because she didn't head warning about the sailing conditions to set a record (i.e. for her (or her parents) need for attention (glory)). And this is the real reason that her parents are "DUMB" because if she wasn't in danger and the news story was about how she was the youngest girl to do it, hardly no one would be commenting on her parents at all.

Reply by innoutkid June 10, 2010 06:26pm PDTReport Abuse

you guys are all retards im 15 yrs old i've been living on a boat for 6yrs, i'm not dead yet! pookieg unfortunately your parents knowing about sailing DOES mean you know too, it's called learning, learning can teach you so much, it's cool, learning, you should try it. and yes i know, "my god that means you were 9 when you went on a boat!" yup, boating is not dangerous, not anymore than driving a car, playing sports, walking to school, but it takes guts not because it is frightening but because it is scary to break away from what you know and completely leave everything behind, i hope she's okay because i can relate to her i know how she felt when she left and less moron out there is a relief, it makes my life less dangerous

Reply by sickandtiredofnastyppl June 10, 2010 06:32pm PDTReport Abuse

u negative ppl make me sick!!! rite or wrong this is a human being we are talking about u shud be ashamed!!! let them find the girl and let the appropiate ppl handle the technicalities late who are u to judge!!!

Reply by tumor33 June 10, 2010 06:34pm PDTReport Abuse

That just shows your age innoutkid. Your on a boat with your parents. If you were in a car and you get into an accident or your playing sports and get hurt your not 2 days away from getting help

Reply by nettie plate ferrell June 10, 2010 06:49pm PDTReport Abuse

HEY ,everyone go to the library research an author Robin Lee Graham he wrote a couple books. The Dove for young adults and The Boy Who Sailed Around the World Alone for children. he was 1 year older when he started his adventures in the early 70's. And yes at one point he also needed to be rescued. It was his greatest adventure that taught him many things about being an adult and prepared him for all things that would come in his life.Those books inspired me and for the first time I learn that reading books was great. I continue to read real life adventure novels to this day!!! There is something in this girls story all of us can learn from. We all can learn about bravery and self reliance and how to achieve our dreams from this young girl. And I would personally commend her parents for raising such a wonderfully confident daughter in these unsettling times. And as for the bills, Who pays the rescue bills for the guys on "The Worlds Most Deadliest Job" ?

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 06:51pm PDTReport Abuse

It possible I've seen stories of people being seriously injured and stuck in their cars and no help because they crashed off road... And I have a friend who's uncle went missing for 4 days and all he was doing was skate boarding down a huge hill crashed and landed behind bushes no one could see him from the street ended up in a coma for 2 months took four days to find him and he was laying 5 ft from the side walk...

Reply by tumor33 June 10, 2010 06:52pm PDTReport Abuse

ON the worlds most deadliest job they pay a higher priemium on there insurance and that pays for it. Yes the parents should pay for her rescue

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 07:00pm PDTReport Abuse

Well I can see the paying $ thing because if u get hurt and get an ambulance ride but u don't have insurance your supposed to pay for the ride aren't you? I've been told that before... Dunno of its true??

Reply by tumor33 June 10, 2010 07:02pm PDTReport Abuse

$100 dollar ride here where I am if insurance don't cover it

Reply by bryan mansell June 10, 2010 07:04pm PDTReport Abuse

Why are they not using Sattelites or something to at least see her and if she is okay? I mean, I can zoom in on my house and see my car parked in front using something as easy as Google Earth, so why can't they at least see if she is okay to put the families at ease?

Reply by tumor33 June 10, 2010 07:04pm PDTReport Abuse

For the record I hope she is still alive. I don't wish anyone to be hurt to prove a point to there parents I just don't think it was a well thought out discision. I think at the least someone should have followed her to help if she needed. As for the other one that did it and was successful I still think it was wrong for her parents to let her go too

Reply by tumor33 June 10, 2010 07:07pm PDTReport Abuse

I believe the reason they wouldn't be able to see her from sattelite is that it is nite time there now. I could be wrong just guessing, or they don't have on lined up there to see her who knows how long that would take to get a sattelite there

Reply by lysetteasen June 10, 2010 07:28pm PDTReport Abuse

It is time to pray for this family and not attack the parents, but.....

Is everyone aware of the position her parents have put themselves in? Department of Children and Families and Child Protective Services are in place for a reason. They may not have gotten involved at the beginning, the pressure will be upon them now. It usually takes a bad outcome to bring a bad choice to light. This should have been avoided. Neglect is the fact of the matter in this case.

Letting your child follow their dreams is great but there needs to be guidelines/protocols/supervision in case of emergencies. That is the difference between support and neglect.

There are those of you saying she is a professional. A professional does not disregard the safety of their life and go out to sail during unsafe months of sea travel.

These parents will nodoubtedly face JAIL TIME if anything happens to this girl. The law will see this as neglect as it should have when the trip was even brought to light.

Reply by luvdahlia June 10, 2010 07:32pm PDTReport Abuse

"Apparently her desire was bigger than her fear." Isnt that true of all teenagers? They are known for their lack of impulse control and not well thought out decisions. They have no fear. That's why they are supposed to have responsible adults in their lives to guide them. Obviously she was missing that.

There was way, way too much that could go wrong for a 16yr to do this alone and without a rescue boat along. The odds were so far stacked against her that its impossible to call this anything but stupidity and gross negligence on her parents part.

Reply by techgeek31 June 10, 2010 07:45pm PDTReport Abuse

You guys do know that Google Earth are actually photos taken from a plane flying over your area several years ago ( some more recent). Same with the street view, a google mobile travels the streets and captures it all. That's why some streets have a street view and some don't since the google mobile hasn't made it there yet. So photo's of your car in your drive way aren't live images. Try moving your car else where, I bet your car would still be in the drive way.
As for taking a satellite and trying to find her it would be a needle in a hay stack. Even if you do have GPS with the latitude and longitude it's not an exact location it may be within several miles but in a vast ocean that's a lot. The plane is the best idea they will have a better chance they can get a much closer look then a satellite.

I'll be praying for her that's the best we can do from our homes.

Reply by tararichelle June 10, 2010 08:50pm PDTReport Abuse

@ Bryan and tremor, the type of satellite that can zoom into a certain place during the present time is very expensive and only used by the government (top secret type of stuff). The google map thing is 5 to 7 years old. If you try to zoom in on a building that has been built with in the last couple of years you will see its not there. I am sure if it were that easy that some one would have already thought of it seeing as how many people are invested into this. no offense just saying

Reply by thelorax June 10, 2010 09:08pm PDTReport Abuse

Luvdahlia: That is not at all true of all teenagers. Teenagers often make well thought-out, rational decisions. I think that this WAS a well-thought out decision for her, and that this dream of hers was so important to her and that she loved the feeling of being out to sea alone so much that it was all she wanted. And I personally have to say that if I were to die trying to complete a dream that was very important to me, I would not regret it. I don't know about you, but if I had a dream that I was that passionate about, I would consider my life a success, whether I ended up dying prematurely or not.
Her parents on the other hand, are another story. This not being their dream, they could perhaps have at least equipped her better, or even forced her to wait until she was older, or for more reliable technology, or SOMETHING. They should have had the objectiveness to make more careful preparations. But they should not have tried to make her let go of her dream. Unaccomplished dreams are some of the most destructive things possible for people.
But teenagers, while they certainly sometimes have impulse control problems, are more rational and thoughtful than you give them credit for.

Reply by zep4life June 10, 2010 09:49pm PDTReport Abuse

timotomtime.. or whatever your name is.. i dont want to scroll back up. You really think 2 years is going to make her that much more capable of something like this? You = stupid

Reply by username52 June 10, 2010 11:51pm PDTReport Abuse

Wow I see a lot of Monday morning quarterbacks here. I think we should let everyone on this board parent everyone ones else's kids. Oh wait, you don't want someone else to parent your kids. Then I sure the Sunderland's do not either. Keep that in mind when making your comments. If not then your a hypocrite.

This goes out to the family. I hope your daughter comes home safe and sound. She is in my prayers.

Reply by clearingthewaters June 11, 2010 03:32am PDTReport Abuse

Lets clear up the water
A ) Sailboats leave a very low profile and the ocean is vast so talking about pirates and the danger of them is just insane.
B ) Someone talked about why not use a Satalite to spot this girls ship. It is in the middle of a storm so no dice.
C ) A lot of people talk about how children should be able to do just about anything they want as long as they are trustworthy. The fact is it doesn't matter. As a parent it is basically your responsibility to not get your child killed. They are her Legal Guardian, which is to safeguard someone from coming to harm. Trust me also having a child changes your world and you don't want them to get hurt no matter what age. The law says 18 so it is your duty as a parent to protect them from harm till they are that age.
D ) She left harbor during the storm season. Was it to follow her dreams of sailing around the world? No. It was to be the youngest to do so. If she had waited a few weeks what would have been the harm? Isn't your safety tantamount? It was to set a record don't delude yourselves of anything else.
E ) Anyone who has done serious sailing knows that having a wing man/woman is extremely helpful. Capsizing, man overboard, being knocked out from a hard jolt and hitting your head on something having an extra hand matters. Like life or death matters. No matter how good you are the ocean is a B**** and she will hit you w/ all sorts of sht. Having someone around helps.

The real tragedy is how big of a publicity stunt this whole thing has become from the very start. I never saw a picture of the other girl trying to sail around the world, and part of me thinks this young lady only got screen time because of her pretty face. It's sad that she could be somewhere hurt, scared, or dying because of a push to obtain a record that might instantly get broken in a year or two.

I hope she survives, but it's a shame that this whole BS is hyped just to sell a story. This girl is out there probably suffering.

Reply by sandpeople1 June 11, 2010 10:21am PDTReport Abuse

zep4life is an idiot. The governments around the world agree that 18 is the minimum age when someone is old enough to make decisions and the difference between a 16 and 18 year old is a lot.
this child's mommy and daddy should be held responsible for her rescue costs and if anything happens to her then they will also be held responsible in court because they are her legal guardians and are supposed to make decisions for her well being until she is old enough to do it herself.
anyone who knowingly takes a risk should be responsible for its costs and not burden taxpayers. This isn't an accident that she is in need of rescue because they took a risk knowing this could happen. This isn't like a fishing boat needing rescue. It is a family knowingly putting her at risk, and the rescuers at risk.

Reply by sandpeople1 June 11, 2010 10:35am PDTReport Abuse

if it was so "well thought out" then they would have had an escort ship and not just an emergency beacon for help or a handgun in case she encountered bad people. What was she going to do exactly? keep bad people at bay with a pistol? really good well thought out plan. fucking idiots

Reply by zep4life June 11, 2010 10:56am PDTReport Abuse

The fact that you agree with the government just to agree with the government makes you really stupid... really pathetic. You honestly think there is a huge difference between 16 and 18 year olds? Just because someone made up the number 18 and said "that's when everyone is old enough and mature enough to make there own decisions? It's a made up number. I promise you there are plenty of 16 year olds.. or 17 or 18 or fucking 15... that are more mature than a lot of people in their 20's. It depends on the person.... I do agree that the parents should be held responsible for the costs, but do you really think this is what you should be bitching and whining about when it comes to your tax dollars?

Reply by kittykatsmom June 11, 2010 07:49pm PDTReport Abuse

No zep, your right about one thing and one thing only, you can't put a monetary value on life. This story sickens me. The thought of this girl out there alone being pounded by the ocean, who knows what her thoughts are at this moment....was this a mistake? is this the last adventure I will ever take? She is 16, she couldn't have known the enormity of what she was about to attempt to do? The risks were only words. I don't know what preparation this girl has gone through, but nothing and I think nothing could have prepared her for this actual real life situation. Well parents of Abby, I hope it's all worth it in the end for you. Because if this all goes badly you will have plenty of time to question yourselves later.

Reply by colaw7 June 12, 2010 03:45pm PDTReport Abuse

I just shake my head and laugh at all these comments that assume this girl's feelings and point blame at the parents and accuse them of all sorts of evil. So if the girl had waited another 2 years until she turned 18...then got caught in a storm and died at sea...that is more okay than if that happened when she is 16?????? Come on, people. Age doesn't matter in this situation...as far as if she is 16 or 18. I'm sure she is a bit shaken, and was very much afraid out there in that storm...but that can happen in billions of other more "normal" situations in regular every day life. I bet anything she will be just fine, and will make another attempt. If not at this same challenge, something else she enjoys doing and wants to learn and develop stronger character from. Why in the world would you all get so wound up and distraught over something that doesn't even affect you directly???? That's just plain silly!

Reply by dancingashley June 10, 2010 04:21pm PDTReport Abuse

We send 16 year olds out in cars by themselves all the time, if they wreck are the parents responsible because they let them drive?
Accidents are going to happen; we can't keep kids in bubbles their whole lives.
I'm not trying to be rude or start drama, but I think everyone is losing sight of the important thing and that's finding her and getting her home safely.

Reply by sherri radtke June 10, 2010 04:23pm PDTReport Abuse

I do have to soooo agree with this person.. My boys had lots of dreams as they were growing up and they were made to wait by us untill they were older.. Now age 35 and 28.. One is in the army fighting in Iraq and the other a pro baseball player. They both wanted to tour the world and now they are....

But my prayers are with the family and Abby..God Bless you all and pray she is alright...

Reply by cat13 June 10, 2010 04:24pm PDTReport Abuse

16 years old is considered an adult in a lot of places throughout the world.. your ethical and moral compass are quite biased by US standards. I think before you choose to call someone irresponsible maybe you should think about how your views are not the only ones out there. I think if a lot more 16 year olds were as dedicated to life goals and ambitions as this young lady is then the US would have a lot less crime and drug abuse.

Reply by bbsis June 10, 2010 04:24pm PDTReport Abuse

Yeah! Aren't there modern day pirates on the Indian Sea? Or out there period? Very bad decision making!

Reply by joanofarc June 10, 2010 04:26pm PDTReport Abuse

I don't see it as irresponsible I see a girl fulfilling a dream. Good for her for doing it.

Reply by rosemary g June 10, 2010 04:28pm PDTReport Abuse

Or sending them out the door to the bus stop it inherently dangerous. Letting them ride a skateboard, putting them on a bicycle. Where do we draw line? Should we just wrap our babies up in bubble wrap and hand them to the state and let someone else raise them? Cavemen didn't have child proof locks...or safety helmets. Hmmm a few million years later: the human race is still here. Life is risk. We only get to live it once. Do you do it in the safe cocoon or do you let yourself fly?

This young lady is NOT some kid who just decided last week oh this would be cool and jumps in and does it. She is an experience sailor. Her parents have made a decision based on THEIR child, on THEIR experience. They did not "send"her, they allowed her to try. Which something we need to do more of: Let them TRY. If Thomas Edison didn't try: would we have lightbulbs? Or name an inventor or discovery...

Though I do agree with you: they should pay for the rescue. They knew the risks, they made the choice so they should be ready to face the consequences. And pay the bill for it. This goes for anyone adult or not who tries something like this: climbing a mountain, hiking the forests, sailing the seas. You want to do something extreme? Great, just know if you get in trouble YOU will be responsible for any rescue or recovery effort.

I pray this young lady is ok. It sounds as if even if God forbid the worst has happened she did what she loved and it sounds like she would not regret having gone the way she wanted to.

Reply by dancingashley June 10, 2010 04:31pm PDTReport Abuse

There may be pirates on the sea, but there are muggers and rapists on the streets. Bad things are happening everywhere in the world and the only way to truly avoid them is to keep your child a hostage in their home. No good parent would do that. A good parent pushes their children to achieve their dreams.

Reply by judy73 June 10, 2010 04:36pm PDTReport Abuse

really!!!!!!! Get a grip I cant think of a better way for my tax dollars to be spent, than on a young woman chasing her dreams!!!!
Love & Prayer to Abby & family,

Reply by edward yelland June 10, 2010 04:38pm PDTReport Abuse

This isn' t something new a 17 year old sailed around the globe in a 23' it isn't about her age but her skill level. Misshaps happen to adults that have sailed all tier lives.

Reply by whit26 June 10, 2010 04:38pm PDTReport Abuse

16 year olds also have a curfew of 10pm while driving and can't drive with anyone in the car !!


I will be praying for Abby!

Reply by dancingashley June 10, 2010 04:41pm PDTReport Abuse

Silly me, whit26, I forgot that car accidents can only happen if you're alone and driving after 10pm.

Reply by simsational June 10, 2010 04:41pm PDTReport Abuse

This is for DANCINGASHLEY- You're kidding me right? You must be young because an adult would never try and compare what Abby is doing to a ride to the movies or a local high school dance. This young woman is traveling to places most of us would only see on the Globe. Trust me when I say this, once all of this is done with, someone will be sitting down with the Sunderlands!

Reply by edward yelland June 10, 2010 04:44pm PDTReport Abuse

Good luck baby girl and all our payers go out to you.When you stop chasing your dreams you die.

Reply by dancingashley June 10, 2010 04:46pm PDTReport Abuse

I'm not saying that what she was trying to do wasn't dangerous, I'm saying that bad things can happen anywhere. She could just have easily had a car accident or been kidnapped or something else terrible, and if that had happened, people wouldn't be laying the blame on her parents.

Reply by thomaspromise3 June 10, 2010 04:48pm PDTReport Abuse

Driving a car is a way of life and must be learned by all children at the proper age. I have two daughters, so yes, I am hoping for safe return of this girl, but when my daughters are old enough to drive, they will have a curfew and limits as to how far they can drive. The surely wont be driving across the country at age 16, let alone sailing around the fuckin world, your point sucks.

Reply by dancingashley June 10, 2010 04:53pm PDTReport Abuse

As I said earlier, I didn't know that car accidents could only happen after a curfew. Must be nice to be able to control when accidents happen. My point, which everyone seems to be forgetting, is that it's not the parents fault this happened, and the more important point, is that she gets home safely.

Reply by janinec June 10, 2010 04:57pm PDTReport Abuse

I have no problem charging the parents for rescue efforts....but then we should charge EVERY single person who goes hiking or boating or anything for that matter (outside ordinary living and working) and has an accident or needs rescue. Only if you go after everyone would that be right.

Reply by william cantrell June 10, 2010 04:58pm PDTReport Abuse

simsational, what dancing was refering to was a post earlier talking about it still being dangerous just to drive. as for all you ppl on here that dont think what she is doin is fine, i for one, a parent of 5 children, would still stand behind WHATEVER my child decides they want to do. I have always pushed my kids to go for their dreams. no matter what anyone has to say about them. I applaud the sunderlands for them letting abby go and try to achieve her dreams. i remember when the story 1st was reported that she was going to do this. now i see this and my heart goes out to her family. i wish there was something i could do to help in the rescue efforts, but i cant. other than offer my prayers of strength to abby and her family in this hard and trying time.

Reply by thomaspromise3 June 10, 2010 05:02pm PDTReport Abuse

If I allow my 16 yr old daughters to drive at 3 in the morning, and they get killed by a drunk driver, yah the driver is at fault, but you can bet your sweet ass i would blame myself for the rest of my life, and people would rightfully blame me. This is a 16 yr CHILD sailing ALONE across the WORD, sounds stupid dont it?

Reply by ttavelli June 10, 2010 05:03pm PDTReport Abuse

Curfew driving what points are you considering. This is none of your business first of all and second this girl was trained and capable of doing this just like her 16 year old counterparts. You all have an opinion about somthing you could never have the balls to do yourself. This girl is living her life while you watch the Simpsons, She navigates Oceans while you use a hose to spray your kids with, She is living while you exist till you die. SO SHUT UP!

Reply by janinec June 10, 2010 05:07pm PDTReport Abuse

No, sailing at 16 around the world does not sound crazy. She knows what the dangers are. Sh probably has more experience than most sailors. I have sailed and know how difficult it is...but it is not impossible--especially if you learned early. And 16 is not necessarily a CHILD. I know a lot of 40 year olds who have less maturity than some 16 year olds. Aren't you folks the ones who get all upset when a 16 year old is told to be abstient from sex until married??

Reply by thomaspromise3 June 10, 2010 05:10pm PDTReport Abuse

william, hopefully none of your kids dream to sail around the world alone at age 16, or dream of driving to friends house at 3am new yrs eve(day) or jump out of plane without a parachute, this dream chasin shit is crazy. my kids can dream all they want, but i will never let any dream put them in harms way until they are grown adults. some of u people need to get off this chasin dream bullshit

Reply by mmoore45 June 10, 2010 05:18pm PDTReport Abuse

In my opionion, anything a 13 year old can think to do, and then are able to do at 16 IS NOT A DREAM AT ALL. I have children. I'm all for supporting their dreams. However, this decision, does not fall under that category. Would her parents NOT be supporting her if they had NOT allowed her to go? No. Those same parents would be thought to be absolutely correct for not allowing her to attempt this. Personally, I feel it was a poor decision. If it cost her life, was it worth the risk? Not at all. I am surely hoping they locate her and she is safe. There is a huge gap between sending our children out in cars and letting them sail the open sea around the world alone. I dont think that is a good comparison. While I'm sure driving is more dangerous statistically, it's not a stat that matters. Something most people do in everyday life cannot be compared to this. I dont know if anything a 16 year old can do can even be considered a dream at that age. Its a really sensitive subject. I have a 16 year old, and I couldnt imagine it. If something bad does happen, the parents will be crucified nationally. Lets just hope nothing bad has happened, and this poor girl had to endure something tragic like this alone. No matter what, that would be the worst.

Reply by coolmom9 June 10, 2010 05:19pm PDTReport Abuse

In MO you can legally have sex at 14. So if Abby was experienced and her parents thought at 16 she was capable of doing this, then so be it. She is their daughter, not yours, not the state's, theirs.
God bless you Abby, come back to us soon. God bless you Mom and Dad--may He give you peace until you are all reunited, either here or in heaven.

Reply by justsayen4 June 10, 2010 05:23pm PDTReport Abuse

coolmom says it all. Not "responsible" mom...coolmom.

Reply by gocards1982 June 10, 2010 05:39pm PDTReport Abuse

i cannot believe that someone is comparing riding a bicycle and SAILING AROUND THE WORLD ALONE...OK, not flying, but SAILING....and really? And somebody earlier also said "shes following her dreams, good for her" really!?! hey SHES 16!!!! And yes we do send them out in cars and if they get into an accident, then YES I do think parents should be held responsible in some cases because you need to teach your kid how to drive....and the other thing....shes a girl, not a woman, a GIRL, and i'm not being sexist...yet...but I'd feel the same way if it was a 16 yr old boy, not a MAN, but a BOY, a child who you're supposed to protect until they are 18, and no I don't think we should wrap our kids in bubble wrap for those of you who are going to make smart ass comments....and (here comes the sexist part), again, I say, its a GIRL, do you have any idea how difficult sailing is? and do you know how weak a 16 year old girl is? I'm surprised she made it halfway...unless shes on some Brock Lesner type STEROIDS, she never stood a chance....and I don't care if she started at a young age, nothing can prepare you for what the guy from surfline described with the warm air getting sucked down by the cool air of the storm, espeially by yourself....with all that said I DO hope she ges home safely and never does any kinda retarded crap like this until shes 20, and yes the parents should have to pay for some of these rescue efforts....GET HOME SAFE KID!

Reply by anotherstupidaccount June 10, 2010 05:56pm PDTReport Abuse

I hope she gets home safe just in time to see her parents put in jail

Reply by unagii37 June 10, 2010 06:10pm PDTReport Abuse

it doesnt matter that she was sailing ALONE! they same exact thing would have happened if she had been sailing with somebody! what does it matter that she was alone. im sure she is much more capable than many adults at sailing around the world. and what do you guys think happens when someone turns 18? that they magically become smarter and stronger? they magically become a woman and not a girl? i think it was fine for her parents to let her go. they wouldnt have let her go if she wasnt capable, physically and emotionally. and its not like they sent her out without everything she needed, like 3 emergency beacons and a gps locator so they know where she is at all times.

Reply by kogdog1980 June 10, 2010 06:10pm PDTReport Abuse

It is absolutely moronic to let a child male or female of that age circumnavigate the globe alone!

The parents have to be legally insane, as they will most likely have to use that as a defense when they are charged with child endangerment! Its one thing to be driving a car. Comparing the two are completely different.Your talking about being alone at sea for months at a time. Foreign pirates have to be thingking of the opportunity to nab a 16 year old american girl for ransome.

It is rediculusly arrogant of thier parents to encourage this sort of suff. Goals or Fame? I would compare it to the parents who made up the story of their child who flew that ufo ballon thing the summer berfore. I can see them trying to write a book about it. Every one wants to cash in on something these days. What better way than something controversial like this?

Reply by wayne g2010 June 10, 2010 06:13pm PDTReport Abuse

I have an idea, all you people backing her dream chasing and her parents for letting her, you can start a collection and send money to cover the MILLIONS of dollars a sea search and rescue costs. Even with the beacons, you have to cover a VAST area and it is still a huge operation-lots of ships and smaller boats and planes and helicopters, etc. The fact that she activated 2 beacons means there is a very good chance she is fine, and hopefully she will be found quickly.

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 06:20pm PDTReport Abuse

Do any of you actually know her? Everyone talks about her experience and her age but unless you actually know her first hand which I'm guess probably not you can't possibly know what she is capable of doing, one way or another. Everyone is entitled to raise their kids the way they want... I just hope she gets home safe...

Reply by tumor33 June 10, 2010 06:28pm PDTReport Abuse

All you people are idiots that say we let our 16 year olds drive a car. They are not 2 days away from being rescued if they get into an accident and need help getting out

Reply by bowmakingmama June 10, 2010 06:32pm PDTReport Abuse

You all keep bring up the driving thing. Point is that yes a 16 year old can drive but are you going to send your 16 year old on a cross country driving trip. H-ll no!! She should not have been sailing around the world by herself. My son is really good a bike riding and loves doing long distance. I am not going to let him be the youngest to go across America alone.

Reply by surfboy June 10, 2010 06:39pm PDTReport Abuse

Exactly! If she is successful, then she gets a world record and all the glory. If she is unsuccessful in her attempt, then we spend millions of dollars to rescue her. This is not a dream. This is greed and an ego trip or either her or her parents.

All that aside, I hope she is safe and sound.

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 06:43pm PDTReport Abuse

Have you never heard of people being trapped in their cars for extended periods of time becasue no one could find them such as in the snow???

Reply by tumor33 June 10, 2010 06:47pm PDTReport Abuse

Not saying accidents don't happen. But come on how you gonna put your kid in a situation that if something goes wrong the closest person to her is 2 days away

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 06:55pm PDTReport Abuse

I personally would not but I don't have kids either... I just think people are aloud to make their own decisions and people have to deal with the consequences... You know what funny though if she hadn't gotten in an accident would people still view it as negative, you know if she had completed the trip??

Reply by justsayen4 June 10, 2010 07:01pm PDTReport Abuse

It doesn't 100s of thousand to millions to rescue someone trapped in a car. That's another analogy that doesn't compare. Plus..someone trapped in a car, under snow, most likely isn't seeking fame and fortune....unless they are planning on investing in snow cones.

Reply by little_75 June 10, 2010 07:27pm PDTReport Abuse

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. Do not mistake stupidity for courage.

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 07:31pm PDTReport Abuse

lol had to smile about snow cones... Well I'm just thinking out loud I'm really curious about the legal part though because everyone is on about how its the parents fault and this and that but I want to know if before the trip was there some kind of legal discussion on whether or not it was legal to let her do it? I mean like if you have your child fly on a air plane by them selves there's rules you have to go by right what about sailing alone whats the legal stuff on that?

Reply by bowmakingmama June 10, 2010 07:36pm PDTReport Abuse

@kaykayscvb2 I personally did not approve when this started. I also didn't approve of the teen climbing Mt. Everest.
(now in general)I feel we are pushing our kids to much physically. You have pre-teens and teens doing heavy workouts and pushing their young and still growing bodies over the limits. There is going to be the push now to go even younger.
Is this going to help her in HS or College? Is it going to help her get a job? What is the true benefit of this feat? I tell my son that sports will only get him so far for only so long. He still needs his book smarts.
My prayers are with her and her family. I hate though when a tragedy could have been avoided.

Reply by tsk June 10, 2010 07:52pm PDTReport Abuse

my dream was to become a rich coke dealer who could control everyone with money and addiction.

do you think my mom let me do it? damn straight she didn't, cause thats stupid.

so is sailing around the ocean ALONE no matter how old you are.

i'm 20 and i still have never driven a car. i have sailed around shelter island.

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 07:53pm PDTReport Abuse

To be honest I didn't think it was a good idea either but if she was able to convince her parents she was ready then maybe she thought she was you know? I doubt her parents just said sure why not without really thinking about it at least I would hope not... But again I don't know every thing that took place either. I don't know what this would have helped her accomplish in life other than a name for her self but anyone who takes on a big feat like this I always thought the point was to make a name for them self? You told you son right about sports they can only take you so far before your body just says no...

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 07:55pm PDTReport Abuse

tsk never drove a car? I'm just curious , but why is that? like a personal choice, fear, parents didn't let you? or like an environment thing?

Reply by justsayen4 June 10, 2010 07:57pm PDTReport Abuse

Kaykay....I don't know the legality issues....but these days our kids can be taken away for spanking them...so everything is screwed up in this country, regarding neglect and parental responsibility.

Well said bowmakingmama. I can't add anything more...

I hate to say this, but regarding the "balloon boy" incident, I just HOPE this isn't a stunt for her to become the "youngest sailor ever rescued while trying to sail around the world." Since the other girl already has those honors from here...I don't put anything past fame seeking parents these days. The parents were "warned" of the danger sending her into that area this time of year....and OFF they sent her. They could have waited. One has to wonder...

Reply by darcy_19 June 10, 2010 08:04pm PDTReport Abuse

Why is sailing around the world stupid? Because its not YOUR dream? Everyone is different. Just because she MIGHT make a name for herself by beating the record does not mean that is the only reason why she did it. Age has nothing to do with it. Someone said earlier that a 16 year old girl wouldn't have the physical strength to do it...well, you're wrong. Another 16 yr old girl just did it. Abby's brother did it also. Young people CAN do things. All it takes is drive, determination, and skill. Abby has all of those. DHS or some other child services is not going to come in because of "bad" parenting (I mean that's just obvious considering they let their son go and still have their kids). They did not just send Abby unprepared. It is unfortunate she has to be rescued, but that is what the rescuers are here for. They wouldn't have jobs if it weren't for the people who embrace life and take risks. They want to actually live and see the world for themselves, not just see it on TV or hear about it. What is so wrong with that? Just because she is 16 does not mean she is incapable. Kids do things that amaze all of us all the time. Age is irrelevant.

Reply by jlw June 10, 2010 08:10pm PDTReport Abuse

for all of you focusing on the cost get refocused. TAXES they probably pay them a lot of them considering they can own a sailboat. Also our government waste money on more crap for example how much do you think the 2 minute census commercial cost them during the superbowl? You just aren't happy unless your complainin' that must suck.

Reply by tsk June 10, 2010 08:17pm PDTReport Abuse

combination of fear and and never needing to...being in a city and being allergic to suburbs. i mean shrubs and herbs.

Reply by tsk June 10, 2010 08:26pm PDTReport Abuse

@ darcy also, sailing around the world is stupid because its harder to rescue someone when they are a tiny dot in the middle of a gigantic tropical storm in the middle of an even bigger ocean, and no where near land or other vessels. how can you help any one in your life if your dead? also, the brain is not fullly developed at 16, and there are shortages in the areas that determine our ability to process cause and effect situations. i think i may still be in the throes of this horrible condition.

@jlw, isn't it incredibly cathartic and enjoyable for you to express your opinion somewhere where someone won't punch you in the mouth?

i think focusing on the money issue is kind of silly seeing as we are talking about a human life. but i really can't help but laugh at us all cozy on our computers at home, in bed, watching tv....life sure is funny when there is a young girl freezing in the middle of an ocean and starving kids in ethiopia while we are all safe and sound with lots of stuff to keep us company.

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 08:28pm PDTReport Abuse

Hmm interesting tsk That's cool though...

Reply by darcy_19 June 10, 2010 08:35pm PDTReport Abuse

So it would be different if she was stranded in the middle of the desert? Then everyone could say "at least she is on land?" There have been times that people have been stranded on land for days at a time (I'm thinking jungles right now). Yes her being in the ocean makes her hard to find, but at least they have several signals to go off of. The brain is never fully developed. People never use all of their brain so that reasoning fails, especially since people's brains tend to deterioate with age. The fact of the matter is, this situation could have happened to anyone of any age or any gender in any mental capacity. None of these things created a storm. Mother nature did and she also creates disasters that are on land. You're not safe anywhere, so you might as well go out and follow your dreams while you can.

Reply by archstar June 10, 2010 09:08pm PDTReport Abuse

I understand you saying that you aren't safe anywhere: stepping off the curb, walking in your neighborhood, etc. but the difference is that she put herself in harm's way for no reason. A dream is worth going for of course, but an adventure of that magnitude and it's not to do something important than save a life or bring supplies to the homeless is just ego. Her trip would be dangerous for a 40 year old alone and i'd say he/she is stupid. i wouldn't think it was safe unless it was at least 3 people in a crew. ( i sail a little) Abby is way better than I've ever be, and i've had adventures in the wild with a team. If she was straded in the dessert by accident is one thing, few sane people do it on purpose. Now I'm not trying to disrespect you, just let you see my point of view. I do think you are brave to speak up. I respect that. I wish you well and will join you in praying for her safe return.

Reply by nicole hardin June 10, 2010 09:22pm PDTReport Abuse

The whole trip was needless show of pride, plain and simple. I don't care if the girl had the strength of the incredible hulk, she is not old enough to make life and death decisions.

As for the people making using the response of 16 yr old driving, I work with teens and I really don't think they should start driving until they are 18, not because they have magically found good sense (your brain doesn't reach its full cognitive development until you're 25). At 18, you are given more responsibility and you most likely have to go to work or travel distances to school. Besides, driving (as sailing) is not a right, it is a privilege.

darcy19: How in the world do you "prepare" for pirates, storms, etc. Experienced sailors don't go out in conditions like that unless there's a GOOD REASON. That's what her story is lacking a good reason. Who cares about a record? After she's reached her "dream", then what. Who did it help? True, there are rescuers, but why put yourself in danger? That's--for a lack of a better term--dumb. There are police, but do you think I'm going to walk in an unsafe neighborhood at 2am to give a policeman a job for no reason? Now, I would hope they would be there if I'm walking because I just got off work and I had to go but to go into danger knowing that I could be killed just for the "experience", that's pride, plain and simple.

That's the problem with our society, we're so wrapped up in our own "dreams", we don't realize that life is not for us to live for ourselves. If you haven't impacted someone the life of others in the future, then what good are you? In 100 years--if she is found alive and breaks the record--what good is her record? Think about all the records that have been broken in history, after the person dies, what good is their record? The only people remembered beyond their deaths are people who changed the lives of others and made.

Reply by zsmemmie June 10, 2010 10:04pm PDTReport Abuse

so kay kay if our children can convince us to let them drink and drive at 16 cause they can controll and take care of themselves you would had them the keys, would you let your child drive across country picking up all hitchhikers,and ramdom others they see on the roads.... because they convinced you they can handle it......

Reply by zsmemmie June 10, 2010 10:05pm PDTReport Abuse

so kay kay if our children can convince us to let them drink and drive at 16 cause they can controll and take care of themselves you would had them the keys, would you let your child drive across country picking up all hitchhikers,and ramdom others they see on the roads.... because they convinced you they can handle it......

Reply by akillerofkings June 10, 2010 11:17pm PDTReport Abuse

i love how some retard just compared driving to sailing around the world by your self lol well when the 16 yo decides to drive from coast to coast by her self then it might be somthing .. doses any 1 remember the little girl who want to be the youngest girl to fly from coast to coast in the 90's how did that work out for her again? the stupid sail girl is shark poop

Reply by nomi June 10, 2010 11:31pm PDTReport Abuse

glad you dont live in my part of the world kids are air lifted off mountains in Ski accidents all the time in the winter season are we going to say it was irresponsible of thier parents to let them learn to ski and take the risks, also look at the bobsleigh and other olympic sports this winter in Canada nobody was baying for the blood of their parents and saying they should pay for the rescue missions. SO LETS STOP THIS STUPIDITY NOW AND JUST PRAY THAT THEY GET THERE DAUGHTER BACK SAFELY.

Reply by nomi June 10, 2010 11:31pm PDTReport Abuse

glad you dont live in my part of the world kids are air lifted off mountains in Ski accidents all the time in the winter season are we going to say it was irresponsible of thier parents to let them learn to ski and take the risks, also look at the bobsleigh and other olympic sports this winter in Canada nobody was baying for the blood of their parents and saying they should pay for the rescue missions. SO LETS STOP THIS STUPIDITY NOW AND JUST PRAY THAT THEY GET THERE DAUGHTER BACK SAFELY.

Reply by flutterby26 June 11, 2010 02:20am PDTReport Abuse

people all over the us allow their children to take road trips without adults all the time.i even knew 16/17 year olds that traveled to europe without adults.. this family allowed their child to sail around the world... sailing is as natural to them as driving is to us... get over yourselves... all cultures are not the same... who are you to say that ours is better than theirs? instead of waisting your breath blaming her parents why dont you do something usefull and use it to pray for her safe return home?

Reply by sandpeople1 June 11, 2010 10:30am PDTReport Abuse

@ dancingashley - letting someone drive isn't as dangerous as letting them sail in waters that are severe and deadly, with no rescue close by.
she left early to try and beat her counterpart and the family made a bad decision in doing so. they knew better.
Leting her go when conditions are safer would have been a better, wiser decision. There is nothing wrong with letting her go out to do this, but they need to be held responsible for its total costs as well, and should have an escort ship along like other world record attempts do. This family is wreckless and selfish not to have sent a ship with her to escort her.
Do you want to send them a few hundred dollars to help them pay for this? Or any money at all?
I don't. and I don't want my tax dollars to have to pay for the rescue either-

Reply by dnmrtn100 June 11, 2010 01:15pm PDTReport Abuse

What a bunch of elitists here casting dispersions on Abby and her family. We are a free people in a free land to live in freedom, but I guess you'd prefer to dictate how we should live under your elitists rules. Maybe your indignant moral outrage is because you're too scared to attempt to do anything like what Abby is doing. Give me a break. If you had any reasoning or logically thinking ability your outrage towards the Sunderlands would be tempered by your lack of concern for other risks that thousands of teenage girls take every day, AND YET YOU CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON ONE COURAGEOUS GIRL TO DISCLOSE YOUR HYPOCRISY. What fools you are, you talk about MORALS!!

Where is your outrage for the 821,810 pregnant teenagers currently in the US between the ages of 15 and 17. Or, what about the fact that by the end of 2010 there will have been 9.5 million new teenage girls infected with some sort of STD. Where's your outcry about the risks these ill educated girls are willing to take just to feel special like, Lindsey, or Britney, or Paris or any number of other stooges that teenagers look up to as role models. You are worried about ONE GIRL who has the courage to do something great and yet are silent on the risk that millions of teenage girls are willing to take everyday which destroy the lives of their children and families? You do not live in reality, oh, but wait, I forgot about your solution, abortion, or some life-long treatment for herpes, or Chlamydia, or HIV, or Hepatitis, or Genital Warts. That level of risk taking, I guess is MORAL and ok according to you.

Maybe your indignation is simply spurred on by the guilt that Abby's accomplishment produces inside of you. You live your lives from an armchair and criticize those who live life in the real world. If Abby wanted to do this and her parents wanted her to, why do you freedom haters even care if not to take it away from others.

GO ABBY, OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU DARLING, COME BACK TO US SAFE

Reply by zelma harlow June 11, 2010 08:20pm PDTReport Abuse

You make no sense. If the article was discussing the topics you brought up, people would be commenting on those topics. But the topic at hand is a 16 year old girl out in the middle of the Indian Ocean alone, with her parents buying her the boat, gear, and lining up the media to encourage it. We are a free people, but you can be a free person and still be irresponsible. This sort of encouragement is irresponsible as a parent. And, I'm not focused on Abby and her family. I thought the same of the parents who sent their 13 year old son up Mt. Everest a couple of months ago. Mt. Everest is a highway and not a real climbers dream. The challenge of Everest is the cost to have others carry your stuff up, lead the way, provide oxygen, etc. Again, with no one watching, the 13 year old would not have done it and Abby would not have either. The thrill is what is to come...the media attention, the book, the money. Yes, it's also a thrill to have survived the trip, and she'll always have this story to tell, and it is an accomplishment, but it was a HUGE risk to put on a 16 year old with the blessing of a parent. Yes, life comes with risks, but this is a ridiculous argument when discussing a girl who hasn't yet graduated highschool, and adults are in charge of their safety and teaching them to make good decisions. She got lucky. If she would have died, then she would have died living her dream. Ok, whatever. I will guarantee if she had a choice she'd rather give up her dream to sail the world at 16 than live to be able to at least graduate highschool. She's got plenty of time to do these things...but while until parental control...adults need to be responsible for their poor decisions, and in this case, it almost cost them their daughter.

Reply by kittykatsmom June 11, 2010 08:38pm PDTReport Abuse

Why are we all elitist? Because we question the intentions or morals of these parents? Or because we question the situation that this girl finds herself in? Or because we question at all? I guess we should all surrender our opinions now because of all these valid points you made (small hints of sarcasm). Maybe you are the elitist. Why are we focusing on this girl?....Hmmm shall we all pretend that sending this underage girl out into the depths of the ocean to face beyond ridiculous weather conditions ALONE where at this point she could be fighting for her life, injured, scared, questioning her own self.... is okay. Just because you think what she is doing is great doesn't make it so. Stop me when you hear great....Sailing around the world at 16, Alone, to break a record??? What hospital did you just check yourself out of?
And by the way risky behavior is risky behavior! A pregnant teen or a teen on a boat sailing around the world ALONE, they are both HUGE risks. Who are you to say one is more risky than the other? Or one is courageous and the other not? For someone who uses such big words you sure do appear to be quite ignorant. IF Abby wanted to do this then she should have waited until she was of legal age to do so. And if Abby's parents wanted her to do this then they should have to deal with the consequences these actions have created.

Reply by zelma harlow June 11, 2010 09:07pm PDTReport Abuse

We should all support Abby to hurry and sail the world to before she turns 17 so she can break the record of the girl from Australia who recently sailed the world unassisted, which by the way she's probably having a party knowing that her record is still kept. We should support the parents who sent their 13 year old to hike Mt. Everest a month ago. Just like we should have supported the 7 year old who supposedly aspired to fly across the world. Unfortunately she died, but at least she died living her dream. I'd rather die at 7, 8, 13 or 16 living my dream than having a chance to live a full life.

from an article on Jessica Dubroff's death -

The news about Jessica Dubroff's death has flashed all over. But no one knows who this girl was? But had she achieved her goal, she would have been among the biggest celebrities of the world. Nonetheless she has become known after her death since her death has brought her name in news.

Anyway Jessica Dubroff was 7 years old girl, who was on the mission of flying an aircraft across the U.S.A to become the youngest pilot on the front. But unfortunately she could not see her dream come true. The fate has something else in store for her and that was the innocent soul's death.

This is what happened that Jessica Whiteny Dubroff, who had a passion to become the youngest pilot to fly an airplane across the United States and her father too wanted her to achieve this distinction.

Reply by don neumann June 10, 2010 10:25pm PDTReport Abuse

i dont see how you people can compare sailing in the ocean to driving a car. water in any form is dangerous. her parents should be held responsible for her and should be investigated for abuse. my kids had dreams and i tried to fouster those dreams but these people need their heads examined. i pray that she is found unhurt.

Reply by sandpeople1 June 11, 2010 10:31am PDTReport Abuse

and with the price of fame, your parents should have to pay for your rescue costs

Reply by takenoprisoners June 10, 2010 04:15pm PDTReport Abuse

Ha, ha, so true.

Reply by akillerofkings June 10, 2010 04:21pm PDTReport Abuse

so so so true

Reply by nomi June 10, 2010 04:28pm PDTReport Abuse

get a life you two

Reply by slimakobecny June 10, 2010 04:29pm PDTReport Abuse

no no true.... she is fanatic and as any fanatic if found will go back... relax morons...... and stop praying & stard doing..... buhuuhahahaha...lmao

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 04:30pm PDTReport Abuse

Why is it so terrible this girl wanted to do something unprecedented.... It wouldn't have been the parents who would have gotten all the attention for her adventure is she had made it... It would have been her fame...

Reply by jimmyd789 June 10, 2010 04:38pm PDTReport Abuse

And of course the mother is pregnant, you just know that that kid would want to break the record and sail even younger. Maybe it's for the best is she isn't found, and it would be an important lesson for others.
I do hope she's found alive, and I think it's very possible she is alive. I watch deadliest catch and if she's in a survival suit then she should be okay.

The one I'd be celebrating if she crashes is that Dutch teen who is even younger and will sail later. She's very annoying and so are her parents, I look forward to her sinking, but not the one currently(get it) in the water.

Reply by shell1205 June 10, 2010 04:45pm PDTReport Abuse

I can't believe how so many of you are taking that immature opportunity to say "Told you so! Stupid parents!". I'm sure the remorse the parents have right now is unbearable, and it is not needed for strangers to shove it down their throats. Sorry for all of you dreamless, scared to break out into the world, nay-sayers.

Your sheltered, bored kids are more likely to get addicted to drugs as a result of their boredom than this professional sailor was to have an accident.

Have fun with your meaningless boring lives and continue to shy your kids away from anything interesting and worth while! Cubicles it is!

Reply by nobelievablegods June 10, 2010 05:22pm PDTReport Abuse

Go back in your shell;shell1205!!! No one wahts to hear your bs!!! lame ass!

Reply by jgn June 10, 2010 05:22pm PDTReport Abuse

Stupid parents!! May have put their glass of wine in front of their daughter and now she is prey to pirates, or anything.

Reply by anotherstupidaccount June 10, 2010 05:58pm PDTReport Abuse

Their remorse was the fruit of the seeds they planted. They are idiots. If they Really cared about her she wouldnt be in the middle of the ocean!

Reply by unagii37 June 10, 2010 06:14pm PDTReport Abuse

i have to agree with shell.

Reply by jjfoxtrat June 10, 2010 06:39pm PDTReport Abuse

@jgn, you should review again the lessons of the allegory of the cave by Plato. Ooopps, yeah right, your underdeveloped brain cells could not possibly comprehend it's meaning.

I'll spell it out for you so that you would be properly informed. If all of us are thinking like you, then all of us would still be living in the cave because we don't want to explore outside of it due to the fear on the dangers of this world.

Reply by housewolf June 10, 2010 09:02pm PDTReport Abuse

I only wish i had a portion of the courage this "child" has when i was young how much richer my life would be today. Instead I played it safe and now my life is full of regrets. God bless you Abby. I hope and pray you come home safe.

Reply by angelab88 June 10, 2010 04:32pm PDTReport Abuse

Really? I take it you are advocating for more social workers in child welfare then? You are ready to pay more taxes? You also realize that blogging your comments on this site go unnoticed, except for those of us who happen to read it? I take it from your advocate stance on this matter that you are a lobbyist for your state to change the current situation for child welfare, which would include 20 cases instead of 50???? Do you even know what child welfare investigations include? Yea, thought not. You might want to write your congress-person about your thoughts on so called "criminal matters" I am a former child protective social worker. Blah, blah, blah... you're energy is wasted. If you want to be an advocate for human services then step up to the plate, otherwise, be silent as you are now. You make zero difference in humanity.

Heartfelt thoughts and love to Abby and her family.

Reply by dancingashley June 10, 2010 04:37pm PDTReport Abuse

As I've said before in response to some of these comments, we endanger our children everyday. We put them in vehicles, which could be in wrecks at any moment. We send them to school, where someone could come in with a gun and start shooting. We let them walk down the street in their neighborhood, where someone could abduct them and rape them.
Are all these things the parent's fault?
Everything in the world is out of our control and accidents can and will happen.
The important thing now, which everyone seems to be losing track of, is getting her home safely.

Reply by irishprincess31482 June 10, 2010 04:57pm PDTReport Abuse

Yeah but come on she is a 16 year old girl alone out to sea...... Much different then being in a car ON LAND......Like I said she is 16, still a kid, it's not very responsible on her parents part, she could of waited until she was of age....also what's with the insults....someone else gives their opinion so you feel you have to insult them? How smart does that make you?

Reply by janinec June 10, 2010 05:03pm PDTReport Abuse

Youmustbekidding, are you one of those people who believes in big nanny states who tell people what they should eat, how they should live, advocate tearing down of jungle gyms for safety purposes, desire that all people wear full body armor to walk down the street, etc.??

I understand being protective of your child but she is 16 years old (old enough to be legally emancipated and what used to be old enough to be on your own). I can't tell you how many men joined the army during WWI and WWII at 16 and 17. So, I guess you probably want to keep shields around "children" until they are at least 21, right? Maybe tell people they can't smoke in their own houses because the smell might possibly drift 5 miles down the road and be caught by someone? Outlaw radios in cars and demand the installation of breathalyzers in every person's car whether they drink alcohol or not?

I hate control freaks. Give me freedom ANY day.

Reply by sassymama June 10, 2010 05:05pm PDTReport Abuse

Having a16 year old out in a situation where there is NO help or supervison for DAYS is not ok in my book. I support goals, dreams and challenging situations. However, this 16 as others does not have the maturity or life experience to handle herself ALONE in very dangerous conditions such as Pirates, weather, etc. I thought I knew it all at 16, and to look back, I realize I knew very little on the big scale of life and world issues. Something truely disturbs me about the helplessness of this all. I would NEVER send my child to "fullfill this dream". Some dreams are meant to stay just that.

My heart goes out to the family and I hope they are all reunited soon. Hang in there BABY!!

Reply by taryn l June 10, 2010 06:23pm PDTReport Abuse

I would say the biggest difference between the comparison people are trying to make with the driving a car and sailing around the world alone is that there is almost nowhere in the United States that an American teenager would be driving where they would be more then say an hour from help at most. If they get into a terrible wreck within a few hours they will most likely be in a hospital receiving medical care. The journey Abby was allowed to undertake took her hundreds of miles out into the open sea where any accident or injury would leave her days away from help, which is the situation she finds herself in now. I don't believe in laying blame, and I certainly hope with all my heart that Abby is rescued as soon as possible. I'm just saying that I don't really think you can compare giving a 16 year old permission for the two situations, the level of danger is increased incredibly by the distance from help.

Reply by ohmtown June 10, 2010 06:32pm PDTReport Abuse

@sassymama, I agree with what you stated.

Prior to setting out on this journey of hers they knew the potential dangers as it was late in the season. For that alone They should have had her brother, who completed the trek himself sail in his own boat roughly 100 miles behind her. Encouraging your children to reach their dreams is perfectly fine but that can be accomplished by having a safety net. In this instance the parents failed to provide that for her. Does that make them bad parents, well for some yes, are they wrong for wanting to encourage their child's dreams, no but they were wrong in not thinking of all the possible problems that could arise and attempting to circumvent them.

I truly hope this child, and at 16 she is still a child according to the country she lives in, I hope she is found alive and relatively unharmed. I also hope this serves as a warning for other parents who feel they want to support their child's dream in this manner, you can do it but have a better safety net.

Oh and for the comments about child protective services, I don't know where you live but in New York we take children for lack of supervision, educational neglect and so forth. Things far less dangerous than what this girl is doing children have been removed from homes and in all to many cases not returned. So honestly what makes this any different?

@janinec
There is a reason why we have age limits on things. Even an emancipated minor as of today could not join the armed services at 16.

Just because is potentially capable of doing something doesn't mean it should be allowed because guess what they are not adults. If you feel that is incorrect then remember Jessica Dubroff. She at least had a safety in place and tragically even that wasn't enough.

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 06:32pm PDTReport Abuse

Do you know her? Do you have a BA in Child Psychology, you know something to back up your statement that shes not mature enough? People develop at there own speed based off their own life experiences... So unless you have physically analyzed her in person, you can't possibly judge her level of experience...

Reply by lysetteasen June 10, 2010 07:36pm PDTReport Abuse

It is time to pray for this family and not attack the parents, but.....

Is everyone aware of the position her parents have put themselves in? Department of Children and Families and Child Protective Services are in place for a reason. They may not have gotten involved at the beginning, the pressure will be upon them now. It usually takes a bad outcome to bring a bad choice to light. This should have been avoided. Neglect is the fact of the matter in this case.

Letting your child follow their dreams is great but there needs to be guidelines/protocols/supervision in case of emergencies. That is the difference between support and neglect.

There are those of you saying she is a professional. A professional does not disregard the safety of their life and go out to sail during unsafe months of sea travel.

These parents will nodoubtedly face JAIL TIME if anything happens to this girl. The law will see this as neglect as it should have when the trip was even brought to light.

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 07:59pm PDTReport Abuse

I'm so curious on this though because this story did get a lot of coverage when it first started so how could cps miss i if it was illegal and was there some legal process they might have gone through to make the trip happen legally?

Reply by darcy_19 June 10, 2010 08:18pm PDTReport Abuse

lysetteasen- So CPS only steps in when sailing trips around the world go wrong? Because they sent their son and he made it safely and CPS didn't say a word. I guess professionals are perfect also and don't make mistakes? You need to think what you say through before you say it. There are professional sky divers, mountain climbers, sailers, etc. All of them risk their lives and safety for FUN. Then there are the professionals who risk their lives for others. Such as rescuers, fire fighters, police, etc. So I guess none of them are professionals at what they do because they risk their ives. Did you think that maybe you risk your life just by living? You drive...therefore you risk your life. You leave your house...you risk your life. Hell, you stay in your home and you risk your life. Bad things happen to good and bad people regardless of where you are in the world or your age or gender.

Reply by archstar June 10, 2010 09:20pm PDTReport Abuse

Darcy, I respect you having an opinion, but firefighters, police, solders, etc risk their lives for something important: life and saftey from injury. You are right that professionals make mistakes but they account for what they can control, cause God/Allah/Buddha/ Vishnu has the rest. yes life can be a risk by walking around your neighborhood, but have many of you walked in my South Bronx neighborhood at night? Yes you can get hit by a car crossing the street, but do you walk without checking the light and street? Life is risky with out putting yourself in harm's way for now important reason. There were right of passages set up just like Abby is doing, but IF they survive they got adulthood, king/queenship, rich, saved a life, etc. What is abby getting after it's done? I rock climbed for 20 years but I valued dating my future wife more than doing anything that has a 50/50 chance of getting me killed even after safety checks. Some extreme sports is 50/50 eveytime you do it! Thank you for sharing though, just want to you see another point of view. You are brave to open up for what you think is important!

Reply by dixiebell June 11, 2010 12:10am PDTReport Abuse

Well said Arch

Reply by sansom jeremiah June 11, 2010 02:05am PDTReport Abuse

Ok, shut up and listen.....GOD, in no way has any power or say in what we do... because he gave us the choice to choose are own paths that we take. he just hopes we make the right choices!!
and that's the choice she made,... and she lived through it.. so good for her!!

Reply by sansom jeremiah June 11, 2010 02:05am PDTReport Abuse

Ok, shut up and listen.....GOD, in no way has any power or say in what we do... because he gave us the choice to choose are own paths that we take. he just hopes we make the right choices!!
and that's the choice she made,... and she lived through it.. so good for her!!

Reply by akillerofkings June 10, 2010 04:22pm PDTReport Abuse

im in a postion to judge the parents whored the life of there doughter out bc they wanted to be on the today show dont be affraid to say it

Reply by janinec June 10, 2010 05:09pm PDTReport Abuse

No, she wanted to do it...not her parents.

Reply by ceedub June 10, 2010 05:47pm PDTReport Abuse

And they should have not been afraid to be her parents - instead of her friend - and said, "HELL, NO!"

There are dreams and then there is just plain stupidity and irresponsibility.

That said, I truly do hope she is rescued alive and well.

Reply by unagii37 June 10, 2010 06:16pm PDTReport Abuse

obviously you wouldnt lilangel you child hasnt grown up sailing everyday of her life.

Reply by ohmtown June 10, 2010 06:43pm PDTReport Abuse

Just because you do something everyday of your life doesn't mean a parent should sanction such an act without providing a better safety plan.
From the beginning of this trip there were some problems and that alone should have made the parents think to themselves, "we should probably put in place a safety net for her". The safety net should have been another ship of more experienced open ocean sailors following her at a distance that's far enough so she has her own independence but close enough in case of something like this.
That can't possibly be such a wrong train of thought to have?

Reply by paden cast June 10, 2010 11:02pm PDTReport Abuse

Most of you should take a look in the mirror. You are the generation that has dropped the ball on pretty much everything. Why should any of us believe that your point of view on parenting is ethically correct? You are the same people who start wars. You are the same generation that destroyed our banking system. You are the generation that expects everything to be given to you without working for it.

Your generation thinks the millennial are lazy. THat we feel entitled. Hah. You would feel entitled too if you worked as hard as we have for peanuts. You say you went to college....well back in the 60's and 70's you didn't need a 3.5 unweighted GPA to get into any school of some recognition.

Do you think we don't notice that this PC thing is a whole crock of crap. That some people are more "special" than others. That working hard wont get us a rosy future (we have you greedy bastards to thank for that). That our generation will drown in the debt you caused?

Honestly speaking, if her parents do the OPPOSITE of what you say to do, then they are probably doing the best thing for her.

Reply by paden cast June 10, 2010 11:08pm PDTReport Abuse

Most of you should take a look in the mirror. You are the generation that has dropped the ball on pretty much everything. Why should any of us believe that your point of view on parenting is ethically correct? You are the same people who start wars. You are the same generation that destroyed our banking system. You are the generation that expects everything to be given to you without working for it.

Your generation thinks the millennial are lazy. THat we feel entitled. Hah. You would feel entitled too if you worked as hard as we have for peanuts. You say you went to college....well back in the 60's and 70's you didn't need a 3.5 unweighted GPA to get into any school of some recognition. You could party all day and night. Drink until your eyes bleed. None of you would get into my college because in the past 4 years the average unweighted GPA rose from 3.4 to 3.7. But guess what. We did what you told us to do and NONE OF US HAVE ANY JOBS. 18-24 year old have a 25% UNEMPLOYMENT RATE (as in we get a social services check).

Do you think we don't notice that this PC thing is a whole crock of crap. That some people are more "special" than others. That working hard wont get us a rosy future (we have you greedy bastards to thank for that). That our generation will drown in the debt you caused? That our starting salaries are 35% lower than what they were 4 years ago? That everything has gotten 7x more expensive since the 60's but we only get paid 3x as much?

We aren't morons. We just abhor your generation. You should apologize for making us fix issues that your greed caused. Honestly speaking, if her parents do the OPPOSITE of what you say to do, then they are probably doing the best thing for her. Because the world would be better if generation x xploded.

Reply by archstar June 11, 2010 09:28am PDTReport Abuse

I agree with you lilangel in that we are not the ones to judge someone, even when we don't know them. Parents make mistakes and try the best they can. I dis agree with the parents but I know they love their daughter. I'm not a parent yet(hopefully soon! lol) and have little experience with being a parent. The closes i've gotten is helping th shape the kids I teach in my life. However, with something as public as sailing around the world, you put yourself out there for scrutiny. If they hadn't publicized it, they wouldn't get the reaction they are getting. If rescuing Abby(thank god they found her!) oput's others at risk and waste resources and the adventure is not important, judging comes with the teritory. You have some vaulable points, so don't think i'm trying to slam you, i'm not. Learning happens with respectful conversation even if you differ from someone. I hope you feel my post to you is healthy dialogue. Good luck with your life and your family.

Reply by maybeso June 10, 2010 06:02pm PDTReport Abuse

maybe not hung, but whipped ! :)

Reply by jlw June 10, 2010 07:19pm PDTReport Abuse

Yeah definately worse then those parents who drown, beat, and kill their kids.

Reply by darcy_19 June 10, 2010 08:42pm PDTReport Abuse

Those parents are being charged because they LIED about where their son was and had every rescue team available out searching for a child that was really at home. Abby is actually out in the ocean and needs rescuing. You don't press criminal charges against people just because their child is in actual danger. Don't be so dense.

Reply by nomi June 10, 2010 04:26pm PDTReport Abuse

I knew of at least 14 teenagers who died in an avalanche in the Swiss Mountains were thier parents also terrible for allowing thier kids to go up a mountain in bad weather, no I dont think so because thea were already there when the tragedy struck,no one could have predicted the bad weather which caused this Avalanche any more than these parents could have predicted the storms which come from nowhere in the ocean

Reply by jason johnson June 10, 2010 04:31pm PDTReport Abuse

Yes. Those parents were terrible too. You don't climb mountains unless you are an adult.

Reply by txproud June 10, 2010 04:37pm PDTReport Abuse

There are no longer boundries and look what happens. This is said that this child was killed and Im sure that social services punish these parents. I just pray that they dont have anymore children and if so, that they are taken away before one of them asks to fly a plane, etc.

Reply by jason johnson June 10, 2010 04:37pm PDTReport Abuse

What is the one thing, that mountains and remote areas of the ocean are most famous for??? BAD, DANGEROUS, DEADLY WEATHER. There's no need to predict. It's inevitable. You don't put your child in that position. You let your kid be the best indoor rock wall climber in town, or race yachts like the America's cup. Not send them out in the middle of the world where no explorer (no adult, grown person) in the world would dream to go, only 500 years ago.

Reply by justsayen4 June 10, 2010 05:28pm PDTReport Abuse

Right on Jason Johnson. These parents KNEW where she was going...and did it anyway!! They were more interested in "Fame"...then family.

Reply by ekqbff June 10, 2010 06:37pm PDTReport Abuse

i think that they were very brave. they knew what could happen. they were willing to put their live on hold, while their daughter followed her dreams. that is very hard to do. i think it was a very courageous thing to do. that is just my opinion.

Reply by mmoore45 June 10, 2010 05:34pm PDTReport Abuse

Absolutely agree here.

Reply by mm99 June 11, 2010 08:19am PDTReport Abuse

why you got to involve god in this?
why cant people stand up for themselves and count on each other, but instead have to continue to believe in this silly silly idea of "god"

THERE IS NOT GOD. there is just a huge vast universe , and there is nature and coincidence, There is chemistry and evolution. And thats not me just claiming this, but a whole history of scientists philosophers and intellectuals.
From Einstein, to Richard Dawkins.

jees. you people are so dumb.. (and i dont mean to be a hater..but someone has to tell you)

Reply by mzboop June 10, 2010 04:29pm PDTReport Abuse

I think what they were trying to say was that she went on her own behalf & her parents knew ( to say running a redlight- getting t-boned - etc...... hello thats a mere accident and regardless any parent would pay the bill rignt DOGMA um no no , this child went to make a statement on sailing around the world on her own by no means an accident like getting t-boned by a drunk driver. What she ran into was obviously complications so with that information I pray for her safety and when found hope her parents will send her next time with the very people her trained her!

Reply by tnyankeesfan June 10, 2010 04:33pm PDTReport Abuse

I would rather be a "beer drinking biblical dogma redneck", as you so eloquently put it, with a child that's still alive than a happy-go-lucky, laissez faire parent who now has no idea whether or not their child is still alive because they allowed her to sail the ocean alone. By the way, it's called grammar, I guess that don't teach that where you went to school, but my "beer drinking biblical dogma redneck" schools did... By the way, "laissez faire" is French, rougly interpreted to mean "let them do as they choose", but I'm sure you knew that!

Reply by mzboop June 10, 2010 04:45pm PDTReport Abuse

very well put and agree! tnyankeesfan

Reply by maybeso June 10, 2010 06:05pm PDTReport Abuse

gravity 78 needs to let that gravity bring him back down to Earth !!

Reply by sairah javed June 10, 2010 07:25pm PDTReport Abuse

This girl is BAD ASS! 16 or 60 she has guts! You can call it stupid or say she is dumb to try such a thing but it takes courage and bravery to do what she was trying to do. You have to be strong physically and mentally for this kind of feat.

Yeah, she put her life at risk, but well, it's HER life. No one owns her. I say kudos to her for not letting societal restrictions/expectations get in the way of her dream!

Heck she may have even made it if this storm hadn't happened; who knows!

Reply by pocahantas June 10, 2010 07:55pm PDTReport Abuse

Are you crazy. Its her life! thats BS, she is a CHILD!. Her parents should of said NO! So do you mean that every parent should let their children do whatever they want simply because its their life

Reply by zsmemmie June 10, 2010 08:10pm PDTReport Abuse

OMJ.............................ARE YOU SERIOUS ????? gravity_78 YOU AND COUNTLESS OTHER MORONS, ON HERE YOU CANNOT HAVE CHILDREN.... WHERE WE LIVE WHETHER WE ARE BLACK, WHITE, PURPLE, GREEN, RED, OR A REDNECK.... HAS A DARN THING TO DO WITH THIS..... CHILDREN UNDER 18 ABLE TO MAKE REASONABLE DECISION ABOUT WAS IS BEST FOR THEM..... CAUSE THEN WHY IN THE HELL DO FATHERS HAVE TO SUPPORT THEM, WHY ARE PARENTS HAULED IN TO JAIL, BECAUSE THAT COMPLETELY RESPONSIBLE 16 YEAR OLD OF YOURS MADE THE DECISION THAT WAS IN THEIR BEST INTEREST TO SKIP SCHOOL......HELLO IDIOT!!!! THIS IS JUST UDDER MADNESS, i A PRAYING FOR HER PARENTS AND HER SAFE RETURN, BUT I HAVE MORE THINGS MY HARD EARNED MONEY TO TAKE CARE OF THAN FOOT THIS BILL.............. JUST SICK

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 08:12pm PDTReport Abuse

No but if your kid convinced you they were ready to do something you'd let it them do ... if you were convinced they could handle it....

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 10, 2010 08:14pm PDTReport Abuse

I doubt our taxes will be raised to pay for this!!! She deserves to be rescued as does everyone who takes a chance...

Reply by zsmemmie June 10, 2010 08:19pm PDTReport Abuse

YES POCAHANTAS THAT IS WHAT IT SOUNDS LIKE.................I JUST KEEP SITTING SHAKING MY IN AWE OF THE NUMBER OF MORONS....IN THIS COUNTRY..... LET ME GO OUT ON A BIG LIMB HERE....... I AND WOULD PRAY THAT ALL THOSE WHOM THINK THESE PARENTS ARE JUSTIFIED, AND THOSE LIKE ME ARE STILL PRAYIN FOR THIS 16yr TO BE FOUND ALIVE, HOWEVER I BETTING HER MOTHER AND FATHER WOULD DO THINGS MUCH DIFFERENTLY....AND THEY WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE OUT COME.... AND WE WILL HAVE TO FOOT THE BILL FOR THEIR COUNSILING ON TOP OF IT ALL....

Reply by zsmemmie June 10, 2010 08:46pm PDTReport Abuse

NO kaykayscvb2 I WOULD NOT!!!! I WEIGH OUT ALL OF THE PROBABLE OUT COMES.... BEST AND WORST.... WHICH IS SOMETHING I MADE MY CHILDREN DO ALSO.... IF I CANNOT LIVE WITH THE WORST POSSIBLE OUTCOME WELL THEN .....YOU HAVE YOUR DECISION...IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH TAKING A CHANCES IT IS ABOUT WEIGHING THE RISKS... AND DECIDING CAN YOU LIVE WITH THE WORST....... BY THE WAY, I NEVER SAID WE SHOULD NOT DO EVERYTHING WITH IN OUR POWER TO SAVE HER.... I JUST SAID WE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THEIR RECKLESS DECISSIONS... THIS EXPENSE TAKES MONEY OUT OF OUR ARMED SERVICE VETS, MEDICARE, CPS AND FUNDING FOR RESEARCH ON DISEASES THAT TAKE THE LIFE OF HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN, WHILE THEIR HEARTBROKEN PARENTS DO EVERY POSSIBLE TO SAVE THEIR CHILD..... DO ANY OF YOU WANT TO TAKE ON THAT JOB, BET NOT.... YOU DECISION SUPPORTERS.... CAN TAKE YOURSELF ROOM TO ROOM AND TELL THEM THAT FUNDING WAS CUT AND THERE IS FUNDS LEFT, TO CONTINUE FIGHT FOR YOUR CHILD'S LIFE..... SEE MORONS LOOK AT THE BIGGER PIC HERE...

Reply by cowboy67 June 10, 2010 09:28pm PDTReport Abuse

Your an idiot....and if I am not mistaken you noted earlier you had two degrees.....from where I would love to know. You have spelled more words wrong in your post than you have spelled correctly....maybe you should hit those books again and quit flapping those jaws.

Reply by archstar June 10, 2010 09:34pm PDTReport Abuse

sairah javed, courage and bravery is acting even withfear, and usually those words are for courage and bravery for something IMPORTANT!!! Anyone 16-60 sailing on the ocean alone is not badass, they are insane! It's almost like saying someone's brave for playing russian rullette and surviving, and going alone on the ocean, or climbing the 8000 meter peaks at 13 is russian roulette! There are better, more important ways to be badass! She could have servbed honorably in her country's armed forces or police force, befrended someone picked on, helped at a homeless shelter.(btw,it takes courage to goto a homeless shelter,f or you have to submit to someones will and be cramed with thousands of strangers, then work your way back into the light. I remember from when I was homeless.) Dreams are good to have ewhen you are alive, and there are better ways to break conventions! For example: I'm an african american with a degree, marrried, has taught rock climbing, ballroom dance, tennis, karate, and had lead roles doing shakespeare and greek plays. Most of the moderm world thinks I shouldn't have the mental capacity to do all that! I'm not perfect, but there are better things to do!

Reply by archstar June 10, 2010 09:34pm PDTReport Abuse

sairah javed, courage and bravery is acting even withfear, and usually those words are for courage and bravery for something IMPORTANT!!! Anyone 16-60 sailing on the ocean alone is not badass, they are insane! It's almost like saying someone's brave for playing russian rullette and surviving, and going alone on the ocean, or climbing the 8000 meter peaks at 13 is russian roulette! There are better, more important ways to be badass! She could have servbed honorably in her country's armed forces or police force, befrended someone picked on, helped at a homeless shelter.(btw,it takes courage to goto a homeless shelter,f or you have to submit to someones will and be cramed with thousands of strangers, then work your way back into the light. I remember from when I was homeless.) Dreams are good to have ewhen you are alive, and there are better ways to break conventions! For example: I'm an african american with a degree, marrried, has taught rock climbing, ballroom dance, tennis, karate, and had lead roles doing shakespeare and greek plays. Most of the moderm world thinks I shouldn't have the mental capacity to do all that! I'm not perfect, but there are better things to do!

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 11, 2010 02:47am PDTReport Abuse

Z you aren't seeing where I'm coming from, not that you have to... If you are convinced of something you aren't going to let others tell u other wise that's all I meant...I dunno why you are freaking out typing in all caps or is that just how u type.. I don't know u so I can't tell?... As far as money we are always gonna be spending money on other people's mistake. That's how our world works as far as I have seen with gov. I mean we are so broke but we keep taking money from china even though we are having trouble paying it back... Someone made that decision to keep doing it and who's gonna pay for it us... right?? I dunno its an honest question I'm open to your opinion... That's good how you would make your decision too, weigh everything out more people should do that but not everyone thinks the same as you.. That's a great way to look at life and actually that kinda helps me in my own thinking process...

Reply by kaykayscvb2 June 11, 2010 02:52am PDTReport Abuse

Oh and I always thought that most of the funding for disease research came from donations? I mean I know there is gov funding but I thought it wasn't enough to continue research on that money alone? Honest question Z... I'm trying to learn and expand my thinking....

Reply by dnmrtn100 June 11, 2010 01:12pm PDTReport Abuse

What a bunch of elitists here casting dispersions on Abby and her family. We are a free people in a free land to live in freedom, but I guess you'd prefer to dictate how we should live under your elitists rules. Maybe your indignant moral outrage is because you're too scared to attempt to do anything like what Abby is doing. Give me a break. If you had any reasoning or logically thinking ability your outrage towards the Sunderlands would be tempered by your lack of concern for other risks that thousands of teenage girls take every day, AND YET YOU CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON ONE COURAGEOUS GIRL TO DISCLOSE YOUR HYPOCRISY. What fools you are, you talk about MORALS!!

Where is your outrage for the 821,810 pregnant teenagers currently in the US between the ages of 15 and 17. Or, what about the fact that by the end of 2010 there will have been 9.5 million new teenage girls infected with some sort of STD. Where's your outcry about the risks these ill educated girls are willing to take just to feel special like, Lindsey, or Britney, or Paris or any number of other stooges that teenagers look up to as role models. You are worried about ONE GIRL who has the courage to do something great and yet are silent on the risk that millions of teenage girls are willing to take everyday which destroy the lives of their children and families? You do not live in reality, oh, but wait, I forgot about your solution, abortion, or some life-long treatment for herpes, or Chlamydia, or HIV, or Hepatitis, or Genital Warts. That level of risk taking, I guess is MORAL and ok according to you.

Maybe your indignation is simply spurred on by the guilt that Abby's accomplishment produces inside of you. You live your lives from an armchair and criticize those who live life in the real world. If Abby wanted to do this and her parents wanted her to, why do you freedom haters even care if not to take it away from others.

GO ABBY, OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU DARLING, COME BACK TO US SAFE

Reply by erin krey June 10, 2010 04:30pm PDTReport Abuse

You know what? I had gut-wrenching dreams when I was a teenager too, and had my parents allowed me to run off to New York alone to pursue them, I would likely have been raped and become a child prostitute living on the streets. I've got a news brief for you, your statement about a 16 year old being "strong of will or maturity" is an oxymoron. Look maturity up in a dictionary. I quote, "MATURITY: the quality or state of being mature; especially : full development" Do you see that?! FULL DEVELOPMENT! Show me a fully developed (mentally, emotionally, physically, or intellectually) 16 year old, and I will show you an impossibility of biology. What pedantic crap.

Reply by simsational June 10, 2010 04:32pm PDTReport Abuse

Very well put Erin, very well put!

Reply by simsational June 10, 2010 04:37pm PDTReport Abuse

ghoov, I too am a father or 3 and I must say that for no reason would I attempt to shatter their dreams but we have to be realistic here. I also work in the Mental Health field and reading that this child is only 16 out doing this alone has to be a legal issue for her parents. I'm curious to see how that part plays out. My prayers go out to Abby and her safe return.

Reply by angelab88 June 10, 2010 04:46pm PDTReport Abuse

Bravo Erin!! Maturity is different with each person. We all mature at different ages.

Reply by brownozen June 10, 2010 04:51pm PDTReport Abuse

The parents should be scoled and ridiculed. I was in the Navy 8 years and was on the Indian Ocean many days and night this time of the year and at nighttime you cant even see your hands in front of your face. The father said on network news the other day that the naysayers would die in front of their tv's not knowing about what faith can do with his words. The Bible say the power of life and death is in the tongue. Joe said earlier that the parents did the correct thing because the 16 year old had training, well Joe I have news for you, she did not have the experience KEY word of open ocean sailing.

Reply by jason johnson June 10, 2010 05:07pm PDTReport Abuse

brownozen...is exactly right.

Reply by janinec June 10, 2010 05:13pm PDTReport Abuse

Erin Krey, I was a VERY mature 16 year old. In fact, I haven't changed very much at all in that regard for 32 years since. Yes, there has been further maturing...but I have almost always been serious and responsible (with only a few setbacks with respect to a relationship--hey, just being honest).

Reply by maybeso June 10, 2010 05:57pm PDTReport Abuse

brownozen...is exactly right

Reply by maybeso June 10, 2010 05:59pm PDTReport Abuse

Janine, what is your point ??????????

Reply by naranjal June 10, 2010 06:12pm PDTReport Abuse

I agree with you. In most places of the world at 16, they are mature enough to undertake their lives. Also not long ago at 16 most were already on their own and with their own responsibilities. This culture is the only one who doesn't allow it's people to grow up! Shame on all you that are criticizing her and her parents, just shows how "immature" you really are!

Reply by erin krey June 10, 2010 06:14pm PDTReport Abuse

Janinec - If your maturity level has only MARGINALLY grown since you were 16, I am not surprised you had relationship problems. Intelligence is not maturity, and most 16 year olds believe otherwise and mistakenly say the were "VERY mature for their age." I thought I was mature because I was intelligent as a teen; thankfully hindsight is 20/20 when one TRULY matures and looks back thinking, "God! How immature was I?"

Reply by erin krey June 10, 2010 06:21pm PDTReport Abuse

naranjal - the problem with your logic is in the parts of the world that YOU are speaking of, third world countries, the most dangerous thing around them are wild animals and their own people trying to kill or rape them. So, being raised around danger, they have common sense a lot sooner than stupid, sheltered Americans. I'm walking away now because I can't control how stupid people think, and neither can I make them smarter. Good luck with those faulty logic processes.

Reply by isagani fordan June 10, 2010 07:04pm PDTReport Abuse

The thinking of being matured enough is not an excuse to doing something stupid and irresponsible. Bad results could not be recalled.

Reply by archstar June 10, 2010 09:38pm PDTReport Abuse

Naranjal, In the first world countries they don't let 16 year olds act fully like adults, they wean them in. If a 16 year old was running for president, govenor,mayor where you live and he/she was smart, would you vote for him? What if it was their dream?

Reply by brownozen June 10, 2010 05:15pm PDTReport Abuse

Abby, it is nice to be inspirational. But in all truefulness, have you ever been out on the ocean. It is black and you cant see your hands in front of your face. The swells are, even in calm seas sometimes 10 15 ft high because of currents. Tradewinds move your ship at an angle while it look as if you are still on course. 8 years of Naval travel 8 years of sea time.

Reply by dasini June 10, 2010 05:49pm PDTReport Abuse

I too, wish a happy ending to this real story. Recent studies show that between the ages 12 - 23 a person's brain experiences rapid and intense growth which is only matched by the very first three years of development. Reading the story, it claims Abby has had the dream to sail around the world since she was 13. Human beings typically don't become true abstract thinkers until a few years beyond that age. Further, a life dream to most people means years and years of contemplation and desire. Three years to knowledgeable people, is simply an idea developing - not a life-long dream. There are so many variables here that lead a reasonable, self-reflective, and truly "non-egoic" person to understand that the risks for this 16 year old are highly extreme, and frankly, disturbingly unnecessary. And these risks are way more extreme than they would be for a 23 or 27 or 30 year old trying to attempt such a feat, as this girl's mental capacity is significantly handicapped, plainly because of her age. This child is in a heightened stage of human development. Her brain is in a rapid state of growth, and her life experiences are severely limited - as she is just beginning to understand herself in a much larger, extended, abstract world. To sail around the world alone, is something even the strongest adult finds enormously challenging, and risks his or her life pursuing. Given that the child just entered the world of abstract thinking, and although may have expert sailing skills - her mental capacity is only as robust and experienced as the strongest 16 year old, I have to ask: Who's "life dream" was this really? The parents' or the child's? If this child perishes, these parents will be in a position to judge themselves for making the foolish decision to let her sail the world alone at 16, and for exploiting their child to be the "first". If she survives, these parents have every opportunity to grow..... up.

Reply by rwg54 June 10, 2010 05:55pm PDTReport Abuse

To all you parents out there, why don't you quit buying your kids video games and teach them something other then living in a fanyacy world. If more of you people out there wre like Abby's parents who taught your kids to follow there dreams,we would all be better off. I hate to see what the next few generation of kids are going to be like. Who is going to take over when we're are gone. At least she had a dream, and her parents helped her live her dream. There should be more parents out there doing the same thing with there kids. Why don't you other parents out there quit buying those babysitting video games,get off your asses and teach your kids something other then sitting in front of a televsion and playing make believe.So to Abby's parents good for you, you should be proud oy your daughter. God bless you, and god bless Abby's. You go girl!!!!!!!!!!!

Reply by maybeso June 10, 2010 05:57pm PDTReport Abuse

rwg54, COME BACK TO REALITY !!!!!

Reply by lmao June 10, 2010 06:04pm PDTReport Abuse

Dasini, you like to read yourself typing don't you? Paragraph structure, USE IT!! lol!

Reply by san diego June 10, 2010 06:12pm PDTReport Abuse

A little harsh but for the most part I agree

Reply by laurenpage June 10, 2010 07:04pm PDTReport Abuse

i completely agree with you rwg54!!

Reply by jlw June 10, 2010 07:12pm PDTReport Abuse

You have got to be kidding me, you actually compared this to russian roulette. One takes skill the other takes stupidity. One takes training and dedication the other again stupidity. Although you are correct you cannot compare this to driving to a party because at the party the 16 year old will probably drink alcohol and make irresponsible decisions on their own. I have never seem so many people so harsh on a family for helping, guiding and traing their child for a hard and dangerous goal. We spend less time critizing the parents who drive drunk or use drugs on these postings. If the wors happens they will be forever grieving so it is great that others that don't have goals they take more effort than a shower are here to judge them. And why do you think you can only travel the world in the military and not for fun. Although you are right you cannot compare the two. You cannot compare this to anything but what it is. And why do you think you can judge can you sail? Do you know the true risk or are you just assuming you do? My guess is her parents do, and do you really think they said the risk suck but do it anyway. You may allow your child to something that we would say WHY but when you make that decision I bet you'll be making the best decision for the child you have raised. Some of us raise responsible children that can do things others cannot. What you allow your child to do in life reflects on how you view your parenting skills. some kids are able to cross the street at age 5 because they have been taught how to, others still run out into the street at age 10. You cannot judge without the facts, well you can but it is ignorant.

Reply by justsayen4 June 10, 2010 07:15pm PDTReport Abuse

Excuse me ref54 (must stand for you IQ). Most of the rest of the world can't afford $500,000+ sailboaties to send their 16 yr olds around the world in. Their living "real" lives. Gosh...my son would love to walk on the moon, but I'm a little short this month, so he will JUST have to do with is model rocket "sigh". Poor disfunctional deprived son.."sob". But..if he COULD make it to the moon?? I would FULLY expect for the people of this world to fund a rescue mission.....because he is living his dream....right ref54???

Reply by zep4life June 10, 2010 09:45pm PDTReport Abuse

oh because they have money it means that their lives are "fake"...... your analogy if f*cking stupid and really makes no sense. She wanted to do something different, she did it. F* off

Reply by archstar June 10, 2010 09:48pm PDTReport Abuse

jlw, both take stupidity! some activities, even with you being at the highest skill level wil still endanger your life and are hard to control! I have sailed, canued, rock climbed, hiked, alone and in groupsdays away from help , hours if we call in a helicopter, and we still had safety nets. I'm a 4 time outward bound alumni, instructor, lived in one of the roughest neighborhoods in the south bronx, had knives and guns pulled on me without provcation or control and luckily survived without a scratch. I was hoemless with hardened vcriminals up until a week till 9/11 and was 30 late from being in that area when it all went down. I've had most fo the worst happen to me AND helped save the world. Every risk was for humanity evolving and improving race/gender relations. What have you done in your life jlw? Have you lived a Forest Gump kind of life like me? I've been real close to where Abby's been, have you? I say close cause few fun activities are worth dying for! You ever seen someone's blood on a pavement or seen 20 men beat up on a retarded man? You ever been choked out? Seen people jumping someone in your family? Help save a life, or make someones life better. If you have been through a tenth of what I've been, then you can have an opinion. Hell, I'lleven buy you a beer!

Reply by maybeso June 10, 2010 10:55pm PDTReport Abuse

Archstar, you had some great posts further above, and then you completely undid everything good you said with this dumb post ! Nobody gives a f how many times you were jumped, choked out, etc, etc .... Stop braggin' on yourself and big-upping yourself .... it has nothing to do with the damn topic ... how much blood you've seen ..... so f'in what ?????? that means your opinion on this story is more valid ????

Reply by jason johnson June 10, 2010 04:24pm PDTReport Abuse

Amen

Reply by oceanfire June 10, 2010 04:27pm PDTReport Abuse

I am a real parent of 2 sailing teenagers and I recognize that allowing my 16 year old out on the freeway or even around town is far more dangerous than allowing them on a boat.

Reply by mzboop June 10, 2010 04:31pm PDTReport Abuse

so why is she in danger !!!! It can happen obviously. Amen

Reply by mzboop June 10, 2010 04:32pm PDTReport Abuse

oh wait she is not on the freeway- which has nothing to do with this !!!Pray for this young girl.

Reply by sameol June 10, 2010 04:35pm PDTReport Abuse

FINALLY someone with some common sense on this board!!!! Hopefully she is ok!!

Reply by whit26 June 10, 2010 04:46pm PDTReport Abuse

tnyankeesfan, you are soooo right. I absolutely agree, you are a legit realist for sure!!!

AMEN!

Reply by oceanfire June 10, 2010 04:46pm PDTReport Abuse

Ok, so go ahead and lock your children in the attic until 18 or 21 and then I'm sure they'll be perfectly safe.

Reply by oceanfire June 10, 2010 04:55pm PDTReport Abuse

And while you are at it, don't drive it to work tomorrow, you could be in an accident. Don't go to the convenience store or you could be shot during a hold up. Don't open the door to your house. You never know who's out there. Lock yourself in tight. Choose not to experience any aspect of life. It's much safer that way.

Reply by zsmemmie June 10, 2010 06:49pm PDTReport Abuse

ABSOLUTELY.... yes and AMEN if these parents are not ARRESTED then I live in a country who has ZERO MORALS, IS THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THIS WORLD, EXTREMELY TO TOLERATE, ZERO DIGNITY, AND NO ZERO NONE ACCOUNTABILTY AND THE MAJORITY OF THE HUMAN RACE APPEARS TO BE BIG FAT HYPOCRITICS

Reply by laurenpage June 10, 2010 07:07pm PDTReport Abuse

who cares about the parents?! that decision was made and get over it! they dont want your opinion. just think about the girl. that part still hasnt been resolved yet! stop harboring on things that cannot be changed!

Reply by justsayen4 June 10, 2010 07:26pm PDTReport Abuse

Regarding the parents...and her "dream"? If she didn't get any recognition..if she didn't get any fame...and if there was no book to be written after this...she wouldn't be DOING it..LOL. So..let's define this "dream" in real terms; GREED AND SELF ADULATION!

It's no different then the three hikers that were kidnapped, while they were "hiking" in Iraq. Our soldiers are dying in Iraq...and they are vacationing there. Isn't that special?? And now these thrill seekers want to be rescued too.

Reply by snlmom June 10, 2010 07:30pm PDTReport Abuse

If your child was hurt in a wreck on the freeway guess what??? Someone would be able to rescue them immediately! They wouldn't be stranded for 2 days like this poor girl is! They'll be lucky if she's even alive when they do reach her location.

I think that's a wee bit more dangerous than being on the freeway.

It's one thing to say "we allow our 16 year olds to drive...blah blah blah" would you let your 16 year old go out driving during a tornado just because they wanted some "adventure"?? or a dangerous ice storm?? or at 1 am on New Years for that matter?? I doubt it. If you KNOW the odds are against your child being safe, then it's your job to protect them. It's totally different than going to the store or driving to work...I can't believe anybody is dumb enough to compare the 2. Sailing around the world alone cannot be compared to running to the store.

I am not saying put our kids in a bubble and never let them do anything for fear of getting hurt but COME ON....sailing around the WORLD, ALONE????? This wasn't a day trip out on the lake. That's sheer stupidity. That's asking for trouble...or a funeral.

Reply by jlw June 10, 2010 07:35pm PDTReport Abuse

So then does that mean the olympian who died this past winter did so in vain also. I mean really isn't that what most anyone who does anything like this is trying to do. You love something (like sailing) so much you want to be the best, being the best comes with the above. Hope none of your children want to be the best at anything because the lack of support will leave them standing still in life.

Reply by snlmom June 10, 2010 07:36pm PDTReport Abuse

I agree justsayen4!! It was and is all about the fame, the Today show appearances (which they will still get), the book deals, etc etc. When she set out it was in hopes of getting the fame of "being the youngest person to sail around the world alone"...now it will be "the youngest person rescued at sea after attempting to sail around the world alone." lol
They will still get their 15 minutes of fame.

Reply by buzzmooney June 10, 2010 07:42pm PDTReport Abuse

I really hope shes OK, but there's alot of really bad, nasty, vile people in this world. If a 16 year old girl alone on the ocean comes accross one of them, what chance does she have? It's not her fault for dreaming big, it's the parents fault because it's their job to weigh the risks...couldnt this wait a few more years? Couldnt she take a few friends for protection? ...no, she wanted the fame and glory and so did her parents!

Reply by shella June 10, 2010 07:45pm PDTReport Abuse

Oceanfire are you on crack? The point is not that driving is any safer or less dangerous. The point is that these parents have let their child- their baby- go out on a boat ALONE out to open sea. Driving in a car on the freeway you have less of a chance of dying before help arrives than this poor girl does right now. She is DAYS away from the CLOSEST help. As a REAL 'parent of 2 sailing teenagers', would you allow ONE (not both because that is not the point) of your sailing teenagers alone out to open sea for months at a time with no supervision?

I was a very responsible teenager at 16. However, I was not very mature. I had neither the mental capacity nor the life experience at that age for my parents to even remotely consider doing something this. BUT I DID NOT just lock myself away like you suggest. I went on day and weekend trips around my state, and when I turned 17 went to Quebec for a week. Oh wait-I forgot- there was parental supervision on that trip! Gee....

Furthermore this cannot be a 'lifelong dream' if a 16 year old has only had it since she was 13. And I don't think that she would be out there alone is she were not trying to set some stupid record.

Reply by jlw June 10, 2010 07:53pm PDTReport Abuse

zsmemmie: zero morals for real, a bit dramatic don't you think? Arrested really? Our children work for nothing anymore because of fear. Why should parents be arrested for allowing thier child, not yours make an informed decision. With all the bad in the world from the human race we don't allow our children to explore and God forbid let a family live the way they see fit if it differs from others. To tolerate are you serious? We want to control how others live even if does not break the law. How can you call yourself tolerant. They value adventure and achieving all that is in reach. you may not, I don't know, but you deserve to make decisions for children to drive out of state to visit family if you want, bare in mind they may not make. Will everyone criticizing you heal your pain.

Reply by justsayen4 June 10, 2010 08:10pm PDTReport Abuse

Thanks Shells. Most of the rest of the world can't afford $500,000+ sailboaties to send their 16 yr olds around the world in...in search of fame and fortune. Their living "real" lives. Gosh...my son would love to walk on the moon, but I'm a little short this month, so he will JUST have to do with his model rocket "sigh". Poor disfunctional deprived son.."sob". But..if he COULD make it to the moon?? I would FULLY expect for the people of this world to fund a rescue mission.....because he is living his dream...right? WRONG!

Reply by laloa8008 June 10, 2010 08:41pm PDTReport Abuse

SHELLA, you're on crack. why are you even comparing yourself at 16 to Abby. Is everyone like you, should everyone be you. NO so keep your idealism to yourself. Just bc you think you can't handle it at that age doesn't mean some one more mentally and physically capable shouldn't.

Reply by laloa8008 June 10, 2010 08:44pm PDTReport Abuse

justsayen4, i pitty your son b/c obviously money is more of a concern to you than your son. haven't you heard of JOBS, this is part of the rescuer's jobs. They are suppose to go on missions and save people no matter if it is a 16 yr old sailing the world or a drunken cruiser who accidentally fell over board or a sailor who had an accident. It doesn't matter, they are paid either way if they save her or not. u must be very ignorant and not experienced much in life. i wouldn't be surprised if u work cleaning toilets all day and can only see within a ceramic basin.

Reply by laloa8008 June 10, 2010 08:48pm PDTReport Abuse

tnyankeesfan, just shut up and take care of your children and mind your own business. ur mesg is a waste of space. i wonder what ur children think of you, OVERBEARING!

Reply by cp3 June 10, 2010 10:46pm PDTReport Abuse

I pray for her safe return. It must be awful to be all alone and in distress. I thought that I could conquer the world when I was 16, THANKFULLY my parents knew better. Why do parents think that they have to be best friends with their children? It is OK to say no, in fact, it is our job as parents. Just because we say no does not mean that we are "locking them in the attic until they are 18." Why do so many people encourage their children to grow up so fast? Life is short, let them enjoy being a child, a teenager, a young adult. There is nothing wrong with waiting for things. I'm glad to say that my parents are my friends now, but when I was growing up, they were my parents and THEY made the rules and I had consequences for breaking them! I hope that everyone learns something from this, but most of all I hope that this poor CHILD returns home safely!

Reply by mixedpnaii June 10, 2010 07:47pm PDTReport Abuse

I agree with you 100%!

Reply by sharon klyn June 10, 2010 08:45pm PDTReport Abuse

I believe Amy's parents know their daughter well enough to make that decision. This is not the time for blaming, it's the time of prayer and may Amy feel the love and prayers being sent her way!

Reply by sharon klyn June 10, 2010 08:51pm PDTReport Abuse

This incident could have happened to any sailor the seas do not discriminate.

Reply by portec01 June 10, 2010 09:45pm PDTReport Abuse

I have four children, ages 17 years old to 1 month old, 3 of whom are girls. Even though I would hesitate to send my 16 year old daughter to sea alone, I must say I am proud of her. To have the courage, determination, skill, knowledge, and drive to attempt this is amazing. Considering how most sixteen year olds act today (and what their priorities are), all I can say is that our country would be a much better place if we had more young women (and young men) of this caliber. God be with her!

Reply by khaas June 10, 2010 10:23pm PDTReport Abuse

lot of freaks down here........
just pray to god that she is is found safely.......

PLANET EARTH surrounded all around by SEA........
TSUNAMI huge waves hitting the earth shores when there is a tremour
OCEAN WAVES not much difference than a TSUNAMI WAVE out in the OPEN SEA which is even are higher than 30 feet..... a 40feet boat is a peanut in front of the OCEAN WAVES.....

ABBY not matured and experienced sailor but she lives life by its meaning....
NOBODY in the world has seen their next living minute or hour, meaning ANYTHING can happen to ANYONE the next minute.....

EVERYTHING happens for a reason..........

SUCESS and FAILURE is lifes challenge...........

PEOPLE please dont DREAM .......

JUST DO IT........ neva know wat happens the next minute to U......

WATEVA HAS TO HAPPEN WILL HAPPEN.............NOBODY and NOBODY can STOP that......

leave all to the LORD and if u dont believe in him then just just keep minding your own business....

PRAYERS AND WELL WISHES FOR THE SUNDERLANDS..............ESP ABBY

Reply by chukky June 10, 2010 11:28pm PDTReport Abuse

I can see all of you people are lost. You have no faith. Faith is wot drives us normal people, join us, its worth living for. And the girl is fine, Thats called faith.

Reply by mike furlong June 10, 2010 11:51pm PDTReport Abuse

I can't believe anyone including parents would challenge or condemn this young lady. We own Sweet tomatoes INC. on the cape. My girlfriend works 6 days a week and were just barely making it. A lot of the reasons why are, people come in wanting cash! , because god forbid they stop collecting their 152weeks! Can i have an application for my 17 or 18 yr old child that, first of all doesnt even know if they have or what the numbers are to their social security, wait i'm not old enough!!! whats a social security number??? I passed my mcas exam???.. Let me ask my mommy! Then i have to start them at minimum almost 9.00 when i worked for 4.00 with no overtime!!! They think a push broom is a pull and hide the evidence because my parents gave me too much broom!!!! Screw all of you, I would give this independent young lady everything i can!!!
I can only hop my child could be so independent and secure as her. "my perfect example would be,, !!! that aruba peru situation going on. !!! he should die, with out our taxes!!!! , This girl should be saved with our taxes, I'd kill him and start over with nothing for her!!! get your priorities right people!!! mike furlong cape cod

Reply by mike furlong June 10, 2010 11:51pm PDTReport Abuse

I can't believe anyone including parents would challenge or condemn this young lady. We own Sweet tomatoes INC. on the cape. My girlfriend works 6 days a week and were just barely making it. A lot of the reasons why are, people come in wanting cash! , because god forbid they stop collecting their 152weeks! Can i have an application for my 17 or 18 yr old child that, first of all doesnt even know if they have or what the numbers are to their social security, wait i'm not old enough!!! whats a social security number??? I passed my mcas exam???.. Let me ask my mommy! Then i have to start them at minimum almost 9.00 when i worked for 4.00 with no overtime!!! They think a push broom is a pull and hide the evidence because my parents gave me too much broom!!!! Screw all of you, I would give this independent young lady everything i can!!!
I can only hop my child could be so independent and secure as her. "my perfect example would be,, !!! that aruba peru situation going on. !!! he should die, with out our taxes!!!! , This girl should be saved with our taxes, I'd kill him and start over with nothing for her!!! get your priorities right people!!! mike furlong cape cod