Click on this link to read a Washington Post story about a 13 year old Dutch girl, Laura Dekker, who wants to sail around the world by her self. Do you think this is a dangerous idea? (comments welcomed). Note: two days after this article appeared, a Dutch court blocked her trip.
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Personally, it would depend on two things: (1) the amount of training she's had at sailing, and (2) how much stress/sleep deprivation her body could handle. The argument about her 'right' to do this is an entirely separate one, and I think we ought to make note of that separation.
ReplyDeleteApparently, she was sailing around large lakes at age 6, which is an incredible feat, and crossed the North Sea not much longer after that. Crossing seas -is- a whole different ballgame, but given more training, she's probably got a lot more chance than most people do.
It's the stress/sleep deprivation that might be considered the biggest 'danger' - considering that 13 yr old children's bodies are wired a little differently than adults.
Personally, I don't know enough to form an argument either way.
I agree with Krad-Eelav; however, I do not feel any minor should be able to make a decision that puts their life so much at risk. Once she comes of age, she is fully responsible of herself and can attempt the feat.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if this could go either way, so i believe i agree with both of you on this one. The stress seems like the most dangerous part, especially for a 13 year old. I totally understand why she wants to attept to sail the world, but i feel it could easily turn into a tragedy story.
ReplyDeleteI think that this decision might be a little radical by Laura Dekker. Her home life is suffering, it almost seems like she wants to prove something or get away from it all in doing this. If this is part of her motive for participating in such a goal I feel like it hasn't been though out well enough.
ReplyDeleteThough she may be a an excellent sailor, like Krad-Eelav suggests, other factors must be taken into consideration. Is she fully prepared for the possible problems she may encounter? Is she physically able to overcome the challenges put fourth by the battering seas?
I do believe whole heartedly in being individual and to be independent, even at a young age.
ReplyDeleteI personally believe that there are not enough independent teens and individuals. However there is a difference between being prepared for such crazy independence and doing it to prove a point. I feel you really need to way the options and then understand what the outcomes are. I do not know her very well or her situation to deeply, so again, I feel strange commenting on her decision.
Honestly though, she will probably rock it.
Reading the 5 comments so far, I find myself torn. Many cultures had "rites of passage" that were really dangerous. But there usually people there supporting you as you went through it. Maybe that would be so for her, but it wasn't clear. The idea of a 13 year old girl going out in, say, pirate-infested seas, is frightening. Or is that a sexist viewpoint? Nietzsche and the existentialists would applaud her courage and pluck and say that our society has grown too soft to allow such heroic deeds.
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