View Single Post
Old 06-11-2010, 10:25 AM   #56
Jim in CT
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Posts: 20,441
Marshcappa, in the military, you're part of a team, and help is almost always minutes away. Not so in the case of what this girl and her parents exposed her to.

Furthermore, in my own experience, even in combat, we were able to control a lot of what took place, so that we could minimize the real danger. I'm not a sailor, but I'm guessing she is (or potentially is) exposed to a lot of things she casn't control.

Finally, even if you concede that being in the military is riskier than what this girl did (and I don't concede that), those risks are taken to ensure national security. This girl's motivation is irrefutably a lot more self-serving.

Likwid, you say the rescuers aren't "forced" to try to help her. True. Nor are rescuers forced to climb Mt McKinley to help folks who get stuck up there. But in my opinion, taking advantage of the bravery of those who work in rescue, in pursuit of a reckless, purely self-serving goal, is very selfish.

No one forced me to join the Marines. I felt that for a worthy mission, I'd take the risks. I would not have wanted to risk the lives of kids under my command, to save some teenager who went off half-cocked on some thrill ride.
Jim in CT is offline   Reply With Quote