Live Debate?: How young is too young and does age matter?

[Beadle]

I see your point

The trouble is mechanism for doing it is the state deciding.

Which means some civil servant deciding

Which means he (or she) will in effect take responsibility

Which means the decision will always be NO.

I find it difficult to accept that the state has a right or even a duty to protect us from ourselves or, outside criminal activities, our parents. You end up with the state rearing our children.

Which takes us into Lounge territory I suppose - so I'll stop

 

[binch]

Age or experience? That is the question.

We have been cruising in all waters 12/12 for 35 years during which we have come across numerous youngsters, born or bring brought up in ocean going boats. Almost without exception (I cannot think of an exception but there must be one - somewhere) these kids of whatever age have been more mature, responsible and aware of their own abilities.
Yottie parents give their off-spring responsibility at an early age and the young go on from there.
Iwasn having a yarn aboard a boat at anchor in a strongish windd when a pinger went. The 6-year old got up and said "that means I have to go and check the anchor." And he did. He returned and said the yacht was sheering about 30 degrees either side, which is acceptable. His dad didn't go to check. The boy was reliable.
Kids raised like this know what they are doing.
I gather this Dutch teenager was borrn in a yacht. She will have taken in self-confidence, awareness of her own capability, and nautical judgement with her mother's milk She will know far far more about the voyage she wishes to embark on than any Extra Master with a Ph D in either navigation theory or psycholog.
My only doubt is that I do not know her personally, but prima facie she has passed the entrance exam.

 

[dratsea]

1. A very young 58 and 350 days, so no.
2. Cost Centre 1&2 did club Oppie course (both parents instructing).
3. Offshore, PB, Rescue and Firstaid.
4. Only Once.
5. Take them apart and put them together again for a living (Paediatric surgeon)
(6. not bad at debating, live, dead, on-line, on-stage and I always talk to child rather parents so happy to carry banner for child.)

John

And applaud Dutch for letting her go back to her Dad