ChatterBank1 min ago
Ellen MacArthur
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No best answer has yet been selected by ludwig. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.I think both sides have some validity.
It is clearly ridiculous to compare Ellen MacArthur's achievement with Chay Blythe's and claim she's 'beaten' him - one did it in a wooden boat with no back up team, no radio, not sat-nav and the other... er... didn't.
Who would have paid if she needed rescuing? I would have thought she was insured to the hilt against just such an eventuallity. Even if she didn't I dare say she would have made a substantial contribution to their costs had something happened.
I do think it was a very impressive feat and deserves to be celebrated - she's clearly a very plucky and driven woman to have achieved what she has in her life.
On the other hand, that Ellen MacArthur takes precidence in the papers and telivision news when the Palestinians and Israelis are sitting down to discuss a much needed truce, I must confess I can't understand the rationale at all. Surely it is obvious which is the most important news story, but apparently not.
I couldn't agree morre! Having seen film of Ellen climbing up a 100' mast in high seas, you have to think that there's not computer or 'back-up' to do that!
Anyone who knows anything about sailing will tell you that the sheer physical endurance alone involved in this trip is a fantastic achievement - regardless of the skill of choosing sails, and ensuring that the running repairs are done.
Michael Schumacher is no less of a brilliant driver because he uses modern technology - people should simply enjoy the fact that for once, someone British has done something no-one else has manager, and enjoy her success.
And people who don;t know what they are talking about should keep their opinions, as just that, opinions, not implying that they are basing their observations on anything remotely approaching experience.
I am often amazed, humbled and in total awe at achievements resulting from the spirit of human endeavour and have to say this ranks among the top echelons.
To tackle the worlds oceans alone is a super-human and courageous effort. Technological backup will be of no use if you're swept overboard or capsized in a force niner, hundreds of miles from any form of possible rescue.
She is an inspiration to many and I wish her every success for any future endeavours.
Hostility comes from people who haven't got anything better to do; or are the typical whingers who moan about anything and everything. It's always someone elses fault to them and never anything they've done. If they weren't moaning about Ellen MacArthur they'd be moaning about someone else.
As for me, I'm proud of Ellen. I don't know much about sailing but it sure looked tough and obviously time consuming. She's just doing something that she's good at, to try and achieve her goals, to rise above others, afterall that's what 'us' humans do! If we didn't challenge ourselves then where would we be? If someone has already done something should we stop or should we try and better it? It really depends on what you want out of life. If you're happy doing the same old stuff day in, day out then fine. But if you have the opportunity of doing something that you enjoy, or pushes you to the limit then I'd say go for it!
As for the use of technology, well, that's just how life works! You utilise and adapt everything that can help you. If something is not available then someone designs it for you, and then technology advances once more.....
I don't think people are being hostile - merely giving their honest opinion. Why should we care if she breaks the record? It doesn't better anyone's life apart from her own, and possibly her sponsors.
Firemen risk their lives with good reason every day, but we don't see them all over the front pages.
But it's news! For instance, 'Fireman rescues cat out of tree' or 'Man lands on the moon'. Which sells more papers? Which subject are more people interested in? Which is mankinds bigger achievement?
I'm not arguing that Firemen don't do a good job, they do. Unfortunately people take for granted what Firemen do and they would soon bore every time they published an article of what they've achieved; the list would be very big.
The issue we're talking about is what Ellen MacArthur accomplished doesn't happen everyday. It is a rare occurence in the sporting world and is worthy of mention. Newspapers publish things that sell papers. If you don't want to read about such things then don't read newspapers or watch the news.
If you don't care about what Ellen MacArthur has done then skip past the subject. There are always people interested and disinterested in things around the world. It's just a case of give and take.
I don't live in the UK now and I don't always catch the news. If I see a news summary on the internet then I'm selective of what I want to read, since I haven't got a lot of time to digest everything.