In the scores of comments about the 16 year-old girl stranded at sea, a few wrote "she's a hero." To me heroes are people who risk their lives to save others. Police and firefighters come to mind.

The people who saved this child's life are the real heroes, like the fishing boat captain who fell in the sea trying to rescue her. Heroes are not kids attempting reckless publicity seeking stunts nurtured by irresponsible parents sunning in the media afterglow, getting attention and money instead of condemnations for putting a child's life at risk.

In this kid's reckless attempt to cruise around the world in a toy equipped with technology sea worthy sailors of old never had, she nearly killed herself at considerable time and expense of the real heroes who saved her life.

A 16 year-old girl is lost at sea. Her parents let her try to sail around the world by herself. This reminds me of years ago when rich parents were letting kids as young as 9 fly airplanes in the sky here in the US. Kids too young to drive cars were let loose in the skies piloting aircraft. I think laws got passed putting an end to that nonsense.

In the case of the missing teenage girl, I see the same irresponsible behavior. A child let loose on the uncertain, often dangerous, seas. What were the parents thinking? I could halfway be okay with this stunt if the child had an adult accompanying her or a boat following her for safety and rescue reasons. But, to set her adrift on her own to attempt to sail around the world, is pure lunacy. I just hope this madness has not ended this child's life who has no more business being alone on the high seas than those 9 year olds had in the skies.