<p>If I go to the zoo and decide it might be fun to play with the tigers and jump the fence to get closer to them most would conclude I’m an idiot and deserve whatever fate comes to me. Basically same case here. It really does not matter who shot first or any other details. They moved away from the group and were kidnapped by pirates known to be in those waters by them and everyone else with a TV in the world… Exactly how exactly they ended up dead really does not matter. The jumped into the tiger compound.</p>
<p>Unfair and uncessary, Barrons. Unless I’ve missed something, investigators don’t know yet why the couple’s boat got separated from the other vessels they were traveling with.</p>
<p>From Seattle’s q13Fox news: "The two couples had been sailing with other yachts participating in the Blue Water Rally since their departure from Phuket, Thailand, rally organizers said Sunday.</p>
<p>Blue Water Rally said in a statement, the S/V Quest broke off on February 15 after leaving Mumbai, India, to take a different route.</p>
<p>The hijacking was first reported Friday, by Ecoterra International, which monitors regional maritime activity.</p>
<p>Fellow boaters say the group was aware of the danger from pirates in the area, but were determined to make the journey themselves rather than shipping their boat."</p>
<p>I do have sympathy for the couples who lost their lives as well as for their family and friends. It seems some Christians believe that if they pray, God will watch over them and protect them from harm. Many other Christians believe God gave them a brain in order to protect themselves. I have no knowledge of the personal beliefs of these couples, but it is hard to understand why they put themselves in harms way.</p>
<p>It is also being reported that pirates currently hold 30 ships and more than 660 hostages. They typically win a multimillion ransom for releasing their captives, a huge sum that is shared among investors and pirates. The money is often spent on alcohol, drugs and prostitutes. One ransom paid last year was reported as $9.5 million. Most ransoms are worth several million dollars.</p>
<p>I have to agree with Barron. They were in the cage and the lion bit. 600+ are currently being held hostage, and this yacht is going to go out on their own. Sounds like maybe they wanted to be martyrs.</p>
<p>It was widely reported they went off on their own. I assumed that was common knowledge as the Seattle papers and news have covered this in detail. Such actions are one of my pet peeves. Every winter we hear about snow boarders and skiers who go off trails out of bounds and then a huge search has to go after them. That puts other lives in danger. So did this ill-conceived trip as our Navy had to come to try and rescue them. Some of them easily could have been killed and that would be on the hands of these adventure seekers. Have all the adventures you want–but know you are on your own and nobody will come after you to bail you out. That might cut down on such adventures.</p>
<p>LakeWashington… do you believe in personal responsibility?</p>
<p>Why don’t the world naval powers go pirate hunting like they did in the past? This is the same game as it was 200 - 300 years ago. </p>
<p>Sail’em down and sink’em. If need be follow them to the dock. Obey their rules, I.E. No quarter given.</p>
<p>What a foolish question, soccerguy.</p>
<p>Barrons, I agree with you and stand corrected. If the news reports are accurate, these folks took on too great a risk. No one deserves to be murdered but as worldly people, they should have known better.</p>
<p>I am also glad that you mentioned mountain/snow rescues. Again, we’re in agreement. Many snow sport enthusiasts are just plain indifferent to the danger and criminally reckless at times for ignoring weather forcasts. We learned how tragic the consequences can be for all concerned when a rescue helicopter crashed in the Cascades a few years ago. I believe that was on Mt. Hood.</p>
<p>That was very nice of you. If I find myself out on a limb that is about to be sawed off I hope I can be as gracious.</p>
<p>What a nice exchange! :)</p>
<p>I wish folks who embark on risky ventures are somehow made to reimburse for the search & recovery costs–from them if they live and their estates if they don’t. In HI, we have to do a lot of water & hiking rescues as well. It endangers many & doesn’t seem to deter the next thrillseeker. 
Wish they had to post bonds or something that would help reduce the cost to the public.</p>
<p>Last Saturday we had gale force winds in S. Jersey. Some doofus takes out his new pontoon boat and a bunch of guests–never drove it before–into the wetlands behind Ocean City, at low tide. Lower than usual because it was a full moon. A blow out tide because of the winds. Weirdly enough, :rolleyes: they got stuck in the low water. The State Police had to use a borrowed hovercraft to rescue them. The opinion of the entire population of Cape May County was, I believe, let them stay out there till the next tide–idiots.</p>
<p>But, at least there were no pirates.</p>
<p>Also, at least they didn’t get swept out to sea and need rescuing in dangerous conditions that could have imperiled the rescuers. Still, I’d see it as a waste of my tax $$$ to rescue them rather than have them wait it out. ;)</p>
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<p>I agree. If you are hiking in the Grand Canyon and need to be rescued, you have to pay the cost (apparently a lot of day hikers misjudge the difficulty of the hike up and down). Should be the same anywhere in the US or anywhere in the world where citizens knowingly put themselves in harm’s way, IMHO.</p>
<p>That would help the taxpayers who are tired of funding these thrillseekers who don’t plan and HAPPEN to need rescuing, especially those who REPEATEDLY need help. Not quite sure how to get this done though. Have read & get very upset reading about those types of people–really NO judgment and always expecting to get rescued from their poor planning–not bringing supplies, not knowing where they’re going, setting out late & then being surprised when it gets dark, etc.</p>
<p>I remember hiking down to the bottom of Havasu Canyon (a small side canyon of the Grand Canyon) when we were grad students. The couple we were with barely made it down & back up (I guess we were in better physical condition?)</p>
<p>Let’s play Jeopardy. The answers are: People sailing around in that area; mountain climbers who ignore weather reports; people with little kids and pit bulls; hikers near Iran border; people who marry Charlie Sheen or Hugh Hefner.</p>
<p>And the question is: Who do I have a hard time feeling sorry for?</p>
<p>Waston just blew a gasket.</p>
<p>It seems a Danish family’s boat has now been hijacked…4 adults and 3 children on board.</p>
<p>[Danish</a> family’s sailboat hijacked in Indian Ocean - Yahoo! News](<a href=“http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110228/ap_on_re_eu/piracy]Danish”>http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110228/ap_on_re_eu/piracy)</p>
<p>WHY? What are these people doing in that area?</p>