Should Jessica Watson have been Young Australian of the Year?

[iffets12345]

So what do you guys think? Personally I believe AoY should go to someone whose actions benefit the Australian Community or in this case, reach out to the Australian Youth with moral purpose or altruistic direction.

[Greatness]

No.
Although what she did was inspirational, like you said Australian of the year should go to someone who actively works in the community etc

[Chavi]

it's like arguing whether or not Obama should have been awarded the nobel peace prize.
His ideological flaws outweigh his merits, but the ascendancy of a black candidate to president of the US was a significant milestone that inspired many.
In this sense, Watson can also be described as an 'inspiration'.

[iffets12345]

I don't really know if I agree with Obama's prize either though I haven't researched it too much. But how is what she did THAT inspirational? What some of the people on here achieve are also just as admirable, and there are people who have actually suffered hardship that wasn't "chosen" like her around the world ordeal.

[ben_ess12]

I don't find her an inspiration. I mean what she did was great but we had to rescue her in the first place...I think it should go to someone who benefits the community as a whole and not just doing something that she wanted to do which really only benefited her and no one else...where as a young person helping community would be helping more people

[MuggedByReality]

it's like arguing whether or not Obama should have been awarded the nobel peace prize.
His ideological flaws outweigh his merits, but the ascendancy of a black candidate to president of the US was a significant milestone that inspired many.
In this sense, Watson can also be described as an 'inspiration'.

I'm not sure how you can equate the two -as Watson achieved something comparable to any other YAotY recipient (though admittedly it's rather hard to compare amazing sporting achievement with exceptional beneficence) -wheras being elected US President, while by definition exceptional, doesn't necessarily entail making a profoundly positive difference.

I don't really know if I agree with Obama's prize either though I haven't researched it too much. But how is what she did THAT inspirational? What some of the people on here achieve are also just as admirable, and there are people who have actually suffered hardship that wasn't "chosen" like her around the world ordeal.

 Whilst I don't wish to downplay the attainment of an ATAR of > 99.50 or an L.Mus.A, they hardly compare to sailing solo round the world aged 16.

[Bonifacio]

She's a rich kid who got a year off from life to sale around the world in her yacht, hardly deserving. Instead of setting up help for the needy, I think I'll just get daddy to buy me a yacht...

[pi]

I too don't find her very inspirational, but I can't really think of anyone else either.

[Tobias Funke]

She did enough by spending the majority of the year out the country.

That's just what i think though

[Cianyx]

Well, I think the best way to decide is to list all the Pros and Cons of the award, and use that as a yardstick in deciding whether she deserves it or not. Right now, I've got nothing for both

[iffets12345]

I don't find her an inspiration. I mean what she did was great but we had to rescue her in the first place...I think it should go to someone who benefits the community as a whole and not just doing something that she wanted to do which really only benefited her and no one else...where as a young person helping community would be helping more people

Yea, I looked up the other nominees and they do community work or something to benefit others, even the cancer survivor.

[Eriny]

She's a rich kid who got a year off from life to sale around the world in her yacht, hardly deserving. Instead of setting up help for the needy, I think I'll just get daddy to buy me a yacht...

This! She's being rewarded because she has rich parents.

Besides, why would you want to sail around the world? It seems more sensible to get an airline ticket.

[iffets12345]

Watched 7pm today, some guy jet skiing across rural victoria or something with cystic fibrosis, but he did it with the intention of getting people to sign an organ donor sheet.

[MuggedByReality]

She's a rich kid who got a year off from life to sale around the world in her yacht, hardly deserving. Instead of setting up help for the needy, I think I'll just get daddy to buy me a yacht...

This! She's being rewarded because she has rich parents.

Besides, why would you want to sail around the world? It seems more sensible to get an airline ticket.

So having rich parents automatically confers on you exceptional self-possession, courage and skill?
  
 And as for your second point, well...I think you're right. I travelled on a ferry across the English Channel last month and I think that's just as impressive as having swam across. More impressive, indeed, as I got there faster than the fastest Channel swimmer. I think I deserve a medal.


 Seriously, I don't know how someone as intelligent as you can come up with such asinine comments

[Eriny]

What? Putting in a face doesn't make it less offensive to call my comments asinine. It's the equivalent of 'no offence but...'

I don't know anything about sailing, but I do know it's expensive and that there are many people who couldn't do it not because they are less skilled/courageous but because they didn't cultivate the skill at some country club. I don't think of her as courageous because it didn't really benefit anyone. I'm not also not in a position to judge on skill but didn't she almost get hit by some giant boat early on? I mean, sure, it's cool that she wanted to sail around the world and did, but seriously? Australian of the year? I don't find spending so much time and money on a freaking boat very impressive.

And yes, in terms of actually getting to see the world and doing something that has an actual point to it other than to say 'I'm the youngest person to have done this thing', flying around the world is a more impressive thing to do.

I honestly do not understand why we reward people so much just because they're reasonably adept at something sporty. It's just so pointless! We should be rewarding researchers or people actually out there trying to change the world.