Why is this man being celebrated?

[fizzywidget]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cq8rz38jr50go

so when his child was 8 years old he decided to leave the country and undertake a 28 year walk around the world, setting himself a rule that he couldn’t come back to the UK until he’d completed it, and we’ve celebrating him why?

He didn't try though did he? And that's Belfast, there's a lot beyond Belfast.

"It's not as glorious as it looks."

Doesn't look fucking glorious to me. Who was supporting his child while he was on a 28 year jolly? Wanker.

The man in this article has not said he has PTSD.

If he does it might help to explain his choices (extreme avoidance).

It would not absolve him of his responsibilities as a parent. It would not explain his choice to rigidly stick to his self imposed rules he made for himself. It would not explain living in Mexico rather than coming home.

What achievement?

He headed off on a round the world trip for almost 30 years, half of which was spent on holiday in Mexico, didn't work a day in his life and abandoned his child.

For what? If a woman headed off leaving an 8 yr old to do the same you think what? She'd be lauded?

I agree. The map of his journey is incredible. If he swam the English channel, did he swim all the other seas? I was thinking the Artic one would be tricky.

Mentally he obviously has a very different way of thinking and dealing with things.

Not easy for his family, but people turn to many ways of coping. Potentially people who find it difficult to cope decide it is better for family if they stay offside. Who knows. The moral maze.

A very small extract from his Wikipedia page:

On 1 November 1998, Bushby set off from Punta Arenas, Chile. His route through South America took him through Argentina, Peru, Ecuador, and Colombia. Entering Central America required Bushby to cross the inhospitable Darién Gap. Many locals expected him to be killed or abducted by the paramilitary Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which viewed all foreigners as potentially part of the U.S.-backed Plan Colombia initiative. Bushby successfully evaded FARC guerillas and entered Panama in February 2001, although he spent 18 days in a jail in Metetí for entering the country without a visa.

For a man with PTSD following years in service? Putting himself knowingly in further danger (alone with no backup) and potentially leaving his child fatherless?

Not to mention the amount of time and money spent by well meaning sponsors and various government officials working on his behalf to secure visas for him.

Except that's no how he's playing it is it? He's not saying he left for their good, he's saying he gave them.no.thought because 'family will always be there's he's devaluing their very existence

Don't join the military and don'twrry and procreate with men who do is the take home there

Omg I thought it was a bit out there but each to their own. This information changes EVERYTHING! Like a child that had a massive strop and just said NO! Imagine the mother did this?!? Can only imagine the headlines!!!

He has written a book. It’s a public article. It’s a thread about feminist issues and the double standards women live under. I am sharing my opinions on this. I am not gossiping. I don’t gossip. I have made some guesses about this man but have been very clear that they are just that. Educated guesses that I don’t know are facts.

Children don't choose abusive families, wives don't choose to be beaten, joining the military is a choice

I did say he seems to have a very different way of thinking about things.

Maybe he just is someone not built to settle down.

Hmm. What a peach of a man.

And yet, as I said in my last post, none of this adds anything to the discussion about men abandoning their families to pursue fixations, passions, careers and how much resentment that causes for women who have been socialised, shamed, had their biology exploited and opportunities curtailed so that invariably men can walk away knowing someone will be responsible and women cannot.

I do wonder whether more women would be adventurers or similar if we lived in a more matriarchal society. I think this kind of behaviour is interesting, and has a perspective to offer the rest of us (if you read the guardian article he talks about how much his perspective on humanity as whole changed as a result). I also think it's worth acknowledging it's only possible with often invisible support and consequences.

But he could have got a job in, say, Liverpool, paid child support and maintained contact with his son. An ex-paratrooper would presumably have marketable skills.

You never hear of women doing it...

This NICU saved peters life, we're so grateful, he's midcally brittle, been home 2 weeks and still on constant oxygen so I'm training to do base camp at Everest to save money for at Aloysius hospital, it does mean we've had to hire day and night nannies but the important things is showing our appreciation for wee Paul
.. sorry Peter....

Probably shouldn't have gotten married and had a baby should he

I thought exactly the same thing. If he had been a woman he would have been regarded as neglectful.

Agree

A BBC news article would have said that ?

I think an article like this could add in a challenge

‘Some people have criticised X for Y, their response is …’

"WE" are celebrating. I hadn't heard of him and wouldn't have known him from Adam @fizzywidget.

So then why aren't we talking about that 😂

Exactly!

All the people on here using NI as an excuse for why this man seemingly couldn't live near or visit his child within a region of the UK but was able to embark on a dangerous world trek.

Are we supposed to believe that was safer for him?? Crossing dangerous jungle, swimming hours to cross seas, arctic regions. So a serviceman couldnt fly to Belfast or bring his child to England for visits but could live alongside Colombian FARC guerilla and Mexican drug trafficking gangs? A man powerful and fearless enough to do all that but couldn't take his kid to Portrush for an ice cream?

Listen to what you are saying before you quote one throwaway line in a Guardian article. Fact check it. The evidence doesn't point to a blanket ban on servicemen living or visiting NI. There was none. Maybe his regiment advised him personally for some reason but thats not the same as banning him. And he wasn't prevented when his service ended.

Stop pointing at the people of NI and examine more about this man. His personality, relationship breakdown, mental health whatever.

His choices were his own.

I don't think the news report is celebratory, merely factual.