The creators of This American Life do a nice job with that media(great thing to listen to while you work). The Kaufman's are well spoken and their voices expose their emotions in what must have a nail biter! Plus they producers and speakers, background music, pauses, get you engaged and 'there'.

I think they were smart to choose that venue to address the national media firestorm that oddly latched onto their disaster. It was all about parenting and that really gets the masses involved. George Stephanopolis? Ok, he's not really joiurnalism, but the NYTs, that surprised me. This podcast will be good for those media folks to consider. Plus the Kaufman's own voices are convincing and honest(to me).

Did they make any headway against the non-sailing masses about proper parenting? Maybe a little. The piece did put kids at sea in some perspective in that it's not that unusual. At least they(the masses) got a taste of what is involved when a family decides to cross oceans. Hearing the Kaufman's circumstances, I probably would have bailed at the same time, maybe earlier. I didn't like the sounds of that babies health with their time frame. The rest was doable.

As far as the forums, that's a losing battle! A few old salts will always question the seamanship of the rescuees in these mishaps, no matter what their credentials or experiences are(just think Be Good Too, lightyears ago...).

And as a few have reported, if Eric himself has similarly been critical of others 'seamanship' on the forums, he should wisely stay out of the fray, and consider his former attitude.