Big Brother Psychology

A French fishing vessel reached a remote area in the Indian Ocean on Saturday morning to fetch a stranded 16-year-old California girl who lost contact as she tried to circumnavigate the globe in her yacht.

Abby Sunderland, who is trying to be the world's youngest to sail around the world, lost satellite contact on Thursday and issued a distress call after what appeared to be a rogue wave hit the boat, damaging its communications equipment.

Her brother Zack, who circumnavigated the globe in 2009, becoming the first under 18 to make the trip, recalled his own "rough" journey through the Indian Ocean.

"No one gets out of it without hitting a bit of a rough patch," he said.

"You have to stay up for hours and hours and battle sleep deprivation and storms. ..." he said.

Wonder how many "I told you so's" Abby "S.O.S." Sunderland is going to hear from big bro? I got pissed when I almost lost to my younger brothers in Madden, so I can only imagine how pissed I would be if one of them tried to break a record I set a year earlier.

Once he found out she was alright, the Zack Attack was probably popping champagne like he was Mercury freaking Morris. Love how he even rubbed some salt in the wounds by pretending to be concerned and giving her that condescending "Nice try Sis.. not everyone is good enough to get past the Indian Ocean, don't sweat it."

This is a classic big bro move. Trust me, I have been using this kind of psychological warfare for the better part of 30 years. Nothing pisses off a younger sibling more than when you beat them in a hard fought game but then instead of being ultra competitive, you give them a compliment and act like you're happy they came so close. It gives off the feeling that you were never that worried about them beating you.. and that kills them.

I'm sure The Zack is going to be making up subtle little nicknames like Abby "Sunk"erland that he can jab her with at Thanksgiving, just to make sure everyone knows who's boss. Cannot wait for these two to end up on the Amazing Race, embarassing themselves and Big Larry when they lose in the final to the Hilton sisters.

A little off point, but I also had to point out that Zack's description of the Indian Ocean sounds like every night you spend in Vegas? I don't think I could have summed up a red-bull and vodka induced, all-night, blackout / blackjack binge better than, "No one gets out of it without hitting a bit of a rough patch," and "You have to stay up for hours and hours and battle sleep deprivation and storms"

Props to College Bill for the tip on the article