who are we to help someone who is drowning in the ocean? it's their life (which, imo, they have set up to fail very quickly). It's their battle to fight, and right now, they're doing nothing. The only thing you can do is give them a panphlet about water safety. cough cough
lmao
Anyways, the difference being that the person in the ocean hasn't had the chance to say how he/she feels. If he/she wants to drown, then let em. If not, throw them the life float. (of coarse, people are too nice to just let he/she drown, and would intervene forcefully.) The girl has been offered help (the life float), and so far she hasn't done anything with it. Eventually people probably will forcefully intervene, but until then...
The second part of your post I agree with, though. =]