Madeleine McCann

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Xaccers

Oh dear:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/education/6720661.stm

That actually worries me. We are breeding children that may well have trouble coping with problems in the future.

I can only speak from experience, but there seems to be a general sort of paranoia around, that is largely created by the media. My cousin, for instance, is convinced that she needs to take her children everywhere (even to school and back) in her 4x4, and if she or her children ever come to London, she will be blown up by any of the hundreds of Muslim terrorists we apparently have here. This is despite the fact that I can count the number of bombings that have occured in London in the last 30 years on my fingers.

Note, I am not saying that we don't have Paedophiles in this country (or terrorists, be they muslim or something else), it's just that I don't think it's as widespread as the media makes out.

and this is on topic how? Just because people are being paranoid means we should all change and leave 3 children under 4 on their own without proper supervision while we go out and have dinner???

[Xaccers]

20 or 30 years ago, many parents thought nothing of leaving their children sleeping at home, while they went for a dinner party around a neighbour's house, without worrying about checking on them at all.
It's interesting how times have changed, especially when those children who were left and unharmed by such, now are too paranoid to even let their children cross the road before they've hit puberty.

I also remember stories of children left alone burning to death in a fire. Maybe no more are carried off now but the risks are still the same

[Xaccers]

I also remember stories about children burning to death in fires at home while their parents were also in the house.

I also know kids who aren't allowed to cook for themselves, cross the road, go outside to play, and they are very sorry children indeed, unable to think for themselves, unable to use their imagination, interested in only sitting infront of the TV or computer, over weight, unable to cope with new situations, heck one of them still wet the bed until he was 14!

well nothing that has been said in this thread has made me even consider changing my view. The part on crimewatch said nothing basically. No one yet has displayed anything to make me even flicker on my stance so Im not gonna shift. Im sure you feel the same so its an impasse

Im still talking about leaving 3 children under 4 on their own without proper supervision, not about children wrapped in cotton wool

Originally Posted by Xaccers

...I also know kids who aren't allowed to cook for themselves, cross the road, go outside to play, and they are very sorry children indeed, unable to think for themselves, unable to use their imagination, interested in only sitting infront of the TV or computer, over weight, unable to cope with new situations, heck one of them still wet the bed until he was 14!

I agree with a lot of what you are saying about older children, but I don't see how it is relevant in this case. Perhaps many parents who wouldn't dream of leaving 2 and 3 year olds unattended for X amount of time, would give them the freedom you talk about when they are a few years older. I think there are 2 different issues here.

---------- Post added at 22:28 ---------- Previous post was at 22:26 ----------

Originally Posted by zinglebarb

...The part on crimewatch said nothing basically...

I blinked & missed it!

[budwieser]

Today on the radio, it was mentioned that some bloke in spain had information about the whereabouts of the little girl.

so unless this went public after the law had given them the knock then they will be on their toes now. Maybe thats what the law have done thought they may make a move and give themselves away . But I just hope some good comes from it

[Ramrod]

link

I cant see why this is publicised before investigations

The more I read about this, & the more press conferences & interviews the McCann’s give, the more uneasy I feel towards them. Sorry to harp on about this, but 2 more interviews & 2 more “we checked them regularly� statements. Actually in the German news conference, Kate McCann says “we checked them very, very regularly�, as if emphasizing it makes a difference!

What I find more concerning is that they said that they could see their apartment from the Tapas bar. This has now shown to be impossible. Their apartment was outside the holiday complex in a public road. There is a high concrete wall surrounding the complex. The McCann’s apartment was on the ground floor, obscured by the wall and high bushes. To get to their apartment, they would have to leave the complex & walk down 2 public roads.

So they left their children alone, in a ground floor apartment they could not see, with the french windows unlocked, in a street accessible to any member of the general public. Even worse, the rear of the apartment backed onto a car park. Quick & easy getaway?

[Rockabilly Spike]

I hate to trivialise a life here but basically, if you dont watch yer stuff, some f**ker will nick it.
Car
keys
bike
CHILDREN.

they didnt keep watch.
they only have themselves to blame and personally i'd like to see them charged wth negligence.

kids are full time.
if you want time off, you get a babysitter and DO NOT leave it to chance while you have some 'us time'.

I wonder what the public reaction would be if the couple were dodgy scallies from a council estate...

Originally Posted by Rockabilly Spike

I hate to trivialise a life here but basically, if you dont watch yer stuff, some f**ker will nick it.
Car
keys
bike
CHILDREN...

Yep.

Would they have left a suitcase with 10 grand inside, lying on a bed in an unlocked apartment? I don't think so.

[peanut]

Originally Posted by XFS03

Yep.

Would they have left a suitcase with 10 grand inside, lying on a bed in an unlocked apartment? I don't think so.

You can't argue with that.

When the German reporter spoke up last week, I for one said well someone has to say it/mention it, yet the media called it a disgrace. It's clearly biased towards the subject.