Thoughts please.
Madeleine McCann
I'm thinking... 'who?'
Google it.
Awww... I'm feeling lazy. Can't you tell me?
Ahhh... yes. Of course.
I generally don't read the 'popular' news... or watch it on TV. It's chock-full of very depressing items... like this sad story. My theory is you kind of end up being the thing you watch... and I'd rather be happy... and not angry all the time.
If, on the other hand, you can watch/read this stuff and it doesn't affect you... well, you probably need your head examined.
But then after a period of time we desensitise and become immune to these stories. Individually, not just collectively.
It's a real tragedy but there are some things that really bug me about the story. First of all: why all the attention for this one case? What is it about "our Maddy" (less syllables = cute) that makes her much more worth saving than the hundreds of other children missing in the UK*? Is it, perhaps, because she's cute, white and middle class?
Secondly, why all the pointless public sentimentality and wasted money? People putting up "FIND OUT MADDY" posters in local Tescos (in case she swam the channel and got lost in the frozen peas section), people pouring their hearts out in YouTube "tributes" and sky news having an entire section** above 'world news', 'business' and 'politics' dedicated to Maddy news, the sun reporting "NOTHING TO REPORT. PICTURES OF THE McCANNS CRYING" every single f**king day... what use is any of it?
The 2.5m "award" is just grim. 2.5m is a lot of money, people who are unaware. As I see it, there are two kind of people who this award would persuade; a witness, who, with all this coverage, hopefully wouldn't need 2.5m to come forward by now. And someone who was connected with the abduction, who would never in their right mind think about exposing themselves, they're in too deep now. Where did this money come from? 2.5m could save a whole lot of children in Africa, guaranteed, as opposed to a slim to none chance of finding a girl now missing for 50 days. Instead it's been spent on funding the parents' trips around europe, meeting the pope and doing interviews saying how they're "optimistic". I hope i'd be optimistic after 50 days of no news.
I found it horrible how the Portuguese police were mocked by shitty tabloids. Just because they believe in keeping a suspect's details private it doesn't mean that they're hampering the investigation. Somehow it's a lot different for a child to go missing in a foreign country than to go missing here because THE PORTUGUESE PAEDOPHILES HAVE MAGIC DISAPPEARING POWERS - HERE'S A MAN WHO WAS ON THE SAME BEACH AS SEVERAL CHILDREN, WE *CAN* REPORT THAT HE "HAD CHILLING EYEBROWS" AND "A SHIFTY WALK". The Sun and its ilk don't give a shit whether Maddy is found alive or dead, but it knows its readers do. Either way it'll sell issues.
* http://missingkids.co.uk/
** http://news.sky.com/skynews/madeleine
Well said. I love how there's today "possible sightings" of the kid in Malta, but the parents "are not focusing on the new claims". ?!?!!?!??????!!!! Why? Seriously. A possible lead, and they're not interested? Only answer is that they are responsible. I just think it's so rich how they're using it as an excuse to jet across Europe, as if she's actually left the country. Stupid, stupid people. The more it's in the news, the less I care, and if that makes me heartless then so be it. The parents, I have negative sympathy for. They're f**king stupid. End of. Her, well, I hope for her sake she's found alive. But that's bollocks. It's only waiting time before her rotting corpse is discovered in a shallow grave. Possibly in her parents' back garden back here in Blighty...
Quote: Aaron @ June 22, 2007, 8:23 AMBut then after a period of time we desensitise and become immune to these stories. Individually, not just collectively.
I don't want to end up like that either.
Awww, but it's fun!
LOL!
I was questioned by a friend the other day, regarding my dislike (and disrespect generally) of the 'news'. He asked me how I was supposed to know anything, if I didn't watch TV or read the newspapers.
Idiot.
i agree.
i was explaining to someone the other day about all the things that have worried people over the years. things that were going to destroy us...bird flu, immigration, BSE, the Russians, terrorists, salmonella in eggs etc etc etc. if i'd never read a paper or watched news on tv or radio then i would have been blissfully igonorant of all of them and my life would not have altered one bit.
i keep meaning to avoid all news type outlets. but then i get bored and forget my vows.
I agree with most of what has been said and have to agree that the parents were completely mad to go dining while leaving the room. Apparently the patio doors at the back were actually left un-locked! - I mean, how irresponsible can you get?
However, I have a 3 year old boy and since becoming a parent see things from other perspectives than perhaps I once used to or indeed some of the non-daddys/mummys in the forum. I of course think "what if that was my wee boy?" which really brings out the emotions. Before becoming a 'daddy' I would see stories like this or kids being abused or kids in hospital with terrible illnesses/disabilities and think how awful it was but NOW, well now I end up in tears in front of the TV if I don't control myself - it really does change you totally and the way you view things.
If it was my wee boy I couldn't give two flying ones what anyone thinks of my 'jet-setting' or the amount of coverage it was getting. I seriously doubt they are enjoying their world-wide tour. I would be delighted that my case was getting so much coverage even if they are for the wrong reasons as I would just want my little boy back no matter what the cost to anyone elses feelings. Surely people can see that element and understand it? I'm not saying it's right as I personally find it quite uncomfortable the amount of media coverage that has been given and if I was a parent of another missing toddler and saw the coverage this was getting would be pretty angry about it all.
As for 'The Sun and its ilk don't give a shit whether Maddy is found alive or dead, but it knows its readers do. Either way it'll sell issues.' I think the Sun and its ilk would be happier than most - just think of the story that would make, the extra issues that would be sold, the 'exclusives' they could have, the extracts from a book they will inevitably end up with.
All I'm saying here is don't be too harsh - if all this extra shit that is going on no matter how weird/bad/wrong it is helps get this little girl back then in my opinion it is worth it all.
Quote: Retinend @ June 22, 2007, 8:24 AMIt's a real tragedy but there are some things that really bug me about the story. First of all: why all the attention for this one case? What is it about "our Maddy" (less syllables = cute) that makes her much more worth saving than the hundreds of other children missing in the UK*? Is it, perhaps, because she's cute, white and middle class?
Secondly, why all the pointless public sentimentality and wasted money? People putting up "FIND OUT MADDY" posters in local Tescos (in case she swam the channel and got lost in the frozen peas section), people pouring their hearts out in YouTube "tributes" and sky news having an entire section** above 'world news', 'business' and 'politics' dedicated to Maddy news, the sun reporting "NOTHING TO REPORT. PICTURES OF THE McCANNS CRYING" every single f**king day... what use is any of it?
The 2.5m "award" is just grim. 2.5m is a lot of money, people who are unaware. As I see it, there are two kind of people who this award would persuade; a witness, who, with all this coverage, hopefully wouldn't need 2.5m to come forward by now. And someone who was connected with the abduction, who would never in their right mind think about exposing themselves, they're in too deep now. Where did this money come from? 2.5m could save a whole lot of children in Africa, guaranteed, as opposed to a slim to none chance of finding a girl now missing for 50 days. Instead it's been spent on funding the parents' trips around europe, meeting the pope and doing interviews saying how they're "optimistic". I hope i'd be optimistic after 50 days of no news.
I found it horrible how the Portuguese police were mocked by shitty tabloids. Just because they believe in keeping a suspect's details private it doesn't mean that they're hampering the investigation. Somehow it's a lot different for a child to go missing in a foreign country than to go missing here because THE PORTUGUESE PAEDOPHILES HAVE MAGIC DISAPPEARING POWERS - HERE'S A MAN WHO WAS ON THE SAME BEACH AS SEVERAL CHILDREN, WE *CAN* REPORT THAT HE "HAD CHILLING EYEBROWS" AND "A SHIFTY WALK". The Sun and its ilk don't give a shit whether Maddy is found alive or dead, but it knows its readers do. Either way it'll sell issues.* http://missingkids.co.uk/
** http://news.sky.com/skynews/madeleine
he took the words out of my mouth.
It's the same as reporting on starving children in africa thousands of them die but they aren't "cute" enough so we only bother once a year to do anything about it.
PS - I'm not heartless it's just a bit of an injustice to thousands of other suffering out there
well said andy. .
Quote: Andy W. @ June 22, 2007, 10:34 AMI agree with most of what has been said and have to agree that the parents were completely mad to go dining while leaving the room. Apparently the patio doors at the back were actually left un-locked! - I mean, how irresponsible can you get?
The scariest thing is that these parents are meant to be doctors.