Crimewatch - Madeleine McCann

[d000hg]

They are responsible for some blame.



But they left the children alone, so the kidnapper is ultimately to blame but, the parents are also responsible for what happened.

Indeed, as legal guardians they have some responsibility but I am way more on the side "terrible things happen" than "they are terrible people".

I suppose we'll all have to agree to disagree.

[NotAllThere]

Yes, they are at a fault.

However, people who think that because the parents are at fault that justifies pouring bile and scorn on them and intimating that they somehow deserve it, are vile, self-righteous s, who are probably guilty of far worst things themselves, and use these incidents to prop-up their own pitiful self-image.

Where the parents are to be applauded is keeping the investigation going. Perhaps if the parents of Natasha Kampusch had shown the same resilience and tenacity, she could have been rescued earlier.

btw - don't worry. Russell doesn't really think these things. In fact, he barely things at all. He's just trying to get a reaction.

[Hairy]

Whenever or wherever this subject comes up within minutes people will start giving it "oh I would have never done that, how could they" and it is always most vocal by people who don't square up to having the perfect family like they did.

The subject of what people do with there own children is unnecessary to the conversation but it always gets swung that way for a reason. I think it is a more natural reaction to be saying "oh that is terrible" rather than the "it is their own fault"

You're clearly insane. This about them having made a piss poor decision, that not many sane people would have made. The subject of what others would, or wouldn't have done, is central to the argument, for if they stayed in with their kids it wouldn't have happened.

Which I haven't seen anyone disputing. That's not what we're discussing.

Also, since when is going out to dinner "going on the lash"? I suppose this is just a deliberate attempt to make them out as monsters, slamming shots and probably sporting dozens of tattoos paid for with benefits money, rather than a middle-class couple out for dinner and a drink.

They admitted drinking too much. Just because they're middle class, doesn't mean they can't get on the lash, for its an expression meaning, more than anything, going out and drinking to much which, iirc, they have.

[MyUserName]

If there hadn't been a sicko on the loose, it wouldn't have happened either. Clearly he/she is to blame.

Obviously, no one is arguing that.

However, if you think it is acceptable or standard practice to leave children that age alone and leave the building in a foreign country to have a night out then you are very much in the minority. I have a 4 year old and a 2 year old. They are escorted everywhere and the furthest I have ever gone out of the house when there were no other adults with them is to the bins.

Leaving them unsupervised in a foreign country in a strange hotel is insane. Ignoring the fact that there might be an opportunistic lunatic around I would be worried that they might wake up frightened after a nightmare, wonder around and hurt themselves, call me and be frightened when I did not answer etc. Being that far away from a child that age is selfish and irresponsible and I find it unlikely that they did not know that.

[d000hg]

They admitted drinking too much. Just because they're middle class, doesn't mean they can't get on the lash, for its an expression meaning, more than anything, going out and drinking to much which, iirc, they have.

"Too much" could be two large glasses of wine. You know full well what "on the lash" means, either make a proper argument or stop just twisting words for no purpose in what is a serious discussion.

[minestrone]

You're full of crap.

Maybe but did anyone go over the Moors murderers victims families with such angst? surely their children were unsupervised, or April Jones' family?

All abducted children get taken when unsupervised and it happens quite often but the McCanns get all the grief whilst other parents of abducted children don't. I think people have to think about how they feel and why and I think it has a lot to do with parenting insecurity.

[eek]

Leaving them unsupervised in a foreign country in a strange hotel is insane.

It wasn't a hotel it was an self-contained apartment. I could almost understand the idea of leaving them in a hotel room alone as there are staff by the main door.

[eek]

Maybe but did anyone go over the Moors murderers victims families with such angst? surely their children were unsupervised, or April Jones' family?

Yes but their parents didn't have the contacts, photogenic wife and the sob story....

[d000hg]

You're full of crap.

I think he's got a point. How much of this thread is spent talking about how terrible it is for the kid, and how much is spent assigning blame and defending how we would never do anything like this?

[mudskipper]

IMO, the McCanns are not responsible for what happened. If Maddy had been left alone and fallen off the balcony, they would have been responsible, but she was abducted by a sicko, therefore it is the sicko that is responsible.

We all make judgements about what we think is safe for our kids. Some parents allow kids to walk to school at six, others won't allow it at 11. Plenty of parents go to parties and put the kids to bed upstairs when there's lots of strangers around, then hang out in the garden getting pissed. Some will put the kids to bed then go to the next door neighbours for a drink, popping back from time to time. In a self-contained holiday complex, it's possible that leaving the kids in an apartment a short distance away felt like a safe thing to do, especially if "everyone" was doing it. I've no doubt they've beaten themselves up about it a million times since.