The hysterical coverage is driving me mad!

If the parents can't be bothered to look after their children (so common these days) why should the rest of us be remotely interested?

(I fully understand why the Portugeues police don;t seem to be showing much interest).

I know what you mean ITK, though you're (as usual) pushing the argument further than it should go.

There comes a point where genuine sympathy turns to media gratification and moves into car crash coverage, gawping at disaster, lust for blood and a general feeling of "thank God it's not me".

The live coverage of the family leaving the apartment ("the mother clutching her pink toy") was truly intrusive.

JK2006 wrote:
I know what you mean ITK, though you're (as usual) pushing the argument further than it should go.


I couldn't even read my horoscrope this morning - http://www.cainer.com/ - without this child gawping down on me.

The situation doesn`t bare thinking about and I am very wary of critiscising anyone in this crisis.
It took me a very long time to even pluck up courage to employ a babysitter to go out for a meal, which I could not enjoy for worry about the toddler at home.
The same applied when I was away at work, my mind was allways somewhere else.
And that`s with the use of paid professional childcare.
I do hope I have made my point with subtlety, the parents don`t need to keep hearing varying ways that this point will be pushed at them by the media, I fear the point will turn venomous at some time.
Deepest sympathies.

Every single day - without exception - hundreds (possibly thousands) of children die through no fault of their own (and certainly no fault of their parents) through war, famine, natural diaster, disease (which could often so easily be cured) etc etc.

MY sympathies are with them.

Yes, a bit of sensitivity costs nothing.

So you don't have any sympathy for the little girl because of your criticism of the parents levels of care? This little girl is just as worthy of your sympathy as any other child who suffers.

I hope she is ok.

I think everyone has sympathy for the poor little girl Godiver, you can`t hug a missing person and you can`t hug a family in turmoil on a message board with simple words.

Godiver wrote:
So you don't have any sympathy for the little girl because of your criticism of the parents levels of care? This little girl is just as worthy of your sympathy as any other child who suffers.

I hope she is ok.

Look - we all know she's not OK (I'm not up to date with the News as I switch the story off every time it comes on) - but just like Sarah Payne, would be safe and alive today if only her parents could be bothered to look after her !

If you don't want to hear anymore about it why did you post about it. You must have known it would cause a debate that would involve you for another day at least?

I agree with your points about the media but i'm struggling to understand your lack of compassion. I also hope that you are wrong with your rather sweeping statement regarding her welfare.

I didn't start this post and i'm not looking to give hugs to anyone, i just hope that i hear some good news in the next day or so. I make no apologies for that.

Jon Gaunt in The Sun today makes the same point you do ITK - my God, you're turning into a Sun columnist!

JK2006 wrote:
Jon Gaunt in The Sun today makes the same point you do ITK - my God, you're turning into a Sun columnist!

I would reply, JK, but am rather busy coming up with salacious stories !

Godiver wrote:
If you don't want to hear anymore about it why did you post about it. You must have known it would cause a debate that would involve you for another day at least?

I agree with your points about the media but i'm struggling to understand your lack of compassion. I also hope that you are wrong with your rather sweeping statement regarding her welfare.

I didn't start this post and i'm not looking to give hugs to anyone, i just hope that i hear some good news in the next day or so. I make no apologies for that.

Hi Godiver

I'm not unsympathetic towards the girl (for what good any sympathy from me might do!) - just rather nauseated by the media and their attitude.

I find the hysterical coverage over the top (I've now seen the mother make 2 "appeals" - and I'm trying to avoid the story !)

I also find it a bit sickening, that everyone goes "ahhh" over this one girl (because she's being force-fed down your throats?) when that very same "audience" allows around 100,000 abortions a year. Where is the "decency" in that, may I ask?

I always try and "read behind the story" rather than simply accept what we are told (everyone has an agenda).

Regarding her welfare - it's now been, what 5/6 days? Your optimism is to be admired, but whatever happens the media will get another 5/6 days out of it !

OK I reckon that's quite enough on this for the moment, thank you all.