Madeleine.......

[Thomzo]

I do feel really sorry for the parents but I agree with the sentiments expressed above. Many, many children go missing all the time. Why is this poor child so special? Maybe the press would like to highlight one other lost child each time they mention Maddie?

Not being a parent I don't know whether I would have left kids alone or not. My gut feeling is that I wouldn't.

I agree with the comment that the media frenzy might well have harmed her chances. I can't help thinking now that the police should be looking for her body stuffed down a well or something. I do hope I'm wrong.

Zoe

[littlebluefish]

Baldowrie wrote:

I also believe, and some or may not like it, that if you take children out/away with you then you don't leave them alone in some hotel room whilst you go out and enjoy yourself with a meal and a drink or two. You at least take advantage of the baby sitting service, take them with you or don't go.

Make of that as you will, but that how I and others feel..some may be afraid to say it

I agree. I'm a little perplexed how a visit to the Pope helps at all but there you go. I feel for the child, but I do think the parents should take some of the blame, and the poor kid is too hot property now.

Am I misremembering or was a woman who left her kid (living on a council estate) done for neglect when the child was abducted?

[Annpan]

It is impossible (for most parents) to stay with their kids 24/ 7 I genuinley don't believe that ANY parent can guarentee that they would not do the same.

There is far too much media attention on it though and, unfortunatley I too believe that this has become "hot propety" ( I don't know if that is the correct phrase, but I think you know what I mean)

[baldowrie]

I can guarantee I would not leave my children in a hotel room alone, particulary so at that age.

[Paddy's mum]

Allthough I feel desperately sad for both the family and the child herself, as well as all children who suffer, I think the media circus is ALREADY having an adverse effect.

I am sure that I am not the only one whose eyes now glaze over, whose hearing tunes the reports out and who skips over any further reporting of the affair.

Because I do that, as a direct result of media over-kill, some vital element or clue that I may hold will never make it to the ears of the police. That is the truly appalling result of the three-ring-circus we are pleased to call the freedom of the British press.

[the.fee.fairy]

Baldowrie wrote:

I also believe, and some or may not like it, that if you take children out/away with you then you don't leave them alone in some hotel room whilst you go out and enjoy yourself with a meal and a drink or two. You at least take advantage of the baby sitting service, take them with you or don't go.

Make of that as you will, but that how I and others feel..some may be afraid to say it

I agree. I'm a little perplexed how a visit to the Pope helps at all but there you go. I feel for the child, but I do think the parents should take some of the blame, and the poor kid is too hot property now.

Am I misremembering or was a woman who left her kid (living on a council estate) done for neglect when the child was abducted?

There was also the kid who was smuggled out of the airport having had her hair cut and dressed like a boy...

[Milims]

I too am perplexed by all the media hype. On the one hand its really good that the message goes out to as many people as possible in as many places as possible so that there is a much chance as possible of Madeline being found - which is a good thing. On the other hand why do we need to know that they went to see the Pope etc? Yes it may be of great comfort to them as believers, but surely its a personal thing not a circus?

We can all make judgements about what we would do in certain circumstances when our children are involved, but I know to my cost that no matter how careful we are we should never believe that it won't happen - because it can and it will and when it does we really have no right to judge.

As does everyone else, I hope for a positive outcome for Madeline and her family and send kind thoughts to them all.