So with sounding overly harsh the excess of reporting over the abducting of Madeline I find strangely fascinating. 1.3 Million Google hits. 8500 News hits.
I do think it's an absolutely horrific thing for the parents to go through. it''s terrible. But for them. On a global or national scale I don't get how this gets as much coverage as it has. Plus I think the amount of public support from strangers doesn't help. It gives the parents false hope.
I read about a stranger flying out to help. Some women in her 50s. How does this help? If you're not a close friend I can't see this as doing any good.
And as a friend pointed out, how shit must all those parents of "non cute blonde white kids" [or in other words, black] who have gone missing feel?
In fact I think the sheer barrage of pictures of Madeline as a cute blond girl probably don't help either. If I was an abductor I would have cut Madeline's hair and died it brown and put her in boys clothes. Since everyone is looking for a cute girlie kid, this misdirection is only helped by the media.
Like I said, this is truly horrific for the family involved, and was it me I would do everything they were doing. I just don't get how so many people feel connected with this particular instance.
1. Jack
Beats me. People just like to indulge in mass hysteria now and again. They grab for the scantiest connection to what’s going on because it makes them feel important.
Coincidentally, interesting opinion piece I read in the Times this morning saying pretty much the same thing:
I confess: I have not been agonising about Madeleine
2. Adrian
With predictable first comment about the piece, saying that “abductors must love the heartless uncaring author”
3. Jack
Yep. Cause if you don’t feel unrelenting sympathy and heart-rending pain over the fate of someone you didn’t even know existed two weeks ago then you’re no better than the person who took that prettily winsome and ever so photogenic little moppet!
4. razorhead
I have some experience of what they are going through. It is awful, beyond imagination. It is far, far worse than a death.
But. This is pornography. I can’t watch it, I don’t want to watch it. I don’t see how this saturation coverage is helping anyone.
5. ella
I personally find it particularly irritating. I watch/read the news to find out about current affairs not just to focus on one little girl. It is sad that she has been abducted, but everytime I see it in the news I can’t help wonder why her parents weren’t in the house with her even if they were “in eye line” of the place.
I feel no connection with the family at all as I do not know them and have never met them. I hope she is found safe and well but I have no idea why it is worth this much coverage.
6. Tommy
(not sure if my first attempt at posting this went live)
For God’s sake Sevitz, please be careful with lines like: “If I was an abductor I would have cut Madeline’s hair and died it brown and put her in boys clothes. Since everyone is looking for a cute girlie kid, this misdirection is only helped by the media.”
If you ever find yourself in the frame for a wicked deed the redtops are going to have to replace their trousers on an hourly basis as they comb your blog for lines which could sound very creepy out of context. Also the mullet pictures aren’t going to help you.
I do agree with the sentiment though
7. Adrian
Yeah I know. But at least I could sell my story if I make it into the red tops.
And I was just surprised that no one thought that misdirection is easier when the world is telling you too look for a cute blond girl. I mean it’s so blindingly obvious, they better hope for a dumb abductor.
Although sadly after a month, I’d wager she is never found.