maddy and the publics reaction...

[joko]

i have never known such a huge reaction to something like this - it seems to be almost global, with everyone pulling together and making an effort - no matter how small.

does this signal a change in attitudes towards criminal behaviour?
everyone has always abhorred these sorts of crimes, but mostly it is left to the police, family, and perhaps immediate locals to deal with
is it a new sense of power that people are getting so involved and being pro-active, rather than thinking of it as somebody elses problem?
are people sick of sitting back and doing nothing, and have decided enoughs enough and pulling out all the stops?
or is it a feeling of helplessness and the desire to at least have done ''your bit'' in helping find her?

is it down to technology?
that we know feel able to contact thosands at the click of a button?
i have had picture, stars, messages to forward on my phone, email, myspace etc, people are making posters, they are changing their online avatars to missing posters etc
why is this case different?
is the ''spririt of the blitz'' back in our society?

what are your thoughts?

[Meg888]

I agree, and yes i think it is because people are sick of sitting around. We have a large tree in our local shopping centre and it's covered in yellow ribbons which people have been attaching to remember her. A case like this does bring out the best in the majority of us. The last case i remember getting this much coverage, although not as much by way of rewards and internet publicity was Holly and Jessica from Soham. Everyone got involved there too. I just hope Maddy & her parents have a better outcome.

[4getmenot]

I think the publics reaction just boils down to it being a helpless little girl that never asked for it.

[Miss Inquiry]

I was watching question time last night, someone asked a similar question, but looked at the comparison between Alan Johnson (BBC reporter) and Maddie's plights in the media, it was his 45'th birthday yesterday and the media reactions are totally different to her birthday last Saturday. It's very interesting to watch.

Another question raised was that of class, if Maddies parents had been from a lower class, would social services be involved? And would there be less media interest....

Very interesting yet fascinating questions!

[redcrx]

were Holly and Jessicas parents rich or poor? did they own their own house or rent from council? what benefits were they on? Anyone know? I certainly didnt ask or care what financial situation their parents were in when they went missing and i cant see how it would make a difference.

Maddy is an innocent party in this, if people can do anything, even just forwarding and email or text to anyone they can in the hope that someone somewhere has some info then i think thats great and shouldnt need to be analised.

I may never have been to portugal, never known her or her family but I can do my bit and hope that shes found safe and well soon.Technology just makes it easier for people to pass on the info

[Miss Inquiry]

Redcrx - I know it makes no difference at all when a little girl is missing, and it's absolutely heartbreaking. But I do honestly think that the media portrayal would have been different if they were not doctors, if it had been thoes chavvy women who filmed thier young kids fighting a few weeks ago it would be a totally different story.

[Reverandfunk]

I know I'll probably get shot down in flames, but could someone expalin to me what pinning yellow ribbons on a tree is going to help? Footballers wearing t shirts does what exactly?

I know people will say it raises the profile but it aint helping find her is it. If someone would like to tell me exactly what I can do some 2000 miles away to ensure she is returned safely then please do.

Are we going to have the same response the next time a child goes missing? No

Lobbying MP's does what exactly?

[fine,thanks]

the whole scenario is very similar to the death of diana, where people allowed themselves to grieve for a person they mostly didnt know, the amount of publicity regarding this sad event is astounding considering children are being murdered on a daily basis in other countries in the name of war ! would ordinary joe and his wife be getting this publicity, ask ypourself this question what if the parent who went to the tapas bar was a lone parent, ?

[4getmenot]

Its to keep her in the news. It may not help find her but it keeps us thinking rev. Because unfortunately soon it may all be old news.

[4getmenot]

I never mourned over Diane. You're right we dont know this little girl but we all have children, nieces or nephews, our friends have little ones. and even the toughest person would surely be touched by this. Dont think you can compare the disappearance of a young innocent child to the death of Diane.

[fine,thanks]

im not comparing them 4 get, im comparing the reaction of the public.

[Reverandfunk]

Well hello 4get lol

Point is the first 24-48 hours of the case were the most crucial and people sending e mails in the UK does jack sh*t to help. If she is alive her hair will be a different colour and her appearance changed and I bet you would walk past her in the street and not recognise her.

[4getmenot]

yes I'm and saying that there shouldnt be that reaction as totally different. Wasnt saying you were comparing, was saying public shouldnt have reacted that way to Diane :-)

[4getmenot]

yes you're right rev, but if it gives people hope then thats what they do. Like praying to God really. Some reassurance something is still being done.

[Reverandfunk]

Just can't get my head around how people equate building little shrines and crying to helping a police investigation. Anyway im off 4get, have a good weeked and chat 2 u next week ;-0 gggrrrr

[Miss Inquiry]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question40 8716.html

Similar thread focuing on the same issues running in the News section @ the moment.

[4getmenot]

see you soon rev, have fun tonight :-)

[joko]

redcrx - no-one is denying she is an innocent little girl and doesn't deserve what happened to her - but i have asked a question - if you don't like it, don't answer it.

my question is about the points i raised, about the behavious of the public and what it represents in society - not about how sad it all is.

my point is, never has the public pulled together in this way before over a crime - my questions is - is this a shift in the way the public feel about crime, and what they are prepared to do about it?

[4getmenot]

hang on redcrx didnt say she didnt like question. She was answering it. I dont get why you just said that. That was her opinion. and I do agree with alot of what she said.

[4getmenot]

but I do think she was responding more to Miss Inquiry

[joko]

she complains that ''it shouldn't need to be analysed''.

maybe i have misread her, but it seems she is affronted by my post, as though i am suggesting people do nothing, or that the people that want to help are somehow wrong...?

i am entitled to ask a question - about the publics reaction, not about maddie herself - without it turning into an over emotional ''ohh just help find maddie!!" thread, which i sort of knew might happen.