I can't believe I'm reading this!

[mary80]

Are they ever going to stop digging that hole any bigger?

The McCanns now say how they considered taking their three children with them to another restaurant called the Millennium further away, but rejected the idea only because they did not have a buggy, they said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7374225.stm

They considered. How big of them to actually pause before they went and left them there all alone.

[tigerlily11]

I'm not nuts about them and I think they shouldn't have left their kids alone but I wouldn't waste my time sending a card to tell them so. Some people have to much time on their hands.

[sp1814]

You know what?

I have done a whole heap of things in my past which with hindsight I wouldn't have done if I had my time again.

However, I've been lucky - my mistakes, through sheer luck, haven't resulted in anything serious - but they all could've.

Those who wish to continue bashing the McCanns should ask themselves, have they lived a 100% blameless life?

If you can answer 'yes' to this, you'd better contact the Pope. I'm sure he'd like to make you a brand new saint.

[B00]

Rev- to answer your question to me- see SP's reply.

None of us are perfect. I've made mistakes with my own children, no doubt I will continue to do so. Sadly for the McCanns, their thoughtless mistake has devastated their family.

That's why I have total and utter sympathy for them.

[amonty1144]

There but for the grace of god, go a lot of parents. As adults and parents we make decisions and act in ways that sometimes we pay for , for the rest of our lives.
On this occassion and probably many others, they took a chance and it didn't come off.
Should we prosecute every harassed mum or dad who puts the kids to play in the garden, while they do some house work?
Or leave the kids in the house, while they pop to the shop or even send the kid to the shop?
Or leave them in the car at the petrol station?
Or being babysat by grandad, cos lets face it, paedophiles are usually someone you know.
So come off it, they made a mistake, they'll live and probably die with that guilt... but no-one is perfect. Perfect if they weren't attractive middle class professionals, there would be more sympathy for them?

[tigerlily11]

I can see what your saying but some mistakes are just glairng ones that even before hand you know not to make. Thats one of them.
It makes no difference in this case. You can have sympathy for some one without liking them. I sympathize with the loss of someones child because I would know how they feel because I have children of my own and the pain would be teribble, I know because some one I didn't like one bit lost her son in an accident but I still sent her a card telling her I was tinking of her.
But I think going over every little word they say is getting extreme. Which is what the media is doing and the more they do it the more people will get fed up with them and this leads to hating them. But sending a card with all your bad feeling against them is just plain psycotic really.

[jno]

me too, sp1814; I think we - most of us - have to recognise that we all make mistakes with our lives. We're lucky the worst-case scenarios never happened to us, but that doesn't make us superior to those for whom the worst did happen. The guilty people here are the ones who abducted the child. No need to turn our anger at anyone else.

[RevFunk]

Boo I know we all make mistakes

But leaving your kids home alone come on.....

[RevFunk]

Leaving kids in the garden, kitchen, bathroom, in a locked car at the garage, etc etc aint the same as leaving the kids whilst out on the lash and the restaurant was hardley close was it?

Anyone who can possibly think that this is okay needs their head looking at lol

[B00]

for crying out loud!!!

I'm really sick of having to justify my sympathy regarding this story!!

Yes leaving them alone whilst they went for a meal was neglect, they believed their childen would be safe- unless you think they knew their children were in danger but went anyway?? I have never condoned their action.

They themselves have expressed- rightly so- their deep regret at leaving their children.

Why I feel I have to justify my sympathy towards this case totally baffles me.

I'm a parent and so are they- I feel their pain.

[teddybon]

the truth will out. be patient.

[Quinlad]

No-one is saying it's okay. Everyone is saying they made a terrible error.

We're saying that they've been punished for that error in the most horrendous, disproportionate way.

Adding to it is just sickeningly short-sighted.

[B00]

oi, hang on!

I never said I thought that leaving the children alone was ok- did I?

[RevFunk]

I just find it impossible 2 have sympathy for someone who's actions alone resulted in a tradegy.

I wasn't having a go Boo ;-)

Im going out tonight for an hour and half 2 the pub, leaving my three young children all under 4 alone in the house. They find some matches, start a fire etc.

I trust I have your sympathies based on the arguements so far...

[New Judge]

They would attract less opportunities to be slated if they simply kept their heads down and got on with their lives (and, more importantly, devoted themselves completely to their remaining children, allowing them to lead some sort of normal life).

So long as they keep making press statements, contributing to documentaries, and announce that they are writing books about their plight, then they will continue to attract the sort of remarks that may not suit them.

[R1Geezer]

Thing is rev , St Mary et al we've all done things like that but nothing bad happenned, that's what boo is saying.

Come on hand on heart you've never taken a risk? Ever? Left the kids in fron't of the TV whilst mowing the lawn?

Let he is is without sin.........etc

[4gottenabout]

What happened happened, and I bet they are tortured by this all everyday. I agree with BOO its not right but really more should go into helping find the child. We all were quick to have sympathy for Richard Hamond when he crashed, no different he was the one that put himself into that high powered car.

[B00]

I know you weren't Rev, just me being crabby ;-)

And yes, whilst I'd call you for leaving your children alone whilst you were at the pub, I'd have every sympathy for you if they God forbid died as a result of your mistaken belief that they'd be fine. Would you prefer I gloated over your tragedy??

New judge- are you suggesting they forget about Madeliene completely then?

[Quinlad]

New Judge,

Here's the choice:

A) Keep in the public eye, ensuring that your daughter reminds at the forefront of people's minds and is therefore more likely to be found - even if that means people dislike you both.

or

B) Go and grieve in peace and let your daughter slip quietly off the public radar - giving you a life of hollow sympathy.

Tough decision. I think they're doing the brave thing.

[sp1814]

New Judge

My guess (and it's only that) is that the one year anniversary of her disappearance is coming up.

There will inevitably be a lot of media interest, so I guess they thought "Its in our best interests to get our current story out to reduce the amount of speculation that will come out over the next few weeks".

[New Judge]

I don't agree, but there you go.