In England the McCanns would be arrested

[LostPuppy]

Off the bat, I of course hope with all my heart that Madeleine is returned safely

But her "parents" are a disgrace. They left Madeleine and two-year-old twins Sean and Amelie sleeping in the apartment ON THEIR OWN. They had taken turns to return from the restaurant to check on their children.

Now hang on! In this country that is illegal, for very good reason.

Even if they 'checked on them' every five minutes that's plenty of time for one of the kids to wake up and try to go to the toilet and crack it's head open slipping on the bathroom floor, or something equally disastrous. They'd never hear the screaming from a bloody restaurant down the road!

Obviously it's unlikely, but I just cant comprehend the mentality of leaving three children under 3 alone on their own, ever, let alone at night in a foreign country!

I don't think there is anything wrong with the OP expressing her opinion. After all, we do live in a society that allegedly enshrines freedome of speech.

But the OP is wrong in saying they would be arrested - there was a discussion of the legal position in the Times recently.

"trip trap" refers to "who's that trip trapping over my bridge", i.e. troll... I think

Trip trap means it's probably posted by a troll, looking to stir up trouble. If it is, the other posters have certainly given them the satisfaction of a strong reaction!!

I think the problem is that so many people who criticise the McCanns are implying (or stating explicitly) that it was their "fault" that their daughter was abducted or that they "deserved" it. Whatever the rights and wrongs of leaving their children I don't see that it's appropriate to have this discussion for the zillionth time in 2 weeks.

The OP is a man.

"trip trap" means "this poster is being a troll"

I don't think anyone can blame the McCanns any more than they will blame themselves.

There are a lot of people out there who feel the same way, it's true, just read other forums, but I think MNers in general are trying to take a more compassionate view, hence the reaction to the OP.

Don't think they will delete it as it is Lostpuppys opinion as they said on the other thread.

But the OP did not say that, TF.

I agree w/maisiemor, LostPuppy is entirely entitled to her opinion.

And FWIW, she may be right, they could have been in trouble with the law in England for doing what they did - particularly if it was a more than one-off occurance.

It is a sentiment that has been expressed in many other places online.

All this 'delete it because it doesn't sit well with me and I don't like it/agree with it' is getting old.

Rachel already responded to all these requests for deletion on another thread.

As long as it is not personally insulting it is an opinion same an any other.

Expat - I didn't say that the OP said they deserved it. I said that so many people who criticise the McCanns go on to say (implicitly or explicitly) that it was their fault. And I have no doubt at all that many people in other places online have said it.

In any event, I really don't see the point in discussing it yet again.

I'm leaving this thread now. I've got work to do.

Others do, TF. There are many threads on MN which some of us find pointless.

Others don't.

So let's just badger MNHQ to delete them all.

This is my first posting on this subject, I haven't read every response on all the threads, so sorry if this has been said before.

I agree that the opinion of the OP is not going to help anyone or change the tragic situation, but maybe it is a defensive reaction.

It is a such an horrific occurrence, and maybe lashing out at the poor parents is some people's way of trying to reassure themselves that such a thing could not happen to them or their dc.

Just my two pence worth....

It wasn't 'down the road'.

Why not respond sensibly to the OP, instead of shrieking for deletion (which I doubt will happen).

On the legality issue, there's no legal minimum age that a child can be left alone at home, although endangering a child by leaving them unattended is an offence.

There are also hundreds of hotels in the UK that offer babylistening services, similar to that which I understand the McCanns were using.

If I sat in my garden, and my DS got out of his cot and smacked his head - would I hear it if the windows were closed? Probably not. Does that mean I can't go in my garden at night?

Bolleaux, forgot to change back, it's littlelapin.

We've already been through the sitting in the garden after kids have gone to bed scenario.

Different from leaving the building where children are sleeping and going out.

I think the OP has a right to their own opinion, although in this case they are wrong in that the UK law states that it is not illegal to leave a child unattened (although it is illegal to leave them in a situation where harm can come to them - go figure UK laws!) It is illegal in Portugal, however, but the police seem to have take the (correct) compassionate route of seeing what this has cost the McCanns and focusing their time and attention on finding the missing girl rather than playing the blame game.

Personally, i don't think this thread should be deleted - people have a right to free speech and their own opinions. If this thread gets deleted then so should all the other threads on this topic that are filled with mindless speculation and guesses as to what's happene,d why etc and the vilification of (so far) innocent people being made scape goats by the press.

Just my 2 cents.

I doubt it LP, but if you are serious in your view there are umpteen other threads to join. Let's not have yet another one going over the same ground ...

that poor little girl, more likes, IMO.

But why start swearing and name calling, how is that helping? It is entirely up to each individual what they want to read and write about. Whatever happened to "oh, see but that is where you're wrong, there is no law, but feel free to prove me wrong"?

Anyway there is nothing constructive about any of the first 10 replies. They act as if THEY have been attacked in some kind of way.

The OP is offensive because it refers to the parents as 'a disgrace'. Which they are clearly not, they adore that little girl and want her back desperately.

Personally I think they took a big risk leaving kids on a ground floor with an unlocked shutter between them and the world. But they did nothing to deserve what happened.

If they are guilty it is only the guilt of being on holiday, relaxed, having faith that nothing bad will happen. Plus they did what loads of other families who stay there do.

They don't need any kind of punishment, what they're going through is enough. They must have beaten themselves up over this more times than we can think...

Lots of people on here have been called worse for doing far less, IF.

Anyone want a Fruitshoot to take their kids for a snack? How about some formula for your newborn? How about I sell you my buggy complete with sausage rolls?

Yes but have people been called 'a disgrace' when they're going through the worst moment of their life?

I mean, why kick someone when they're as down as they can go?