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Madeleine McCann info shown before Shrek, anyone else cross about this?

1007 replies

WideWebWitch · 01/07/2007 20:00

I was. I have chosen NOT to tell my nearly 4yo about this. I haven't discussed it in detail with 9yo ds either I CHOOSE not to put the news on in our house. I really resent this being shoved at my children before a U cert movie. Completely inappropriate imo.

OP posts:
binkleandflip · 03/07/2007 12:11

Well said Bart

KerryMum · 03/07/2007 12:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

elesbelles · 03/07/2007 12:12

calm bart calm...deep breaths

elesbelles · 03/07/2007 12:13

does anyone 'know' whatsamiss? i can only find this post.

Marina · 03/07/2007 12:14

My son is eight. He was worried enough about the "child snatched asleep in holiday accommodation" aspect of the McCann case for it to affect his ability to sleep in his own room on our recent holiday whatsamiss. All the obvious reassurance in the world about us being in the next room in our locked caravan did not stop his subconscious from waking him nightly. The cinema ad does not say, "while her parents were not in the flat".
Whatsamiss, what happened to Madeleine MCann actually has zero connection to basic commonsense about stranger danger. The "come and see my puppies" scenario has no bearing on concerns about this ad's potential to disturb children (not just toddlers) who cannot actually do anything to help the McCann family.

whatsamiss · 03/07/2007 12:18

Bartholomewgook, I was not refering to the madeleine case with my own child, just a general thing I say with her. And as she watches news but does not seem to pay attention to it much and she cannot talk I will have to wait till shes older for the questions to start.

But told these things regularly, she will grow up being worldly wise and not totally trusting like I was brought up to be, It almost recked my life.

And please do not shout at me, do I shout at you?

Bartholomewgook · 03/07/2007 12:20

Well we are talking about a specific case here and the fact that there is an advertisement before a U classified film. We are not talking about general 'stranger danger' are we?!

whatsamiss · 03/07/2007 12:24

Its about being brought up to be aware of these things. Children being upset is proof thast they have not been exposed to this sort of thing often enough.

Elesbelles do you mind having the courtesy of not talking about me as if im not in the room. What do you want to know about me?

elesbelles · 03/07/2007 12:26

i dont speak to trolls...but i luurrvv talking about them

Marina · 03/07/2007 12:28

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

whatsamiss · 03/07/2007 12:32

So you call me a troll, thanks so much! Very original!

I just think in this case a trailer should not be causing such contraversy, there are so much worse things in the world that are happening and I think that being open minded is good for our children within reason.

whatsamiss · 03/07/2007 12:35

marina what did I tell you about your own child?

I am sorry you feel that I am stupid.

Are people normally this unwelcoming on messaging boards, or is it only to people they dissagree with? Am I not having a discussion? I feel strongly about this to you know.

elesbelles · 03/07/2007 12:35

good advice marina dont let it upset you.

WideWebWitch · 03/07/2007 12:37

I cannot take your views seriously whatsamiss when you post shite like this "Children being upset is proof thast they have not been exposed to this sort of thing often" what tf are you on about?

Marina, x

OP posts:
Marina · 03/07/2007 12:37

Children being upset is proof thast they have not been exposed to this sort of thing often enough.

Sez you, whatsamiss.

LennyLapin · 03/07/2007 12:38

Marina I've never seen you cross before.

whatsamiss, when you join a chat forum specifically to post about something you have read about in the papers, and you upset regular posters, why would you expect to be welcomed with open arms?!

WideWebWitch · 03/07/2007 12:38

And I think you've told me all I need to know whatsasmiss, I don't think we need furthe details, thanks.

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ELF1981 · 03/07/2007 12:39

I am SHOCKED you tell you 18 month old about bad people whatamiss
My dd is 21 months old and her only concept of "bad people" is Stingo on Fifi and the flowertots and I would go ballistic if anybody dared to tell her otherwise.

No wonder we complain that childhood innocence is lost.

Mrbatters · 03/07/2007 12:40

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

blueshoes · 03/07/2007 12:42

FWIW, I'm with Shiny and contentiouscat and I have sympathy for MrR's view.

You cannot shield the world from children. The news will seep through to them however much you try. They might see a poster or a newsreport on the TV. Or attend a movie and see the ad. Fact. And they will ask questions, which it is our job as parents to decode for them at a level they understand, coated with a large amount of reassurance.

Tbh, children are more frightened by parents' reaction to news, than with the actual news themselves. So whilst I don't give the news to them in technicolour with dire warnings of baddies lurking in every corner, if they ask, then just explain it in a simple, non-sensational way. I agree the word "snatched" is emotive, but then just downplay it and just say she was lost. But you will keep dc safe.

If you don't make a huge issue of the word or the ad, they won't. If they get scared, then reassure. My children are welcome to sleep with me anytime. What would terrify me as a child was having seen the ad, my parents then got upset and starting going on the warpath without explaining fully.

Children will gradually absorb the message that the world is unsafe. It is part of growing up. To the little ones, they just need to know that mummy and daddy will keep them safe. As they get older, they can be told the tools of keeping themselves safe. The message is just drip-fed to them over time as part of life's education.

The Madeleine abduction is not the only thing. A grandparent could die, a pet could get knocked down in a hit-and-run, sh_t happens. We just have to be there for our children when it does.

I don't see it as a big deal.

And Madeleine's parents are entitled to do everything in their power that they feel will bring her back (whether or not you agree with their tactics). I support them. Even this discussion is keeping her image in your minds. I don't think they would be unhappy about it. I cannot imagine their pain.

MamaMaiasaura · 03/07/2007 12:42

have you been feeding the trolls again [sigh]

WideWebWitch · 03/07/2007 12:43

I disagree blueshoes. Madeleine's parents and Odeon cinemas are NOT entitled to tell my 3yo about Madeleine's abduction. If they had told me about the info before we'd gone into the cinema we wouldn't have gone.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 03/07/2007 12:45

Particularly since M's parents have decided to shield their own children from it. The don't have the right to decide that mine are not to be shielded.

whatsamiss · 03/07/2007 12:46

I do apologse if I have upset you Marina.

I am aware that people do not understand my train of thought, and I don't mean to upset or anger anyone. Though I seem to have done so spectacularly.

I was attacked as a child because I was not worldly aware. I trusted an adult when I shouldn't have.

I am therefore trying to prevent the same thing from happening to my child.

ELF1981 · 03/07/2007 12:46

FWIW WWW I agree with you.

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