freaky show

[houseelf]

Last night on "20/20 Downtown" they presented a story about a serial killer who kidnapped, raped, and killed little girls in the San Francisco area. (I really should NOT watch these programs.) As horrible and evil as it seems, I think that I subconciously try to placate myself by believing that this is an absolute rare anomoly. However, at the end of the program they cited the statistic that there are 50,000 missing children in this country. This is soooooo disturbing. I want to move my family to "Mayberry" and become a recluse.



Kelly

It happens more often that people think...and I do think that it is frightening. I really can not watch shows like this...I find it really tough.



kris
Time is a Dressmaker, Specializing in Alterations!

[DCJenn]

Kelly-



We here in the states have a population of several hundred thousand. 50,000 children are missing but given our huge population, it's not that common. Not that there's an excuse for even one child being missing but it's not as common as the newscasters like to make it sound. And of course, the most common reason for kids going missing is being kidnapped by a non-custodial parent. The actual numbers of children taken by strangers is quite small.



Besides, Mayberry is where all the creepy militia guys live!!!



Jenn



Don't watch those shows anymore!!!

Don't watch these shows, Kelly! I recently read an article that ranked 20/20 right up there with the other sensationalist tabloid news programs!

When I see disturbing news like that, I act in a seriously dysfunctional manner and tell myself that (1) it IS uncommon and think of statistics such as jenn's and (2) these shows are pulling anything and everything out of the woodwork in order to capture viewers and thus, $$$. And this comforts me in some odd way.

I'm with you. . .I hope that one day the world will be more like Mayberry - until then, I will live in possible denial yet attempt to make the world a better place while doing so.

[DCJenn]

PS- that's several hundred million- not thousand!

[DCJenn]

OK- this got me to asking- what is the US population- so I looked it up- according to the 2000 census, the population is:

281,421,906 people.



So, as I said, this certainly doesn't lessen the impact of even one child being missing, but in a larger context, it may help put your mind at ease. I hope!



Jenn

Well, as "sensationalist" as this sounds, I was a victim of stranger abduction when I was 4.....something that I have kept a secret until recently, but have been opening up about more and more...so as "rare" as you think it is...someone who is a part of your life...at least in a cybersense...has experienced this....and so in that sense....you experience it through me second hand...



It is easy to consider these things...remote or distant because we see them on television and it doesn't seem "real"...but to me, it is very real.



Kris
Time is a Dressmaker, Specializing in Alterations!

[DCJenn]

Kelly-



I absolutely agree!



Kris-



How awful! What a terrible experience to have gone through.



Jenn

[Meenah]

Even one missing child is too many. Kris, I am so sorry for what you must have gone through. How do you ever let your children out of your sight?

Luanne

[houseelf]

Kris,



I'm so sorry to hear this. What a painful legacy to live with.

I can't even imagine....



Jenn, I absolutely agree with you that this case does represent a statistical anomoly. And Claudia, your comment about media bias couldn't be truer to form. On my ever expanding to-read list is Bernard Goldberg's book "Bias: A CBS Insider Exposes How the Media Distort the News".



Nonetheless, as Kris and many others can attest, child abduction and abuse presents an enormous problem. Evidence suggests that a considerable minority of kids experience some form of abuse during their lifetime. Even if these statistics are reduced considerably to account for statistical manipulation, the numbers are still staggering. Obviously, not all the cases are as macaab as this serial killing and raping of young girls, but the safety of children IS a pervasive issue in our society. Even abduction by a non-custodial parent profoundly affects the children involved.



However, the media does manipulate the more sensationalist cases to garner a larger audience. Even though I find these programs interesting, I literally am unable to deal with these programs and I have to quit watching them. Unfortunately, we can not protect our children from everything and this type of program taps into that fear.



Kelly

Well, the bottom line, is that everyone here statistically speaking has their issues! Unfortunately, the divorce rate is over 50%, 1:3 girls and 1:5 boys are molested by the time they reach 18, 1:4 (if I remember this correctly) is an adult child of an alcoholic, etc, etc...



I also don't think that what I experienced had any more impact on me OR is any more significant that the child who grew up without a mother or father, in an abusive home, etc, etc...we all have things in our lives to deal with....



As to keeping our children safe..which is perhaps the initial fear that we were talking about..Since there IS no Mayberry, we can only love our children, teach them that we can be trusted to come to if something does happen and protect them while they are living in our homes...and teach them to become strong, independent adults...not an easy task! The bottom line for me, is that my children know that I am there for them, no matter what..that it IS ok to say no to an adult.



Kelly, that is all any of us can do to keep our kids safe, I think. Unfortunately, there are bad people out there who hurt others...and that is a very frightening thing...but something that we can't worry about all of the time. Statistically speaking there is a greater chance of being struck by lightening than being abducted by a stranger....You and Sean have made good choices about where you live and where you take Cade for his childcare....You are an involved mom and are in touch with Cade's feelings, moods, etc...and I think that that is what makes "Mayberry"...being connected as a family.



Kris
Time is a Dressmaker, Specializing in Alterations!

kris -

i didn't mean that kidnappings are sensational occurrences -

i just really feel strongly about how the news is presented these days - and that tends to be very sensational. i think all of the network execs sit around and ponder how they can bolster the ratings. . .and so pick the stories that are going to incite mass fear in people - and you know it's not so much the stories that they pick b/c as you pointed out, they can be a real occurrence for people, it's the way they package them - dramatic music, etc, etc - Hollywood style.

that being said, i hope i didn't offend you!! i'm so sorry that happened to you as a little girl! and great words below on how to keep our families safe!

although i do think that some cities are definitely more like mayberry than others!

You are so right about the media, Claudia...they will attack anything and blow it up to have a story! I don't even know what is going on with the "war on terrorism" anymore, because I'm so burned out on the bs! Fox is the worst for sensationalism, but CNN isn't far behind...it is all about ratings, isn't it!!!



I think there are some "mayberry-like" towns too. When we lived in Danville, PA, I could actually leave the kids in the car with the motor running and run into the bank We left the door to our townhouse unlocked All of the time...it was just so safe. There was a cute little town center and we had an annual Halloween Parade that involved the whole town...it was wonderful to watch. I often wish that we had moved back. It was a choice between MN and PA and we were afraid that you "can't move back" and so we opted for change...but honestly, I don't feel that sense of community here.



Kris




Time is a Dressmaker, Specializing in Alterations!