How would it be if The McCanns had babysat other's kids?

Question

6pm
Friend: "Gerry, can you and Kate look after my kids for 3 hours? Only we're off for meal later"
Gerry: "Yes my friend, we will look after your 3 children"

10pm
Friend: "Hi Gerry, how were the kids?"
Gerry: "Er, how many kids did you have?"
Friend: "What do you mean, DID have? Three!"
Gerry: "Oh well, not any more you don't.."
Friend: "What? What are you on about?"
Gerry: "Well, see, we went out.."
Friend:" You took the kids with you?"
Gerry: "Er, no we left them here..."
Friend:" You LEFT them? Here? Who with?"
Gerry: "Er...no one actually.."
Friend:"ON THEIR OWN?"
Gerry: "Ermm..aye we did.."
Friend:"So where's my girl?"
Gerry: "Well it seems she has been taken.."
Friend: "WHAT? Someone broke in and abducted her?"
Gerry: "Well..er..they wouldn't have to have broken in..we...er.. left the door unlocked.."
EX-Friend: "!"

If the McCanns had been babysitting OTHER's kids and left them how culpable would they have been then in EVERYONE's eyes?

Lynch mob? Dead right.
...and the only reason the McCann's are not being hammered for their actions is because it is THEIR kid they neglected that has gone missing.

Patfish: What is annoying me (and I am guilty of same) is how the focus is on the McCanns and not Maddy due to Gerry's OTT exonaeration mega-exercise

Faith: Yes, the McCanns took their kids or granted, we all take things fir granted surem but leaving toddlers alone, unsecured???
Yes, other's kids would have compelled them to focus, but you'd expect decent parents to have done that with their own kids by default

So far there's a consensus. Everyone I talk to, be it you good people, friends, checkout ladies, whoever, they ALL say the same thing - apart, that is, from the media!! You are all so right, if these had been chavs the media would have 'em breaking rocks in prison by now. In fact, I still would!

To "Hello" :
This is what annoys me. They screwed up and Gerry realises he has only one chance to turn this tragedy around - from them being pilloried to them being ultra-caring (albeit totally too late) and pitied. But...
Yes, he does protesteth too much, and like all liars, they always over embellish, should Gerry of course be a mendacity merchant. Yer, too much already Gerry, all this globe hopping and Popes and CBS noos and PLCs, branding...it's a sickener, and we really want to know where Maddy is, not where YOU are.

Answer 1

If this was someone else's kid they had lost, the whole world would be baying for their blood.

What annoys me is what extra rights do the mccanns have to be negligent to their child just because its THEIR child. Madeleine is not a posession that the McCanns can choose what they want to do with at any given time.

I would like the authorities to treat the McCanns exactly the same as if they had been in charge of someone else's child and this same thing had happened.

Answer 2

See what your getting at, but i doubt anyone in their circle of friends would ever ask them, like the McCann's they would have professional nannies.
The sad truth is that they probably just don't know HOW to be parents. Remember that the Mother only works one & a half days a week, and yet has a full time nanny. I find that a bit strange. What the heck does our Kate do on her days off if she isnt caring for the kids?
When you take into consideration Gerrys full time career plus their social life, i cant help wondering just how much "Quality" time they spend with the kids. Reminds me off the Victorian era, when the children of the aristocracy were brought down at Teatime to "Speak" to their parents before their bedtime.
If only the nanny had been there none of this would have happened.

Answer 3

I don't think the issue would ever have arisen, they're too selfish to do anything for anybody else to begin with, I think it would have gone more like

Friend: "Gerry, can you and Kate look after my kids for 3 hours? Only we're off for meal later

Gerry: No

Answer 4

hi towser i thought exactly the same they seem to be enjoying the attention a little bit much, and then asking for more. It's all a bit fishey, they shouldn't be demanding help and attention, as it thier fault thier in this mess they should be grovelling to the people who are helping their actions have led to many people spending time and money trying to help.

If they are enjoying the publicity, they will soon be shocked as no matter how much they try, people will get bored of the story especially as time passes many people will assume the worst. So many children go missing all the time from innocent parents, why beacuse they were negligent do they get royal treatment.

Answer 5

I predict the media turning on them

They are travelling so much to ease their guilt,

The Interviews are potraying Gerry like a dodgy lad,
(his own fault)

Answer 6

It would not of happened, they would have cared for them carefully, but it's all a bit fishy,
there's something called,
Muchausen by Proxy Syndrome, I wonder if this is the case,
I have never seen the McCanns, cry,voice quaver, red and swollen eyes, All I see is them, smiling and well dressed, they are not acting like they have lost a young child, I would devastated and I wouldn't want the camera's on me I would be sick with worry,

Answer 7

More: How would it be if the McKids had looked after their kids....they wouldnt be in the news.................


To answer your question the same thing maybe which is they would have been reported to the police and a search would have started and the friend might just break off their friendship and be fiorends anymore.

Answer 8

I don't know. The whole thing sounds fishy. I do hope that the child is found safe and unharmed, but I have my doubts that this will ever happen. I do hope, however, that if she is found that she goes to someone who is a bit more responsible. I'm sorry, but the neglect that these parents have shown and the showboating they have done in the aftermath is inexcusable.

Answer 9

Yes totally agree with you - it seems to be acceptable to go out for dinner and leave your own kids unattended in an unlocked room though doesn't it?!
If they had babysat for me I would have felt like killing them with my own bare hands!
I am really beginning to wonder if they are in their right minds!
Like someone else said they are so composed and not one real admission of guilt!
If I was in their shoes I would be devastated and begging other people to learn from my stupidity!

Answer 10

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070530110042AA0Yt09&r=w

I know I have not answered your specific question, but this whole business troubles me greatly - not least about the innocent victim in all this - the child herself.

This whole GLOBAL attention the parents have managed to stir up... troubles me.

I can't get the proverb. "he doth protest too much" out of my mind I'm afraid. Maybe modern times that we try to survive in here today have made me into a cynic...