Are ALL the Anti-McCannista's envious, self-righteous, censorious Chavs?

Question

What prompts this question are some of the answers to this McCann related question: http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=Ai2z1Ro2OGw.dnTqi8cxs.cuLxV.?qid=20070612175045AAbBsN2

It seem to me that most of the negativity towards the McCanns is about them being "posh"; that Kate McCann is beautiful and elegant; that Gerry McCann is an articulate professional; they are both sucessful and respected doctors; that they have a stong and supportive family. Its almost as if some people are jealous and would happily let their kids be kidnapped in order to acheive the "fame" they perceive the McCanns as having. These are clearly people incapable of empathy, particularly for people who's lifestyles and ways of dealing with grief they can barely conceive of, let alone understand.

The McCanns took what at the time must have seemed an acceptable risk.The result of that mistake will live with them for the rest of their lives. Who do you really think you are to give your tuppenceworth?

Well Babysham, a new low in the McCann Affair on Yahoo Questions. I wondered how long before accusations of multiple identities, trolling, etc would emerge, didn't think I'd be a victim however. Please feel free to check out my Profile, you will see I've been involved on and off for many months. I'm not Piltdown Man (and more importantly, since Piltdown Man as a fossil never really existed, is he me). I would never go on about Doctors being superior or "British fair play". I might however comment about the low level class war some "anti-McCannistas" seem to be persueing or make an appeal for "simple common decency".
My philosophy is simple, everything that helps find Madeleine: press coverage; support from celebrities; donations; that blooming soft toy is a GOOD thing.
Everything that undermines that campaign: self-righteous criticism of McCanns conduct (whatever the justification); vetching from the envious about their lfestyle; black propaganda from "activists" is a BAD thing.

Answer 1

its the mob mentality .. people seem to forget that a child has been taken is probably dead ..

Answer 2

In a country which prides itself on freedom of speech, I think a forum such as this is a good way for people to express their concerns, especially when reporting in the media can be very one-sided.
Whilst I would agree that some posters (in both camps) have, on occasion, entered into slanging matches, the uncensored debate has thrown up some interesting questions:

Why have the British press consistently condoned the actions of the McCanns in leaving their three children under the age of 4 alone in an unlocked ground floor apartment in a foreign holiday resort?

Why has the British public not been shown photographs published on the website http://visão.clix.pt, showing the relative proximity of the Tapas bar and the apartment, and the fact that the latter is actually outside the complex, and close to a main road?

Why are we being persuaded that this was an abduction, when there is no hard evidence to support that assumption?

Why do the McCanns not conform to our stereotypical image of grief-stricken parents?

http://news.sky.com/skynews/pi.....34,00.html

Why has the “fund” been set up as a business, rather than a charity?

Where is the nanny?

Why the media circus?

What has Madeleine’s eye problem got to do with it; was she a special needs child?

What part do Murat and Malinka play in all this, if any?

Why so much criticism of the Portuguese police?

Is the whole thing some kind of sick hoax, or an exercise in damage limitation?

Human nature being what it is, we all fancy ourselves as armchair detectives, and sadly, the terrible fate which has befallen Madeleine seems to have been forgotten in the scrum to score points off people who don’t happen to share our opinions.

Answer 3

I think people who are anti-McCann are actually anti-the whole way this has been dealt with. They are particularly against:

1) The way that the McCann case has received so much more media attention than other missing children cases.
2) The fact that some people seem to find it perfectly fine that the McCanns left their children alone while they went for a meal...especially when they get the feeling (and are probably right) that working class parents who did the same thing would be condemned for it.
3) The use of donations....what exactly are the McCanns spending the public's money on, apart from various unjustified flights around Europe?
4) The fact that they are so 'elegant' and 'articulate', when most parents in their situation would be distraught.

I'm not sure I agree with all of these points (especially number 4...I don't think you know how you'd react unless you were in those circumstances), I'm just giving an outline of some of the views held by 'anti-McCanns', some of which I do agree with.

"An acceptable risk"?? I can't believe that. Regardless of class, intelligence or beauty, parents who leave their children alone are irresponsible at best. Abduction isn't the only risk they run...what if the children fell over, or hurt themselves, or played with electrical items? Or even, what if they woke up scared, alone in a room in a foreign country? I'm not saying that other people don't do it, but that doesn't mean it isn't an utterly ridiculous thing to do. Children of that age should be supervised, even when asleep. You never know what trouble a child can get in to, and it is a parent's duty to make sure that you (or someone you trust) is there to minimise the danger and to act quickly if something bad does happen.

As for "Who do you really think you are to give your tuppenceworth?", I think free speech - when it's not ignorant or offensive for the sake of being offensive - should be encouraged. If you believe that the 'anti-McCann' people have no right to share their opinions, then by the same understanding, you have no right to share yours. Either everyone should have a right to voice their views, or no-one should. Otherwise, you're just preaching without accepting opposing views, and I am fundamentally against that. Accept (and please, argue against if you wish) the arguments against you, or keep your thoughts to yourself.

Accusing people who are 'anti-McCann' of being chavs only highlights the fact that this case is becoming increasingly class-related. People of any class can question the fact that the McCanns seem to receive preferential treatment because of their class, but you've grouped them all together and labelled them as a subculture of a class based on their views. This can surely only lead to more tension and anger at the class aspect of the whole case.

Answer 4

I have never been envious of the McCanns. However I do believe its naive to think that if this couple were on the dole, out holidaying in Portugal and leaving their kids to their own devices that the media reporting of the case would be entirely different.

The risk the McCanns took was NEVER acceptable. Im sorry but a 12 year old child knows it, so why don't two trained doctors know this?

Also with regard to your last statement. The McCanns thrust themselves into the spotlight therefore they should be prepared to be judged in the court of public opinion. And to finish off, your focus is entirely on the parents. What about Madeleine. It may well be that she is dead and therefore the only justice she will ever get is by prosecuting those who had a duty of care to her and let her down.

I can think of at least 2 people who fit this category. Lets hope they are brought to justice soon.

Answer 5

This is getting ridiculous. I would say your opinion is your opinion but do you really have to resort to insults? Are you really that het up about people not agreeing with the McCanns actions? They are all just opinions and nothing more. Don't take things to heart so much. It's not like everyone is putting you down for leaving your children alone. People have to agree to disagree on some subjects. Resorting to insults only gains contempt.

Answer 6

Not another one of these daft questions. The way yours is constructed, i feel compelled to ask, are you a relative of Piltdown Man? Another joker alleging some form of jealousy of the Mccann's.

I am hardly jealous of a pair of idiots, so stupid as to go out with their mates, and leave their kids alone and unprotected, vulnerable to all sorts of risk. Are you referring to the Money? That Private Ltd Company deserves scrutiny. If you wish to know why, just take a look at a thousand or so other posts on that issue.

As for the Fame you allude to, i find the behaviour of the Mccann pair deeply distasteful, they are revelling in the limelight. My God, the Guy even complained that the last Jet lent to them wasn't good enough!
My concern has always been for the missing child. The Mccann's seem More interested in a celebrity lifestyle. I await the forthcoming Book with excitement - Not....

Answer 7

This has nothing to do with the McCann's being 'posh' more to do with the fact that they endangered their 3 small children's lives. In fact we don't know whether their oldest child is dead or alive because of a chain events that started with them leaving their children alone every night of their 'family' holiday. The reason why people go on about them being doctors is because, if it was a single mother who had left her children alone whilst she went out for 'dinner' then the British press would have ripped her to shreds and not asked for any sympathy, social services would have intervened by now, whereas because they are doctors and supposedly educated people so it is alright for them to endanger their children's life.

I hope this has cleared this up for you, most of the people who are against the McCanns are actually educated people who can't stand child neglect in any shape or form. It is NEVER an acceptable risk to leave your children out of earshot with a swimming pool in between you and them, with doors unlocked.

Answer 8

I dislike them because they left their three children, all three years old or under, alone - its not really an acceptable risk, its dangerous and idiotic, as has now been proven.

Then I think they're wrong for using the kind donations of various people to travel around Europe. Their class and professions don't come into it, for me.

I hope that the letter about Madeleine's body being buried is false and that she is still alive.

Answer 9

Im no chav! I think you are piltdown man on another account. You just need to throw in Drs are better than you, and a bit about British fair play, and you are word for word Piltdown.

Answer 10

Call me an envious, self-righteous, censorious Chav if you want, but as far as I'm concerned, the negativity towards the McCanns is due to them NEGLECTING their children!! Being in the medical profession, these people can have the power and authority to remove children from families involved in Social Services abuse cases. So why are they NOT charged? Any other family would be infuriated about what was done,and send the family members responsible "to Conventry". No, I am NOT jealous of their lifestyle or "fame", just someone who has concern for young children. I think people who had donated to the fund are worried about how the money is used. Remember Robert Maxwell and the Mirror newspaper Pension Fund? It was NOT an acceptable risk as you put it! I have said this before, if you are on a family holiday, the FAMILY GOES EVERYWHERE WITH YOU! You want a quiet, intimate holiday with just the two of you? Then leave the kids at home with an RESPONSIBLE relative! I am a working class mother of 2 who, if I were to do what they had done, I would be arrested by the Portuguese police, extradited to the UK and charged and convicted for child neglect and abuse!!!!
If the McCanns put their hands up and said: "We have done wrong by leaving our children unattended. We have lost one due to our incredible stupidity, can you please help us find her?" Then, there may be less hostility towards them!

Answer 11

It has nothing to do with their lifestyle ..... an acceptable risk is putting the Lottery on .... NOT leaving 3 babies all alone in a strange place while you as a parent go on the p*ss ...!