"Stranger Danger"

[diablopilot 2]

After just viewing the segment (on the Spanish Network incidently) I have to say I'm not that surprised people didn't react.

The girl's protest came off much more like a whiny brat, throwing a tantrum, not a child in fear.

----------------------------------------------
You're not as good as you think you are. Seriously.

[DJL 235]

That was my first thought. People do have a sense for when something is amiss. The concept of "Stranger Danger" with a bad child actor faking abduction is a far cry from the reality of childen being kidnapped.

The Video


.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[Carpediem 0]

Be the change you want to see in the world right?


Can you hold responsible the people who did nothing? No.


Could I sleep at night knowing I didn't nothing? Fuck No!

Some people could... and that's something they'll have to live with. If it doesn't bother them, then... well, that's the reason I believe in karma.


I'd take a punch or lawsuit over an attempt to help a child. If the judge actually convicted me of it, I'd make sure the press was well aware.

Those who do, can't explain. Those who don't, can't understand.

[Michele 1]

Quote

I think that stunt while a valid study also endangered the life of the man posing as the perp

I saw the segment. It was rather realistic; the little girl was doing a very good job of getting attention, and of letting people know that man was not her Daddy...which is what the kids are taught to do. She struggled, and shrieked.

In re the quoted part, as I sat there and watched, my reaction was "that guy would be one hurting son of a bitch if that happened in front of me..." I imagine I'd've tackled him at full speed, and taken him out before the people who were staging it could get to me and tell me it was a hoax. They'd be pulling me off him...or he'd be in front of a car. And those who know me know I mean it, and could do it easily.

I'd rather be justifying my actions to a jury than justifying my actions to a mother of a child who was kidnapped, raped and killed because I did nothing about it.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[waltappel 1]

Quote

I'd rather be justifying my actions to a jury than justifying my actions to a mother of a child who was kidnapped, raped and killed because I did nothing about it.

And while you were sitting in jail or prison you could take comfort in the fact that it was all for a good cause--getting high ratings for a "news" program.

After watching the video, I still think that was a truly idiotic stunt they pulled.

edited to add:
(The above assumes the passersby were not actors, but I wouldn't bet my life on that.)

Walt

[PLFXpert 0]

<---kicking self for always deleting my pm's. I could have just posted my response, damn it. Now, I have to re-think

Quote

I'm not saying I think the media *did* stage the reactions of the passersby, but I hardly think the media in this country are above that kind of thing. They have proven themselves to be less than honest.

Of course the media has had questionable and even proven-wrong incidents. I don't believe you can discount the entire organization based on those particular occurances however. B/c it can be argued on the other end of the spectrum that the media has uncovered (and proven truthful) a million other events, stories, occurances that have resulted in very postive and much needed change in our society.

By the way the use of "actors" in a story, is against media law. It has been done, to your credit, but it is vasty in the minority than majority.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[DJL 235]

Quote

I saw the segment. It was rather realistic; the little girl was doing a very good job of getting attention,

Yeah, she did as good of a job as a child could do, but it still looked like a whiny tantrum, she was not scared and in no way conveyed that her life depended on someone's help. She just did exactly what the pro's from the Today Show told her to do. That's all good in showing children what they should do and getting it set in their mind but I can't blame the people around them for not reacting.

Here's a video of what it really looks like. Carla Brucia. I'm sure you all know the outcome since Carla's story is what prompted the Today Show to do this piece.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher

[PLFXpert 0]

Quote

I am not suggesting that someone has to go kung-fu on someone. As Nightingale pointed out, merely having an adult saying "excuse me, what is going on here" will in often send a would be abductor packing. If he continues taking the child and you feel that would destroy you in a physical confrontation, then follow at a safe distance and start yelling yourself to get passersby to help, and get on your cellphone and dial 911.

I love this response b/c as many have pointed out, there are ways to "intervene" w/out putting yourself, necessarily, in physcial harm. Of course, there is still the risk, but that is to each their own to weigh and decide for themselves.

I feel the need to repeat myself when I say I would not be able to judge a person either way b/c great arguements and points can be made for either side.

Personally, I would rather stick my neck out than not at all. It's my natural reaction and I like to think even in split-second thought I can think clearly.

And then, of course, there's the chance to be on Ellen I mean, do nothing, feel guilty (me personally) later. Do something and get rewarded by Ellen Degeneres for your heroic efforts and get thousands of cool prizes and an amazing getaway to Hawaii for you and a guest. Sounds awesome, to me!

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[Michele 1]

Quote

And while you were sitting in jail or prison you could take comfort in the fact that it was all for a good cause--getting high ratings for a "news" program.

I sincerely doubt that I would be arrested - let alone charged - if I had acted in good faith to protect a child. If there were signs clearly saying "this is a stunt" then perhaps yes...but that isn't what happened. What happened was staged, sure...but there is no way for the passersby to know that, and because of that, I would take action to save a child...if it landed me in jail, so be it...but I doubt that it would...and if it did, any attorney worth his salt would be working on a settlement with the network for me because it was staged and I'm being punished for not walking past a child screaming for help.

I've gotten involved in situations in the past...and I will again. I have been there...and I have prevented an abduction. I will do it again in a New York second...despite potential risks to myself.

Ciels-
Michele

~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek
While our hearts lie bleeding?~

[bmcd308 0]

Perhaps they assumed, correctly, that it was fake. What would you have considered a good reaction?

----------------------------------
www.jumpelvis.com

[PLFXpert 0]

A good reaction would have been contributing last week when the conversation was hot

The momen'ts passed. I'm on to other newsworthy events.

Paint me in a corner, but my color comes back.

[dmetz 0]

Quote

That was my first thought. People do have a sense for when something is amiss. The concept of "Stranger Danger" with a bad child actor faking abduction is a far cry from the reality of childen being kidnapped.

The Video
.

Does anyone have another link to this video? This one is updated regularly, and now I can't find it.

_________________________________________

"If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?"

[happythoughts 0]

News clicky

Quote

A 14-year-old girl told Toledo police she was abducted Tuesday by a man with a gun but got away with help from a hammer.

Police said the quick-thinking teen found it in the man's car and used it to hit him in the groin.

According to police, the man forced the girl into his car while she was walking to her school bus stop and said he wanted sex. So, she told him she had dropped her ring in the car and went searching for it. That's when she felt the hammer under her seat.

Police said the girl told them she remembered a lesson from school to always search for a weapon in that kind of situation.

She was not hurt and ran to her grandmother's house.

Groin + hammer = solution
and makes the face look like ->

(all male readers now making this face -> )

[dmetz 0]

Thanks, but not the one I was looking for.

_________________________________________

"If a vegetarian eats vegetables, what does a humanitarian eat?"

[Girlfalldown 0]

Quote

Quote

That was my first thought. People do have a sense for when something is amiss. The concept of "Stranger Danger" with a bad child actor faking abduction is a far cry from the reality of childen being kidnapped.

The Video
.

Does anyone have another link to this video? This one is updated regularly, and now I can't find it.

Same here. I tried to look it up but can't find it.

--------------

(Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.)

[Girlfalldown 0]

OK, found it.

It did sort of look like it was just a kid throwing a tantrum a couple of the times. She was walking with the guy and not trying to pull away in most of them. Just kind of tugging and screaming "you're not my dad". The part where the guys surrounded him though she seemed to step it up a notch. If I saw someone screaming like that though I'd step in just to let the person know they were seen and make sure everything was ok. I wouldn't try and tackle the guy or anything.

Also, If I had a kid and they were throwing a tantrum and I was carrying them kicking and screaming away I would not be offended if someone checked to make sure they were truly my kid and I bet most parents wouldn't either. I'd be thankful that someone was looking out for my kid.

--------------

(Do not, I repeat DO NOT, take my posts seriously.)

[DJL 235]

Do a search on: "Today Show" "Stranger Danger" video.

"I encourage all awesome dangerous behavior." - Jeffro Fincher