Gone baby gone
October 2, 2008 9:25 AM Subscribe
Parents just don't understand:
Australian teen refuses to apologize for legendary party, sunglasses.
American teens given up at police stations under Dumpster baby laws.
Mother who kills baby by leaving it in her car for 8 hours gets sympathy on Oprah.
Australian teen refuses to apologize for legendary party, sunglasses.
American teens given up at police stations under Dumpster baby laws.
Mother who kills baby by leaving it in her car for 8 hours gets sympathy on Oprah.
This post was deleted for the following reason: I'm not sure a news-of-the-weird-plex is actually greater than the sum of the parts, and judging by the flag queue neither are a bunch of other people. -- cortex
I hate these people.
posted by sonic meat machine at 9:33 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by sonic meat machine at 9:33 AM on October 2, 2008
The first one is at least a year old.
I think he's about 17.
posted by swift at 9:37 AM on October 2, 2008 [4 favorites]
I think he's about 17.
posted by swift at 9:37 AM on October 2, 2008 [4 favorites]
I don't think this is going to go very well.
posted by arcticwoman at 9:37 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by arcticwoman at 9:37 AM on October 2, 2008
Hey, she deserves sympathy. She made a colossal, awful, irrevocable mistake, and she will hurt for the rest of her life because of it. What are you going to do, tell her not to leave her kid in the car? Don't you think she knows that? Do you think she is the only person who has ever briefly forgotten about a sleeping child? Usually the consequences aren't so dire, but it happens. Tired, frazzled people forget things; she mistakenly checked off the "dropped kid off at daycare" box in her mental checklist, and once she got to the school grounds, her work self took over. I don't know what else you want; should we crucify this woman?
posted by Mister_A at 9:38 AM on October 2, 2008 [3 favorites]
posted by Mister_A at 9:38 AM on October 2, 2008 [3 favorites]
Mefites just don't understand.
posted by daniel_charms at 9:40 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by daniel_charms at 9:40 AM on October 2, 2008
I accidentally the whole thing.
posted by loquacious at 9:40 AM on October 2, 2008 [2 favorites]
posted by loquacious at 9:40 AM on October 2, 2008 [2 favorites]
Shame on you if you actually took the effort to read the details of that family's tragedy and still thought it was a good idea to publicly point an accusing finger.
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 9:42 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by le morte de bea arthur at 9:42 AM on October 2, 2008
What is with this post? Swift, did you just grad the first three things to come your way today that had parents in the tags? I wish you'd done some research and built a good post around the "American teens" link, because it's the only one with the seeds of a worthy discussion in it.
posted by orange swan at 9:43 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by orange swan at 9:43 AM on October 2, 2008
The kid in the first link was badgered and cornered. I don't blame him so much for being a dick. He was about to apologise as asked and then she started in on the glasses. How often are adults bullied like that in tv interviews?
posted by Pollomacho at 9:44 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by Pollomacho at 9:44 AM on October 2, 2008
Maybe Oprah will give you sympathy for making this post.
posted by octothorpe at 9:44 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by octothorpe at 9:44 AM on October 2, 2008
They need to do way instain mother who kill their babbys becuase these babby cannot frigth back.
posted by Dr-Baa at 9:46 AM on October 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Dr-Baa at 9:46 AM on October 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
We don't know that Oprah herself did not kill that child. We just don't know.
posted by xmutex at 9:48 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by xmutex at 9:48 AM on October 2, 2008
Tired, frazzled people forget things; she mistakenly checked off the "dropped kid off at daycare" box in her mental checklist, and once she got to the school grounds, her work self took over. I don't know what else you want; should we crucify this woman?
You've obviously not watched enough CSI-NY or libertarian discussion groups. We are supposed to manage ourselves perfectly and without mistake at all times. And, if you DO happen to slip-up and make a mistake then, yes, you ARE supposed to be crucified.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:49 AM on October 2, 2008
You've obviously not watched enough CSI-NY or libertarian discussion groups. We are supposed to manage ourselves perfectly and without mistake at all times. And, if you DO happen to slip-up and make a mistake then, yes, you ARE supposed to be crucified.
posted by Thorzdad at 9:49 AM on October 2, 2008
Someone's on my lawn and I'm not certain how to feel about it.
posted by stavrogin at 9:50 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by stavrogin at 9:50 AM on October 2, 2008
The American teens link was discussed only a few days ago.
Am I missing some overall point here? [wouldn't be the first time]
posted by mandal at 9:50 AM on October 2, 2008
Am I missing some overall point here? [wouldn't be the first time]
posted by mandal at 9:50 AM on October 2, 2008
Well, to be fair, babies don't die if you leave them in the living room while you cook dinner or darn my socks or whatever.
posted by uncleozzy at 9:50 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by uncleozzy at 9:50 AM on October 2, 2008
I still don't understand how or why someone could drop off a seventeen year old - why not just tell the kid to move out?
And upon reading the article, he's keeping his 18 year old daughter? Creepy.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:51 AM on October 2, 2008
And upon reading the article, he's keeping his 18 year old daughter? Creepy.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:51 AM on October 2, 2008
This post is so flagged. I wish I could do it twice.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 9:54 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by The Light Fantastic at 9:54 AM on October 2, 2008
Perhaps the woman deserves sympathy, but I'm not sure if she deserves it on a national stage, as if the current state of sucky, absentee, distracted parenting could be in some degree healed by weeping in front of our television sets. Sure she deserves sympathy, but she's still a bad parent, by definition. Why was she universally damned at first, and now why are we supposed to forgive her? It wasn't even our kid.
I bet you a dollar she writes a book.
posted by swift at 9:54 AM on October 2, 2008
I bet you a dollar she writes a book.
posted by swift at 9:54 AM on October 2, 2008
Don't you think she knows that? Do you think she is the only person who has ever briefly forgotten about a sleeping child?
When it's someone else's life in your hands, you don't have the luxury to forget.
You overcook dinner, hey, it happens.
You flunk out of college, you can always try again and move on.
Your marriage fails, learn, reflect, and try again.
Your company goes belly-up, at least you tried your best.
Your self-absorbed, disconnected ways causes a death? You earned the same amount of consideration as what you gave to someone whose very existence depended on you and you failed them.
It never ceases to amaze what people will shrug off and justify just so they never have to be held accountabe for their own odious actions.
And for all those sympathizers, they should imagine what it's like to be forced to be stuffed in a sweltering, suffocating confine without being able to get out. Poor kids.
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 9:55 AM on October 2, 2008
When it's someone else's life in your hands, you don't have the luxury to forget.
You overcook dinner, hey, it happens.
You flunk out of college, you can always try again and move on.
Your marriage fails, learn, reflect, and try again.
Your company goes belly-up, at least you tried your best.
Your self-absorbed, disconnected ways causes a death? You earned the same amount of consideration as what you gave to someone whose very existence depended on you and you failed them.
It never ceases to amaze what people will shrug off and justify just so they never have to be held accountabe for their own odious actions.
And for all those sympathizers, they should imagine what it's like to be forced to be stuffed in a sweltering, suffocating confine without being able to get out. Poor kids.
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 9:55 AM on October 2, 2008
Those pesky parents. I did some research and found out that some parents hate their childrens' boy/girlfriend. I also read that one father made his child go out in public with him while the father was wearing a hat made out of Miller beer cans and yarn. I won't link to these items, because I don't want to encourage them.
posted by Bernt Pancreas at 9:55 AM on October 2, 2008
posted by Bernt Pancreas at 9:55 AM on October 2, 2008
I can't say that I love Jesus
That would be a hollow claim
He did make some observations
And I'm quoting them today
"Judge not lest ye be judged"
What a beautiful refrain
The studio audience disagrees
Have his lambs all gone astray?
(chorus)
Call me a leper
Call me a leper
Call me a leper
"You are lost and disillusioned!"
What an awful thing to say
I know this show doesn't flatter
It means nothing to me
I thought I might help them understand
But what an ugly thing to see
"I am not an animal"
Subtitled under the screen
(repeat chorus)
When I tried to tell my story
They cut me off to take a break
I sat silent 5 commercials
I had nothing left to say
The talk show host was index-carded
All organized and blank
The other guests were scared and hardened
What a sad parade
What a sad parade
(repeat chorus)
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:55 AM on October 2, 2008
That would be a hollow claim
He did make some observations
And I'm quoting them today
"Judge not lest ye be judged"
What a beautiful refrain
The studio audience disagrees
Have his lambs all gone astray?
(chorus)
Call me a leper
Call me a leper
Call me a leper
"You are lost and disillusioned!"
What an awful thing to say
I know this show doesn't flatter
It means nothing to me
I thought I might help them understand
But what an ugly thing to see
"I am not an animal"
Subtitled under the screen
(repeat chorus)
When I tried to tell my story
They cut me off to take a break
I sat silent 5 commercials
I had nothing left to say
The talk show host was index-carded
All organized and blank
The other guests were scared and hardened
What a sad parade
What a sad parade
(repeat chorus)
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 9:55 AM on October 2, 2008
Am I missing some overall point here?
Parents leaving children, with mixed results.
posted by swift at 10:02 AM on October 2, 2008
Parents leaving children, with mixed results.
posted by swift at 10:02 AM on October 2, 2008
Hey guys, there's this lady who accidentally caused the death of her child due to a stupid, stupid mistake on her part. I'm sure without our righteous internet condemnations she'll totally forget about it in like a day. Let's get on this, shall we?
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:06 AM on October 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by Solon and Thanks at 10:06 AM on October 2, 2008 [1 favorite]
And for all those sympathizers, they should imagine what it's like to be forced to be stuffed in a sweltering, suffocating confine without being able to get out.
You realize that some people can be sympathetic to both the mother and the child at the same time, right? It's a sad, sad story, but considering the horrible shit that children all over the world are subjected to every day, whether maliciously or institutionalized, I couldn't condemn this woman for her horrible lapse in judgment. If she can be charged with negligence, fine, but the burden she'll be carrying for the rest of her life is a far greater punishment than anything the state can enforce or people can inflict.
Also, this is the worst post ever made. Today.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:08 AM on October 2, 2008
You realize that some people can be sympathetic to both the mother and the child at the same time, right? It's a sad, sad story, but considering the horrible shit that children all over the world are subjected to every day, whether maliciously or institutionalized, I couldn't condemn this woman for her horrible lapse in judgment. If she can be charged with negligence, fine, but the burden she'll be carrying for the rest of her life is a far greater punishment than anything the state can enforce or people can inflict.
Also, this is the worst post ever made. Today.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 10:08 AM on October 2, 2008
Here's what bothers me about the Oprah story (apart from the fact that it broken into 12 separate links, and apart from the fact that it featured a well known Zen teacher), the mom admitted to doing this before. From the story
Brenda admits she had left Cecilia in a running car before, but she says she never made a habit of it.
I'm a parent of two small kids. You NEVER EVER EVER leave a small child in a car. I've been there. I've been at the ATM or at the post office where my visit inside would be under thirty seconds. But I loaded my kids into their strollers and walked them inside. Twenty minutes of work for a thirty second visit. But that's part of a parent's responsibilities.
So though I am sympathetic to the family and the poor little child, It's hard for me to be sympathetic to a woman who had engaged in the same exact life threatening activity before. More than once!
posted by cjets at 10:12 AM on October 2, 2008
Brenda admits she had left Cecilia in a running car before, but she says she never made a habit of it.
I'm a parent of two small kids. You NEVER EVER EVER leave a small child in a car. I've been there. I've been at the ATM or at the post office where my visit inside would be under thirty seconds. But I loaded my kids into their strollers and walked them inside. Twenty minutes of work for a thirty second visit. But that's part of a parent's responsibilities.
So though I am sympathetic to the family and the poor little child, It's hard for me to be sympathetic to a woman who had engaged in the same exact life threatening activity before. More than once!
posted by cjets at 10:12 AM on October 2, 2008
You've obviously not watched enough CSI-NY or libertarian discussion groups. We are supposed to manage ourselves perfectly and without mistake at all times. And, if you DO happen to slip-up and make a mistake then, yes, you ARE supposed to be crucified.
Huh. And here I'd always thought Libertarianism was all about an individual's right to accidentally kill people.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:13 AM on October 2, 2008
Huh. And here I'd always thought Libertarianism was all about an individual's right to accidentally kill people.
posted by Sys Rq at 10:13 AM on October 2, 2008
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posted by Damn That Television at 9:32 AM on October 2, 2008