Was stranger abduction unlikely due to the checking regime?

[Eleanor]

It is hardly worth reading The Comments anymore.  They are all so frightfully deja vu.  hasn't anyone got anything to say that is worth debating?

However, I will be deleting any comments containing Goading, and any answers to such comments.

[Robittybob1]

You'll know all about definite and indefinite articles then. 'The' is a definite article and it is the word which says 'the abductor' exists. 'What if' questions when he did something, not whether he did it.

'What if' questions when he did something, not whether he did it.   How can you prove to me it is restricted to that?

[Alfie]

It is but highly unlikely imo.

Given that you believe Madeleine woke and wandered, how do you explain all these similar men carrying children sightings?

[Robittybob1]

You'll know all about definite and indefinite articles then. 'The' is a definite article and it is the word which says 'the abductor' exists. 'What if' questions when he did something, not whether he did it.

Originally it was stated "What if......the abductor snatched Madeleine just before Kate did her check?"

You say "'The' is a definite article and it is the word which says 'the abductor' exists."  So that leads me to question you could the original morph?
"What if......the abductor snatched Madeleine just before Kate did her check?"
morphs into "What if......the abductor didn't exist?"
How can you say then "'The' is a definite article and it is the word which says 'the abductor' exists'" if the abductor didn't exist?

[Robittybob1]

Given that you believe Madeleine woke and wandered, how do you explain all these similar men carrying children sightings?

None of the sightings were of a man carrying the child (Madeleine?) in or directly away from the apartment.  So therefore it is possible the child was lifted after she left the apartment by some other means (woke and wandered possibly).
Both were carrying a child a further distance from the apartment but whether it was directly away from the apartment was not established.

[Eleanor]

Originally it was stated "What if......the abductor snatched Madeleine just before Kate did her check?"

You say "'The' is a definite article and it is the word which says 'the abductor' exists."  So that leads me to question you could the original morph?
"What if......the abductor snatched Madeleine just before Kate did her check?"
morphing into ""What if......the abductor didn't exist?"
How can you say "'The' is a definite article and it is the word which says 'the abductor' exists'" if the abductor didn't exist?

Semantic, Love.  Some people are very good at this.  Or at least they think they are.

[slartibartfast]

Originally it was stated "What if......the abductor snatched Madeleine just before Kate did her check?"

You say "'The' is a definite article and it is the word which says 'the abductor' exists."  So that leads me to question you could the original morph?
"What if......the abductor snatched Madeleine just before Kate did her check?"
morphs into "What if......the abductor didn't exist?"
How can you say then "'The' is a definite article and it is the word which says 'the abductor' exists'" if the abductor didn't exist?

What do you think the "What if" is questioning.

[Robittybob1]

What do you think the "What if" is questioning.

It is questioning us to consider another variant of many possible scenarios.

[G-Unit]

Originally it was stated "What if......the abductor snatched Madeleine just before Kate did her check?"

You say "'The' is a definite article and it is the word which says 'the abductor' exists."  So that leads me to question you could the original morph?
"What if......the abductor snatched Madeleine just before Kate did her check?"
morphs into "What if......the abductor didn't exist?"
How can you say then "'The' is a definite article and it is the word which says 'the abductor' exists'" if the abductor didn't exist?

You are arguing about 'what if'. Those words apply to Smithman as in 'what if he was a holidaymaker...'. They also apply to the abductor as in 'what if the abductor snatched...'. Trying to argue that they cast doubt on the abductor's existence just doesn't work. The abductor is presented as a fact.

[Robittybob1]

You are arguing about 'what if'. Those words apply to Smithman as in 'what if he was a holidaymaker...'. They also apply to the abductor as in 'what if the abductor snatched...'. Trying to argue that they cast doubt on the abductor's existence just doesn't work. The abductor is presented as a fact.

Well that is how I read it.  Take it or leave it.

[G-Unit]

Well that is how I read it.  Take it or leave it.

There's a lot of it about. The misunderstandings of reports and court judgements are particularly common.

[Robittybob1]

There's a lot of it about. The misunderstandings of reports and court judgements are particularly common.

As we have found out.