Perceptions of Madeleine's Abduction

[Brietta]

If, as some fantasize, it was Amaral who influenced thousands of people to disbelieve the McCanns' widely publicised abduction story then he achieved his goal. When, in their fury, they chose to sue him for damages and failed to prove their case, he won again. I don't think he needs to 'get his own back' at all.

In the light of more recent information becoming available, people in Portugal are beginning to question Amaral's theories as never before.
I think it is naive in the extreme to imagine that Amaral's unremitting propaganda war did not have a calculated influence on the perception of individuals with a resultant effect on the general perception of Madeleine's case.

He didn't do it alone.

He had help from his friends ~ as a quick glance at what records remain will confirm.

Why the admiration for Gonçalo Amaral? (Madeleine case)
Debate/Discussion

In recent times I have developed special interest in this case. I've seen the Netflix documentary, a few more out there. I've seen several interviews with this investigator.
I noticed that internationally it is not at all respected, but that in Portugal it is very applauded by the population, who seem to like his thesis very much.

Gonçalo is a person who married the theory that parents are responsible.
You've written a book about it, and you'll never admit to being wrong.

It's his reputation that's at stake. Any other conclusion, he'll classify as conspiracy. And Portugal, too.
In fact, it is interesting to compare Portuguese discussions on the subject with discussions in international subs: the difference is that the Portuguese defend almost all that parents are responsible, while out there this theory does not seem to catch much.
Especially now, there's a new suspect. But for the Portuguese, he's just a scapegoat.

I've been doing a lot of research on this case. I've traveled all over Europe, been to the crime scene several times. Well, not literally. Youtube and Google Maps.
My conclusion is that the investigation of Gonçalo Amaral was terrible, and leads me to question why it is said so much that our PJ is very good, when the investigation was a tremendous amateurism, in several aspects.
Next I would like to question some of this gentleman's theories, and perhaps promote further discussion around the subject.

4- Fallacious interpretation of the mother's speech

Gonçalo Amaral says the mother claimed that her daughter had been kidnapped by a pedo.
And he asks, "How does she know that? Usually if a girl is kidnapped by a pedo, she no longer comes back." According to him, the mother, being guilty, does not expect her daughter to return, so gave the warning in this sense.

But there are two serious flaws of reasoning:
1) It is false that girls kidnapped by pedos no longer return. There are cases where they were found alive years later.
2) His interpretation of his intention with that statement is not a fact. That's an opinion.

I think it's something that would cross the mind of any parent.
It doesn't mean anything.
3) The mother speaks of her daughter in the present, in all interviews, so this theory of her is not based on reality.
https://www.reddit.com/r/portugal/comments/ngp9w2/porqu%C3%AA_a_admira%C3%A7%C3%A3o_por_gon%C3%A7alo_amaral_caso/

[G-Unit]

In the light of more recent information becoming available, people in Portugal are beginning to question Amaral's theories as never before.
I think it is naive in the extreme to imagine that Amaral's unremitting propaganda war did not have a calculated influence on the perception of individuals with a resultant effect on the general perception of Madeleine's case.

He didn't do it alone.

He had help from his friends ~ as a quick glance at what records remain will confirm.

Why the admiration for Gonçalo Amaral? (Madeleine case)
Debate/Discussion

In recent times I have developed special interest in this case. I've seen the Netflix documentary, a few more out there. I've seen several interviews with this investigator.
I noticed that internationally it is not at all respected, but that in Portugal it is very applauded by the population, who seem to like his thesis very much.

Gonçalo is a person who married the theory that parents are responsible.
You've written a book about it, and you'll never admit to being wrong.

It's his reputation that's at stake. Any other conclusion, he'll classify as conspiracy. And Portugal, too.
In fact, it is interesting to compare Portuguese discussions on the subject with discussions in international subs: the difference is that the Portuguese defend almost all that parents are responsible, while out there this theory does not seem to catch much.
Especially now, there's a new suspect. But for the Portuguese, he's just a scapegoat.

I've been doing a lot of research on this case. I've traveled all over Europe, been to the crime scene several times. Well, not literally. Youtube and Google Maps.
My conclusion is that the investigation of Gonçalo Amaral was terrible, and leads me to question why it is said so much that our PJ is very good, when the investigation was a tremendous amateurism, in several aspects.
Next I would like to question some of this gentleman's theories, and perhaps promote further discussion around the subject.

4- Fallacious interpretation of the mother's speech

Gonçalo Amaral says the mother claimed that her daughter had been kidnapped by a pedo.
And he asks, "How does she know that? Usually if a girl is kidnapped by a pedo, she no longer comes back." According to him, the mother, being guilty, does not expect her daughter to return, so gave the warning in this sense.

But there are two serious flaws of reasoning:
1) It is false that girls kidnapped by pedos no longer return. There are cases where they were found alive years later.
2) His interpretation of his intention with that statement is not a fact. That's an opinion.

I think it's something that would cross the mind of any parent.
It doesn't mean anything.
3) The mother speaks of her daughter in the present, in all interviews, so this theory of her is not based on reality.
https://www.reddit.com/r/portugal/comments/ngp9w2/porqu%C3%AA_a_admira%C3%A7%C3%A3o_por_gon%C3%A7alo_amaral_caso/

Well found! A Portuguese person doubting Amaral. Was he a lone voice? The other perception of the abduction was also represented below that post;

Not only do I continue to think that the parents did it (at the very least they were negligent), but I have a hard time even posing the hypothesis that the other guy did it. Where's the evidence? I don't see any.
Regolas1
1 yr. ago

[Eleanor]

He was Not a  "Lone Voice".  But The Portuguese People worry about being targeted, unsurprisingly.  Although a fair few of The PJ are themselves convicted criminals who never seem to get anything beyond a suspended sentence.  And still remain employed by The PJ.

Apart from Cristovao who is now in prison.  But that didn't half take some doing.

[G-Unit]

He was Not a  "Lone Voice".  But The Portuguese People worry about being targeted, unsurprisingly.  Although a fair few of The PJ are themselves convicted criminals who never seem to get anything beyond a suspended sentence.  And still remain employed by The PJ.

Apart from Cristovao who is now in prison.  But that didn't half take some doing.

How many supporters do the McCanns have in Portugal then?

[Eleanor]

How many supporters do the McCanns have in Portugal then?

I can tell for sure that you don't know. 

But you are on dangerous ground if you believe that the entire Portuguese Nation supports a lying perjurer.

[Brietta]

Well found! A Portuguese person doubting Amaral. Was he a lone voice? The other perception of the abduction was also represented below that post;

Not only do I continue to think that the parents did it (at the very least they were negligent), but I have a hard time even posing the hypothesis that the other guy did it. Where's the evidence? I don't see any.
Regolas1
1 yr. ago

Thank you for reinforcing my opinion with your post although I doubt that was your intention.

If I had a penny for every pejorative opinion such as that 'sourced' by you, I would be a multi millionaire many times over. 
The point being made by the original quote was that Amaral's opinion has been adopted as being the definitive one by the man in the street in Portugal to the detriment of free and analytical thought. 

This was under the heading "Debate/Discussão" and you asked "A Portuguese person doubting Amaral. Was he a lone voice?"
It seems he may very well have been if the following comments to which you allude are anything to go by.  One certainly being enabled to concur with the original premise and the subsequent point that "But as you can see, the people Portuguese like his theory very much." confirmed in its entirety.

Surely a less than suitable environment to conduct any investigation with a hostile population who cannot quite shake off the opinions which have formed their opinions and belief despite evidence to the contrary.

[Brietta]

How many supporters do the McCanns have in Portugal then?

This is where you sceptics get bogged down in the Amaral morass.

What the Hell does your question signify?  The McCanns are not the focus of anything either here or in Portugal.

The present tri-nation investigation concerns Madeleine McCann and only Madeleine.

That hatred of her parents has taken precedence over that is part of the tragedy and has been right from the beginning.
And there is simply no justification for it at all when the important issue is and always should have been, the fate of a missing child.

[Brietta]

I can tell for sure that you don't know. 

But you are on dangerous ground if you believe that the entire Portuguese Nation supports a lying perjurer.

I think that the "lone voice" of a year ago will not be so lonely now that the German investigation has progressed and as people ponder Amaral's nefarious intervention of false and misleading information directed against it.

[Eleanor]

Does it matter what Portugal as a whole thinks?  Anymore than it matters what we think.

Even the Case itself is now out of Portuguese hands, due to the gross mismanagement of someone or another who couldn't even pinpoint a serious rapist and serial paedophile, despite DNA Evidence.

[Wonderfulspam]

These are my opinions to which I am entitled, kindly do not belittle my opinion by calling them figments of my imagination.  Any policeman building a case against suspects he 100% believes committed a crime wants to see them charged and found guilty of said crimes, unless there is something very wrong with them.  IMO Amaral and his cohorts deliberately leaked to the media prior to his dismissal in an attempt to break down the McCanns.  Now, how do you cope the fact that three police forces are investigating Madeleine’s abduction?  How do you rationalize that to yourself?  BTW Madeleine was abducted.  I can say this quite safely because it is apparently also ok to say Madeleine wasn’t abducted on this forum, no IMOs needed.

Well, she wasn't abducted. That's why it's OK to say as much without imo's.

[G-Unit]

I can tell for sure that you don't know. 

But you are on dangerous ground if you believe that the entire Portuguese Nation supports a lying perjurer.

Neither do you, despite your post; "He was Not a  "Lone Voice"

[G-Unit]

snip/
The point being made by the original quote was that Amaral's opinion has been adopted as being the definitive one by the man in the street in Portugal to the detriment of free and analytical thought. 

So one poster agrees with you and another poster agrees with me. So what?

[Eleanor]

Neither do you, despite your post; "He was Not a  "Lone Voice"

I have seen and read a few things over the years which told me he isn't a Lone Voice.  But I can't be bothered to find them again, mainly because I am not in the least bit interested in what you think.

My prime intention was to defend the Right to Innocence of The McCanns.  That is done now.

I have in passing, defended the same Right for Brueckner.

You will have to go a very long way to fault me.  My only interest now is Justice for Madeleine.  But I will point out Lies and Misrepresentations when I see them.

[Brietta]

So one poster agrees with you and another poster agrees with me. So what?

You really are practiced in exactly how to dampen down discussion which isn't quite to your liking or going your way.

I think it may be associated with an innate inability to view current affairs independently and without recourse to entrenched opinions which disable consideration of the wider picture.  Which on this thread concerns the myriad of indoctrination which has had an inordinately unique influence on the conduct of Madeleine's case.

You appear to be in the camp which considers that to be a good thing - MY OPINION based on reading a cumulation of your posts - but prove an inability to produce any cogent argument in support.

I don't think perceptions of Madeleine's abduction are ever again going to be viewed with the unmerited faith allowed to past opinions based on no evidence at all.
Looks like Amaral is going to have to carve out another lucrative niche for himself that is if he doesn't find himself behind bars for so transparently interfering with the course of Justice.

[Brietta]

I have seen and read a few things over the years which told me he isn't a Lone Voice.  But I can't be bothered to find them again, mainly because I am not in the least bit interested in what you think.

My prime intention was to defend the Right to Innocence of The McCanns.  That is done now.

I have in passing, defended the same Right for Brueckner.

You will have to go a very long way to fault me.  My only interest now is Justice for Madeleine.  But I will point out Lies and Misrepresentations when I see them.

Soloist in the choir springs to mind.

Who the conductor may be I have no idea.  The trick with that one is if no-one knows who you are you won't be left carrying the can.

DREADLOCKS INDEED 🤢