Journalist Sonia Poulton promises "The untold story of Madeleine McCann".

[Lyall]

Some people see 'conspiracy' when it's actually lawyers doing what they do secretly.

[Alfred R Jones]

Indeed.  But it isn't doing Brenda's family a lot of good.  So what can Sonia Poulton hope to achieve?  She won't further her career, if that's what she thinks.

Sonia obviously has a very high opinion of herself and believes that what she is doing is some great service to humankind and the cause of justice, in fact I think this is what drives many of these "sceptic" types.  If only they could see themselves for what they really are and how deluded and misguided (not to mention nasty and vindictive) they come across, but that ain't ever likely to happen unfortunately. 

[Eleanor]

Sonia obviously has a very high opinion of herself and believes that what she is doing is some great service to humankind and the cause of justice, in fact I think this is what drives many of these "sceptic" types.  If only they could see themselves for what they really are and how deluded and misguided (not to mention nasty and vindictive) they come across, but that ain't ever likely to happen unfortunately.

I agree.  Some of them do believe that they are doing a service, although this has to be a delusion.  In my not so humble opinion.
So much unkindness is really depressing at times.

[Eleanor]

She's said what it's about (partly): the media's treatment of this case.

But you could get a hundred different papers from a hundred people on that subject.

Very few of them mentioning lawyers I expect.

But there is nothing that The Media can say.

[Lyall]

But there is nothing that The Media can say.

 &%+((£ There's bundles.

[Lyall]

Grange, shockingly lurid newspaper frontpages, the absurd Crimewatch and subsequent appeals.

But the PM made his feelings known (and Home Sec) and that was that. £10m is a drop in the ocean truthfully (the national debt rises by that amount every 32 minutes by my calculation - it's nothing in the grand scheme of things if the PM says so)

[Eleanor]

&%+((£ There's bundles.

Well some people need to watch out, including Sonia Poulton.

[Eleanor]

Grange, shockingly lurid newspaper frontpages, the absurd Crimewatch and subsequent appeals.

But the PM made his feelings known (and Home Sec) and that was that. £10m is a drop in the ocean truthfully (the national debt rises by that amount every 32 minutes by my calculation - it's nothing in the grand scheme of things if the PM says so)

Please don't try to take this Thread Off Topic.

[Lyall]

Please don't try to take this Thread Off Topic.

I'm not, but you said there's nothing any journo could write about (assuming any of them are so inclined).

[Eleanor]

I'm not, but you said there's nothing any journo could write about (assuming any of them are so inclined).

Phew. Thank goodness we agree that Sonia Poulton isn't Media.

[Lyall]

Phew. Thank goodness we agree that Sonia Poulton isn't Media.

We're all media now %£&)**#

(of course not everyone thinks that is a good thing, and that's partly what generates the media's periodic outrage about 'trolls')

[Eleanor]

We're all media now %£&)**#

(of course not everyone thinks that is a good thing, and that's partly what generates the media's periodic outrage about 'trolls')

You mean I'm a Journalist just like Sonia?  Excepting that I wouldn't heap misery on the family of a missing child or the family of a very sad woman.

[Lyall]

You mean I'm a Journalist just like Sonia?  Excepting that I wouldn't heap misery on the family of a missing child or the family of a very sad woman.

I agree with you about some things, but that's the modern online world. The answer I think is less legislation/restriction of freedom of speech, not more of it. But more of it is what's in the pipeline, and sooner or later some of the people out there discussing the case will likely face consequences. But that's likely to make things worse not better, just like the action Sky News took did. One thing's for sure: there are no easy answers in a case as unique as this one.

[Eleanor]

I agree with you about some things, but that's the modern online world. The answer I think is less legislation/restriction of freedom of speech, not more of it. But more of it is what's in the pipeline, and sooner or later some of the people out there discussing the case will likely face consequences. But that's likely to make things worse not better, just like the action Sky News took did. One thing's for sure: there are no easy answers in a case as unique as this one.

Believe me, I am pleased that we have a level of communication. I have never wanted to fall out with anyone.  But I don't need the Right to Free Speech because I understand what is acceptable and what isn't.  And certainly you have never offended the forum rules as far as I am aware.
But don't you see that some people do overstep the mark.  They are the ones who put Freedom of Speech at risk.  And Sonia Poulton seems to be heading that way.  She has already accused some politician whose name I can't remember, of being a Mass Murderer.  This is just not acceptable.
So she needs to watch her mouth when it comes to Brenda Leyland and The McCanns.  She alone could do more to erode your rights than I ever could.

[Lyall]

Believe me, I am pleased that we have a level of communication. I have never wanted to fall out with anyone.  But I don't need the Right to Free Speech because I understand what is acceptable and what isn't.  And certainly you have never offended the forum rules as far as I am aware.
But don't you see that some people do overstep the mark.  They are the ones who put Freedom of Speech at risk.  And Sonia Poulton seems to be heading that way.  She has already accused some politician whose name I can't remember, of being a Mass Murderer.  This is just not acceptable.
So she needs to watch her mouth when it comes to Brenda Leyland and The McCanns.  She alone could do more to erode your rights than I ever could.

I know. She already tweeted "let's get this into court" so who knows what her plans really are. The problem is there's a vacuum created by nobody in the press - or other writers with credentials - writing about the case, and in a vacuum the 'conspiracy theorists' and the noisiest are followed.

I... ........ ....... is the politician. Nasty geezer %£&)**#