The 'Find Madeleine Campaign' Helpful or Harmful?

[Eleanor]

Luckily Martin won't see the incessant trolling from you guys.

Of course he won't.  Martin Grime was trying to build his own business.

He appears to have done well in America..  But what price justice,

[Mr Gray]

Indeed. Poor Martin.

Martin is, a professional... Professionals can expect to be criticised Re their professional life

[The General]

Martin is, a professional... Professionals can expect to be criticised Re their professional life

By you perhaps. Poor Martin.

[jassi]

Martin is, a professional... Professionals can expect to be criticised Re their professional life

Aye, by other professionals in that field, not amateurs with a dog obsession

[Mr Gray]

Aye, by other professionals in that field, not amateurs with a dog obsession

no...by members of the public..I dont think you understand how professionals work

its ok to criticiese judges...policemen...politicians...doctors

[jassi]

no...by members of the public..I dont think you understand how professionals work

its ok to criticiese judges...policemen...politicians...doctors

So you'd be quite happy to be trolled online over your dental work by a bus driver with a denture obsession?

[Mr Gray]

So you'd be quite happy to be trolled online over your dental work by a bus driver with a denture obsession?

Who said I'm a dentist

When you choose a restaurant... Hotel... Or any professional.... Don't you look online for reviews... I do

[jassi]

Who said I'm a dentist[/b]

When you choose a restaurant... Hotel... Or any professional.... Don't you look online for reviews... I do

I'm sure you've said so on more than onel occasions.

[Mr Gray]

I'm sure you've said so on more than onel occasions.

No I haven't... Not on this forum... And to discuss personal details is, against forum rules.. Perhaps you've had messages from stephen

[jassi]

No I haven't...

Suit yourself.

[Vertigo Swirl]

Like many others who gave their time for free she added to the public's knowledge of the case. Had those peopke not bothered the only sources of information would have been the McCanns, their lawyers, spin doctors and the media. We would have been completely misled imo.

Misled about what?

[Vertigo Swirl]

Why is it absurd ? What did they need it for at that point ? They were high earners with, I’m sure, money in the bank, and were being given free accommodation, donations could have been kept in an account until a more considered decision was made. I believe that’s what happened with both the money donated when  Daniel Morcombe and April Jones went missing.

Why would anybody want to start a charity for other missing children when their sole focus was to find their own child?  How would this charity have operated?  What would have been its aims and objectives?  Who would decide who to give the money to and how much?  The money was given specifically to help the McCanns so what obligation did the McCanns have to spend their time and efforts helping other parents in the weeks following Madeleine’s disappearance?  It is absurd.

[Vertigo Swirl]

Erin Buckels whose research into trolling which was quoted on the OFM Facebook page wrote me the following email ( permission to make it public was given )

Hi ****************

Thanks for your email. I was not aware of Madeleine’s story, but I took a
look at the official Find Madeleine Facebook page a moment ago.
Unfortunately, it’s hard for me to judge the situation because it looks
like the admins have deleted most (if not all) of the offending comments.
From your description, it certainly does not fit the standard definition
of trolling. It sounds more like cyber-activism to me.

In general, I do not support censorship and I do not think it is
appropriate to censor comments like the ones you describe. You should not
label someone a troll just because they have a dissenting viewpoint.
Personally, I think that even real trolling has a legitimate place in
online discourse.

I wish you luck.

Sincerely,
Erin Buckels

You wrote to her to gain approval for your online activities?  How sad.

[faithlilly]

Why would anybody want to start a charity for other missing children when their sole focus was to find their own child?  How would this charity have operated?  What would have been its aims and objectives?  Who would decide who to give the money to and how much?  The money was given specifically to help the McCanns so what obligation did the McCanns have to spend their time and efforts helping other parents in the weks following Madeleine’s disappearance?  It is absurd.

How many police forces were helping the parents in those first weeks and months to search for Madeleine? Why did they need money to search themselves in those first weeks ? The charity would be operated like all other charities who look for missing children with the same hierarchy and the same methods of providing help. Other than a moral obligation, what obligation did they have to help others in the same position as them, none but like the Morecombes, it might have brought them some comfort.

[Vertigo Swirl]

How many police forces were helping the parents in those first weeks and months to search for Madeleine? Why did they need money to search themselves in those first weeks ? The charity would be operated like all other charities who look for missing children with the same hierarchy and the same methods of providing help. Other than a moral obligation, what obligation did they have to help others in the same position as them, none but like the Morecombes, it might have brought them some comfort.

As it turned out they did need money for the search, quite a considerable chunk.  Charities don’t run themselves.  They take time and effort, something that the McCanns were spending on focusing on their own missing child.  Why would you expect them to be worrying about everyone else’s missing kids at that time?