Where does evidence end and speculation take over?

[Wonderfulspam]

you can say what you like afaiac...as I hope can I... John directed a post towards me saying that this forum is based on evidence...with an acceptable level of speculation... I suppose it depends on who decides what acceptable is

So two or three abductors being either paedos or burglars, getaway cars, detailed surveillance operations, drugging Madeleine, notes in reception, practice runs for abduction & a spare key etc etc is all an acceptable level of speculation,

But a quick and simple disposal of body hypothesis is not?

[Wonderfulspam]

you can say what you like afaiac...as I hope can I... John directed a post towards me saying that this forum is based on evidence...with an acceptable level of speculation... I suppose it depends on who decides what acceptable is

Acceptable in which terms, the quantity of speculation or the content of ?

[Mr Gray]

So two or three abductors being either paedos or burglars, getaway cars, detailed surveillance operations, drugging Madeleine, notes in reception, practice runs for abduction & a spare key etc etc is all an acceptable level of speculation,

But a quick and simple disposal of body hypothesis is not?

 its up to John..it's his forum

[Mr Gray]

Acceptable in which terms, the quantity of speculation or the content of ?

probably the level...and keeping to the laws of libel. The internet is in its infancy and there is a lot of libel happening...hopefully this will eventually be sorted

[John]

Someone made a good point there.  Is it acceptable for SY or the Press to speculate about burglars?  Or was it acceptable for Jerry Lawton's newspapers to speculate about Sr Monteiro?  Can Crimewatch speculate on suspects?

[Carana]

Someone made a good point there.  Is it acceptable for SY or the Press to speculate about burglars?  Or was it acceptable for Jerry Lawton's newspapers to speculate about Sr Monteiro?  Can Crimewatch speculate on suspects?

I don't think that Monteiro should have been named in the press for the sake of his family as it's seems to be have been a general enquiry that got blown out of proportion. And where did the UK papers get the name from and how?

But then neither do I see why there should be insuations of lying concerning named individuals on here or elsewhere concerning entering 5A to check on children. For example.

[Wonderfulspam]

Someone made a good point there.  Is it acceptable for SY or the Press to speculate about burglars?  Or was it acceptable for Jerry Lawton's newspapers to speculate about Sr Monteiro?  Can Crimewatch speculate on suspects?

Daily Star about Monteiro,

"The suspect could have taken the child to commit a sex crime before killing her."


So it's ok for that to be printed about him via mass media.


But death to anyone who, on an internet forum with roughly 300 members, says they suspect the McCanns could have disposed of her body.

[John]

I don't think that Monteiro should have been named in the press for the sake of his family as it's seems to be have been a general enquiry that got blown out of proportion. And where did the UK papers get the name from and how?

But then neither do I see why there should be insuations of lying concerning named individuals on here or elsewhere concerning entering 5A to check on children. For example.

I understand it was the Portuguese Press who first released his name after the stories by his widow appeared.  I do remember researching it at the time but couldn't find it in the British Press.

[Carana]

I understand it was the Portuguese Press who first released his name after the stories by his widow appeared.  I do remember researching it at the time but couldn't find it in the British Press.

Others may remember better than I do. My recollection is that the Portuguese press provided all the details except his name. The UK press provided his name in their largely scribbed versions.

There's a reason for that. Defaming the dead is a criminal offence in Portugal but not in the UK.

[John]

This is a new thread constructed using earlier off topic posts.  Please read the OP before commenting. TY

[icabodcrane]

But posters are continually allowed to post speculation without evidence

If you want to prohibit 'speculation without evidence' then you must accept that any discussion about abduction would be off limits

[Redblossom]

If you want to prohibit 'speculation without evidence' then you must accept that any discussion about abduction would be off limits

+1

[sadie]

If you want to prohibit 'speculation without evidence' then you must accept that any discussion about abduction would be off limits

As you must accept that any 'speculation without evidence' that all/ any of the tapas group are liars would be off limits

Also, that any 'speculation without evidence' that Kate and Gerry are involved in any way would also be off limits.  Additionally that is libellous.

Nigh night

[Redblossom]

As you must accept that any 'speculation without evidence' that all/ any of the tapas group are liars would be off limits

Also, that any 'speculation without evidence' that Kate and Gerry are involved in any way would also be off limits.  Additionally that is libellous.

Nigh night

The bullying  libel threats are tiresome, give them a rest....the circumstantial evidence of a non abduction outweighs that of an abduction, simple as! Oh, but JMO!

[icabodcrane]

As you must accept that any 'speculation without evidence' that all/ any of the tapas group are liars would be off limits

Also, that any 'speculation without evidence' that Kate and Gerry are involved in any way would also be off limits.  Additionally that is libellous.

Nigh night

Well,  I think if a degree of  'speculation'  is allowed,  provided there is evidence to support it,  then discussion of the possibility that the missing child died in the apartment is permissable given the cadaver dog's alerts there  ...   and the involvement of the McCanns is almost inevitable in that regard 

Concerning the theory of  abduction,  if we are limiting speculation to evidence based discussion,  then I suppose we are left with the man the Smith family saw carrying a child that night

There really is nothing else at this point  ...  even Scotland Yard acknowledge as much