# Being kidnapped by someone really nice. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 22, 2010, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577 "2010-07-22T09:54:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![PapSett](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ecc23a/32.png) [@PapSett](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PapSett)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577/21 "2010-07-22T17:48:31Z")
Wellllllll… when you consider that I really have no family or friends that I hang with, this is sounding like a pretty good deal to me. My only stipulation would be that he bring my dogs & cats along… and since he is granting my every wish pretty much, that should be no problem for him. Toss in a computer and a few books & hobbies… yeah. I’m good to go. It’s been a really, really long time since anyone has taken care of me in any form, so yeah… I think I’d just sit back and enjoy. And if he’s cute, that’s just icing on the cake. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577/22 "2010-07-22T20:09:23Z")
Male kidnapper? Lull him into sense of false security, give him no reason to think I might try to escape. Once this is accomplished, beat the crap out of him when first I get an opportunity that presents minimum danger to me and maximum disadvantage to him. Depart. Female kidnapper? Same, except that I would feel obliged to avoid the beating if possible. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577/23 "2010-07-22T20:28:18Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > If there is no threat of violence, I’m not understanding how I got captured in the first place. However, attempts to kill my captor and/or escape will commence approximately 1 nanosecond after I realize I’ve been captured. Oak don’t play that shit. I assume the victim was drugged, Oak. Incidentally, I just opened a GQ [thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=12715810#post12715810)asking how much force the victim may use to escape; your input would be welcome. ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577/24 "2010-07-22T20:32:03Z")
Well first I’d ask him for a back rub, $1,000 and some new shoes. Then I’d escape. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577/25 "2010-07-22T20:35:11Z")
> [@Promethea](#): > > It reminded me of the OP’s premise in that Fred (the narrator of the first half of the novel) totally fails to factor in how she might feel about being held captive in and of itself because he sees her as an object to possess rather than a person in her own right. Or if he does, like the captor in the premise, he thinks he can offset any distress by buying her fancy clothes, artbooks and whatever else she asks of him. > > It didn’t really remind me of _Lolita_ because I don’t think Fred’s that unreliable a narrator. It’s true that he rarely understands Miranda’s actions and is often confused by her but I think Fowles writes so that we in the audience see what’s really going on most of the time. And I don’t think Fred ever describes her saying or doing anything that doesn’t take place in reality, for instance - it’s just he usually interprets things incorrectly. We also get Miranda’s thoughts and feelings via her diary to clear up any discrepancies. There is a lot of stuff about how the two really can never understand each other’s worlds too, of course. > > As it’s one of my favourite novels, I’m more than happy to chat further about it but in a new thread I’ll open so as not to hijack this one any further. Give me a shout if you want me to start one. I thought of the Collector, too, and would love to take part in another thread discussion. I think I started one a year or so ago but I don’t know if it went anywhere. I agree that it’s not like Lolita. Fred reports exactly what happens, but he’s so socially clueless that he just doesn’t get it. And he also seems to lie to himself about his own motives. In The Collector, Miranda finds it to be hellish. No, not as bad as a kidnapper who routinely tortures you, but it does sound devastating. Your family and friends will have no clue what happened to you, for one. Never getting to see them is horrible, too, as is the fact that they’re probably worrying themselves sick every day wondering if you’re dead, or in pain, or what. And then there’s the whole fact that you’re just there to be someone else’s toy or pet. That’s no life. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577/26 "2010-07-22T20:53:45Z")
I would immediately begin working on my escape. The fact that they are willing to hold me captive shows that they are placing their interests above my own. And I don’t want to be in any situation where I’m under the control of somebody who has no interest in my well-being. Sure, today they may say they love me and want to feed me caviar and rub my feet. But tomorrow they may decide to put poison in my breakfast. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577/27 "2010-07-22T21:04:41Z")
I saw a Disney movie once that was sorta based off this premise. I think it was called _The Lion King_. ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577/28 "2010-07-22T21:09:53Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > I saw a Disney movie once that was sorta based off this premise. I think it was called _The Lion King_. Oh, you mean Beauty and the Beast? I never really thought that was a kidnapping scenario. It was either her dad had to stay for picking the rose or Belle. Granted, the Beast could have been a nice guy about it and said they could both go home. But after all, he was a beast. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577/29 "2010-07-22T21:43:55Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Oh, you mean Beauty and the Beast? I never really thought that was a kidnapping scenario. It was either her dad had to stay for picking the rose or Belle. Granted, the Beast could have been a nice guy about it and said they could both go home. But after all, he was a beast. Actually, I was thinking of _Peter Pan_ . . . Just kidding! Although, it roughly works in that movie too. Also, while only owned by Disney, ‘The Cat Returns’ features a somewhat comfortable kidnapping. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2010, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577/30 "2010-07-23T08:05:46Z")
> [@Autolycus](#): > > I saw a Disney movie [Beauty and the Beast] once that was sorta based off this premise.. I always assumed his purpose for keeping Belle was to hope that she might break the curse. I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t have kept the father in as nice of accommodations. Then again, the rose somehow tied itself into the whole situation, didn’t it? For some reason, letting her leave for too long would actually cause the Beast to die. So I guess he also kept her to keep from dying. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/being-kidnapped-by-someone-really-nice/547577.md?page=1)