# I don't care about the child aduction

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-about-the-child-aduction/188493>\
**Category:** The BBQ Pit\
**Created:** [July 14, 2003, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-about-the-child-aduction/188493 "2003-07-14T22:13:23Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 6

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**Author:** ![Ferrous](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Ferrous](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferrous)\
**Post date:** [July 18, 2003, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-dont-care-about-the-child-aduction/188493/101 "2003-07-18T19:00:40Z")

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> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by Rysler \*  
> **The cite was merely intended to jog your memory of the event, since it was less than two months ago, and all over the news, yes, BREAKING INTO regular broadcasting.**

It didn’t jog my memory of the event, as I have no memory of the event to jog. I don’t live in California. If it made the news here, I don’t recall it. Anyway…

> [@](#):
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> **[Here’s a cite](http://www.cnn.com/2003/US/West/06/07/california.abduction/index.html) that mentions the Amber Alert. An acquaintance case, but one where there was violence involved, hence the alert. I have NO problem with that.**

Great. So you’re point in bringing it up was…what?

> [@](#):
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> **I’ll give clarifying my post one more shot – There is no need for me to experience drama, panic, judgement, or flapping about when I see a missing child on TV, Amber Alert or not, because in [79%](http://www.accident-attorneys-utah.com/pdf/ChildAbductionBrochureEnglish.pdf) of child abduction cases, the suspect is not a stranger.**

And I’ll give _this_ one more shot: The statistic is not in question. It is not, however, relevant in the present discussion. (Amber Alerts, application and efficacy of)

> [@](#):
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> \*\* I have no insights to provide to the police that trump the insights of actual people involved in the situation.\*\*

They’re not asking you for insights. They’re asking you to be on the lookout, and give them a call if you spot the bad guys.

> [@](#):
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> \*\*The thrust of my post is this: While missing children are none of my business, law-enforcement-wise or otherwise, and I do not care to masturbatorily indulge in endless television coverage of them when there is nothing I can or have a right to do, I will keep a wary eye out. \*\*

Well, I certainly consider missing children _my_ business, and believe that I have both a right and a duty to help out if possible. It’s part of being in a society. We’re supposed to look out for each other. If it was my kid, I’d want others to help, so I’ll help them when I can.

While I certainly agree that “endless television coverage”, the sort of media frenzy that often accompanies any such story, is both annoying and mostly useless, that’s not what we’re talking about. We’re talking about government-issued alerts designed to save a kids life, not sell advertising on a news show.

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