# Van lifer goes missing on cross country trip with fiancee **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 13, 2021, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604 "2021-09-13T13:48:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 11
**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:** [September 18, 2021, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/201 "2021-09-18T17:01:54Z")
> [@Esprise\_Me](#): > > What’s galling is not so much the attention being paid here, but how starkly it throws into relief the attention not paid to others. And it’s fair to bring that up. Yes, it sucks that black crime victims do not receive the same media attention that white crime victims do. But the reality is that the media is not going to devote its limited resources to coverage of every crime. So if the unequal coverage becomes a big enough issue, the media will not respond by increasing the coverage it gives to black crime victims. It will respond by stopping the coverage it gives to white crime victims. Nobody would benefit from that change. ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/202 "2021-09-18T17:10:12Z")
Perfect example of the kind of zero-sum assumptions that allow racism to persist. We’re so accustomed to our privilege that we fear any step toward equality will mean we’re deprived of something we deserve; therefore we’d better just maintain the status quo. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/203 "2021-09-18T17:12:50Z")
I guess authorities are concerned Laundrie might harm himself. He’s probably shocked at the public response since returning home without Gabby. [https://abc7ny.com/gabby-petito-brian-laundrie-hiding-missing-persons/11029038/](https://abc7ny.com/gabby-petito-brian-laundrie-hiding-missing-persons/11029038/) > [@](#): > > Authorities are scouring a vast nature reserve in Florida Saturday as part of their search for Brian Laundrie, Gabby Petito’s fiancé. > > Local and federal law enforcement are combing through a massive county park known as the Carlton Reserve, which spans more than 24,000 acres and is located just north of the home in which Laundrie and Petito shared with his parents. > > Police say his family believes he entered the area earlier this week ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/204 "2021-09-18T17:18:18Z")
I don’t know what kind of people his parents are. Nor do I assume that even good people would never obstruct justice to protect their son. But it occurs to me that “please help, I think he went into that vast nature reserve and might try to harm himself!” would be a great way to distract the authorities if he really went the opposite direction. ---
**Author:** ![susan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/susan/32/17537_2.png) [@susan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/susan)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/205 "2021-09-18T17:21:42Z")
Continuing a previous subtopic, I’ve driven across the US in under 50 hours, alone, at the speed limit, without amphetamines, with one 6-hour nap. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/206 "2021-09-18T17:34:44Z")
Is there really any need to speculate on this point? Aren’t the police able to easily find out from where the text was actually sent? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2021, 10:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/207 "2021-09-18T22:03:35Z")
whoops wrong thread ---
**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:** [September 19, 2021, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/208 "2021-09-19T00:27:22Z")
> [@Esprise\_Me](#): > > Perfect example of the kind of zero-sum assumptions that allow racism to persist. We’re so accustomed to our privilege that we fear any step toward equality will mean we’re deprived of something we deserve; therefore we’d better just maintain the status quo. I feel I addressed that point. Yes, the ideal would be that everyone gets the benefits. But if that isn’t going to happen, I feel that it’s better for some people to get the benefits rather than for nobody to get the benefits. Equality stops being a virtue when all you’re doing is making sure everyone is equally deprived. As for this being “our” privilege, I can assure you this is not the case. I can be objective on this issue because I do not receive whatever benefits society gives to attractive young women. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2021, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/209 "2021-09-19T00:29:44Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > Is there really any need to speculate on this point? Aren’t the police able to easily find out from where the text was actually sent? I believe the question is over who the sender was rather than where it was sent from. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/210 "2021-09-19T00:47:03Z")
If it wasn’t from near Yosemite (or Yellowstone) deliberate deception was involved. If it was somewhere enroute to Florida there is a strong case that it was sent by someone who shortly arrived there. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/211 "2021-09-19T00:52:16Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > If it was somewhere enroute to Florida The authorities would know it, because every text message goes to the one cell tower the sender is closest to at that moment and the location is recorded in the phone system. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/212 "2021-09-19T00:55:07Z")
Brian Laundrie continues to display his entire, absolute, innocence, by going missing since Tuesday. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/213 "2021-09-19T01:10:56Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Yes, the ideal would be that everyone gets the benefits. But if that isn’t going to happen, I feel that it’s better for some people to get the benefits rather than for nobody to get the benefits. Equality stops being a virtue when all you’re doing is making sure everyone is equally deprived. There seems to be a tendency these days to achieve “equality” by reducing things to the lowest common denominator. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 1:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/214 "2021-09-19T01:26:04Z")
That is not what Snowboader Bo asked. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2021, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/215 "2021-09-19T01:56:15Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > That is not what Snowboader Bo asked. I disagree. Here’s what he wrote: > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Are y’all suggesting it would be appropriate to stop looking for or stop being concerned for Miss Petito? And here’s how I described it: > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > Snowboarder Bo did not argue this point. But he asked if it was preferable that one crime victim received a lot of media attention rather than no crime victims receive any media attention. I also quoted his post in my response so people could judge if I was correctly interpreting his comment. I am not Snowboarder Bo but I feel this was what he asked. What do you see as the difference? ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/216 "2021-09-19T02:05:14Z")
**Snowboarder Bo** : Should they stop looking for Petito? **Mighty Mouse** No, they just cover it more than it deserves. **You** Contradictory! His response is completely orthogonal to whether or not a search should be called off, let alone contradictory. I’m completely on board with **Mighty Mouse’s** response of “No idea what you’re on about.” ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/217 "2021-09-19T03:17:43Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > As for this being “our” privilege, I can assure you this is not the case. I can be objective on this issue because I do not receive whatever benefits society gives to attractive young women. This privilege doesn’t just belong to the white women. It also belongs to their white fathers, brothers, husbands, and sons, who don’t have their grief at their missing loved one compounded by an apathetic response from the community. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 3:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/218 "2021-09-19T03:24:45Z")
Wait, did you legitimately believe the prediction that Texas would turn blue? ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2021, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/219 "2021-09-19T03:40:07Z")
> [@Dallas\_Jones](#): > > Brian Laundrie continues to display his entire, absolute, innocence, by going missing since Tuesday. “Going missing” implies his whereabouts are not known to his family. I am quite confident they are. I would, in fact, bet money that his escape is being facilitated by his family. Indeed, it is wholly possible he never actually returned home - that the conveyance of the van home was partially done by his parents, and they all along have hidden him elsewhere. ---
**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:** [September 19, 2021, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604/220 "2021-09-19T04:10:54Z")
> [@Snarky\_Kong](#): > > **Snowboarder Bo** : Should they stop looking for Petito? > > **Mighty Mouse** No, they just cover it more than it deserves. > > **You** Contradictory! > > His response is completely orthogonal to whether or not a search should be called off, let alone contradictory. I’m completely on board with **Mighty Mouse’s** response of “No idea what you’re on about.” Which is it? Is it a benefit or isn’t it? Does media publicity help with solving disappearances? Or does it have no effect? If it helps with the search, then my argument stands; calling off the media publicity would harm the disappearance victims who receive it without helping anyone else. If it has no effect, then why worry if some disappearance victims aren’t receiving it? The argument that white crime victims are gaining nothing of value by receiving extensive media publicity but black crime victims are being denied something of value by not receiving extensive media publicity is contradictory. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604.md?page=10) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/van-lifer-goes-missing-on-cross-country-trip-with-fiancee/950604.md?page=12)