Comments on: Parents: Innocence Lost For Kidnapped Son

Shawn Hornbeck's Parents Tell CBS News He "Is Truly A Survivor"

[fluffyshrimp-2009]

...Whatever you believe, you should at least take your own advice and "do something about it, not sitting her posting" for self-glory might I add. At least the people here are posting because they have pity for Shawn. You're posting because you have delusions of grandeur for yourself. Puss.

We're here talking about it because it's a topic that interests us, same as why you're here talking about it. The only difference is that we're being honest about why we're here, while you try to tack some unfounded, world-changing, heroic meaning onto it for yourself. It's a news article comments section, so let us use it to comment. You can have fun saving the world with it.

Also, what the hell do iPods have to do with children losing their innocence and being abducted by a pedophile? Keep to your main point.

You know something? Whatever. Fight the good fight online crusader. Maybe if you talk to people online enough, using that remarkably brave "backbone" of yours to do so, you'll cause a "momentum of force driving the crusade in defeating this horrible, horrible tragedy." I'm sure one less kid will be abducted now that you've fulfilled your duty of being an annoying, self-promoting, ******* to people online whom you don't know. Bravo! Keep up the good work.

(How do we "defeat" Shawn being kidnapped for 4 years, by the way?)

[survivoralso]

mdc76082 - I'll take the bait. Yes, I also teach my kids how to avoid danger, how to run from it and how to fight to get away. I hope they never need to, but even if it meant taking away some of their innocence to teach them how to be safe, that is what I do. As to "self-righteous pity" ... I AM doing my part by letting them know that they are not alone, it has happened to someone else and they have gotten through it, that can be very powerful to get over feeling like a victim. I do shake when I think of this because it brings up memories, if you see that as weakness then you're clueless. I do advocate for missing and abused kids and women in my area, what do you do? If nobody ever came forward to discuss their own abuse, would anybody ever be prosecuted?

You may be surprised to learn that I don't agree with letting the boys appear on TV, they are minors and should be protected from the publicity. I do think their stories, minus the details, should be told. Abused people of all ages are shamed into silence. Sharing their story can make them feel like less of a victim and can help others who haven't come forward.

The important thing is getting the creeps off the streets and protecting kids from this ever happening, and being their to support and encourage and yes, even telling them your own story to help them feel that they are no longer alone.

[neverhome2]

Shawn is a HERO! The fact that he survived at the hands of his kidnapper is a miracle. Unfortunately our judicial system protects these abusers. How many repeat offenders are still free. As an abused child(my abuser still lives the life of luxury) I hope he can overcome this trauma. Shawn remember it is not your fault. You were just a child when you were abducted. You are also a survivor and you have nothing to be ashamed of. I hope Devlin rots in jail or worse..

[mdc76082]

Ok. Ok. Sit down with your 11 year old and ask them if someone took them, held them from mom & dad, threatened them with grave danger to them or mom & dad, gave them the freedom to do whatever they pleased, kept them out of school, what actions would they take? Proud to say mine said, 911, run like heck to the nearest neighbor, kick, scratch, claw, scream, whatever it took to get back home. Now, question yourselves as parents. Are you really "teaching" your kids to be self sufficient or our you teaching them that mommy & daddy will do it all for you. As far as child innocence these days, well, that would be a nice thing, but now adays consider it a thing of the past. they growup just as fast as technology & the media can throw iPods, B Spears & P Hilton at them. Please. Stop with self-righteous pity, "I'm shaking s I'm writing this..." You of people should be the "backbones" when it comes to child abuse. You should be the momentum force driving the crusade in defeating this horrible, horrible tragedy. Not sitting here posting for self pity. I would have thought you folks to be the pillars of support, not trembling and cowarding in some corner of your dim lit apartment. Do something about it!

[susanhelit]

For those who think an 11 year old boy should be able to hold up to threats and torture enough to be ready to escape - let's just go through a few of the very common things these children go through that you think they should be able to stand up to:

Abducted at gunpoint (known fact)
Tortured, sleep deprivation (statement by his parents)
Threats of killing not only him, but his parents, anyone he knows, anyone he sees (some statements, plus standard operating protocol for these perverts).
A particularly sick potential in this case, of seeing the disposal of his predecessor.
Lies, mind games, fake chances to escape or send a note given to test the boy.


This would break most adults, let alone an 11 year old child!

[karen091866]

It's so sad to see all the postings alluding to this child not taking every opportunity to run or escape.
An 11 year old child is still very much an innocent being. The reports so far indicate that a gun was involved in his abduction. ---That would put a bit of fear into most people.
Who knows what type of threats he was subjected to--perhaps even viscious lies about potential harm coming to his family.

After being overpowered physically, mentally and emotionally, what resources does the average child have left to work with? Be honest with yourself (especially those posting that have children)---The average child doesn't have the skills to work their way out of something like this.

My prayers go out to his boy and the other child kidnapped by this freak. He'll get what he deserves once he's assigned an inmate ID number in the prison system--and he deserves everything that will be delivered.

[msvicky1]

I wonder about a child/teenager who is held "hostage" by someone for that long of a time who is allowed to have friends, left alone, all the things I read about in People and yet he never tried to run? I may be missing the point, but he was old enough to understand his peril and the need to flee but when he had chances he didn't. I just don't get it - my first thought would be to run - just to take the chance that I would get away - and with the numerous chances he had, he stayed. Sounds like a kid who didn't want to go home - and I know that just raised someones ire but it makes one take time to think.

[jp13377]

I think it's a good thing for Shawn and his parents to go public - this kid needs to see the world is supporting him and how what happened to him was not his fault. This kid needs to know he's loved and supported by society. His parents are troopers - especially Shawn's father who is a STEPFATHER. That man is a role model for all stepfathers! Everyone is so quick to judge these people - back off and just be supportive. I hope Oprah gave these families some of her millions for appearing on her show - they could use it.

[dpbanana]

To those who mention the 800,000 (where do you get this number from?) children, I'd like to point out that most missing children are missing in custodial cases. That is, they have been kidnapped by a non-custodial parent, not a random *** predator. Certainly being taken away from one parent by another is traumatic, but cannot be compared to being kidnapped by a stranger and sexually abused.

[dpbanana]

To those who mention the 800,000 (where do you get this number from?) children, I'd like to point out that most missing children are missing in custodial cases. That is, they have been kidnapped by a non-custodial parent, not a random *** predator. Certainly being taken away from one parent by another is traumatic, but cannot be compared to being kidnapped by a stranger and sexually abused.