Comments on: Missing Boy Scout Found Alive

Rescue Dog Led Searchers To Boy Stranded 3 Days In N.C. Mountains

[anvilheadsix]

4 days to find a kid that wondered 1 mile???

Posted by george2221 at 04:55 PM : Mar 20, 2007


I agree. Maybe it's just because I grew up in the country (central Virginia, just north of where this occured) but I don't see the difficlulty in finding him within a 1.5 mile radius.

[gramto7]

4 days to find a kid that wondered 1 mile???
Posted by george2221

Just try to think about it a minute..
A 1-mile radius - linear - but in a mountainous area with lots of trees, rocks, nooks, brooks, crannies, caves, etc. We are still talking about nearly ten miles of area (linear) not counting all the vertical added to that. That is a lot of territory to cover and try to see a small boy who may or may not be able to answer when you call his name. I think the rescue folks have done an excellent job and deserve high praise for it!

[robjk1-2009]

Social workers can jump the gun for sure. I think most assume any case in there office is true. The worker we had told my wife that as far as she was concerned it happened and this was only after a short interview with my daughter. After everything cleared she blamed it on they always believe the child.

.

[dogsoul]

"Once upon a time, I hugged children and patted them on their head. Then came all the PC garbage and the fact that you can be accused of molestation for any thing, any place, any time... Now, I don't touch children unless their parents are present. "

That's why I say... hey - especially if you're a guy, don't involve yourself in any way shape or form with kids. You've seen how little it takes for a social worker to start wild speculations - kid walks off & you may be a molester.... heck, just the fact that you WANT to work with kids is suspicion enough! Although I think it's a shame, I'm telling ya - if you're a guy, don't become a teacher, boy scout leader, coach, mentor, field trip chaparone, big brother - ANY of that kinda stuff... you're taking your life into your hands. And if you think kids don't know or are incapable of or wouldn't think it funny to make UP that you "touched them" - think again.... heck, my own lil' brother used to make jokes to his teacher that our parents abused him(and yes, I know they were jokes - he fully acknowledges this)...

I'm telling ya - be a good role model to your own kids - maybe kids in your immediate family - but don't ever get involved with others' kids no matter HOW much they need good male role models in their lives... it's just too risky - they'll have to go it alone...

[dogsoul]

I've known many social workers and have observed that they DO tend to see predators, molesters, & abusers everywhere - sort of like cops scrutinizing everyone as a crook... they're immersed in it & it colors everything & everyone with whom they interact. Somebody else might say she went out with her boyfriend, had a few beers & they got into an arguement about some guy friend of hers at work - the social worker hears this & immediately starts speculating & providing various reasons why her boyfriend is probably an abusive, controling, alcoholic, stalker that will likely get violent in the years to come... Many social workers wear their "special glasses" & cape well beyond their 9 to 5... They'll often tout the old adage, if there's nothing to hide... nothing to fear - but that's really where they're very wrong. The accusation - even the insinuation carries massive punishment - and any innocent person who has been investigated in this manner can tell you so. It's a nightmare, whether you're guilty or not. Is that to say we turn a blind eye to suspicious circumstances? No, of course not - inquiries can be made - interviews performed - facts examined - and I'm sure they will... but this kind of unwarranted, unsubstantiated, and premature speculation is precisely what creates the kind of feeding frenzy where innocent lives get ruined by overzealous social workers seeing phantoms around every corner...

[robjk1-2009]

He could have wonder 10 miles out and then wondered 9 miles back. alot of wondering could happen in 4 days, but maybe he stayed in the area and they just missed him, but you'd think he would here the search parties being that close.

[robjk1-2009]

let me add this by experience, it is heart wrenching to get invetsigated by CPS for something as wicked and sick as molesting. Had to have my kids away for 1-2 months. thankfully my kids were two small to grasp it all.

[robjk1-2009]

"I agree Robjkl--there may have been no wrong doing and it would not do to jump to conclusions and we do need to get all of the facts--but on the other hand, there may have been wrong doing and with possible scenarios in mind, the information as to what happened and why must be pursued. As for what I write--relax. This is a blog, not a news editorial or a police blotter, it is my potential suspiscion and opinion, but I do hope nothing happened and this was just an unfortunate incident. I still maintain that the police would not be doing their job if, in the back of their minds they did not pursue a possible avenue. It does not mean it will lead to accusations or editorials on what occurred, but as White said, they must question the boy privately and try to find out what happened. There is a reason they want to do that--and it may be because of the circumstances prior to him leaving the camp. Things can be taken out of context---for instance many think I believe the child was molested. I actually don't have that belief--but I do believe the circumstances as reported may indicate something happened. None of us know at this point--but we owe it to the child to find out."
Posted by toldyouso21 at 03:50 PM : Mar 20, 2007




ROB: Exactly and great thought. Poilce must ask did he just wonder off or was he running from something. I think your on the money.

[toldyouso21]

Our troop has been in existance for over 30 years and has never had a complaint against a scout leader or a lost boy.


Posted by saransk at 03:59 PM : Mar 20, 2007


EXCELLENT!!!! Unfortunately all troops or adherence to procedure are not equal in every troop. Because of this, I have no doubt that the why's of the child being left with one adult and why the child breached the 'buddy' rule will be scrutinized. As for those who think this is overkill and unfair to either the adult or the child; more is at stake than this one incident. Potential lawsuits and trauma to more kids could ensue if this went uninvestigated.

Now, the adult and the troop can answer why he or she was alone with that child and the child can answer why they disobeyed the buddy system rule.

[toldyouso21]

Now, I don't touch children unless their parents are present.
Posted by Barbaraf4 at 04:00 PM : Mar 20, 2007


GOOD FOR YOU! Finally those words most of our mom's taught us (about keeping our hands to ourselves) has finally stuck!!! :)

besides molestation, the number 2 cause of viral, bacterial and parasitical pathogen transmission is from touching.

So best to keep your hands to yourself unless invited to touch--even if the parents are present.

[bjbbc2004]

That is beyond ridiculous.

[toldyouso21]

I agree. It is almost like you want that to be what happened to feed you sick mind.
Posted by bjbbc2004 at 03:50 PM : Mar 20, 2007

Hmmmm.....methinks that some posters criticize and doth protest to much. some people despise in others the thing that reminds them of themselves. Et tu, bjbbc2004?

[barbaraf4]

Once upon a time, I hugged children and patted them on their head. Then came all the PC garbage and the fact that you can be accused of molestation for any thing, any place, any time.

Now, I don't touch children unless their parents are present.

[saransk]

I have to agree that there was a breakdown in basic scouting procedures.
1 - No adult is to ever be left alone with scouts - this has become standard practice and is the first thing leaders are told
2 - No scout is EVER to be left alone - when out in the woods especially there should always be a "buddy."

As a scout parent I've been on campouts and know that sometimes these 2 absolutes have made it hard to plan - but in the long run they were designed to prevent speculation and tragedy. Our troop has been in existance for over 30 years and has never had a complaint against a scout leader or a lost boy.

[toldyouso21]

Be carful when accusing someone of molesting. I was falsely accused before, I've bever molested a child in my life, thank God. But I tickled my duaghter with my duaghter saying I'm going tot tell mommy, I said you better not. So we played that little game back and for..."
Posted by Robjk1 at 03:39 PM : Mar 20, 2007

I agree Robjkl--there may have been no wrong doing and it would not do to jump to conclusions and we do need to get all of the facts--but on the other hand, there may have been wrong doing and with possible scenarios in mind, the information as to what happened and why must be pursued. As for what I write--relax. This is a blog, not a news editorial or a police blotter, it is my potential suspiscion and opinion, but I do hope nothing happened and this was just an unfortunate incident. I still maintain that the police would not be doing their job if, in the back of their minds they did not pursue a possible avenue. It does not mean it will lead to accusations or editorials on what occurred, but as White said, they must question the boy privately and try to find out what happened. There is a reason they want to do that--and it may be because of the circumstances prior to him leaving the camp. Things can be taken out of context---for instance many think I believe the child was molested. I actually don't have that belief--but I do believe the circumstances as reported may indicate something happened. None of us know at this point--but we owe it to the child to find out.

[bjbbc2004]

I agree. It is almost like you want that to be what happened to feed you sick mind.

[robjk1-2009]

excuse my type errors

[sugarmice-2009]

My goodness - he's a boy scout and very adventurous I presume - I sure was when I was a kid and I grew up in the woods of Northern minnesota and spent days walking in the woods pretending I was a great hunter - I'm sure he was just curious, got disoriented and lost - but being a scout he had some common sense about him. I don't see that in some of the postings here - can't believe some of you automatically ASSUME he was molested - must be some sick area of your mind that either you were abused as a child or have tendencies towards that. Shame on you - try and find the GOOD in some of these stories - and give the people out there a chance NOT everyone has sick tendencies -

[toldyouso21]

"What happened and what went wrong and why did Michael walk off %u2014 those are all questions that have been plaguing us as we've been following this search. And those are hopefully questions that will get answered whenever we meet with Michael privately," White said.


Seems like I am not the only one with a bit if suspscion...one of the tenets in group scouting is to NEVER scout alone--to be with a buddy at all times--that he broke that is cause for speculation. That he was left alone at the campsite with one adult is not speculation it is the actual circumtance--anyone in a position of authority would be remiss in not questioning how he came to disregard scouting rules---and anyone who did not want the natural trajectory of such questions to perhaps scrutinize the circumstances right before he left. Realists do not simply look at things as they way they wish or hope, and they do not even look at the way things "appear" they analyze and try to get to what really happened. Based on the article-- my postulation is probably one of the considerations of authorities.

[toldyouso21]

"What happened and what went wrong and why did Michael walk off %u2014 those are all questions that have been plaguing us as we've been following this search. And those are hopefully questions that will get answered whenever we meet with Michael privately," White said.


Seems like I am not the only one with a bit if suspscion...one of the tenets in group scouting is to NEVER scout alone--to be with a buddy at all times--that he broke that is cause for speculation. That he was left alone at the campsite with one adult is not speculation it is the actual circumtance--anyone in a position of authority would be remiss in not questioning how he came to disregard scouting rules---and anyone who did not want the natural trajectory of such questions to perhaps scrutinize the circumstances right before he left. Realists do not simply look at things as they way they wish or hope, and they do not even look at the way things "appear" they analyze and try to get to what really happened. Based on the article-- my postulation is probably one of the considerations of authorities.