Thread 3 already...I was hoping we wouldn't need a thread 3
I'm just catching up again. Glad that we heard from her bio dad today and that he's apparently in better health that he was earlier on.
I don't really have any thoughts or theories to add that haven't already been discussed by all you wonderful sleuths. I just wanted to throw in a FWIW here.
Regarding the family not talking to the media...I don't find it that odd for LE to tell them not to or for them not to want to, especially in these parts. Many people up here have "old school" mentalities when it comes to public attention and media...they're quite cynical about it. They don't always see the media as a tool to be used to their advantage but rather as a bunch of nosy busy bodies feeding the minds of the curious public who can't stand not knowing all the latest gossip. It's not just here, but it's also like that in many of the more rural communities where people are still more tightly rooted to the old ways than others in larger more progressive communities. They were taught to be more reserved and to shy away from large scale attention because "fame" is dangerous to the ego and makes one vulnerable to exploitation.
My Dad and many of my family member from generations before me feel that way and would probably act the same way. When he sees something like this in the news (especially those cases that are plastered all over the news constantly for long periods of time, like with Caylee), he always grumbles about how the media is a bunch of vultures looking for a story to feed the curious minds of the public, who disguise their nosiness as concern and sympathy. He thinks families would want to be left alone at a time like this (because that's how he would react) and that media should just let LE do their jobs. He sees it as exploiting people for entertainment during a time when they're fragile. Even if it was his kid/grandkid he would probably still feel that starting his own public crusade would not be helpful. He would likely feel that beyond cooperating with LE that there was nothing he could do and it was in their hands. Unfortunately, he and many others I know, were raised to feel powerless as common citizens, and were taught to let LE and the professionals handle things like this. People weren't made to feel as empowered decades and generations ago as they are today.
And he can't understand why people like us would want to hear about such horrible things constantly and sees it as "dwelling" on things. He thinks we're just obsessed with the sensationalism of these stories. He says it's the same as when people drive by an accident and can't look away because they just have to know what's going on. He feels most people don't do it out of concern, but rather out of nosiness and that they don't "need" to know what happened because it's not their business. If he's around when I watch the news or NG, JVM, etc...he's always saying "Why do you want to keep hearing about such sad things? I want to think happy thoughts." He doesn't understand how we can listen to such horrible details and not need to change the channel. He doesn't realize that ignoring horrible things doesn't make them go away, not happen, or keep them from happening in his life. And he especially despises people like NG and JVM and thinks they are "drama queens" who over-exaggerate things and exploit people's personal tragedies for ratings. Honestly, I have to admit, I think he's somewhat right with that last thought.
And unfortunately, many LE feel that way too, and not just in areas like this. I have a BA in Criminal justice, though I don't actually work in the field...and I can remember many class discussions and professor warnings (our professors did have years of experience in the field before teaching) about the negative affects media coverage (especially too much) and how it can often do more harm than good for a case. I somewhat agree with that...and I think we've all seen those negative effects with cases like Casey Anthony, the first OJ trial, and many other cases that became high-profile. You'll notice the most high-profile cases almost always result in acquittals or mistrials...and I don't think it's just because many of the defendants in these cases are well off financially (though it doesn't help matters). I believe a lot of it is because of the high levels of media coverage that make it impossible to find a jury of 12 people who haven't already made up their mind or heard so much stuff that they CAN"T make up their mind.
I'm not saying this is the case with CC's family, just that it's possible IMO. It could also be why they have put up no trespassing signs...because they might feel like people's intentions aren't genuine and that the media/public don't want to help, they just want to be nosy. I think it's important for us to remember that not everybody thinks/feels the same ways we do about the media. We understand that gray area...where we are aware of the potential dangers of media involvement but we also know that media coverage and public involvement can be helpful if done properly. Unfortunately not everybody understands that.
Of course I haven't counted out that maybe the SF's schizophrenia is more the reason for the paranoia...and they're all just nutso and one/some of them are possibly involved. I also haven't counted out that maybe LE told them not to because LE feels the way I just described. And I've even considered that maybe LE told them not to because they have shown to have a poor ability to speak and say the right things in the few limited dealings they had with media in the beginning...and maybe LE believes their speaking will do more harm than good. I just don't know anymore. I wish we had some answers but I just keep hoping that LE knows more than us and more than they're telling us. Unfortunately it doesn't help all of us here that are genuinely trying to help.
