here's something which got me thinking a bit:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/west_yorkshire/7763260.stm

For a mother to "kidnap" her own child, launch a national appeal saying her little girl is lost whilst all the time going through the motions in what was apparently just a massive extortion operation is frankly appalling.

But is it fair to call her "wicked and evil" as quoted in the BBC report there?

If there had been no Baby P or Fritzl stuff in the papers of late would she be "more evil"? Or becuase there's been so much shocking stuff about lately that in a way she's not THAT bad becuase she didn't subject the wee girl to long sustained periods of sexual, physical or mental abuse?

I'm not putting my OWN opinions down anyone's throats here I'm just interested to see what other folk think of Shannon Matthew's mum and if we as a country have become a bit desensitised to things like this courtesy of the other horrific news stories involving kids of late.

DiScuss (awaits ZERO replies)