Shoppers miss missing girl
Categories: Kids 8-11, Health & safety, In the news
A Florida television station, in an attempt to help raise awareness of missing children, performed an experiment at a local shopping mall. The station posted signs with a picture of a missing girl by the entrance to the mall and then had the girl -- actually a paid model -- sit on a bench, by herself, just inside.Shoppers repeatedly entered the mall without noticing the signs and even those who did, for the most part, did not notice or stop to help the supposedly missing girl. Of those who did match the girl to the posters, some were worried about getting involved. "That's what I was thinking," said one shopper. "I was scared the mom would pop out of nowhere and be like, 'Why are you talking to my child?'"
All told, only two actually stopped to talk to the girl and make sure she was okay. Two others saw the posters and the girl and asked the manager of a nearby store to call security. In some ways, the results of the experiment are both good and bad. "On one hand," said the girl's real father, watching nearby, "I wish someone could have stopped to check on a little girl who was obviously by herself. But on the other hand, it was nice to see there weren't a lot of men walking up to her and random strangers."
I'm not sure that I would notice the flyers or the girl, but if I did, I'd like to think I'd contact security at the very least while keeping an eye on her. I'd certainly hope others would do the same for my kids.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Derek 5-03-2008 @ 7:24PM
Well clearly its because everyone is a child molester and doesn't want to get caught talking to a solo child in a mall.
What outcome did they expect? We've taught our children to be affraid of strangers rather than respect the potential threat.
We've taught ourselves that if someone offends you that they've somehow violated your core rights as a person and full action of law must be taken against them.
Good will is now trumped by accidental outcome and that propigates fear.
I prob. wouldn't notice the poster either, but if I did, the most I would do is tell the nearest store manager and get mall security involved..
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Paulo 5-04-2008 @ 8:25AM
I wouldn't know what to do either. Then I did some research online and I found a website that sells kids safety bands. www.kidssafetybands.com . It's a really cool idea. Kids wear this orange silicone wristband (like livestrong)with their initials laser engraved on front, and their parents cell phone # on back. If a child gets seperated from their parents, someone can call them immediately!
We need to spread the word about the orange safety bands - they are so worthwhile!
Heather 5-03-2008 @ 8:54PM
There was an experiment like this around our area not too long ago, except it was a girl at at local gas station. They also had disturbing results. It is just sad that noone wants to help anymore because they are afraid to.
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Sherry 5-03-2008 @ 11:07PM
Here is a stupid question, but did the poster actually tell them what they should do if they saw the girl - like call a certain number or whatever? It sounds like it didn't give any info except "missing" and her picture. Without specific directions I can understand why some people were at a loss as to what to do. Call the police? Call the mall security? Approach the girl directly? What?
I doubt I would have noticed the poster at all unless someone actually handed it to me at the door. There is too much crap plastered everywhere for most people to pay attention.
If I noticed the girl on the bench I more than likely would have thought that a parent was nearby and had told her to sit there and wait. If she was crying or upset or having a problem I would have approached her and asked if she was okay, but an 8 year old kid sitting quietly on bench I doubt I would even look at.
I am not sure that this experiemt proves anything really, at least not with the limited information I read about how it was conducted. I think most people would try to help a child that they can clearly see is in trouble, but all they did was stick a poster up that most people didn't seem to notice and have a girl quietly sit on the bench.
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Pavlina 5-04-2008 @ 1:13PM
Pathetic. This really does show how messed up and completely introverted we are as a society. Whenever I see a kid by himself, I do get involved. I mean, really! So what if the parents get upset, but I think most are glad to know that some of use really do care.
As far as not noticing the poster, once again, not surprising., Most people are way too self involved to notice anything that does not affect them directly. If they did, they wouldn't hold up traffic by yapping away on their cell phone, going 10 miles under the legal speed limit. Oops, sorry. Just a little side rant.
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Derek 5-07-2008 @ 9:26AM
"way too self involved" Woa there... step down from the podium.
It's a mall... Like Sherry said, there is a lot of crap plastered everywhere... like you would notice either.
Robbin 5-09-2008 @ 10:10PM
Maybe they should've put these missing signs on shopping carts and not have it stationary.
These carts would've worked perfectly...
http://www.versacart.us
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