NBC: Missing Boy Scout found alive after disappearing in N. Carolina woods.

[Lonely NY Conservative]

No details yet....

[soccermom]

Yeah, but there is a difference between a grown woman disappearing with no signs of a struggle and a kid disappearing on a camping trip. I just think it is sad that the first thing some people jump to is skepticism.

[soccermom]

Every one of those people you described were adults with no witnesses around. This was a kid with a group. How could a 12-year-old disappear? Kids get lost in the terrain all the time. Heck, adults get lost on hiking trips. It happens.

[Victoria Delsoul]

Such great news, I heard it earlier today.

Praise the Lord!

Thanks for the ping, AC.

[Alberta's Child]

Pretty amazing story . . . that kid was apparently well-prepared to survive under some tough conditions!

[Victoria Delsoul]

Indeed he was, thank God.

[SuzyQue]

I agree with you. Serious weirdness. I heard his dad on the radio saying something about his having hitchhiked before, and having to talk to him about it.

[ClearBlueSky]

Oh- I'm going to go ahead and say it.
Something isn't 'right' -and it's probably the kid.

I'm relieved that he is safe and well, but it sounds like this boy has a mental disability and needed special supervision.
I blame the scout leader who evidently knew the boy wasn't able to be as responsible as the other scouts were- and who evidently didn't watch him constantly. And I blame the parents for letting him go into the wilderness to begin with.
If I had a child who had trouble concentrating on mundane, daily things I certainly wouldn't put him in the position to have to learn, and retain, survival skills. This boy doesn't seem to have been able to follow the most basic rule- never wander off alone. Wanting to make him feel 'included' almost cost him his life.

[spunkets]

"I blame the scout leader who evidently knew the boy wasn't able to be as responsible as the other scouts were- and who evidently didn't watch him constantly. And I blame the parents for letting him go into the wilderness to begin with."

Ya forgot to blame Bush.

[2111USMC]

Bushes fault.

;)

[cardinal4]

Thank "Bob" for the saftey of the scout.

Bob? As in JR "Bob" Dobbs?

[Lando Lincoln]

Thanks for the post LNYC. I said a prayer this morning for Michael and his family. I am so relieved for the happy outcome. As for the thread, I am also grateful that I am not critical or cynical enough that I feel compelled to judge what happened. That may come out in time. It may not. I will not judge the motives of the parents or their decision to give Michael ritalin. I am simply happy that a precious life is home with his loving parents. As a father of twin 14 year-old boys, that is what I choose to do.

[ClearBlueSky]

Very funny!
So you don't think any of the adults are at fault here? If the boy has a mental disability that he can't control, isn't he the responsibility of the adults entrusted with his care?
If he's not ADHD, then he did a stupid thing- as adolescents are wont to do, but all those scouts are children and were entrusted to the care of the person(s) who took them camping.

[spunkets]

"So you don't think any of the adults are at fault here?"

I don't. There is no justificaiton at all to blame any of them.

<>" If the boy has a mental disability that he can't control, isn't he the responsibility of the adults entrusted with his care? If he's not ADHD"

ADHD has nothing to do with this, and I don't see any particular insight into what did go on here on your part, just an impulsive outburst scattering blame all over.

"all those scouts are children and were entrusted to the care of the person(s) who took them camping."

I think they all did a fine job and you don't know what went on there, and aren't even close to grasping it.

[Recovering Ex-hippie]

A very good analysis and excellant comments.

[SubGeniusX]

Thank "Bob" for the saftey of the scout.

Bob? As in JR "Bob" Dobbs?

"Bob" Loves You
I hope you know your "Bob"
loves you, no matter what "Bob"
you believe in. Thank your "Bob"
for life and ask your "Bob" to let
you live as your "Bob" would want
you to. When we look closley at
"Bob" we begin to realize that we
all believe in the same "Bob", we
may see "Bob" in different ways,
but "Bob" will always be "Bob".
There can only be one "Bob", and
that one "Bob" loves us all, and
wants nothing but the best for us.
If you're in doubt, just remember
"Bob" works in mysterious ways.
There is a reason for everything....

- Someone

[Burkean]

Based on interviews I have heard with the father and other things I've read, I don't think this kid wanted to go on the campout in the first place. He asked the father for a bribe if he had to go, so he was obviously trying to get out of it and the father was encouraging him to go. Then he was not cooperating with the leaders and they probably just didn't know what to do with him. Under these circumstances I think the father should be required to go on the camping trip with such a child.

[cardinal4]

"Dont just eat a hamburger, eat the hell out of it!"

[SubGeniusX]

"Bob" sold it.

I bought it.

That settles it!

[jerry639]

How do you get to be a 12 year old scout and not understand the buddy system?

I was assistant scout leader for many years back when you didn't have to have several adults along when we took them camping. I say "we" but most of the time it was just "me", since the scout leader always had an excuse why he couldn't be there that weekend.

Never had one of them to get lost but you would be surprise what mischief they can get into. All in all they were a pretty good bunch of boys. Tough too. Many times we had bad weather during our campouts and I never once heard one complain.

[ClearBlueSky]

Amazing- excusing the adults of any responsibility whatever re. a minor child.
If I take a bunch of 12 year olds to the movies- I'M RESPONSIBLE for their safety. If I take a bunch of minors camping in the wilderness I am damned well responsible for their safety! We're talking about minor kids here, not commandos in training.
If I remember correctly, Scouting costs. There is even more responsibility implied when money changes hands.
It was another poster who brought up the ADHD angle to this, I am merely considering it as a factor that complicates things. If the boy isn't ADHD, then it isn't a factor.
My initial response was to the poster who said that something wasn't 'right' about this incident. I said I think it is the kid- and I stand by my opinion.
Normal 12 year olds don't mindlessly 'wander' away from safety, and they don't ignore the people calling, and the helicopters and general noise of search parties when they are only a mile and a half from camp.
As more details come out, I will adjust my views if necessary, but until then I've shared them and that's all any of us can do here.