Thread: Strange World

Just thought I'd share the oddness. This girl is gonna have stories to tell I'm sure.

globeandmail.com: Vancouver newborn put up for sale on Craigslist

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I agree, oddness. Some folks have a "unique" sense of humor.

On the other hand ...

"After Vancouver police tracked the number provided to a downtown apartment, 10 officers - including members of the vice squad who have experience with human trafficking - descended on the suite."

I guess it was a slow crime day in Vancouver if they could afford to send TEN officers for what is probably just silliness.

shocking! babies should only be sold from 3rd world countries to affluent 1st world celebs.
Don't these people know the protocol?

Originally Posted by Chimensch

I guess it was a slow crime day in Vancouver if they could afford to send TEN officers for what is probably just silliness.

In my opinion, it should be treated as if they were serious. Most practical jokers won't use their actual phone number, unless they are very dumb. Coupled with the seven-day old baby in the apartment, I'd say they acted appropriately.

Crimes involving children, real or hoax, need to be dealt with quickly and seriously.

Young babies are not that resilient. One day without food and chances are they're dead.
Since it was completely unknown what the real situation was, I think they were right in going en-masse.
That way, if they'd had to split up if the parents were not at home, they'd have a much better chance of finding them.

And after reading the article, I have to say I didn't think it was funny at all:
following comes from the article:

"But, of course, why was it posted in the first place with a phone number? There's so many questions here. It's very disturbing on many levels."

The mother and father are known to police and "both have had drug addiction problems in the past," he said. Police have not released their names.

I would not automatically believe their story, and imo this situation needs long term social services follow up.

Originally Posted by Ookla

In my opinion, it should be treated as if they were serious. Most practical jokers won't use their actual phone number, unless they are very dumb. Coupled with the seven-day old baby in the apartment, I'd say they acted appropriately.

Crimes involving children, real or hoax, need to be dealt with quickly and seriously.

This is the part I agree with. What I thought was funny was that they sent TEN officers. Wouldn't it have made more sense, for example, to have an officer call the number and ask to set up a meeting, such as, "is the baby still available". If the answer was "yes" then do a regular sting, and you have evidence. Now, I don't think the police have much of a case.

Originally Posted by Chimensch

This is the part I agree with. What I thought was funny was that they sent TEN officers. Wouldn't it have made more sense, for example, to have an officer call the number and ask to set up a meeting, such as, "is the baby still available". If the answer was "yes" then do a regular sting, and you have evidence. Now, I don't think the police have much of a case.

They've got a total case. Human trafficking is totally illegal. I can't walk around threatening to rape people and say, "I was only joking", in my defense and get away with it. It was a dumb mistake and they are in deep trouble for it.

I support exactly what the cops did. Ho in with enough force to effect a victory if it is real. No wasted time on phone calls. Save the kid! What if a human trafficker saw that ad and decided to offer them some more money? Or even just got ideas of their own? Who knows what situation the cops could have found themselves in.

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Originally Posted by xman

They've got a total case. Human trafficking is totally illegal. I can't walk around threatening to rape people and say, "I was only joking", in my defense and get away with it. It was a dumb mistake and they are in deep trouble for it.

I support exactly what the cops did. Ho in with enough force to effect a victory if it is real. No wasted time on phone calls. Save the kid! What if a human trafficker saw that ad and decided to offer them some more money? Or even just got ideas of their own? Who knows what situation the cops could have found themselves in.

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I agree with what you're saying but there's more to it than that. First of all, this was a POTENTIAL case of human trafficing, not one that had happened yet, while there are tens of thousands of real trafficing cases that happen every day that are more hidden and never discovered. This case illustrates the laziness of the police who rely on rather obvious tips and overkill. For example, I have two daughters adopted from Korea. When we first started looking into adoption, we found a lot of private lawyers supposedly representing young girls who wanted to give their babies up for adoption. Obviously, there was no payment involved, just $10,000 (25 years ago, it's probably a lot more now) in legitimate "expenses". Because when a lawyer does it, it isn't a crime. Then, there is the mafia that entraps young women from Eastern Europe looking for work and then sells them into white slavery. That's trafficing and the police don't interefere with it because they are paid-off. No, the trafficing that gets attention is silly stuff like this.
Yes, I agree with you, things like this should be taken seriously. My point is only that if there were ten policemen with nothing else to do available to run over there, then they aren't really doing their job.

Originally Posted by Chimensch

... Then, there is the mafia that entraps young women from Eastern Europe looking for work and then sells them into white slavery. That's trafficing and the police don't interefere with it because they are paid-off. No, the trafficing that gets attention is silly stuff like this.
Yes, I agree with you, things like this should be taken seriously. My point is only that if there were ten policemen with nothing else to do available to run over there, then they aren't really doing their job.

I'm hearing you. When you put it like that it sure sounds like a publicity stunt.

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