A mother’s worst fear is something happening to their child. When women hear about these things happening, they apply it to their own child and suddenly feel very insecure. Who can they trust with their children?

Women will feel angry that these pictures and gory details are being pushed in front of them. (1) There is a reason why they do not go to see horror films, there is a reason they take their children to PG films and do not show them 15 rating material. What is being published in the newspapers is frightening and should not be published for the whole country to see.

We enjoy the adrenaline rush of disgust. We want to marvel in Baby P’s suffering and this is clearly not moral or dignified for Baby P. We are getting a sick enjoyment from the death of a toddler. We are indulging ourselves. Baby P does not deserve to be used to make us feel better about our lives and our parents or parenting skills. This indulgence is the reason why horror films involving children are so successful. David Pelzer’s best seller, “A Child Called it” sold millions. The only content of that book was the horrific suffering of a child. Surely this is something that we should not indulge in but should shy away from. Instead of publishing such disgusting accounts of a poor child, why not consider his respectfully, without the gory details.(1)

(1) http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/janice_turner/article5158196.ece