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If you read the previous thread you will see that I did meet and talk at length with this lady before she set out on her camino. Since her last message from Pamplona, in early June, nothing has been heard, despite enquiries made by myself and others here in England, including, as stated, her last address and all phone numbers.
Yes, I am very concerned, as are others, despite attempts by some on this forum to trivialise the problem.
If anyone can help, please do, otherwise keep your negative comments to yourselves.
Thanks for the facebook information. I'm relieved to hear she's well. This was the only purpose of our search on this forum. Reporting to police would have been the last step. Why escalate it, when all we wanted to know was that she was well? Now we know she is, we can relax. But may I suggest there is no 'one size fits all' approach to these matters. Those who were not familiar with the basis for our concern seem very keen to chip in with instructions for what we should do, without considering whether it was appropriate. I'm sure these instructions were meant to be helpful, but they could sometimes seem the opposite. Sometimes a softly-softly approach is preferred on a potentially delicate matter.If you are concerned you should report her missing to the police.
Her PUBLIC facebook page has plenty of updates as far as Burgos and to July 28th.
Suggestion to moderator to come up with an official procedure/guidelines on missing people?
I think it's fairly obvious that the OP hadn't seen the facebook updates when he described her as 'missing'. Less preaching please, and more rejoicing that the lady is safe and well!You are to be congratulated on your concern. However, reporting someone as missing is quite a serious matter. As seen on the facebook thread this person is obviously not missing. And so ... why are you posting that she is?
I can see some merit in this suggestion with some stumbling points: Pluses+++if the person is a Forum member, there is ample background to provide when they are walking, which Camino, estimated arrival in SdC. By announcing they are starting their Camino on a specific date...Forum members will often be on the look out along the Way. Negatives---If the pilgrim is not a Forum member, we will most likely have to depend on others that may be Forum members to raise the "hew and cry". Suggestion: if a Forum member is in contact with a person, or persons not a Forum member, that are, in fact, either planning their pilgrimage, or have departed, that they suggest the individual register with the Forum, or leave a projected plan as to which Camino Route and expected arrival date in SdC. Also, an agreed upon method of "checking in" on occasion. All that said, some folks are truly hoping for a personal, private Camino experience and do not wish to be tied to those back home. In that case, the purchase of transportation tickets with a departure/return date fits the bill. Often, "No News...is good News!"Suggestion to moderator to come up with an official procedure/guidelines on missing people?
So one would imagine - but my last thread on this topic was just such a request, and the response was equally harsh.If it had been something like-- "I'd like to connect with Andrea...", the response might not have been so harsh.
Excuse me? At what point have I sought to preach?
Tell me what the problem is with making gentle enquiries as to someone's well-being?
I never labelled the woman as 'missing'. I merely asked for confirmation she was well.
Her personal details were kept out of my posts - they were put up by those people objecting to my search.
I am genuinely baffled at the unpleasant reactions to my enquiries.
Why was I wrong to ask forum members for help?
Isn't that what we're here for? Or is point-scoring the real game?
You seem to be where we were last year. Please don't go, you are valued.Thank you Metropolly for these words. Personally I was shocked by some harsh reactions. And it made me decide to leave this forum for a while and actually get more walking done. There is enough bad vibe in the real world to keep me going so I don't need it in the virtual one also.
I agree. We have a few of these each year and so far all pilgrims turned up... not sure if it makes sense to block these requests since they usually are from worried parents/family members. We just need to behave ourself in the response to the initial post.On a the general question of people "Missing" although this is not the correct place to report such events we cannot stop people posting and quite understandably in such circumstances the parent or loved one concerned about the person is desperate and wants to post as widely as possible.
I know what it is like as we contacted the French authorities once when we were concerned that our son was missing. Of course he turned up a few days later safe and well and wondered what all the fuss was about. No doubt if relevant forums like this had been around at the time we would have posted something.
Guys - Please keep personal criticism of others off this forum.
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