Has anyone been following the Elizabeth Smart story? I don't know about you guys, but I'm very intrigued. At first, I couldn't believe she was found...I figured her for dead after 24 hours. Then she turns up and I'm like "Wow, what a great ending!"

Now, you hear about the circumstances of her capture, how she lied to the police to keep them from finding her, and you gotta wonder what the hell's going on. I mean, I understand kids are impressionable and all, but, by 14 years old, you wouldn't think she'd be that easy to brainwash. When I was 14, I'm pretty sure I would've escaped at first oppurtunity, no matter how nice my kidnappers were to me. Wouldn't you?

There's definitely somethin' fishy going on there if you ask me.

It does seem a bit strange, but its hard to tell how such a situation would impact a young girl. The 2 kidnappers were some kind of religious nutcases and they seem to have brainwashed her pretty good.

Although they didn't say it at the press conference, they alluded to her having been sexually abused.

I was watching TV when the news broke and the reaction of the family - it almost brough tears to your eyes, you just had to feel so happy for them.

I'm with you Leper there is something fishy going on, we may never know what really was going on.

Although I agree that it does seem fishy, it is very easy to instill fear in and brainwash a person (especially teenagers,they are very impressionable) to the point that they will deceive those trying to help them. Sometimes kidnap and abuse victims begin to identify with their captors because they become their only "link" to reality and therefore , their sense of reality becomes warped to the captors perspective. I sincerely hope that Elizabeth Smart was not actually a willing part of this, it would be such an awful thing to do to her family...especially her sister. I am sure the truth will eventually come out.

The family's joy at having their child returned to them comes across very clearly through the media, as does the father's continual lobbying for the "Amber" alert to become nationwide. What is not (yet?) is seething anger and disgust toward the kidnappers. The information that she left as a little girl, and returned a young woman, is communicated with little emotion, as is the theory that the kidnapping may have had a polygamist agenda.

I think I read her family are staunch mormons themselves - so they presumably don't have much of big problem with polygamy - but I don't know too much about it so I could be talking out of the back of my head

From everything I've read & seen, they are mormons in high standing. Regardless of their standings on polygamy, you'd think that the family would be outraged with everything that's gone on. Rather than her daddy's histrionics over the Amber alert thing, he should be screaming for the kidnapper's head on a platter.

Have any of you been to a rock concert? Have you seen how that music sends those kids into a fit?They are beening brainwash.The same with this child.They could have given her something to speed up the process.Give the kid a brake you are thinking with an adult mine and she is really just a baby.

I'm sure you have heard about the pocket book dropwhere they get grown people to draw their life saveings out of the bank.What is this but brainwashing.You expect a child to be smarter than an adult?Give Elizabeth a chance to explain befor we start with the bashing.:mad:

I was probably attending rock concerts before you were born. I've not seen anything within here that is critical of the child's behavior. You might want to spend a bit of time proof reading before posting, your message is almost garbled.

I'm somewhat critical. 14/15 year olds have their personality very much complete and they're hardly "babies." I'm sorry, but any 14/15 year old who can't remember who the enemy is and the value of their family after 9 months is a weak person. Her father needs to spend less time grandstanding and spend more time teaching his kids a little strength of character.

Do a little reading about the Patty Hearst / Symboniese Liberation Army case from the 1970s, and then the "Stockholm Syndrome" before passing complete judgment on this kid.

If you were attending rock concerts befor I was born you must be 75years old.Don't tell me these kids are in their right mines the way they act at these things.There are people out there that can make you do what they want.Smart women have given men their money and done what they wanted them to do.This is just a kid and kids mines are like clay you can mold it in any shape you wish.I hope you understand what I'm trying to say Mr.Smart one!!!

There was some collusion

I saw on the news where they are going to investigate the police for some of the actions they took (or didn't take).
I also saw where they may also investigate the parents, what the heck is this about?
If there were nothing fishy going on why are they now saying they may investigate the family?
I'm glad they found this girl and that she is safe, but if the parents are jerks how long will she remain safe? Will she just end up in another wierd situation?
I'm not saying the parents are at fault, but I still smell a rat.

Ah, good ol' Stockholm Syndrome: Another psychological euphemism for weak-mindedness.