Compassion over controversy? Never!

After last night's discovery of missing Auckland toddler Aisling Symes, Police Inspector Gary Davey stated: "I know you've got a lot of questions, and so do I." As with any event which reaches a high level of national significance, Your Views gets right in there to asks its own question, not missing the opportunity to capture how the "public" really feel about the issue.

Your Views asks: How well do you think the police handled the Aisling Symes case?
This question belongs to what we might call the "privilege of hindsight" theme common across Your Views questions; Did Civil Defence respond appropriately to the tsunami warning?/What do you think of the police's handling of the Napier siege?/Was Paula Bennett right to release income details on two solo mothers?

A high number of Your Views users have pointed towards the inflammatory nature of the question posed, accusing the Herald of sensationalising what is an extremely tragic event:

Kiwi (Waikato/King Country)
What a inflamatory question. At this stage we know nothing of how this poor girl ended up where she was or how the Police received information she was there or decided to look there. Before we start blaming the Police how about waiting till all the facts are out and thinking of the families involved.

Responsible Kiwi (Eureka)
Come on NZ Herald - we expect more from you than a question that reeks of media hype. The Police seem to have conducted themselves with the utmost professionalism and compassion. The whole community has pulled together. Very sad outcome but I guess in one way it didn't end up like the McCanns - never knowing. Love to the family.

mixer1976 (Titirangi)
Really really sad that some people use this forum to criticise the Police, which is probably only due to their own shortcomings with the law. These are usually the same people who have the 'told you so' mentality, with their only contribution to the community being to criticise others from behind the security of a keyboard.you are weak people. [...] A ridiculous inflammatory question by the Herald - highly insensitive at a time like this. How about compassion over controversy for once!

Once again it is great to see user criticism of Your Views posted in the section, with the highly sensitive nature of the story and the feeling that it is 'too soon' to be asking this question working to generate disapproval.

Grant (Mt Eden)
Did a whole lot better then your jackass reporting! They were out there day and night doing their jobs and looking for her. Far too soon for this type of question and you should remove it straight away. The police did a wonderful job. but oh noooo! It's never tooo soon for the Herald to put questions like this up and they are only want to get a reaction from people. (Of course this wont get put up, but I do feel better - rant over)

I bet when the Your Views moderator(s) sees the phrase "Of course this wont get put up", they post the comment just to call the user's bluff. By publishing the entire comment, the moderators make Your Views seem even more open to criticism; however, it somehow feels like Grant is also disempowered by this. Grant thinks the thread should be removed and predicts that his comment will go unpublished - Your Views enforces that he is wrong on both accounts.

Wayne Lo (Mt Albert)
Those saying that the cops are above criticism probably have fascistic tendencies. This is the way of Communist China in the past - adulation of public officials and public servants. They are getting away from that sort of thing now bigtime - as anyone familiar with the Chiense blogsphere would well know.
The Herald is completely correct in bringing questioning the actions of the police - in any democracy (or at least in any democracy which wishes to remain so), the police, the judiciary, and the politicians should all be held up to ruthless and relentless scrutiny.

As Wayne Lo demostrates, not all users appear critical of Your Views' decision to post such a question. Wayne fully supports the Herald in questioning the actions of any civil servants, arguing that such questions are necessary for a well-oiled democracy.

C R (Papakura)
I didn't help search so I don't have a right to comment.

Technically C R, if only users with a first-hand involvement in an issue or event had the right to comment in Your Views, then the section would be unrecognisable. Your Views is the way it is because people with varied levels of understanding and involvement in certain issues or events feel compelled to share their opinions. Your proximity to the issue or event is irrelevant. Whether you were a member of the search party or simply followed the news coverage, Uncle Your Views wants YOU!