Every once in awhile we’ll hear a story about someone, or some group, that has been locked away for years. The latest is a group of six adult children, ages 18-25, who have been locked away in a farmhouse in Ruinerwold, Netherlands for 9 years. Some of the children have been so isolated that they cannot speak. It’s coming to light that their father was the head of some weird doomsday cult, and there is footage from his Facebook page, such as his raggedy self working out on this handmade exercise machine, below, that makes me think that he’s a bit unhinged.
The neighbors didn’t even know the family was there. In fairness, this is a rural community and the houses are not close to each other. But it must take some doing to hide and feed that many full-grown humans without raising a few eyebrows at your grocery cart contents. It beggars belief.
I remember the story of Colleen Stan, who was locked in a box under her kidnapper’s bed, 23 hours a day, for years on end. Another bizarre story is that of the Wolfpack Brothers, who, along with their sister, were kept in a Manhattan apartment, for 14 years. Then there’s the Turpin family, the parents of whom kept their 12 children locked away, on the brink of starvation, and even often shackled to beds. And who can forget Jaycee Dugard, who was kidnapped at age 11, and kept in a backyard compound for 19 years while she raised two children in captivity?
In my opinion, the most disturbing part of these stories is what they imply. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that even as I type this, there are other captives, heaven only knows where, who are suffering in secret, desperately in need of our help. And yet we don’t know where they are. That’s going on right this very minute.
It makes you appreciate your freedom, doesn’t it? But it’s also a sickening thought, and a helpless feeling. If you see something strange, please don’t look the other way. Speak up.
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The View from a Drawbridge 
After the last time I read such a sickening story, some while back, I suddenly felt like this was a periodic phenomenon, that something that goes on all the time is revealed every so often, on a cycle, How to alter that cycle until the horrors supporting it are not seen any more, that’s a question. When I was 13, my parents were friends with a couple who I found many years later had horrendously abused the kids. We had “no idea” back then, although my parents should have got a hint when the father yelled at his 5-year-old son to “eat like a white person”. I sat there with my jaw on the table while my parents didn’t say a @#$%^ thing. Of course, the way my mother didn’t defend me against my dad’s rages (he never got mad at her because she was providing all the sex), I guess it fits in. But I and that little boy, who somehow survived, are still dealing with the fallout.
If we somehow accelerate the cycle with the hope that people will get startled enough to do something about it, will they just become inured to the news, as we (some of us) are starting to do about mass shootings in public places? By accelerate, I guess I mean becoming vigilant enough to spot this stuff earlier, and more of it, and valiant enough to speak up. Aaggh. I can’t stand to read anything more than headlines any more, is how bad it is.
I agree.
And now, with social media, it’s a lot harder to hide despicable behavior, and in my opinion, it’s even more inexcusable when someone turns a blind eye.
Several of these structures have been built in outlaying areas, but no one thinks it is creepy except me. I have never seen a single child anywhere near here. Not my idea of a playhouse. I am having trouble sending you the picture, Built out of pallets and corrugated steel & cardboard & Plywood.
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Not seeing the pictures, but if something seems strange to you, I’d report it.
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