Baby 'for sale' on eBay returns home: Should the parents be allowed to have their baby back?

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Baby 'for sale' on eBay returns home: Should the parents be allowed to have their baby back?

by Miranda Posted July 03, 2008 20:58:58

26 answers
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+5 raves

A baby boy removed from his parents' custody after they offered to sell him on eBay for just a euro -- $1.59 -- as a joke is back at home.

The parents maintained that the posting was just a joke gone awry. Investigators agreed, dropping their probe into possible child trafficking.

"Offering my nearly new baby for sale, as it has gotten too loud. It is a male baby, nearly 28 inches long and can be used either in a baby carrier or a stroller," read the original eBay ad that ran on May 24.

Do you think that the parents should have their baby back, seeing as it was a joke?

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+3 raves Dandy July 07, 2008 12:45:19

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
I find it reprehensible, disturbing on many levels and downright shocking. But I find a lot of parenting decisions the same and they don't take babies away for a lot of negligent reasons. In this case a bad joke (assuming it was) does not equal loss of child. I do think there should be mandated parenting classes. I hope they have learned their lesson.
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Carol March 12, 2009 23:08:25

Answered: Other...
I think one very important aspect has been overlooked here,and that is the fact that ebay have absolutely no idea what people are up to on their site!!! you think you are protected on ebay,but this proves all that is bullshit !!!!
Zee October 03, 2008 20:49:48

Answered: No, they should have to wait so that they can contemplate their actions further.
The though of selling the baby was on their mind or they would have never thought of this "joke". There are people out there trafficking in humans, and it is no joking matter.
tanzy October 02, 2008 06:23:15

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
It was a stupid joke gone very wrong. It's not worth losing their kid over.
+1 raves
emme425 July 17, 2008 20:37:36

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
...A VERY BAD JOKE
cappsy has a barcode ~_~ July 17, 2008 20:05:13

Answered: No, they should have to wait so that they can contemplate their actions further.
There is joking and then there is just stupidity thus hits stupidity

Joking on a serious matter isn't joking
+1 raves
Marky July 17, 2008 17:37:37

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
Obviously, by the price set, it seems for all purposes to be a joke. A very stupid one, but a joke nonetheless. I do believe there should be some legal requirement, such as community service, so they will not repeat such an idiotic act.

Marky :o)
+1 raves
Dammit Yammit July 17, 2008 12:17:08

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
and buy some gas-x two many more brain farts like that one might get them in deep s--t!
maegan July 17, 2008 05:54:40

Answered: No, they should have to wait so that they can contemplate their actions further.
wtf is there deal ?
+1 raves
★ SLC ★ July 17, 2008 05:53:10 (edited)

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
Damn it to hell! People need to lighten the F up!! It was a joke, and if the kid grows up with ANY kind of sense of humor, he'll laugh at this shit.

Why are people so titty suckin' sensitive these days?
Roxi July 17, 2008 05:49:23

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
This was a bad, very bad joke, however, I don't think they meant it.
+1 raves
Foo Master Angie July 16, 2008 15:53:04

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
While it may have been in poor taste, they weren't actually trying to sell their child. Certainly not for one euro.
Raindropkitten Loves The Fl... July 16, 2008 15:34:30

Answered: No, they should have to wait so that they can contemplate their actions further.
thats sick and messed up even if it was a joke which isnt funny by the way and someone should have called that in or the ebay people should have seen it and reported it as child neglect or something...people are idiots and idiots shouldnt breed
+1 raves
♥leave it to beaver♥ July 16, 2008 15:08:13

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
thats crazy but you know everyone takes things seriously these days so they prolly shoulda not done that lol
+1 raves
Spider20 July 12, 2008 04:19:17

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
Hopefully, mumma and dadda grew up a little with all the hoopla..........
+1 raves
Dackelmommy July 10, 2008 04:47:45 (edited)

Answered: No, they should have to wait so that they can contemplate their actions further.
What is going to happen one day to this little guy when he is a teen and realizes that his parents did this? Will he find it funny that they used him for their own amusement, rather than giving him love??
★ SLC ★ to Dackelm... July 17, 2008 05:55:41 (edited)

Who's to say that they weren't giving him love?

Good question though regarding how the kid will look back on this. I wondered that myself.
+1 raves
kyle July 09, 2008 13:55:26

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
i do think they should have back, but it as a bad joke, i couldnt imagine the parents just sitting around and coming up with that kind of joke!!!!!!
+2 raves
LisaSmith July 09, 2008 12:51:39

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
Some people have a weird sense of humor. I do not think it is funny but it is not abuse.
+3 raves
Dandy July 07, 2008 12:45:19

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
I find it reprehensible, disturbing on many levels and downright shocking. But I find a lot of parenting decisions the same and they don't take babies away for a lot of negligent reasons. In this case a bad joke (assuming it was) does not equal loss of child. I do think there should be mandated parenting classes. I hope they have learned their lesson.
★ SLC ★ to Dandy July 17, 2008 06:00:31

What lesson is that? That we shouldn't express our humor publicly because some humorless jack asses will threaten to take our children away?
I'm not trying to get on your case and I respect your opinion, but why would you use such strong words like disturbing, and shocking? I've seen some disturbing and shocking things and this doesn't even begin to qualify.
+1 raves
Dandy to ★ SLC ★ July 17, 2008 17:33:38

Seriously? There are all kinds of lessons to be learned here. Hopefully the one they learned was how to deal with a baby who cries. When someone lists something on ebay they should intend to follow through with the transaction. There really isn't anything funny about listing a child for sale on ebay. Unfortunately we live in a world where childnren are bought and sold into sex and slavery all the time. I find it disturbing because of the trafficking and slavery that are potentials for this to be. I find it shocking that anyone would be so frustrated with a crying baby they would find it funny to put the child on ebay. As the mother of two small children the violence that humans do to each other, the abuse, neglect and worse done to children bothers me. Really bothers me. Things like this story play into my own personal fears for my children. And to me, this just isn't funny.
+2 raves
★ SLC ★ to Dandy July 17, 2008 20:44:56

I understand you concerns regarding legitimate child trafficking, there's likely nothing else in this world so terribly reprehensible .
As far as listings needing to be honored on eBay: I'd hope you weren't including this particular one.
From what I gather, this was not a legitimate listing, in so far as the parents really wanting to sell the child. The courts found no evidence to support the allegations that these parents were actually trying to auction off their child off
It was just a joke. That's all.
And, the more I've thought about it, the less I approve of the "joke", but I still do not view it as shocking,or disturbing. Just stupid.
+1 raves
justimike July 07, 2008 02:04:35

Answered: Other...
I really dont know if they should I mean its a lil f**ked up what they did but then again it wasnt like they were beating it. Idk maybe they were on some drugs or something I guess not.
+1 raves
Ravenhon - Patriotic Atheist July 05, 2008 15:06:29

Answered: No, they should have to wait so that they can contemplate their actions further.
These pricks should be denied their child and then sterilized. There are some things that you just don't do.
+2 raves
JESUS WAS A COMMUNITY ORGAN... July 04, 2008 13:45:19

Answered: No, they should have to wait so that they can contemplate their actions further.
How is this funny in any way?
+3 raves
Gramma Lil July 03, 2008 23:11:14

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
He wasn't being abused....it was just a joke gone bad...even in poor taste.
+1 raves
Tracy July 03, 2008 21:40:48 (edited)

Answered: Absolutely! They were kidding, even if it was a bad joke.
Bad choice of jokes but they were just kiddin' right?
+1 raves
sd July 03, 2008 21:20:44

Answered: No, they should have to wait so that they can contemplate their actions further.
That is not funny at all. They should think before they do things like that! I do not know if it was a joke and I think they should not have the baby back.