Tv's Top 5!: Shawn Hornbeck phone home or Oprah

I LOVE YOU SHAWN HORNBECK> STOP FRICKEN BLAMING HIM MR> SWANNY.

I think everyone just has to get their two-cents in. Who cares if he was on Oprah? After 4 1/2 years of not knowing where he was, can you imagine their joy at having him come home? I don't blame them for shouting it to the world! I think it would be great if Shawn can lead a normal life from now on and try to regain what he has lost.

To those of you who are criticizing Shawn for not running, you need to read up on Stockholm Syndrome. You also need to realize that Shawn was an 11-year-old CHILD, NOT an adult. It's unrealistic to expect children to react or do things the way adults do. Kids are not adults-they're kids. You all need to look at this from a KID'S viewpoint, not an adult's. There is an interesting comment from another site about Shawn, by someone who describes a "carrot and stick" mentality. It's on one of the sites that talk about Bill O'Reilly's callous statements regarding Shawn's behavior during his captivity(I don't remember which one-google Shawn Hornbeck). It's an interesting read.

Why are people always so quick to blame the victims in such cases?! Shawn probably didn't tell anybody what happened to him because his kidnapper TOLD him what he had done to kids who tried to get away or told neighbors or police. Shawn was likely convinced that if he tried to get help, and failed, he would be killed. That is a VERY powerful silencer, especially coming from a 300 lb, 6'4", gun-wielding sociopath! Not to mention that his captor probably shamed him to the point that he believed he was too "damaged" to return home. (THere are already reports that Devlin told him his parents wouldn't want him back like this.) And his parents are equally victims of a system that hounds families and tempts them with financial and other incentives to let their stories be told. This family is hurting beyond belief. Yes, it is preferable for them to be allowed to recuperate in peace, but it is the curiosity of people (like ourselves!) that drive the media frenzy to these lengths. Why can't we let them be?!!

"Dragbrg" you are a jerk. Plain and simple. You don't know Shawn or anything he was my innocent 11 YEAR OLD Shawnny Bug when he got taken....HE IS THE VICTIM OF UNSPEAKABLE CRIMES. You should feel horrible.

I don't know about anyone else but I am so tired of hearing people question Shawn H ....about why he did not try to leave... In my book he is a lifesaving hero ...

They tell rape victims to do what ever it takes to survive.. even if that means stroking the rapist's ego... and they give pats on the backs of those who fight and get away, they pat them on the back if they don't resist and allow the terrible thing to happen to be completed and as long as they walk away from it alive they are told to be grateful.

But they have the nerve to keep asking this courageous young man why he did not try to contact his parents, or get away over the past 4 years....

How dare anyone expect this young man to do anything that would have jeopardized his life, Shawn was still in a preteen should we have expected more of a child than a grown woman? Has no one really listened to what he has been saying???

When on Oprah he struggled through a difficult interview full of unstated judgments .. But at one point Oprah asked him about his relationship with Ben O. And Shawn quietly stated he was very proud of how well Ben dealt with the kidnapping and the treatment that those days included.. and that he prayed the whole time that Ben would just bite the bullet and remain compliant, so that nothing life threatening would happen to him.

Shawn then went on to say something to the effect of he did what he had to in hopes of preventing the same things he was living through would not happen to another person/kid...

In other words people this young man was so afraid that his kidnapper would grab another child and put them through what he had already learned to live with , that he was willing to keep praying every night for someone to find him while remaining in this man's custody in hopes of protecting others...

But on top of this no one knows what threats the fool used to build up Shawn's compliance...

So instead of asking him why .. roll out the red carpet, pat him on the back for helping Ben through it and just be thankful their ordeal is over and they came home alive .. Then pray for his emotional recovery.


SHAWN WELL DONE YOUNG MAN... I AM VERY PROUD OF YOU . I only hope to one day have half the courage and faith you have.

The culture of victimization continues, pushed forward by the Queen of Crying, Ms. Winfrey herself.
In our world, it always seems like the single, white self supporting male always takes the blame as the victimizer, while women, blacks, children, etc. etc. are always the victims. I'll bet if this kid had been taken by anyone other than a gainfully-employed white guy, the outcry wouldn't be so great.
This kid had means of transportation (bicycle), constant cell phone and internet access, as well as contact with seemingly dozens of people. Devlin gave this kid a cushy life with junk food, late nites out, video games and internet access, no school, near complete freedom, no apparent rules. etc. etc.
I'm sure he "prayed" plenty wanting to be rescued from this.
This kid stayed willingly, even if he was initially taken by force. Some of you are trying to paint Devlin as some sort of demon who chained a child in the cellar ; he is overweight, diabetic, and was gone the majority of the time.
The boy needs to accept some responsibility for his actions.

My gosh you moms out there are so sweet...thank god for you people out there!!! I may not be a mom but I am an aunt and when my neice went missing,she was at the neighbors playing with their daughter, I was terrified. Eventhough Brynnachelle was only "missing" for like 6 min. it still scared me half to death. From being with Shawn now that he is home he is definetly changed. 4 years ago my boyfriend Shawn would have rather kissed than talk about trials and tribulations. My now 15 year old boyfriend Shawn would much rather have intellectual conversations with me and I enjoy it. I really feel so sorry for him but will never tell him that because he would probably get mad at me. He thinks that there had to have been a reason for his kidnapping. Now he is much wiser and takes life by the horns and lives everyday to it's fullest. Even though Shawn IS emotionally destraught he is trying to become a normal boy again. It would really help if yall could try not to be so rude about a person you don't even know. Shawn HAS visited this website several times and sometimes has even cried over what yall have said. Speaking your opinion is great, but please don't if they are offinsive to my Shawnny Bug!! Well just please be good!!! Well love yall!!!...Sammie (earnhardt_06@charter.net)

I for one would like to commend the job that Shawn, and then Ben, did in staying alive and having faith. I can only wish them the best in the years to come, and hope that as they begin the long road to recovery, that they learn to trust people again, and to believe that God does work in mysterious ways. They did a wonderful job in surviving, and I would want them on my side if it were to ever happen to my children, or someday grandchildren. I, as a mother, have tried to put myself in their parents shoes, and think that I would let the world know and experience the joy of having my child home after 4.5 years and all of the bad stuff that happened will eventually come out, but shouldn't be forced. I thought that Oprah handled it quite well under the circumstances, and know that there was alot more she would have loved to ask, but left alone. She isn't exactly a monster as several have made her out to be.

I am Shawn's girlfriend now and I love him 2 death...he's told me stuff he hasn't even told his parents yet...and there is so much nobody knows and I think it's totally ignorant that everybody is criticising him when they don't know jack. I think you guys need to get your story straight before you say something about someone you don't even know. He didn't do anything, he was the victim here. Michael J. Devlin needs to rot in his jail cell with pictures of Shawn and every other kid he's getting accused of taking, on the walls. Let's not let him see the light of day ever again. K? Good!!!! Well I just needed 2 get that out... you can e-mail if u have something to say... Sammie (earnhardt_06@charter.net)