Hatrack River Forum: "The Folk of the Fringe" in real life

This is topic "The Folk of the Fringe" in real life in forum Books, Films, Food and Culture at Hatrack River Forum.

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Posted by SingerGuy (Member # 12848) on :

Orson Scott Card wrote about this scenario in "The Folk of the Fringe" in 1989. I never thought I'd see it play out in real life.

Police Rescue Malnourished Girl From Closet in Kansas City

Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :

Makes me sick...

Posted by Sean Monahan (Member # 9334) on :

If I remember correctly, I remember reading that OSC wrote that story from a true story he had read about. So actually, it had already played out in real life.

Don't ask me to cite my source, though.

Posted by TheTick (Member # 2883) on :

I was hoping this would be about reclaiming useless land with controlled farming, but... [Frown]

And no, not the first story like this. Horrible every time.

Posted by Hobbes (Member # 433) on :

Honestly, I thought this was going to be an apocolypse based news item so really this is a big step up. Though some might argue this is as good a sign of the end of the world as any (of course if that were all it took, sadly, the Earth would've ended some time ago).

Hobbes [Smile]

Posted by Stone_Wolf_ (Member # 8299) on :

quote:
The girl's mother was charged with assault in the first degree, child abuse, and endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree, according to the criminal complaint. All three charges are felonies.

Please tell me that she can get life in prison with the three strikes law! Please, please, please!

Posted by Jeorge (Member # 11524) on :

I remember as a child (late 70s or early 80s, I would guess) reading a story almost exactly like this, except that the boy died. It haunted me.

Posted by Belle (Member # 2314) on :

That is horrific. I mean, we don't even find it acceptable to treat animals like that, much less human beings.

Did the child ever go to school? If so, why didn't the school officials notice the neglect?

Please, please tell me that no matter what else happens, this woman will never have custody of any child, ever again.

Posted by Samprimary (Member # 8561) on :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEnkY2iaKis

Posted by SingerGuy (Member # 12848) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Sean Monahan:
If I remember correctly, I remember reading that OSC wrote that story from a true story he had read about. So actually, it had already played out in real life.

Don't ask me to cite my source, though.

Your source is OSC himself. He wrote that in the back of the book, if memory serves. I remembered that right after I posted this link.

BTW, I first signed up here under this name many moons ago when this forum was brand new, but never posted much. It appears my former account was purged so I'm starting all over again. Don't expect I'll post much this time either, but I've been a died-in-the-wool fan since 1985 when I read Ender's Game as a brand new book and believe I've read every one of his books and short stories.

Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :

The last time I read that story, I bawled for two hours straight.