Do you think the Baskin kids will ever reunite with their parents? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

1990 UM fan · 12-14-2011, 07:57 AM

I've been thinking about that case lately. I remember watching it many times growing up wondering when they'll be found if ever to be found. When I heard they were found safe in February 2009 and their grandfather arrested, I was thrilled and waiting to see what their reunion with their parents would be like. Sadly, they don't seem to want anything to do with their parents Mark and Debbie, due to some brainwashing by Marvin and Sandra Maple, their mom's parents. I wonder if Bobbie and Kristi have even seen the Unsolved Mysteries episode about their kidnapping? What do they think? What do they believe and not believe? Their parents fought for 20 years to have them back and even now they can't be with their kids. I think it'd be nice if the kids accepted Mark and Debbie as maybe friends if they cannot take them as being their parents, but that also may be a little wishful thinking. I only hope they can all be a family again, or at least, friends to some degree.

Todd Mueller · 12-14-2011, 11:19 AM

At this point, no chance.

RobinW · 12-14-2011, 11:54 AM

I think the main question should be: if the Baskins kids do reunite with their parents, will we ever find out about it? It's been nearly three years since the children were found and the media has moved on from the story, so for we all know, the children and the parents could have already had a reunion without telling any media outlets about it. If they want to handle the situation privately, they certainly deserve to.

TheCars1986 · 12-14-2011, 12:49 PM

I absolutely think there will be a reunion, if there already wasn't one. There's no doubt in my mind that with the passage of time, the kids (who possibly have kids of their own) would want to reconnect with their real parents. Time heals all wounds.

dynoguy88 · 12-14-2011, 12:56 PM

Mark and Debbie already knew back in 1989 when the kids were first kidnapped that their children no doubt hated them because the Maples had ample opportunity to convince them they were monsters. Add another 20 years to that message constantly being beaten in your head and it's no surprise Christie and Bobby don't want a reunion, at least for now.

With the holidays coming up, I think it's wise to keep the Baskins in your thoughts and prayers. This time of the year, plus their children's birthdays must be very, very difficult for them. I think everyone here knows how I feel about this case. I must have bored posters here to death with hundreds of posts complaining about the Maples and the handling of this case. Marvin Maple finally getting captured only to have a slap on his wrist and go back to living his normal life...well, that's a whole other issue I could complain about for days so I won't.

In answer to your original question, I do have just a tad bit of hope that a reunion could take place some day. But if it happens, it will probably only happen after Marvin passes away. I remember seeing an interview with the Baskins detective when Maple was captured in 2009. He mentioned talking to Christie right after the arrest and telling her that her parents would like to see her. He said her response was a quiet, "I need some time." I don't know, maybe I'm grasping at straws here but that gives me a little hope because she could have easily screamed that she never wanted to see them right then and there. Maybe she's staying loyal to Marvin until he dies because that's the only father figure she's had for 2 decades. Again, just a guess.

PracTz · 12-14-2011, 07:40 PM

Good question!
I haven't met any of the parties in question and only am relying on various accounts. However; to me it seems at this point that they may have invested so much in holding onto to the 'truths' they believed in for so many years, that even with all the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, to admit that the 'truths' may have been a gigantic pack of lies would be simply too painful for them to have to try to deal with. Boiled down to essentials, it appears that to have to realize that they were needlessly separated from parents and a younger brother who all loved them for decades would be far tougher for them to have to live with than to continue believing that their grandparents did it for them to protect them from monster parents even if it means they don't contact their younger brother [who has his OWN take on things].
I guess the question we should be considering here is that at what point do we hold these two adults accountable for the choices they've consistantly made re their parents long after they've had far more data to consider than what their grandparents have told them. For myself, I don't think we can forever treat them as though they're still helpless,ignorant kidnapped children but at some point they themselves need to be held accountable for how they've treated their parents and brother. I'm not saying that that point has necessarily been reached but the more time that passes without them at least giving their parents and brother a chance to meet them, the less they can be judged on the same standards as helpless, ignorant kidnapped children.
Above all else, as I said in another thread, even though their children have evidently chosen to cruelly reject them, at least the parents now they're safe and alive which they didn't have the knowledge of for so many decades.
My opinion re the system's dealings with the grandfather's unprintable.

everybodylovesrs · 12-14-2011, 08:05 PM

Baskin parents = Brainwashed by religion and the kids might not be.

Baskin kids = Brainwashed by what other people have told them for over 20 years, plus some of the allegations could have been true. Just because someone is a Chrisssstiannnnnnnn doesn't mean it is impossible for them to be sucky people or do sucky things.

Todd Mueller · 12-14-2011, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by everybodylovesrs

Baskin parents = Brainwashed by religion

plus some of the allegations could have been true. Just because someone is a Chrisssstiannnnnnnn doesn't mean it is impossible for them to be sucky people or do sucky things.

Errr... Care to elaborate on this? Clearly I must have missed something.

1990 UM fan · 12-14-2011, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PracTz

Good question!
I haven't met any of the parties in question and only am relying on various accounts. However; to me it seems at this point that they may have invested so much in holding onto to the 'truths' they believed in for so many years, that even with all the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, to admit that the 'truths' may have been a gigantic pack of lies would be simply too painful for them to have to try to deal with. Boiled down to essentials, it appears that to have to realize that they were needlessly separated from parents and a younger brother who all loved them for decades would be far tougher for them to have to live with than to continue believing that their grandparents did it for them to protect them from monster parents even if it means they don't contact their younger brother [who has his OWN take on things].
I guess the question we should be considering here is that at what point do we hold these two adults accountable for the choices they've consistantly made re their parents long after they've had far more data to consider than what their grandparents have told them. For myself, I don't think we can forever treat them as though they're still helpless,ignorant kidnapped children but at some point they themselves need to be held accountable for how they've treated their parents and brother. I'm not saying that that point has necessarily been reached but the more time that passes without them at least giving their parents and brother a chance to meet them, the less they can be judged on the same standards as helpless, ignorant kidnapped children.
Above all else, as I said in another thread, even though their children have evidently chosen to cruelly reject them, at least the parents now they're safe and alive which they didn't have the knowledge of for so many decades.
My opinion re the system's dealings with the grandfather's unprintable.

You made alot of great points here.

XCalibur · 12-23-2011, 04:27 PM

I am beginning to think not. Its disgusting how the Maples poisoned their mind to such an extent that they even as adults want nothing to do with their parents. If it wasn't contrary to my beliefs I'd hope they were rotting in Hell.

One thing I do not understand, is why Bobby and Christy are rejecting their younger brother. Even if the allegations were true, they have no reason to hate Michael to, he was to young to have been involved.

UMFaninMD · 12-23-2011, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XCalibur

One thing I do not understand, is why Bobby and Christy are rejecting their younger brother. Even if the allegations were true, they have no reason to hate Michael to, he was to young to have been involved.

Maybe the grandparents poisoned their minds against their younger brother as well. It was interesting that the Maples only went after the two oldest grandchildren and made no attempt to grab Michael. That really gives some ammo to the Baskins' case that no abuse went on in the home. Even Mr. Baskin wondered out loud on the segment about them not taking his youngest.

pardilia · 01-13-2012, 11:37 PM

As much as the focus has been on the lies the grandparents told the children that has resulted in them possibly hating their parents, the other aspect of that is quite simply that the children's reality has come crashing down on them. To reunite with their parents would be to admit on some level that what they were told their whole lives could possibly not be true and that is difficult to deal with.

Furthermore, it's certainly possible that they have had no desire to search out information on their parents online. Even in this day and age, there are still people who do not use the internet. Not to mention that they could very well have trusted what their grandparents said and feel no need to verify it with outside accounts. Also, their grandparents were aided by others who likely sympathized with their plight which probably validated what their grandparents told them.

There are just so many possibilities at play here. Maybe they didn't grow up completely happy and want to leave their entire family behind. Maybe something else has happened in either of their lives and they just can't/couldn't handle more emotional trauma on top of it. Maybe they resent their parents not trying harder to get them back. We have no knowledge of their personalities or their lives so it is hard to make any sort of accurate judgment as to why they chose to behave the way they did. Also, our perspective is the one UM gave us - theirs is the one their grandparents and the people who assisted their grandparents gave them.

I can also see where they would not meet up with their brother if they do not want to meet up with their parents. They have no reason to trust their brother not to pass on information to their parents when they clearly aren't (weren't) ready to have contact with them yet.

boniface605 · 01-14-2012, 12:42 PM

There has been a lot of good discussion here. And a lot of good points made. I had always assumed that after they were found, that some sort of reunion occured. After reading this thread, I've started rethinking that.

It's amazing how influential people can be. It has been a while since I've seen the segment, but was the reason for the the kidnapping ever explored? I guess what I'm getting at is, did the grandparents have some sort of problem with the parents? Why the hatred? Dislike them so much so to turn the kids against them. Sad situation.

Clockworkhigh · 05-26-2012, 01:47 AM

Probably the worst case of Stockholm Syndrome that you can possibly have. The Baskins kids don't sound like the brightest bulbs in the closet either. Compare them to Jaycee Dugaard. She is held for 18 years by a rapist who fathers her children. She actually says in her book that she looked forward to her captor coming and talking to her because that is all she had. Yet in 2009 when she was found she reunited with her mother right away. That doesn't mean there wouldn't have been growing pains but she was 10-11 years old around the same age as the Baskin kids. She remembered her parents just like the Baskins should remember to some extent their parents.

Jaycee wrote in her book a lot of negative things about Philip Garrido. No doubt the guy would have brainwashed her against her own parents. But the thing is, she is an adult now and made her own decisions. Why can't the Baskins think for themselves now? All those years they moved from city to city doesn't strike a chord with them? They don't look at old home movies and pictures and actually realize that their parents loved them? How can they not look as objective adults and judge their situation rationally?

rhzunam · 05-26-2012, 03:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clockworkhigh

Probably the worst case of Stockholm Syndrome that you can possibly have. The Baskins kids don't sound like the brightest bulbs in the closet either. Compare them to Jaycee Dugaard. She is held for 18 years by a rapist who fathers her children. She actually says in her book that she looked forward to her captor coming and talking to her because that is all she had. Yet in 2009 when she was found she reunited with her mother right away. That doesn't mean there wouldn't have been growing pains but she was 10-11 years old around the same age as the Baskin kids. She remembered her parents just like the Baskins should remember to some extent their parents.

Jaycee wrote in her book a lot of negative things about Philip Garrido. No doubt the guy would have brainwashed her against her own parents. But the thing is, she is an adult now and made her own decisions. Why can't the Baskins think for themselves now? All those years they moved from city to city doesn't strike a chord with them? They don't look at old home movies and pictures and actually realize that their parents loved them? How can they not look as objective adults and judge their situation rationally?

Why do you say they don't think for themselves? Who are you to judge that they aren't the brightest bulbs out there? So because Dugard chose the way you wanted to she made her own decision, but because the baskins didn't, they are dumb, can't think for themselves and not objective about what they should do about their own lives?

It's the baskins kids live and their decisions. The mystery got solved and they were found and that's it. They didn't own anybody anything else. People start a thread about people talking without knowing all the facts but famously judge these 2 always on what they have to do with THEIR lives.

12-14-2011, 07:57 AM	#1
1990 UM fan Unsolved Mysteries fanatic Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2011 Location: United States Posts: 2,510	Do you think the Baskin kids will ever reunite with their parents? I've been thinking about that case lately. I remember watching it many times growing up wondering when they'll be found if ever to be found. When I heard they were found safe in February 2009 and their grandfather arrested, I was thrilled and waiting to see what their reunion with their parents would be like. Sadly, they don't seem to want anything to do with their parents Mark and Debbie, due to some brainwashing by Marvin and Sandra Maple, their mom's parents. I wonder if Bobbie and Kristi have even seen the Unsolved Mysteries episode about their kidnapping? What do they think? What do they believe and not believe? Their parents fought for 20 years to have them back and even now they can't be with their kids. I think it'd be nice if the kids accepted Mark and Debbie as maybe friends if they cannot take them as being their parents, but that also may be a little wishful thinking. I only hope they can all be a family again, or at least, friends to some degree.

12-14-2011, 11:19 AM	#2
Todd Mueller Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Posts: 1,626	At this point, no chance.

12-14-2011, 11:54 AM	#3
RobinW Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2010 Posts: 1,874	I think the main question should be: if the Baskins kids do reunite with their parents, will we ever find out about it? It's been nearly three years since the children were found and the media has moved on from the story, so for we all know, the children and the parents could have already had a reunion without telling any media outlets about it. If they want to handle the situation privately, they certainly deserve to.

12-14-2011, 12:49 PM	#4
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,606	I absolutely think there will be a reunion, if there already wasn't one. There's no doubt in my mind that with the passage of time, the kids (who possibly have kids of their own) would want to reconnect with their real parents. Time heals all wounds.

12-14-2011, 12:56 PM	#5
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,672	Mark and Debbie already knew back in 1989 when the kids were first kidnapped that their children no doubt hated them because the Maples had ample opportunity to convince them they were monsters. Add another 20 years to that message constantly being beaten in your head and it's no surprise Christie and Bobby don't want a reunion, at least for now. With the holidays coming up, I think it's wise to keep the Baskins in your thoughts and prayers. This time of the year, plus their children's birthdays must be very, very difficult for them. I think everyone here knows how I feel about this case. I must have bored posters here to death with hundreds of posts complaining about the Maples and the handling of this case. Marvin Maple finally getting captured only to have a slap on his wrist and go back to living his normal life...well, that's a whole other issue I could complain about for days so I won't. In answer to your original question, I do have just a tad bit of hope that a reunion could take place some day. But if it happens, it will probably only happen after Marvin passes away. I remember seeing an interview with the Baskins detective when Maple was captured in 2009. He mentioned talking to Christie right after the arrest and telling her that her parents would like to see her. He said her response was a quiet, "I need some time." I don't know, maybe I'm grasping at straws here but that gives me a little hope because she could have easily screamed that she never wanted to see them right then and there. Maybe she's staying loyal to Marvin until he dies because that's the only father figure she's had for 2 decades. Again, just a guess.

12-14-2011, 07:40 PM	#6
PracTz Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 14, 2002 Location: United States of America [Happily Living in the 20th Century] Posts: 2,711	Good question! I haven't met any of the parties in question and only am relying on various accounts. However; to me it seems at this point that they may have invested so much in holding onto to the 'truths' they believed in for so many years, that even with all the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, to admit that the 'truths' may have been a gigantic pack of lies would be simply too painful for them to have to try to deal with. Boiled down to essentials, it appears that to have to realize that they were needlessly separated from parents and a younger brother who all loved them for decades would be far tougher for them to have to live with than to continue believing that their grandparents did it for them to protect them from monster parents even if it means they don't contact their younger brother [who has his OWN take on things]. I guess the question we should be considering here is that at what point do we hold these two adults accountable for the choices they've consistantly made re their parents long after they've had far more data to consider than what their grandparents have told them. For myself, I don't think we can forever treat them as though they're still helpless,ignorant kidnapped children but at some point they themselves need to be held accountable for how they've treated their parents and brother. I'm not saying that that point has necessarily been reached but the more time that passes without them at least giving their parents and brother a chance to meet them, the less they can be judged on the same standards as helpless, ignorant kidnapped children. Above all else, as I said in another thread, even though their children have evidently chosen to cruelly reject them, at least the parents now they're safe and alive which they didn't have the knowledge of for so many decades. My opinion re the system's dealings with the grandfather's unprintable.

12-14-2011, 08:05 PM	#7
everybodylovesrs Member Forum Regular Join Date: Dec 12, 2008 Posts: 526	Baskin parents = Brainwashed by religion and the kids might not be. Baskin kids = Brainwashed by what other people have told them for over 20 years, plus some of the allegations could have been true. Just because someone is a Chrisssstiannnnnnnn doesn't mean it is impossible for them to be sucky people or do sucky things.

12-23-2011, 04:27 PM	#10
XCalibur Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 16, 2010 Location: Belfast, Va Posts: 980	I am beginning to think not. Its disgusting how the Maples poisoned their mind to such an extent that they even as adults want nothing to do with their parents. If it wasn't contrary to my beliefs I'd hope they were rotting in Hell. One thing I do not understand, is why Bobby and Christy are rejecting their younger brother. Even if the allegations were true, they have no reason to hate Michael to, he was to young to have been involved.

01-13-2012, 11:37 PM	#12
pardilia Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 09, 2007 Posts: 170	As much as the focus has been on the lies the grandparents told the children that has resulted in them possibly hating their parents, the other aspect of that is quite simply that the children's reality has come crashing down on them. To reunite with their parents would be to admit on some level that what they were told their whole lives could possibly not be true and that is difficult to deal with. Furthermore, it's certainly possible that they have had no desire to search out information on their parents online. Even in this day and age, there are still people who do not use the internet. Not to mention that they could very well have trusted what their grandparents said and feel no need to verify it with outside accounts. Also, their grandparents were aided by others who likely sympathized with their plight which probably validated what their grandparents told them. There are just so many possibilities at play here. Maybe they didn't grow up completely happy and want to leave their entire family behind. Maybe something else has happened in either of their lives and they just can't/couldn't handle more emotional trauma on top of it. Maybe they resent their parents not trying harder to get them back. We have no knowledge of their personalities or their lives so it is hard to make any sort of accurate judgment as to why they chose to behave the way they did. Also, our perspective is the one UM gave us - theirs is the one their grandparents and the people who assisted their grandparents gave them. I can also see where they would not meet up with their brother if they do not want to meet up with their parents. They have no reason to trust their brother not to pass on information to their parents when they clearly aren't (weren't) ready to have contact with them yet.

01-14-2012, 12:42 PM	#13
boniface605 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Dec 28, 2011 Location: Iowa Posts: 17	There has been a lot of good discussion here. And a lot of good points made. I had always assumed that after they were found, that some sort of reunion occured. After reading this thread, I've started rethinking that. It's amazing how influential people can be. It has been a while since I've seen the segment, but was the reason for the the kidnapping ever explored? I guess what I'm getting at is, did the grandparents have some sort of problem with the parents? Why the hatred? Dislike them so much so to turn the kids against them. Sad situation.

05-26-2012, 01:47 AM	#14
Clockworkhigh Member Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 29, 2009 Posts: 604	Probably the worst case of Stockholm Syndrome that you can possibly have. The Baskins kids don't sound like the brightest bulbs in the closet either. Compare them to Jaycee Dugaard. She is held for 18 years by a rapist who fathers her children. She actually says in her book that she looked forward to her captor coming and talking to her because that is all she had. Yet in 2009 when she was found she reunited with her mother right away. That doesn't mean there wouldn't have been growing pains but she was 10-11 years old around the same age as the Baskin kids. She remembered her parents just like the Baskins should remember to some extent their parents. Jaycee wrote in her book a lot of negative things about Philip Garrido. No doubt the guy would have brainwashed her against her own parents. But the thing is, she is an adult now and made her own decisions. Why can't the Baskins think for themselves now? All those years they moved from city to city doesn't strike a chord with them? They don't look at old home movies and pictures and actually realize that their parents loved them? How can they not look as objective adults and judge their situation rationally?