Interested to hear your thoughts. We've got an Amber alert here (Southern California), and from what I hear, the alert is nationwide now. I have always thought highly of this program. And as a Dad, I want to be there for all parents and kids in times of need.

But for this particular alert, perhaps on my particular carrier (TMobile), I have been getting the same unmodified text (says Update but nothing is changed) every 30 to 60 minutes most of today and much of the tonight. Sadly, I just turned my Amber Alert setting to Off. I already have the details of this one and have been vigilant all day for that car and license plate. Chances are slim, but I hope that my turning off my setting doesn't cause me to miss a *different* Amber Alert. I feel kinda bad about it. I wish they were executing this better.

For those of you not familiar with Amber Alerts, I think they are just in the USA, but I bet there are programs of different names operating in other countries. When a child ia abducted and some details are known of a suspect/vehicle, details get posted on freeway signs, television, radio, and now texts.

Manfred

Manfred wrote: Interested to hear your thoughts. We've got an Amber alert here (Southern California), and from what I hear, the alert is nationwide now. I have always thought highly of this program. And as a Dad, I want to be there for all parents and kids in times of need.

But for this particular alert, perhaps on my particular carrier (TMobile), I have been getting the same unmodified text (says Update but nothing is changed) every 30 to 60 minutes most of today and much of the tonight. Sadly, I just turned my Amber Alert setting to Off. I already have the details of this one and have been vigilant all day for that car and license plate. Chances are slim, but I hope that my turning off my setting doesn't cause me to miss a *different* Amber Alert. I feel kinda bad about it. I wish they were executing this better.

For those of you not familiar with Amber Alerts, I think they are just in the USA, but I bet there are programs of different names operating in other countries. When a child ia abducted and some details are known of a suspect/vehicle, details get posted on freeway signs, television, radio, and now texts.
Manfred

So what exactly is it for?

Digby wrote:

Manfred wrote: Interested to hear your thoughts. We've got an Amber alert here (Southern California), and from what I hear, the alert is nationwide now. I have always thought highly of this program. And as a Dad, I want to be there for all parents and kids in times of need.

But for this particular alert, perhaps on my particular carrier (TMobile), I have been getting the same unmodified text (says Update but nothing is changed) every 30 to 60 minutes most of today and much of the tonight. Sadly, I just turned my Amber Alert setting to Off. I already have the details of this one and have been vigilant all day for that car and license plate. Chances are slim, but I hope that my turning off my setting doesn't cause me to miss a *different* Amber Alert. I feel kinda bad about it. I wish they were executing this better.

For those of you not familiar with Amber Alerts, I think they are just in the USA, but I bet there are programs of different names operating in other countries. When a child ia abducted and some details are known of a suspect/vehicle, details get posted on freeway signs, television, radio, and now texts.
Manfred

So what exactly is it for?

Amber alerts are for missing and exploited children. Manfred is that an app? Please let me know, for I myself am a father of 7, 3 are mine, and 4 are my wife's. Not to mention all my nieces and nephews. My nephew was taken yesterday by some guy, and he fought the guy off with his skateboard. Cops got that sob at his out, cause my nephew got away and called the cops. Now thats a scary thing to hear.

GreyGhost wrote:

Digby wrote:

Manfred wrote: Interested to hear your thoughts. We've got an Amber alert here (Southern California), and from what I hear, the alert is nationwide now. I have always thought highly of this program. And as a Dad, I want to be there for all parents and kids in times of need.

But for this particular alert, perhaps on my particular carrier (TMobile), I have been getting the same unmodified text (says Update but nothing is changed) every 30 to 60 minutes most of today and much of the tonight. Sadly, I just turned my Amber Alert setting to Off. I already have the details of this one and have been vigilant all day for that car and license plate. Chances are slim, but I hope that my turning off my setting doesn't cause me to miss a *different* Amber Alert. I feel kinda bad about it. I wish they were executing this better.

For those of you not familiar with Amber Alerts, I think they are just in the USA, but I bet there are programs of different names operating in other countries. When a child ia abducted and some details are known of a suspect/vehicle, details get posted on freeway signs, television, radio, and now texts.
Manfred

So what exactly is it for?

Amber alerts are for missing and exploited children. Manfred is that an app? Please let me know, for I myself am a father of 7, 3 are mine, and 4 are my wife's. Not to mention all my nieces and nephews. My nephew was taken yesterday by some guy, and he fought the guy off with his skateboard. Cops got that sob at his out, cause my nephew got away and called the cops. Now thats a scary thing to hear.

Wow!! Is he ok!!!

I am lucky my bus stop has 9 people at it, year 12 mostly, and my house is 25m away. I get on and I get of and 25 seconds to school grounds. Same back. I am safe on the way to school.

Hope he's ok

Digby wrote:

GreyGhost wrote:

Digby wrote:

Manfred wrote: Interested to hear your thoughts. We've got an Amber alert here (Southern California), and from what I hear, the alert is nationwide now. I have always thought highly of this program. And as a Dad, I want to be there for all parents and kids in times of need.

But for this particular alert, perhaps on my particular carrier (TMobile), I have been getting the same unmodified text (says Update but nothing is changed) every 30 to 60 minutes most of today and much of the tonight. Sadly, I just turned my Amber Alert setting to Off. I already have the details of this one and have been vigilant all day for that car and license plate. Chances are slim, but I hope that my turning off my setting doesn't cause me to miss a *different* Amber Alert. I feel kinda bad about it. I wish they were executing this better.

For those of you not familiar with Amber Alerts, I think they are just in the USA, but I bet there are programs of different names operating in other countries. When a child ia abducted and some details are known of a suspect/vehicle, details get posted on freeway signs, television, radio, and now texts.
Manfred

So what exactly is it for?

Amber alerts are for missing and exploited children. Manfred is that an app? Please let me know, for I myself am a father of 7, 3 are mine, and 4 are my wife's. Not to mention all my nieces and nephews. My nephew was taken yesterday by some guy, and he fought the guy off with his skateboard. Cops got that sob at his out, cause my nephew got away and called the cops. Now thats a scary thing to hear.

Wow!! Is he ok!!!

I am lucky my bus stop has 9 people at it, year 12 mostly, and my house is 25m away. I get on and I get of and 25 seconds to school grounds. Same back. I am safe on the way to school.

Hope he's ok

Now I remember when I was at primary school I and to walk 30 mins. Once I found a boy at my school who was getting bashed. I called the cops and then started hitting the guy. The boy was really badly heart. A few more punches to the face and he could have died!!

Digby wrote:

Digby wrote:

GreyGhost wrote:

Digby wrote:

Manfred wrote: Interested to hear your thoughts. We've got an Amber alert here (Southern California), and from what I hear, the alert is nationwide now. I have always thought highly of this program. And as a Dad, I want to be there for all parents and kids in times of need.

But for this particular alert, perhaps on my particular carrier (TMobile), I have been getting the same unmodified text (says Update but nothing is changed) every 30 to 60 minutes most of today and much of the tonight. Sadly, I just turned my Amber Alert setting to Off. I already have the details of this one and have been vigilant all day for that car and license plate. Chances are slim, but I hope that my turning off my setting doesn't cause me to miss a *different* Amber Alert. I feel kinda bad about it. I wish they were executing this better.

For those of you not familiar with Amber Alerts, I think they are just in the USA, but I bet there are programs of different names operating in other countries. When a child ia abducted and some details are known of a suspect/vehicle, details get posted on freeway signs, television, radio, and now texts.
Manfred

So what exactly is it for?

Amber alerts are for missing and exploited children. Manfred is that an app? Please let me know, for I myself am a father of 7, 3 are mine, and 4 are my wife's. Not to mention all my nieces and nephews. My nephew was taken yesterday by some guy, and he fought the guy off with his skateboard. Cops got that sob at his out, cause my nephew got away and called the cops. Now thats a scary thing to hear.

Wow!! Is he ok!!!

I am lucky my bus stop has 9 people at it, year 12 mostly, and my house is 25m away. I get on and I get of and 25 seconds to school grounds. Same back. I am safe on the way to school.

Hope he's ok

Now I remember when I was at primary school I and to walk 30 mins. Once I found a boy at my school who was getting bashed. I called the cops and then started hitting the guy. The boy was really badly heart. A few more punches to the face and he could have died!!

Thats cool bro, but we are talking about kidnapped kids here. Yeah, hes shaken up. But ok. He was skateborading at a store when he was grabbed. Thank God he got away.

GreyGhost wrote:

Digby wrote:

Digby wrote:

GreyGhost wrote:

Digby wrote:

Manfred wrote: Interested to hear your thoughts. We've got an Amber alert here (Southern California), and from what I hear, the alert is nationwide now. I have always thought highly of this program. And as a Dad, I want to be there for all parents and kids in times of need.

But for this particular alert, perhaps on my particular carrier (TMobile), I have been getting the same unmodified text (says Update but nothing is changed) every 30 to 60 minutes most of today and much of the tonight. Sadly, I just turned my Amber Alert setting to Off. I already have the details of this one and have been vigilant all day for that car and license plate. Chances are slim, but I hope that my turning off my setting doesn't cause me to miss a *different* Amber Alert. I feel kinda bad about it. I wish they were executing this better.

For those of you not familiar with Amber Alerts, I think they are just in the USA, but I bet there are programs of different names operating in other countries. When a child ia abducted and some details are known of a suspect/vehicle, details get posted on freeway signs, television, radio, and now texts.
Manfred

So what exactly is it for?

Amber alerts are for missing and exploited children. Manfred is that an app? Please let me know, for I myself am a father of 7, 3 are mine, and 4 are my wife's. Not to mention all my nieces and nephews. My nephew was taken yesterday by some guy, and he fought the guy off with his skateboard. Cops got that sob at his out, cause my nephew got away and called the cops. Now thats a scary thing to hear.

Wow!! Is he ok!!!

I am lucky my bus stop has 9 people at it, year 12 mostly, and my house is 25m away. I get on and I get of and 25 seconds to school grounds. Same back. I am safe on the way to school.

Hope he's ok

Now I remember when I was at primary school I and to walk 30 mins. Once I found a boy at my school who was getting bashed. I called the cops and then started hitting the guy. The boy was really badly heart. A few more punches to the face and he could have died!!

Thats cool bro, but we are talking about kidnapped kids here. Yeah, hes shaken up. But ok. He was skateborading at a store when he was grabbed. Thank God he got away.

My assumption is that he would knock him out and then kidnapp him.

We have "Silver Alerts" here in Rhode Island as well. That's when older folks wander away. Since we live on an island (Aquidneck..Newport) several of us old farts with motorized bikes (our BIKER GANG) we spread out and HUNT them down. We can get every where.
So far this summer we have found 2.....and they both just wanted to go to the beach. The same rehab/nursing home I was in. Now we have set up a weekly beach visit. Old ladies in bathing suits is a wonderful diet.

Love those girls in thongs!


I'm glad your nephew was smart and okay.

We have amber Alerts in Canada also but they are strange in that the government requirements involved to actually put out an Amber Alert for a child are so strict that it's never for anything other than divorced parents who steal their kids from the other parent. I remember a few child disappearances and everyone asked why the Amber Alert system wasn't used and the answer is always it failed to meet the requirements. So the sad thing is people are thinking these Alerts are abductions and they are of sorts but when I think of child abduction for Amber Alerts I don't see a weekend Dad or Mom taking off with his or her own kids. Now don't get me wrong, that's bad too but in a totally different way in my opinion. So Amber Alerts have a strange feeling to me and I always hope our country changes the rules so we can actually stop abductions not parents taking their own kids.

Manfred wrote: Interested to hear your thoughts. We've got an Amber alert here (Southern California), and from what I hear, the alert is nationwide now. I have always thought highly of this program. And as a Dad, I want to be there for all parents and kids in times of need.

But for this particular alert, perhaps on my particular carrier (TMobile), I have been getting the same unmodified text (says Update but nothing is changed) every 30 to 60 minutes most of today and much of the tonight. Sadly, I just turned my Amber Alert setting to Off. I already have the details of this one and have been vigilant all day for that car and license plate. Chances are slim, but I hope that my turning off my setting doesn't cause me to miss a *different* Amber Alert. I feel kinda bad about it. I wish they were executing this better.

For those of you not familiar with Amber Alerts, I think they are just in the USA, but I bet there are programs of different names operating in other countries. When a child ia abducted and some details are known of a suspect/vehicle, details get posted on freeway signs, television, radio, and now texts.

Manfred

Hey Manfred,
It's probably a good idea for them to send the alert (update) every hour if not half hour. Some people like me are not alway's by their phone and don't pay attention till I get a vibration or tone. You already knew of the alert and were set to pay attention. Yea probably very annoying but guarantee's more people will be on the look out..... Hope I made sense..... Would rather have an Amber Alert tweeking my phone other than some of the crap I get.....

That makes sense. I just turned it off in the evening. During the daytime, I'm still torn, because I wonder if such frequent messages causes people to ignore it more than be reminded of it.

Sure hope they find them. It was part of our dinner conversation last night, just to remind the girls about what to do if someone tries to grab them. Use you voices, run toward other people, and knees and elbows into groins.

Manfred

I just read a bit ago about what's going on out there Manfred. I can't wrap my mind around the fact that humans can be the most vicious critters on the planet when supposedly we are the smartest most adaptable species, Oh and we have opposable thumbs.... I try not to just keep up with all the bad out there, gotta have some happy somewhere.....
Thx for the thread Manfred....

I guess, From what I read, The Amber alert's are set for cell phone's in a certain area.. I'm sure it get's annoying but it's for the best I guess.... And like I said Manfred, You already had a head's up. I don't see where you did any wrong turning the alert off....shouldn't be any guilt there...

Thanks Dent.

I heard the tail end of a radio interview this afternoon with Marc Klaas, whose daughter Polly was abducted and killed in Northern California in 1993. He helped initiate the concept of Amber Alerts when the same thing happened to Amber Hagerman in Texas in 1996.

Marc basically summed up my own concerns by voicing that, given the constant barrage of identical texts from yesterday's alert, people might turn off their alert settings. This would be wholly unproductive, and he hoped that the Amber administrators were listening to folks and might adjust the notifications. He also noted that the sound produced by phones made this even worse. Depending on carrier and handset manufacturer, if the phones are not muted or on vibrate, they shriek with a special ringtone.

Basically he was afraid that a lot of people may have done what I did last night, which was turn off my Amber alerts. I happened to remember to turn it back on in the morning, but I wonder what percentage of people did that.

Manfred

You bring up another good point (You made me think of this with your last post). Reading your post also made me realise you could have more than one Amber Alert happen in the same time frame. By turning off The Alert there is potential for missing a seperate incident that has nothing to do with the first.
I've never experienced the kind of alert you received. I can see from what you are saying, There's room for improvement, but how?
I still think you shouldn't feel any guilt. You had a head's up. No matter what, The info get's out there and does help save live's....The alert's that are missed by some are picked up by others...

My phone (AT&T) texts the alerts,too.
I love it!!!
They can text those all day long--I just hope it helps find the missing people.
Some say it's "Big Brother" intruding.
As a parent, I want those alerts.
And...it's not just for kids anymore.
We got one for a missing elderly couple last week.