Why so much inhumanity these days? I despair.

I think it is because we now hear about every event no matter where it happens. It used to be things were only reported in local newspapers with only serious events reported in national newspapers.

I know exactly how you feel ixion it's probably that we hear more about these dreadful things with social media, Internet etc. So much of what is reported is intentional and cruel, like you I despair of man's inhumanity.

People are not kind and even some who think they are seem to struggle

Ixion, I understand you completely. I had just read about baby Finlay when I saw your post. It beggers belief!! This is not the first time SS have returned an abused child to his / her parents and that decision has had shocking consequences. Why are the 'rights ' of parents more important that a childs right to loving care!? I fail to understand it.
Met Officers - words fail me!!! A seagull on a lead , what is going wrong?

there aren't enough foster parents available, this will be part of the problem. There are posters and adverts EVERYWHERE for people to apply to be foster parents

I agree Jane and often find that those who think they are, aren't as kind as those who don't claim to be.

There are awful things happening in the world and always have been. These days we have quick and easy access to so much information.
I really don’t know what makes people carry out such awful behaviour.
However , I still believe there are is more good that evil.

Ginny, I tend to believe the same but, unfortunately, bad news is apparently more sensational than good news and there certainly is a lot of bad around at the moment. Mmmmm....sad times all around us. Don't think even a change of government will help that. I'm going to concentrate on my inner circle where nice things are happening and I'll count my blessings. Think it's called escapism.

I don’t understand why a baby would have been returned to those two in the first place. Look at the state of the living conditions. Look at his evil face. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. Drug addicts with a defenceless little baby. Not working, dirty, lazy, no daily structure, high as kites. Poor little soul.

I just read this. Horrible.

I have just read a book about how to avoid anxiety and depression. One of the first suggestions is to stop following the news. My husband and I tried what we dubbed “no news November”. We both felt happier by November 30th.

I think it’s maybe always been but it’s so MUCH more now and so much more in your face The press has a lot to answer for and so does social media

I do feel sorry for social workers.

They risk being pilloried in the press if they ever remove a child from its parents and even more so if they don't and something tragic like this happens.

Forsythia, I fully agree. It distresses and infuriates me ! Poor little soul indeed.

BlueBelle

I think it’s maybe always been but it’s so MUCH more now and so much more in your face The press has a lot to answer for and so does social media

Are you saying it should be hushed up then? That these vile acts shouldn’t be exposed?

It was ever thus - throughout history.

I only watch the news occasionally now. I get too upset at some of the items and feeling powerless to prevent it I simply drop out.

I'm afraid social work is in the same mess as the NHS. A friend recently took a very senior role in a very big LA, she is a hard working talented woman with huge experience but she is faced with an absolutely huge deficit in the budget, a very demoralised staff and an increasing shortage of experienced social workers because they have left in droves. Another friend's daughter qualified last year and was immediately put into situations way beyond anything that a newly qualified person should face even with good support and there was none. She resigned and is using her skills in another setting! I despair everything that is supposed to support the most vulnerable in our society seems to have fallen apart.

Forsythia

I don’t understand why a baby would have been returned to those two in the first place. Look at the state of the living conditions. Look at his evil face. It’s a disaster waiting to happen. Drug addicts with a defenceless little baby. Not working, dirty, lazy, no daily structure, high as kites. Poor little soul.

I so agree. Why do they return children to these people who should never have a child in the first place? They seem to bend over backwards to return children to their natural parents, why?

The poor little soul should have been adopted from birth, to a couple who really wanted him.

Yes and the same for little Lola James also killed by a drug addict stepfather. Same thing, filthy house, degrading living environment, lazy, dirty, no risk of actually earning a living, no structure to their lives. Poor little girl.

We have news every hour, on the hour, day and night. Like the OP I despair at times and feel like weeping at atrocities inflicted on small children, animals, and the helpless and vulnerable in our society. Working in a school I regularly saw letters arrive from Social Care in response to a plea for help for a child with the dreaded phrase 'No action deemed necessary at this time'. Even worse things than neglect, poor feeding, lack of love and care were having to be dealt with. I now have to turn the page or avert my gaze from the TV - otherwise I am haunted by what I read and see.

Its a mixture of finding out what was previously not so easily available news wise and I think a lot more desperate people out there than maybe 40 years ago.

And Foxie is right about resources:

just on the BBC 1 news now: a commissioned report by the government recommended 5 times the additional resources that they have been given.

Just on the news about the little boy now. They refused to let social workers in. Neighbours interviewed on tv said they had raised concerns. In the dock today they sat gazing into space with their arms folded. Evil and couldn’t care less.

The family court judge ordered the baby back to his parents home. The social workers wanted a longer transition period of 6 months to monitor short access visits for the baby to the parents. The family court went against the social workers recommendations.
It is sad that social workers are demonized when it is a complicated scenario where they don't have control over the outcomes for the child.