Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart Documentary on Netflix

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not in a mental state to watch it, but I saw or read an interview Elizabeth did years ago and something she said then stuck with me. When she came home and was struggling, Elizabeth's mom told her that guy and woman took all those months from her. That was their choice. Now that Elizabeth was home, it was HER choice how much MORE time they could take from her.

I thought that was a really empowering things to point out to her.

Sounds abusive.., she was a struggling kid. Most people would choose to not live after that.

Yeah, I get what her mom was trying to accomplish by saying that. But on the other hand thinking of the months she was held by that creep and what a terrifying ordeal to live through, no one can expect ES to just make a "choice" to stop thinking about and move on. That's not how the mind works.

It seems very LDS advice though.

I think you have to take this in context. Elizabeth’s family were extremely loving and supportive. She’s talked about her fear of judgment and how her parents never made her feel any condemnation. She also had extensive therapeutic support. I don’t think her mother meant that remark in the sense of “just forget about it,” I think she was trying to empower Elizabeth.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read on a reddit thread that her dad, who has now come out publicly as being gay, apparently had a reputation in Salt Lake for picking up men to work on his house to try to have sex with them... and that is why the dad blamed himself over this. The poster said it was a "known secret" in the area or something. Is there any truth to this?

Interesting. I was wondering where her mother was during the interviews.

My understanding from years ago and reiterated in the recent documentary was that it was Elizabeth Smart's MOTHER (not father) who hired Mitchell to come do some work at the house. That it was she that made the arrangement of course never imagining what could transpire. That is said clearly in the documentary.

My thoughts are that to this day, Elizabeth's mother Lois still grapples with the guilt of being the one who brought this entire situation upon her daughter and family and that to speak still about it is just too painful for her. I mean, can you imagine the guilt of bringing a person into your family's life that is so devastating to your daughter and entire family? I would not be able to let go of that guilt ever.

[Anonymous]

This is the second documentary about Elizabeth Smart I have watched and I can't get over how strong she is. Truly remarkable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I am not in a mental state to watch it, but I saw or read an interview Elizabeth did years ago and something she said then stuck with me. When she came home and was struggling, Elizabeth's mom told her that guy and woman took all those months from her. That was their choice. Now that Elizabeth was home, it was HER choice how much MORE time they could take from her.

I thought that was a really empowering things to point out to her.

Sounds abusive.., she was a struggling kid. Most people would choose to not live after that.

Yeah, I get what her mom was trying to accomplish by saying that. But on the other hand thinking of the months she was held by that creep and what a terrifying ordeal to live through, no one can expect ES to just make a "choice" to stop thinking about and move on. That's not how the mind works.

It seems very LDS advice though.

I think you have to take this in context. Elizabeth’s family were extremely loving and supportive. She’s talked about her fear of judgment and how her parents never made her feel any condemnation. She also had extensive therapeutic support. I don’t think her mother meant that remark in the sense of “just forget about it,” I think she was trying to empower Elizabeth.

Yes, it reminds me a little of holocaust survivors that were determined to live good lives because the nazis took so much from them that they really didn’t want them to take what they had left. I agree all this is easier said than done but I think a lot of victims want to take ownership over the rest of their lives and not allow what was taken from them to define them.
I agree that Elizabeth seems like such an incredibly strong person.
Whenever I have workers in my house or anything like that, I have a little pit in my stomach about my kids. There’s a big thread now on the Guthrie kidnapping and I do wonder if the perpetrator is someone that did work on the house or yard and became aware of her presence due to that.

[Anonymous]

I'm so glad someone started this thread. I saw the documentary and was blown away by the whole family, but especially Elizabeth. I loved how she managed to get back to SLC while still being held by the kidnappers. She does a lot of good by speaking out and refusing to let rape be something that cannot be openly acknowledged.

I was also just AMAZED at Mary Katherine, eventually remembering where she knew the man's voice from, and even helping the sketch artist create a pretty great likeness. And the family, eventually deciding to release the likeness to the public. And yes, that the dad eventually came out as gay-- I thought wow, the mom in this scenario has been through A LOT. And I admired the kids for still being supportive of their dad, which is not to be taken for granted given they are all LDS.

Well worth watching.

[Anonymous]

I read one of Elizabeth's books a couple of years ago and became a big fan. Her recent podcast interview with Dax Sheppard is interesting. I don't love him, but he toned himself down to meet her quiet personality, and it was a good conversation.

[Anonymous]

I met her briefly when she was a speaker a literary event I worked at. This was probably 8-10 years ago. She was incredible! She came across as confident, strong and poised beyond her years. Quiet yet strong and determined. She was there on her own without handlers, and she came and went with her suitcase, etc., like anyone on a business trip. I liked seeing her sister in the documentary. She seemed like an exceptional person too.

[Anonymous]

I appreciate so much that she has come out strongly condemning “purity culture” and how it contributed to her silence and freeze response after the attack. I’m sure the same is true for so many other boys and girls who are sexually abused in a “purity culture” way of life. Leaves them so vulnerable to exploitation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the second documentary about Elizabeth Smart I have watched and I can't get over how strong she is. Truly remarkable.

She is amazingly articulate, down to earth, and insightful every time I've heard her speak. I also remember her doing a TV interview with some woman about a SA victim's rights bill in congress or something- and the woman asked her details about her ordeal and Elizabeth said in a very calm and poised manner that she wasn't here to relive and discuss her kidnapping, she was here to promote this legislation, and the reporter tried at least one or two more times and you can see Elizabeth giving a WTF look to someone off camera, and I believe she ended the interview, or at least effectively ended it by stopping being cooperative with her questions. I remember being like wow that is one strong woman and wow that interviwer is a total B

[Anonymous]

For those that saw the previous documentary (that I don’t think was that old) is this one much different?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone think about what happened to her and the disgusting person who was her kidnapper and think it's absolutely horrifying and disgusting? Like you cannot believe this happened to an innocent child? I am a mom and I think this would be my absolute nightmare. Not sure how the woman kidnapper can be just out free like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read on a reddit thread that her dad, who has now come out publicly as being gay, apparently had a reputation in Salt Lake for picking up men to work on his house to try to have sex with them... and that is why the dad blamed himself over this. The poster said it was a "known secret" in the area or something. Is there any truth to this?

I don’t believe that. It sounds like something a homophobic TBM would say to smear someone. He clearly loved his family and would not have been hooking up at home. He was trying to maintain the facade, and he wouldn’t have had the prominence and leadership positions he had if people knew that he was gay.

I believe it because the family was Mormon. Young gay men in that church are forced into young marriages by their lay bishops. Or, if out, leave and are excommunicated. There is no room for a gay man in that society so they act out. There’s a lot of literature out there on gays and the LDS church.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I read on a reddit thread that her dad, who has now come out publicly as being gay, apparently had a reputation in Salt Lake for picking up men to work on his house to try to have sex with them... and that is why the dad blamed himself over this. The poster said it was a "known secret" in the area or something. Is there any truth to this?

I don’t believe that. It sounds like something a homophobic TBM would say to smear someone. He clearly loved his family and would not have been hooking up at home. He was trying to maintain the facade, and he wouldn’t have had the prominence and leadership positions he had if people knew that he was gay.

I believe it because the family was Mormon. Young gay men in that church are forced into young marriages by their lay bishops. Or, if out, leave and are excommunicated. There is no room for a gay man in that society so they act out. There’s a lot of literature out there on gays and the LDS church.

I’m very familiar with the LDS church. He probably was having hook ups or affairs but there is no way he was bringing men to his family home for sex. Whatever he did he was doing discreetly. This idea that he was picking up men to take to his children’s home for sex is just nonsense. It us not a “known fact” in SLC, and it’s not possible that he would be doing that and have the position that he did.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is the second documentary about Elizabeth Smart I have watched and I can't get over how strong she is. Truly remarkable.

She is amazingly articulate, down to earth, and insightful every time I've heard her speak. I also remember her doing a TV interview with some woman about a SA victim's rights bill in congress or something- and the woman asked her details about her ordeal and Elizabeth said in a very calm and poised manner that she wasn't here to relive and discuss her kidnapping, she was here to promote this legislation, and the reporter tried at least one or two more times and you can see Elizabeth giving a WTF look to someone off camera, and I believe she ended the interview, or at least effectively ended it by stopping being cooperative with her questions. I remember being like wow that is one strong woman and wow that interviwer is a total B

That would be the 'interview' by jerk and terrible human- Nancy Grace. It is jaw-dropping to witness the calibre of human Elizabeth Smart is in comparison, during the interaction. Where was cancel culture when we needed it?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5x8ARIxg51I

Agree that my biggest takeaway is how amazing memory is/how it works, (her sister) and how amazing the human spirit is (Elizabeth). The most apparent takeaway is not to pick up random strangers and bring them home to do odd jobs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the second documentary about Elizabeth Smart I have watched and I can't get over how strong she is. Truly remarkable.

I also watched the other. Is there any point to watching this one?