Wow - there are an awful lot of intense emotions swirling around. I'd like to challenge those of you who apparently have nothing but contempt for folks who find the story difficult to accept (as reflected in your extremely negative judgements and angry name-calling) to instead spare for them a little of the understanding and compassion you so clearly have for the parents of this little girl. The world we live in today seems to be so full of people who are out to deceive us in some way or another in order to make themselves famous or rich or more powerful. It's not just the Balloon Boy's parents, who were willing to not only to lie themselves but to coach a young child to lie, but the succession of authors over the past few years who've published heartwarming and emotionally engaging memoirs that touched everyone -- until they were shown to be complete fabrications. I don't know if these sorts of things are happening more than they used to or if it's just that the harsh glare of 500 TV channels as well as the Internet means we're more aware when they do. What I do know is that it becomes more difficult to keep your mind and heart open when you've been taken in so often by those who only want to manipulate your emotions for their own gain. Cynical? Maybe, though I'd say it's the folks who are dong the manipulating who are the cynical ones. I think most of the rest of us are just afraid of letting ourselves get caught up in something until we're sure we aren't being duped again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Njg2GC3-0pM