A 10-year old boy was left behind by his father in Uppsala (some 60 km north of Stockholm) after a tournament of floor hockey (Sw innebandy). The boy had played so poorly that his father thought he should get back home on his own. The story exploded one Sunday afternoon/evening a couple of weeks ago. Soon enough it was all over on local news and national news as well as social media. One coach was interviewed and said that he had talked to the father on the phone confirming the story. There was an outrage. Everybody had harsh comments and strong emotions were in motion. There was not a punishment severe enough for the father. How could anyone do this to his own child? Clearly unsuitable as a parent! A police complaint was filed and social authorities were notified. A prosecutor initiated an investigation.
After a couple of days oddities began to emerge. The boy and the father had not been identified let alone found; circumstances were unclear commented the prosecutor. The other day came the decision from the prosecutor: the investigation is discontinued. The boy had actually not at all been left behind. The father had just asked somebody at the site to look after the boy for a short while while he packed the car. Later he went back home together with his son. Truly a telling story. We were all carried away and jumped to conclusions, not waiting for facts to be confirmed. This is not the first time, and sadly enough probably not the last. We know that Oscar Wilde said that the only thing we learn from history is that it repeats itself. Still, it is never too late to prove Oscar wrong.