What was everyone's opinion - Small Sacrifices (1989) Discussion

[–] thirdrow 17 years ago

Diane's father? I recall from reading the book, that there was some weirdness there. If memory serves, Diane made allegations of sexual abuse- which wouldn't be surprising considering her later behavior. Diane was such a sociopath, though, that nothing she says can be believed.

I recall some other examples in the book which indicated that the father was emotionally distant- at the very least.

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[–] bmks 15 years ago

But he believes in her innocence. He has a website for her too.

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[–] PiercedDiva 17 years ago

He was an *beep*

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[–] ahmbelle 17 years ago

I think it's stupid to blame Dianne's behavior as an adult on her father! No matter what 'might' have happened (which she has since recounted) it does not in anyway justify what SHE did to her own children. Egads, not all sociopaths are sociopaths for a REASON ... they just are that way.

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[–] thirdrow 17 years ago

Agreed.

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[–] LisaLisa85 17 years ago

Diane recanted her accusations of molestation against her father after she was caged. So it's possible these accusations were lies that she used to try and justify her own acts.

As for the old man himself? Well, even though he wasn't very pleasant to her and threw her out on the street when she was pregnant and had nowhere else to go (coz there was no way Boyd-Paul or Lew Lewiston would have taken her back), can you really blame him for that? How must it have felt for him to listen to her making those accusations against him - especially if they were not true?

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[–] 17 years ago

[deleted]

[–] indy_go_blue44 9 years ago

Some people are born without a conscience, without any regard for the feelings/needs of others. Some become serial killers, rapists, etc.; some become the CEO's on Wall Street; some just live normal lives. Jeffrey Dahmer was torturing animals when he was 8 years old; apparently his parents were normal and he had a decent childhood.

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[–] blinkysmom 8 years ago

She committed the crimes to get Lew Lewiston back. Put two and two together - he didn't want to be a daddy and she tried to get rid of her kids. Simple and screwed up as that.

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[–] eileen-guthrie555 8 years ago

In her twisted narcissistic sociopathic mind, he was far more important to her then her own children. Easily disposable because she never had a problem getting pregnant. If I kill my three kids I'll just have/make more. When she escaped prison twice, got pregnant the first time but the another got creeped out by her demands for sex and got the hell out of there.

After she was caught the second time, she was placed in the Edna Mahan Correction facility in Clinton, NJ at the prosecutors insistence and for their high level for maximum security section, and they only used female guards. When Diane was being interviewed by Oprah with Ann Rule they disgusted the case. it was done there. No one in the town including the mayor had no idea Diane Downs was there. The Mayor wasn't very happy because of her history of escapes. Security has gotten better, where there are 3 very large electric fences about 100 high to 200 high as well as Male guards with very large dogs who patrol the grounds 24/7. And small lakes around the all of the building. They had only one escape since 1913.

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[–] cosmic_quest 15 years ago

It's hard to tell since none of us were there to see what actually happened in her childhood. I do think he was probably a hard taskmaster who distant and ruled the house but I don't believe he abused her sexually. I think she just said that for the sympathy.

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[–] Cultfilmfeverforever 13 years ago

He could have been among the few people to actually stand up to her.

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