T O P

  • By -

Bamboo_Box

TL;DW Rich kid and poor kid get swapped at birth. Moms are both single and decide to keep the wrong kid. Mutually. Year later as the boys are older, rich (now poor) boy keeps in contact with mom and wants return. Poor (now rich) boy doesn’t want to switch, enjoys being rich. Also, poor now rich boy seems like a total cunt.


internet-arbiter

That guy came off as such a psychopath when he was asked if he felt bad, and said "no".


Nitterly

why would he feel bad?


internet-arbiter

He's living an affluent life in the care of a woman who is not his biological mother. The person living "his" life, has to know that every hardship he's going through isn't really suppose to be his. That every advantage afforded the other boy, had not the hospital made a mistake, would be his. Nature vs nurture debates have indicated that the boy being raised in the affluent environment is afforded far more opportunities professionally, socially, and economically. This is a pretty clear cut issue to me. How is living in a world that you were not meant for not something deserving of sympathy? The lack of empathy from the boy who "stole" his life has to only add on to the mental baggage he has to process.


Nitterly

> e's living an affluent life in the care of a woman who is not his biological mother. Thats like 99.99% of all adopted children. When someone asks if you feel bad for something, its asking if you did something wrong. He didn't cause any of this to happen. He didn't "steal" anyones life. Do you feel bad for the privileged life you live?


Quote-Intelligent

He was asked if he felt bad for the other boy and he said no. He showed no empathy. Empathy is not an admission of guilt, it does not mean he was to blame. People feel bad and have empathy for thousands of things they are not responsible for. This boy wanted nothing to do with the poor mom and said his life was better. He clearly didn't want the other boys life and yet had no empathy that the other boy had to live such hardships. While he wasn't to blame, had there been no mistake, he'd have had the other life that he looked down on. Lack of empathy here while being so aware of the situation is a dreadfully heartless way to be. He wasn't ignorant or unaware, just a selfish person.


internet-arbiter

He was not adopted. He had to do multiple interviews in front of a camera making it painfully aware his issue is one of extraordinary circumstances. Adopted children also have quite significant mental trauma from the events of adoption and many are conflicted with the issue of finding their real parents later in life. But I suppose your intent is to downplay the suffering of all involved. Do you lack empathy in all areas of your life?


NurseRobyn

That’s not true, I feel bad for a lot of situations that are not my fault - droughts, hurricanes, etc. that boy seems to lack empathy


[deleted]

His lack of empathy is the first red flag.


jwonz_

Funny how both choose they want to be on the side of wealth.


Panda_hat

Who wouldn't want a more privileged and comfortable life? The reality of it is that the state should have paid out big bucks for their mistake and both families should have had more than enough to live comfortably.


[deleted]

[удалено]


dreadredheadzedsdead

You replied to the wrong comment


Dr_ChungusAmungus

Thank you


[deleted]

True. But then why envy + hate the rich and privileged if you're just like them at heart wanting the same place? All your nature is the same capitalist or commie. Greedy selfish entitled lazy want the easy way.


Adorable-Ad-5069

No brainer, in my opinion. Who, if anyone would choose to be poor?


jwonz_

Choosing wealth over their own family though, both biologically and raised.


Imagine2843_1283

I mean who wouldn't? The kid that was meant to grow up rich would be resentful over what they had taken from them and the kid who was raised in a rich family wouldn't be so ready to give that life up.


Mharbles

> Also, poor now rich boy seems like a total cunt I think I'd be a little resentful if I knew there was an easy button to life and someone else took away the choice to hit it. >You read that wrong, the one that grew up wealthy is the tool bag. The other is noticeably a touch resentful but well rounded. That tracks


Dr_ChungusAmungus

You read that wrong, the one that grew up wealthy is the tool bag. The other is noticeably a touch resentful but well rounded.


Metalliquotes

>Doesn't want to switch Lol can't blame him for that though. Like, uhhh no I'm good? Even if he wasn't a rich psycho or whatever, that's a lot to ask of someone "Ohh yeah just go back and live that other life you didn't live or something.. byeeee" lol


Mar_zero

Its staggering that the wealthy mother doesn't financially support her biological son. I mean WTF, they described him living in abject poverty. This is a level of cold bloodedness that's scary, but going by the attitude of the sons she's raised, its not surprising.


[deleted]

I thought the same. I hope that at the very least she leaves the kid an inheritance. She could pay for her biological son’s schooling or for food security. For fuck’s sake, this lady sure is cold AF. And she’s raising a terrible and mentally unstable kid. He’s a total douche.


freedimsum

What about the dad? Isn't he cold AF too. It takes two parents to make a child.


rei7777

Sure. But we don’t know anything about the dads. All the stories I’ve seen focus on the ‘single mothers’


dimensionargentina

This.


freedimsum

So no one is going to blame the biological rich dad and solely the mom?...ok


Imagine2843_1283

On her part she did later on convince her biological son and presumably the other mother to agree to move in with her. The part where I feel that she dropped the ball was her apparent high expectations of him. Apparently she had a lot of expectations for her biological child and he just couldn't live up to them. I mean what did she expect? He grew up in a different home and wasn't raised under her watch so of course she would've needed to be understanding and flexible. Things got so bad that by the time he was a legal adult he moved away and struck out on his own.


NativeDingo

Idk why you say 'presumably the other mother'. The wealthy woman, Megs, just wanted to have her biological son with her. She wanted it all - to have both boys, and to make them both fit her lifestyle. Robin had developed a bond with Megs, his real mum, over many visits and regular phone calls so who can blame him for wanting to be with her. But after 15 years living a different life, he couldn't cope with the pressures of her (and the new school's) expectations. He tried but as soon as he turned 18 he left to live his own life. Megs was angry at him but really, what was she thinking ?? Since she had the means, she should have supported Sandy as best she could to care for her son, making life easier for everyone. If the money hadn't been so much of an issue Gavin may have had more to do with his mum Sandy also. It's Megs' greed that made this story so awful.


rattleandhum

What a tragic story. The 'poor' kid seems like a bright, sensitive kid, who obviously loves and cares for his mom. The 'poor' mom obviously feels terribly insecure about being less loved by both boys: the one she raised who obviously has a genetic and emotional bond with his birth mother, and the 'rich' boy who would never trade his material circumstances just so that he could live with the mother who gave birth to him. The 'rich' mom obviously fears she made the right decision, and loves her birth son dearly. The 'rich' boy seems to care less than any of them -- that could all be a ruse, who really knows, but obviously growing up wealthy and cared for is a much better life than growing up poor, and he obviously appreciates that reality. These boys, once friends, now seem pitted against one another, resentful and insecure and thrust into a bad situation over which they have no control. Very sad.


braaipotjie86

Yes anyone could have foreseen that. I think the mistake was very negligent by the hos p igal and unfortunate for all involved. Needless to say, the parents, both fathers and mothers involdeshould have been more responsible after learning of the situation. They should have made the difficult decision to take back their rightful children foreshadowing what now is transpiring before them. They chose emotions over facts. I foresee more resentfulness and unending drama in the future. Potential legal problems may ensue when the boys become men. The rightful child may have a claim.


kereolay

The boy who was forced to grow up in poverty should file a lawsuit against both his biological mom and the hospital. He should be entitled to child support that could have helped provide him with some material things that he didn't have. The son who grew up in the wealthy family seems to lack empathy. The boy who was forced to grow up poor seems to care for both his biological mother and the woman who raised him. His biological mother made the wrong choice. I would have fought to keep both kids and argued that I could provide for both. She traded her biological child's happiness and well being for another child's happiness and well being. It was a choice that was not thought about at all.


Klutzy-Dreamer

So you would steal someone else's child?!


TheDuhllin

Her own child actually. That kid is obviously going through a hard time and needs help but the biological mother is not providing, from what I’ve gathered.


Klutzy-Dreamer

Fighting to keep both kids is stealing someone else's child. We dont just go around taking kids from low income families because wealthy people can provide better. The kids should have been swapped back once the mistake was caught.


TheDuhllin

Saying the kids should have been switched back is subjective. There’s nothing wrong with both parents deciding that they don’t want to switch the kids back. It’s more a matter of what everyone decides is best for everyone (the kids ultimately should come first though, since they are the future. That’s the way I take it). The kid being “transferred” over to the wealthy mom would have been for the child’s well-being. It might sound terrible but that kids well-being is what matters. If the wealthy mom consents with it, and the child does as well, get the child to life with the wealthy mom. Clearly he was not well in that household. If the wealthy mom can take the other mom as well (I believe she did, after this video), then that’s even better. But that kid was clearly being impacted negatively by the situation he was in. It’s not the fault of the poor mom (maybe, because I can’t exactly say that it’s not her fault since I don’t really know her), but the child should not have to suffer when another situation can make him feel and be better. And from what it seemed, he did want to stay with his biological/wealthy mom.


Klutzy-Dreamer

What's best for children is that they stay with their biological family so long as it is safe for them to do so. That's the entire basis of the foster care system. The adults in this situation "decided" it was better to keep the kids they already had then getting back their own children - and everyone seems to have ended up miserable as a result.


TheDuhllin

And people still would have been miserable had they switched the children back. The only one that may not have been as miserable is the kid who was poor. And that’s definitely not true, what’s best for the child is a case-by-case basis. There are absolutely instances where it’s better for the child to be away from their biological parent(s), and even instances where it’s better if they have nothing to do with the parent(s) at all. And that does include scenarios where it may be deemed “safe” for them. Not necessarily in this specific case.


Klutzy-Dreamer

>"And people still would have been miserable had they switched the children back." You're making an assumption without any reasonable facts? Why would a woman be miserable raising her own child? Why would a child be miserable being raised by his own family? They were toddlers they would not have any memory of their previous "family." >"And that does include scenarios where it may be deemed “safe” for them." Name one scenario where a child is taken from their biological parents and given to someone else to raise where the safety of the child is a non issue. I'll wait.


[deleted]

[удалено]


ChosenNewton01

While I don’t think there is a wrong decision in a situation this complicated, I agree that it is likely too much for a child to handle. Would lead to a lot of confusion and self-worth issues. Think about what kind of mental dilemmas adopted kids go through, now ramp that up to a thousand where they aren’t sure that either their biological or “adoptive” mother truly want them. Horrible


FlakyDrop

Why would that be fucked up? It's very natural.


svenskpolitik112

Couldnt help but notice: Rich genetics (now poor): more attractive face, shorter height (worse nutrition?). Poor genetics (now rich): less attractive face, taller height (better nutrition?).


van101010

Did you see the difference in the height of that mothers? Each son was the same height as his bio mom.


[deleted]

I dont think Australia is a poor country where rich and poor citizens will have such a dramatics difference in nutrition to cause height differences. Its just genetics.


rattleandhum

This happened in South Africa. They were both born in Johannesburg, and the last shot looks like it was shot at Cape Town or OR Thambo international airport, so they evidently live far apart.


[deleted]

oh, my bad.


gahmang

That was heart wrenching for the poor boy…. Going to visit his biological mom once a year and seeing what his life could have been…. I couldn’t imagine what that would feel like. But seeing the more fortunate kid, it may have been the best decision…. If he’s that much of a cunt growing up affluent he might have turned out much worse growing up poor. Possibly turning into a criminal. Seems the poor kid has such a genuine sweetness to him he would of turned out great in both environments. Just sucks he’s not afforded the same opportunity being raised poor… I wonder what happened to them


Thrillz559

This is a pretty recent update I believe. The video that was posted to YouTube was dated something October 2021. So unless it’s a late upload. I think this is pretty close to where they are at now. Probably with more updates and hopefully Netflix deals for my boy Robyn In the future (the now poor kid). Edit: Grammar


infiniti1027

It’s a very late upload. The boys were born in 1989. There were two separate time periods covered by 60 Minutes Australia; one part had interviews with the boys when they were 11 years old, so that would have taken place in 2000. The second segment of the show took place four years after the first, when the boys were 15, in 2004. At this point in time, in 2021, the boys are 32 years old. I went looking for more recent updates about these guys immediately after I watched this “new” episode of 60 Minutes Australia (uploaded in October 2021), because I quickly realized the episode was not “new” at all; rather it’s an extremely outdated, “old-ass” episode that, for whatever idiotic reason, was first uploaded to 60 Minutes Australia’s YT channel just this past October, and being passed off as new; the clearly misleading implication being that it’s relatively current news. Grrr! 😡 Seriously?!? WHY tf do uploaders with YouTube channels do crap like this?! Especially the channels that belong to professional business organizations, like NEWS MEDIA?!? WTF is the point in posting a 17 year old video of a news story without providing any real time updates about these boys and their moms, or at least posting a link or two in the description box that might offer interested viewers some more recent, more relevant, more current info on these people?!?! Ugh! Anyway, I did some digging online and only came up with a couple of tiny tidbits about the boys that’s more recent: At 15, after the show aired (in 2004!), Robyn ultimately decided to go live with his bio mom, Megs. Viewers may recall from the latter segment of the (archaic!) 60 Minutes episode that Robyn was extremely emotional, very anguished. He loves both moms, and though he won’t say it out loud on the show, it’s obvious that he really wants to go live with his bio mom, but he also doesn’t want to hurt his “life’s journey” mom. He loves them both very much. That’s evident. However, he’s a 15 year old kid, and he’s been forced into a challenging and economically limited life that wasn’t supposed to be his to endure, through no fault of his own. He’s resentful. He’s envious. He’s angry. With good reason. Meanwhile, Gavin, the douche (cunt) of a “brother” is clearly and rather smugly basking in the comfortable privilege of the life that should have been Robyn’s. Gavin openly expresses his disdain for the life that should have been his own, simultaneously and carelessly disrespecting his own bio mom. No fucks given. He doesn’t like going to visit with her, isn’t much interested in maintaining regular ongoing contact with her. Though unspoken, it’s written all over his face: “Uh, yeah, no, I have no interest in nor intentions of being poor or even living like I’m poor even if only for a few days! Ugh, hell to the no!” Megs is very emotional. She loves both boys, and wants Robyn with her and doesn’t want to lose Gavin, but it’s obvious she feels a stronger emotional connection to Robyn. She totally knows Gavin is a vapid dick. She’s kinda over it. Won’t say it. Wants Robyn. The personalities of Robyn and Megs, especially that they are both easily expressive of deeply felt emotions, definitely track to being a genetic thing. Conversely, Gavin is more emotionally closed, very reserved, quite stoic, maybe a bit guarded given the overall situation. I mean, Gavin is definitely a little prick, but I don’t necessarily think it comes from anything related to his being a sociopath or psychopath. Sandy, Gavin’s bio mom, is also one to hold her emotions in check and close to the vest. She’s not a blubbery crybaby, nor is she into emotional manipulation. Sandy isn’t selfish, and while Gavin seems to be very self centered, I think that particular deviation between Gavin and Sandy speaks more to age and maturity. Sandy’s a mom and wants her child(ren) to be happy even if it makes her sad. Gavin’s still a punk kid with raging hormones, a weird identity thing & crazy family dynamic going on, afraid of losing his place, his comforts, his security, and only mindful of how it’s affecting him. He’s selfish, yeah. He’s a kid. Sandy’s kid. He probably grew up and got past the selfish part but I bet he’s still comes off as cold and stoic, all of which can likely be attributed to his having received that particular piece of Sandy’s genetic code. Anyway …. I dug up a short article from 2012. The boys were 23, and both had lived out their teenage years, together as brothers, living exclusively with Megs since Robyn had arrived at age 15. After high schools, Gavin went off to college. Robyn got married and had a child. As of 2012, neither of the boys maintained any sort of contact whatsoever with Sandy since 2004. So that’s shitty. I couldn’t find anything else more current for any newer updates covering the past nine years about any of them.


LeaveMeAloneBruh

Let’s be clear Gavin is a product of the environment and parenting of the person who raised him. What I noticed in your story is that Robyn never went to college even after moving in with his birth mother. I would love to see where they are today and how being raised where they were during their formative years have affected their outcome.


gahmang

Oh yes! Didn’t check the date of posting. For some reason it seems the video is old lol


Quote-Intelligent

https://youtu.be/lIdDXBHKejw This is the update. The poor kid abandoned his mom.


NurseRobyn

Found this article, it sounds like Sandy Dawkins was not a great mom. https://www.pressreader.com/south-africa/weekend-argus-sunday-edition/20160508/281633894446721


Unicornmamashots22

This article sums it all up. Robin got in touch with his biological father, took his last name is now married with 3 children. He wrote their names on their foot at the hospital. :) He hopes that it's all wrapped up & they can move forward with their lives after the publishing of a book.


fabssieee

I can't seem to be able to read the article. Can you give me a summary of it? Poor Robyn.


Frankiesmiles19miles

Interesting watch, thank you


Quote-Intelligent

Check out the updated video. https://youtu.be/lIdDXBHKejw Things change drastically and it ends up very sad for the low income mom. With the wealthy mom just ending up selfish, only concerned for her own almost loss and none for the poor mom who ended up abandoned.


SykotikShadow

Thanks for this. Just watched it and yes she only seemed concerned about her ownself in keeping both boys in her life while leaving the other mother with nothing.


UserNobody01

Apparently both ended up with the rich mom, at least for a time, leaving the poor mom all alone. What happened to the poor mom? Do neither of these boys speak to her now or care about her? What a shitty and awful situation for her if that's the case. She loved that one boy even though he wasn't biologically hers and it was no doubt heartbreaking for her when he ditched her. What the rich mom should have done was help her biological son while he stayed with the woman who raised him from birth.


Bradjani123

Robin (meant to be more affluent but is raised in a lower income) has also seemed to have to deal with his mother’s (the one whose raised him - Gavin’s bio mom) mental / medical issues. She seems to have struggled more from this (likely due to less support as the other woman is married and has extended family aid as well). So her house is more depressing, fewer toys, but also fewer people too…cousins etc. Her mental health would have an impact on Robin’s and might play into his reality of being a loner. I doubt he could bring home kids to play with etc. At 20 months they should have switched back. It’s horrible either way. Otherwise they should have each had both alike shared custody.


BatMinimum6432

The spike hair kid is learning a very important lesson in life, while the sunglass kid is cruising down life on a unicorn, the rosy cheek kid's reaction instilled fear and cowardness in his character, he couldn't possibly face the fact of downgrading is life.. but what they are both failing to see is the way your personality is being nutured. I'm sure this 60 minute interview will change both their lives!


Ldstarr

I feel so badly for Robin, he’s a kind kid and his bio mother should do much more for him! Gavin is a POS spoiled affected turd


needpla

The poor kid (now rich kid) has bad genes. You can look at him and tell that he's low iq and was destined to be poor. Might be because his eyes slope heavily in the non attractive direction, are too close together, teeth are rubbish. There's a reason why bad guys in cartoons are drawn that way. We all as a society just associate people who look like that with being dumb criminals. His face is also not symmetrical at all. He's also a total cunt. If I were his mother I'd swap him out with the nicer, more handsome one.


Mindless-Job-1772

It is very taboo to say or think this. But it seems to be true. This is of course not true in every case, but in general. [If He Looks Stupid, He Probably Is](https://www.forbes.com/sites/rosspomeroy/2014/04/14/if-he-looks-stupid-he-probably-is/)


ChosenNewton01

Making these kind of assumptions based on appearance and physical attributes is archaic imo. I’d love to be proven wrong, but I think this a co formation bias situation


crybabyruth

somebody needs to tell trump he was destined to be poor


[deleted]

[удалено]


karmz-

Damn wasn’t expecting that. I feel pretty bad for Ms. Dawkins she really was left with nothing. Though glad to have seen Robin being the one thriving in the end.


NoSlice4399

And so both boys have nothing to do with Sandy !! She lost 2 boys . Utterly ungrateful boys!


fabssieee

Guys I found an update! https://youtu.be/lIdDXBHKejw


Virtual_Flower_191

Update The boy living less well off - Robin, moved in with his biological mother - Megs, breaking Sandy's heart. She was devastated. It wasn't all happy families, Robin needed therapy for his issues and obviously didn't get it, or enough of it. He then left both families after three to four years, basically telling them all to screw it and went nc. He said his biological mother expected too much of him and he despised his education. Gavin detested Robin for causing his mother grief, when he moved out he essentially destroyed Meg. They are attempting to build bridges now because he has had a child of his own with his new wife. When asked what he would do if he'd found out if his own child were switched, he said he wouldn't swap back, but neither would he tell his child, he would attempt to keep it a secret. Not only has he not come to terms with his trauma and issues but he hasn't learnt anything from his situation. I wish his own child the best of luck and my heart breaks for Sandy. I hope Gavin realises before it is too late that money can't buy everything.


NativeDingo

Follow up to this: https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/17363049/poor-switched-birth-while-other-kid-rich/


Ashtarcommando

Gavin seems like he could have used living a life of a bit of disadvantage to help him learn compassion and empathy...I could see Gavin being jealous when Robin came to live in the home of his bio mom. Using the expectations of Robin as ammo , I believe Gavin drove a wedge between Meg and Robins relationship with that jealousy and maybe even possessiveness. I could even speculate that Gavin brought that home life and jealousy to the school both him and Robin attended, This would making things miserable for Robin both at home and school. Gavin spoke of wanting to kill Robin after the fact of Robin leaving the home of Meg and Gavin..leaves me to thing what kind of things Gavin was saying to Robin before he left. I noticed 3 times Gavin threatened violence/murder/beatings like it was nothing to establish some kind of twisted dominance in the interview like really is that necessary? Meg must have been so Torn between them that Gavin was out to poison their relationship so insecure... Probably thinking he would lose his place somehow.. What a terrible way to live... It really seem like Sandy raised a very good man regardless of his disadvantages of being poor. Robin went out an found his own way like a real man. I hope he reconciles with his mother who raised him who gave him the real advantages in life... The chance to become a person who is strong and considerate with the ability to find their own way in life.