http://blogs.abcnews.com/...7/09/to-catch-a-pred.html
Despite all of its success in bringing attention to the problem of adults sexually preying on children over the Internet, NBC's "Dateline" series, "To Catch a Predator," has raised some troubling questions for both law enforcement and the news media.
I've always wondered how this wasn't considered entrapment, not that I'm defending these sick people, I'm just curious as to the difference.
Anyway, for those who aren't aware, "To Catch a Predator" is a regular series on America's NBC network. NBC in cooperation with different cities' police forces go onto websites pretending to be 12 yr old (sometimes a little older or younger) boys or girls in an effort to lure them to the "child's house" with promises of sexual intercourse, so that they then can be questioned about their suggestive online talk to an underaged child in front of cameras, and then subsequently arrested as they leave the dwelling. It is not uncommon for 20-40 people to be arrested in one sting. This particular operation, however, ended much differently than the rest...
wyldcat
5 Comments
This has to be the final proof that mankind has gone mad. If I placed a thousand dollars in front of you and said 'Take it'. And then when you did, I shot you for being a thief, who would be guilty of the greater crime?
I am NOT condoning paedaphilia, of course I'm not. I'm not saying that people who prey on children should be allowed to get away with it. But I've often said that the people who are the sickest, are those that see 'sin' where only temptation exists. I suspect that people who go looking for porn, in order to have it done away with, are the sickest - it's a sort of legal means of looking at it. How can you tell if something is pornographic if you don't see it to assess it?
Imagine a guy (it's usually guys isn't it? Or is that another myth? Yes, actually, but hey ho...), who knows he has a problem but feels he can deal with it, with his books and his videos - in fact he may not even see it as a problem, nor himself to be a danger, as he deals with it himself. You may not want to accept this, but he may even see his books and videos as his insurance that he wont go out and hurt the children (or adults for that matter). But then some sicko comes along and plays him.......
I watched a rape scene on tv once and was shocked by the dialogue. It wasn't brought about by passion, or lust but by the power, the pain the guy was able to inflict on the victim. I have been told since that rape is not about lust; that it IS about power. Yet, when a man had been led on, so that his lust (which, let's face it, is HUMAN) takes over, he can be guilty of rape if he goes ahead despite the quiet, unheard 'no'.
I see no difference between the perpetrators of the TV show in question and their pet policemen, and the sick, evil witchfinders of the 15th and 16th centuries or the emperors of gladitoral Rome. The world, it seems, appears to have found a new hound to bait. Put the reds back under the beds. With Commies winking at the paranoid, strangely, the world was probably safer.
Nope, I feel no pity or compassion for this issue.
This isn't someone sitting with their books having bad thoughts- this is someone who took the initiative to go to a kids place -
This is not a witch hunt where the police are trying to entrap pedophiles who never leave their house- its for the situations wehre kids DO get online and DO get talked into letting these creeps come over- predators are VERY smart sometimes and it can be easy to engage a kid.
If the man/woman wanted a legal 18 year old and went to their house and then got busted that would be different- but they are children- and deserve protection-
This is no witch hunt for the poor defenseless pedophile who got lured into the big bad police nets- its for sick individuals that need to be rounded up and there is usually no other way to find out who they are- until its too late.
Check out the catholic church for a lead me not into temptation example
Publicizing it only makes the public more aware of it..and the chances for it happening when the cops AREN"T around less- acting as a deterrant.
as for rape- its not JUST about power- date rape is very serious and it usually is about lust- and typically doesn't involve a quiet "no" - in fact.. there could be NO resistance at all because the victim is passed out- or very drunk- it is still rape when there is no consent.
http://www.ed.uiuc.edu/wp/crime/pedophile.htm - Read this online paper- it has a good example of how police are also "witch-hunting" kids in order to keep them from revealing too much information. It also has links to websites where there are parents who actively protect kids against this and where former victims speak out and tell their stories. -IF after reading all this - you still think its a case of the Law against citizen- then you'll have to do a better job of convincing me than comparing it too the emperors of rome or communists.
I agree that paedophilia needs to be dealt with wherever it is found. I don't think it'll ever be eradicated though.
I just don't like entrapment, that's all.
Hey you know AdGuy always gets the last word! ;)