To catch a predator

[Lance Alworth]

I'm sure everyone here has seen Dateline NBC "To catch a Predator" I'm sort of wondering what ya'lls thoughts on it are. Do you think its clever police work, or do you find it to be a sleazy way of entrapping people?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10912603/Edited by: Lance Alworth

 

[Hockaday]

I see it as a way of entrapping sleazy people.Edited by: Hockaday

 

[Deus Vult]

If it was an endless line of 19-year-old guys trying to score some 15- or 16-year-old poontang, I'd say it's sleazy, salacious, and borders on entrapment.

But you know the old saying, you cannot con an honest man. Men over 30, 40, 50, trying to hook up with 13 year olds -- that is just sick, and I am glad they are being exposed for the perverts they are! The NBC guy reads the transcript of some of the online chat, and it is clear that: (1) the men know the supposed age of the decoy, and (2) there is no mistake that they intend to have intercourse with the underage correspondent.

In the case of a simple misunderstanding, wherein the man is at least arguably unaware of the age of the other party, the transcript should protect the man from wrongful conviction.Edited by: Deus Vult

 

[Solomon Kane]

I think the show is doing good work--since the intent of the predator is clearly tracked and verified. This should have some deterrent effect.

BTW, did anyone notice the high percentage of *Hispanic-Mestizo and Indian/Pakistani* predators that have appeared on this show? There seems to be no sense of age-appropriate limits in these cultures.

 

[Lance Alworth]

BTW, did anyone notice the high percentage of *Hispanic-Mestizo and Indian/Pakistani* predators that have appeared on this show? There seems to be no sense of age-appropriate limits in these cultures.

The funniest one was the one they did in Florida and they had this Arab guy from Egypt on there. He claimed he was just passing by and the girl just waived him on in to come into the house. They showed pictures of him masturbating, and his excuse that was that he was a muslim and that muslims don't do things like this. I guess he forgot that Mohammed was married to a 6 year old girl! LOL

 

[guest301]

I love this show and have been thinking about starting a thread on this for some time. Thank you Lance for bringing it up. I have seen every "Catch a Predator" show that's been put out these last 18 months or so. This is finally a example where the mainstream media is actually doing some good.
They have literally taken hundreds of these monsters of the street through these programs and God only knows how many molesters have had second thoughts and changed their minds about raping a child because of these shows. It certainly has enlightened many a parent about the dangers of the internet and leaving your child alone at home.Whats been really amazing is all the different kinds of people this show has caught doing this. Teachers, constuction workers, muslims, sunday school teachers, a Rabbi, truckers, mechanics, doctors, soldiers and there seemed to be alot of Bangladeshi and Indian men caught up in this. I hope they continue to do this show and America's Most Wanted did a similar show a couple of weeks ago and nabbed about four guys trying to do this. The only thing that makes me uncomfortable about these shows is all the emphasis on these guys being sick and needing rehabilitation. These men are not sick, they are evil and should be treated accordingly. Life sentences and in some cases the death penalty are what's needed.

Edited by: guest301

 

[Lance Alworth]

there seemed to be alot of Bangladeshi and Indian men caught up in this.

I've noticed this is well. I don't know a whole lot about the Hindu/Sikh culture of some of these people from countries like India and Nepal. But it does make me wonder if this kind of thing is tolerated in those societies.

 

[KG2422]

How old are they claiming to be when they set these losers up?

 

[Lance Alworth]

How old are they claiming to be when they set these losers up?

usually either 13 or 14

 

[KG2422]

14 is the legal age of consent in Canada. That was one of the issues the conservatives said they would address if elected. They said it should be raised to 16. Throughout history, it was common for girls in their early teens to marry. This only changed in the 20th century. I think the punishment for those who have sex with teenagers and those who have sex with prepubescent children should be much different. There should be psychological studies to find out at what age does sex cause psychological damage. It seems to me that teenage girls are capable of reproducing and that is what they have done throughout the history of the world. What has changed? Now those who mess with the little ones, throw them under the jail for all I care.

 

[JoeV]

I just find it funny that the majority of guys who get caught on this show have seen the show, and know what happens. If you are really that into 14 year olds, why would you solicit them in a chat room? I read somewhere that 20 to 40% of people asking for people in those type chat rooms are undercover law enforcement at times. Those are not good odds! These people should either start looking for their sex elsewhere, or just move to someplace where it is legal for crissakes. I really don't see the attraction to a undeveloped, immature teenager anyways, but whatever.

 

[KG2422]

A buddy of mine is doing 8 years for having sex with an underage girl. She testified in court that she told him she was 17 (legal in Texas). She was really 13-ouch

. To me, she looked too skinny for him to fall for that. But he was drunk from what I was told so I don't know. When I was a teenager, I dated this girl who was 14 and had D cups. She looked like Jennifer Connelly in the face. She could have passed for 17. Talk about jail bait. In Texas, there is a defense to prosecution if you are within three years of the same age. I don't like them that young and dumb now that I'm older - thank goodness but still... I don't like that my buddy has to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life because he was with some chick who had screwed half the town already ,and her scumbag daddy is probably the one who made her that way. I've noticed when young girls are spreading it around like that, the first place to look should probably be at home.

 

[guest301]

I just find it funny that the majority of guys who get caught on this show have seen the show, and know what happens. If you are really that into 14 year olds, why would you solicit them in a chat room? I read somewhere that 20 to 40% of people asking for people in those type chat rooms are undercover law enforcement at times. Those are not good odds! These people should either start looking for their sex elsewhere, or just move to someplace where it is legal for crissakes. I really don't see the attraction to a undeveloped, immature teenager anyways, but whatever.

I think one of the atractions is that 12 to 14 year olds represent easy prey. It's alot easier to bribe and fool some pre-pubscent young girl(or boy in some cases) to do something with you no self-respecting adult would. In alot of these "catch a predator shows" it oftens turns out to be some kind of fantasy fulfillment, sort of a conquer the virgin mentality. I'm a little uncomfortable trying to understand these kinds of people. They really don't need our understanding, swift and brutal justice is what's needed with mercy not on the table. As KG was hinting at earlier, I think there is a big difference between a 21 year old getting it on with a 16 year old and a 40 year old getting it on with a 13 year old.

 

[White Shogun]

Just for the sake of debate, I have made the same argument with others as KG has expressed here. In pre-industrial times, 'children' were married and given half the farm to work on by the time they were 14. Thirteen was usually the age one was considered to have reached maturity, not 18 or the ridiculous age of 21 now.

In modern times, 'kids' are coddled until the time they graduate from college, and some times beyond. Parents dutifully send little Junior and Janet off to institutions where drinking and 'hooking up' is the norm. These behaviors aren't taught in college, they're practiced in high school and now even in junior high. 'Easy' sex is part and parcel of the new social agenda.

The illogic of our society in all areas continues to amaze me. If they're going to pass out condoms to teens, why does it matter who they use them with? If a 14 year old girl has already slept with a dozen different classmates, using condoms collected at school and as taught in 'Health', why does everyone get so upset if they decide they want to try out a 30 year old? Is sex okay for teenagers or isn't it? It's the same idiocy that says a woman can sleep with a guy for 'free' (the cost of a drink) or multiple guys if she chooses, but they can't make the same deal for $50?? We say it's okay if she gives it away free, but she better not sell that s***!!!

There are girls in junior high these days who sport D cups, show cleavage, a**-crack, cheek, and belly everywhere they go. Many of these girls can easily pass for someone in their late teens; and those in their late teens can easily pass for someone in their twenties.

All rationalization aside, the stupidity of these 'predators' amazes me as well. Knowing the climate of law enforcement these days, who would be stupid enough to send a naked picture of themselves masturbating to a person online who says they are 13 or 14 years old? Dumb, dumn, dumb.

 

[White Shogun]

Here is a perfect example of what I am talking about in the above post:

Have sex, do drugs, says school speaker