Dateline Predator Series

Sorry, radio_flyer, I thought you might mean me when you said that. I know what you mean, though. I have topics that I feel like that about.

I'm not sure how else I can explain what I mean. Obviously I'm not getting it out right because so many people are getting angry or offended about this. I think you may think that I am justifying predators behaviors.

All I'm thinking about is the fact that these men are human beings. I'm not talking about pedophiles in general, I am talking about the men that are on Dateline.

I'm a little stirred about this because I fear I have made people mad. I don't want people to feel bad, and I don't want to feel belittle because I made someone feel bad.

I know pedophiles and child molesters, rapists, murders.....are animals and don't deserve and ounce of crap let alone sympathy, but unfortunately my compassion for people makes me sympathetic, even to people who don't deserve it. It's something I can't control and in most cases a curse.

I can't say all predators deserve to die and burn in the pits of hell. I'm sorry, I can't and I won't.

And for the children, please believe me if this situation was to occur with my children somebody would no longer breathe. Children deserve to be protected, they depend on us to protect them. So please if you have a child going on the Internet watch their every move so this can't even be an option for them.

I don't feel any negativity towards you, Desirae. I think you make good points. We have to be rational. I don't remember the term, but actually, "pedophile" is not the correct term for a man who seeks teens. Pedophile refers to pre-pubescent children. They're people who are attracted to children who haven't even begun developing an adult body.

Some people think all people should be forgiven, even the worst of offenders. Others think these persons should be killed. You have to decide for yourself. Many of these persons come from abusive backgrounds. Not all, but probably most.

We don't like to compare them to us as mentally ill persons, because what they do is so heinous to us. But they are mentally ill, and their illness (perhaps created in them by abuse they've suffered) makes them desire children sexually. Why do some abuse victims become abusers themselves, while others do not? I don't know.

I like that you feel comfortable enough to be honest, Desirae. Some people feel they have to say what will make others like them. You should always say what you really feel. Not everyone will like your opinion, but if you're honest, you can say you're not pretending to be something you're not.

.........Desirae..... You didn't upset me or make me angry. I think the topic is worth talking about.....A little touchy at times.... But things like this need to be talked about out in the open... And we all have different opinions... that is ok too...........

We all agree babies, children, teens and other vulnerable people should not be abused. I don't see big contoversy on the thread....... my family never talked about anything. I think this talking about hard stuff is good for us.

Desirae,
It seems like you are disturbed by the "adult talk" that traps the men. Actually there are 13 year olds who if given suggestion will talk about sex. They are curious appropriate for their age. That doesnt mean it is okay to have sex with them because they have appropriate curiousity. What is even worse is that they will be more apt to give in to sexual talk if they are insecure. The worse household dynamics, the more they can be pressured into talking about sex. So although maybe you were strong as a teen and would never have done that, there are teens who have been molested at young ages, have horrible family lives, insecure, or appropriately-curious and would give into suggestion. Perverted Justice never starts talks about sex, but lets it evolve after someone suggests it. And they are never the first one to initiate a meeting. Therefore, again, the child molest/pervert whatever you want to call them.. is at fault. THIS CAN and DOES happen in real life. Kids do get coaxed into sexual talk. That doesnt mean its their faul, or that we should think its a lesser sin for the pervert because the kid talked about it. In fact 6 year olds will talk about sex, but that doesnt mean the person talking to them about it is not doing harm.

i'm amazed that the thread hasn't been locked. rarely are we ever allowed to carry a discussion like this this far......it is good to get things out in the open.

definitions on web:

1. an adult whose primary sexual interest is in children; some professionals make a differentiation between a pedophile, whose sexual partner of choice is a prepubertal child, and a hebephile, who is aroused by adolescents. nccanch.acf.hhs.gov/pubs/usermanuals/sexabuse/sexabuseh.cfm

2. pedophilia, psychosexual disorder in which there is a preference for sexual activity with prepubertal children. Pedophiles are almost always males. The children are more often of the opposite sex (about twice as often) and are typically 13 years or age or younger; they may be within or outside the pedophile's family. Sexual fantasies, looking, or fondling are more common than genital contact. Sexual offenses against children make up a significant proportion of reported criminal sex acts.

The cause or causes of pedophilia are not well understood. Personality problems may be evident, and the pedophile often shows little or no concern for the effects of his sexual behavior on the child. Researchers have reported that psychotherapy in conjunction with the use of testosterone-lowering drugs has substantially reduced the desire in male pedophiles to molest children. See also child abuse.

the below concerns treatment:

A number of proposed treatment techniques for pedophilia have been developed. Many regard pedophilia as highly resistant to psychological interference and have dismissed as ineffective most "reparative strategies," which may be analogous to homosexual reparative therapy.[11] Others, such as Dr. Fred Berlin, believe pedophilia can "indeed be successfully treated," if only the medical community would give it more attention.[5]

Treatment strategies for pedophilia include a "12 step support system", parallel to addiction therapy, though such a system is generally regarded as the least efficacious method of treatment. Anti-androgenic medications such as Depo Provera may be used to lower testosterone levels, and are often used in conjunction with other approaches.

More favoured is cognitive-behavioral therapy, in which the subject is taught to associate "pedophilic behavior" with various unpleasantries. Usually, this is done by telling the pedophile to fantasize of "deviant sexual activity", and then, once aroused, they are given instructions to imagine the assumed legal and social consequences of such an action. Other programs induce an association of illegal behavior with pain by means of more controversial aversion therapy, in which the pedophile is sent an electric shock while fantasizing. [12] These methods are rarely used on pedophiles who have not offended.

hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, the treatment center in New Mexico uses CBT and the 12 step program.......from what happened there, after the "patient" was released, neither of those work............pat


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

((((((((((((pat))))))))))))))) discussions, debates, etcs. are great, aren't they?

This has been a great discussion, even close to a debate at some points of this emotional subject. However, of course it wouldn't be locked for those reasons. The only reason a thread is locked is when flaming, admin. issues, arguing, etc. erupts which doesn't appear to be turning around...which hasn't happened here at all. That's so cool to see, because as has been mentioned many times, this is a touchy subject and many are stating opinions, heart feelings, anger, etc. while being totally respectful to those that might be on the other side of the table.

This has been a really good, informative discussion. I so agree.

KD

Those are some good posts. Thank you very much for defining pedaphile, I had no idea it was preadolescent. I'm also grateful that everybody is respectful. Thanks all, it's good that debate these issues because we learn something everytime. It's to inform, discuss, and express.

I'm all for weeding out pedophiles from American society, but what NBC is doing seems more like exploitation, which is typical of American television.

Enticing people into commiting crimes is a bit awkward. Is it not wrong to lie to people? It's the method that I find distasteful. A lie, used to influence someone into do to something wrong is also wrong.

Might this show scare would-be pedophiles enough to keep them in line?

If this show does discourage people from doing wrong, then it could also be used to discourage tax-evaders and other potential criminals.

What do you think? How about setting up stock brokers, enticing them with prospects of enormous wealth for a litte inside information, then broadcasting footage of their arrest?

Is this going too far or do the ends justify the means?

i'm all for exposing white-collar crime. i can't remember which comedian, maybe Chris Rock, discusses a similar issue . . . if the TV show COPS would chase corporation criminals, would that be a marketable TV show . . . he said probably not because they typically don't go screaming, cursing, and running from the cops . . . instead COPS targets the inner city folks and lower socioeconomic statused individuals.

i saw one episode of Dateline exposing perverts . . . they too went running from the cameras and cops.

ray......................did you read this entire thread?

we're talking about children being molested, abused, tortured and killed.

i don't care what method is used to bring the public's attention to this issue. if it would help catch even one, i'd run down Gore Boulevard buck naked , right now, here in red-necked, right-winged conservative Oklahoma.

i think you're missing the point entirely. we aren't talking about someone shuffling papers and cheating the government.did you feel badly enough for Martha Stewart to protest that? she definitely took the "token" fall for her misdeeds. look how long they ------ around before the enron dudes were taken to trial.

we're talking about children who are being taken advantage of (as in their life will never, ever be the same) by grownups. comparing stockbrokers to child molesters, pedophiles and etc.etc. is rather "spacey".....don't you agree?

money can't buy someone's childhood back.

but you can re-build your wealth and regain the quality of life that you once had, if you ---- up by lying, stealing and cheating.

wanna know one reason that i am so passionate about this? i was molested from age 5 to 7. my life has been totally impacted by what happened to me. i was a small child who didn't have a clue as to what was being done to me. and i was helpless to stop it.

did you consider that these shows might cause parents to take more seriously the threat of the internet? Dateline might get thousands of computers out of children's bedrooms and into the family areas where the parents can monitor what the child is doing online.

have you gone to MySpace.com yet? i went. i joined so i could access two singer's sites.

while there, i surfed. i found a 71 year old man who put in his profile things that i wouldn't even put in an e.mail to you, my dear friend. and every photo of his "friends" were children. they appeared to be around 10, 11, 12, 13 years of age.

this man didn't even lie about his age and he had dozens of kids pics as his "friends".... i notified the head whatever and upon their investigation, this man was indeed a known sex offender and i received a letter from MySpace thanking me for alerting them to his profile. and of course, his profile was removed and i was told that he ended up being arrested.

rafel, if i have to come to NY and beat you over the head with a space monkey, i will.

folks, rafel and i are close friends .......don't be alarmed at this.
we have stranger conversations than this all the time........xoxoxo pat

p.s. i guess this can't be called a "conversation" til i hear what ray has to say back to me, can i?

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
fayerody said:
we're talking about children who are being taken advantage of (as in their life will never, ever be the same) by grownups.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

THAT really is the issue.

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
fayerody said:
have you gone to MySpace.com yet? i went. i joined so i could access two singer's sites.

while there, i surfed. i found a 71 year old man who put in his profile things that i wouldn't even put in an e.mail to you, my dear friend. and every photo of his "friends" were children. they appeared to be around 10, 11, 12, 13 years of age.

this man didn't even lie about his age and he had dozens of kids pics as his "friends".... i notified the head whatever and upon their investigation, this man was indeed a known sex offender and i received a letter from MySpace thanking me for alerting them to his profile. and of course, his profile was removed and i was told that he ended up being arrested.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

fayerody . . .

*My reply was to the first post re: Dateline Predator Series, not the entire thread.

I should not have gone off on a tangent. It makes it sound like I'm equating the seriousness of adults molesting or attempting to molest children to White-collar crime, which was not my intention.

I understand what ticked you off about what I wrote and I believe my post was poorly worded and unfocused, but I DO NOT equate child molestation, abuse or murder to White-collar crimes.

I might have given a wrong impression or expressed an opinion that goes against someone else's, but that does not give one the right to beat me with a space monkey.

Let me know if you think I'm still off-base or missing the point here.

Martha Stewart was not set up by law enforcement, for the purpose of seeing if she goes along with what is obviously criminal activity, was she?

Don't pull out your space monkey just yet, Pat.

Did I miss the point of the first post?

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
mymindistoast said:
Don't pull out your space monkey just yet, Pat.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Space monkey is beating the drums

sorry, not off topic ........space monkeys are control freaks and obviously, we may need them here sooner or later....... (that graphic is to die for)

rafel, you didn't tick me off. i'm untickable these days.

you are my dear friend and i did think that you were equating the pedophiles with stockbrokers. i apologize for misunderstanding you. (i am your unconditional friend)

my life has been impacted so very much by what happened to me. and i know that being molested and abused has affected so very many here.

i have had one successful relationship with a man and am working on another. but it is really, really hard. my trust issues are HUGE. obviously both men were/are unconditional partners.
a relative let me down and you don't get over it. at least, i haven't.

I know there aren't enough cops to get all the pedophiles and hebephiles/ephebophiles out there, and they can only get so many at a time, but it still seems like someone could do something about all the newsgroups and websites out there for and by pedos and hebephiles. Getting rid of those sites wouldn't stop them, but it would put a dent in their connections with each other.

maven, those groups make money. there aren't enough experts in the world to stop all of that.

that is why it is so very important that anyone and everyone, in the private sector, work to get them in jail.

it isn't a sin to try to catch predators.......and that is what Dateline is trying to do. p

I am just asking.... so forgive ME if I am out of line here.... BUT can WE please let this type of subject die for a week or so - I am really needing a break from it all.... Thx. (crying)


LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
but it still seems like someone could do something about all the newsgroups and websites out there for and by pedos and hebephiles. Getting rid of those sites ...

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Do it and you can bet that you'll hear them screaming about their RIGHTS to FREE EXPRESSION!!

Rhapsody, Hun, I too was sick over this subject. What I did was make up my mind that I would personally take a break from it. Just don't read... like I didn't!

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
SeptemberMorn said:
Rhapsody, Hun, I too was sick over this subject. What I did was make up my mind that I would personally take a break from it. Just don't read... like I didn't!

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

Thanks.... I don't read this thread any more - but just seeing the TITLE pop up seems to set my emotions a running, and that is why I asked.

LoVe,
Rhapsody -

Thank you, Mymindistoast, the reason I'm grateful is because you worded what I was trying to say from the beginning much better then I did. It's exactly what I mean.

I'm sorry that this topic has gotten old and annoying for some. I think that it was a heated topic, it's cooled down a bit since then.

It's important to discuss these issues because it's reality and it happens. I've learned from this and I'm hoping you all have as well.