I really enjoy the show! I've watched most of the "episodes" and I am amazed every time!! I can't help but laugh when the cameras show up and they realize they are SCAAAARRRUUUUUUUUDDDEEE!!!! Priceless!
I hear the point. BUT, and this is an incredibly relevant BUT, temptation while it might lead to something, isn't a sin itself, otherwise Jesus was a sinner. A lot of these people persist, even when some of the would-be victimizers back off. They employ personas, begging and wheedling even when the mark has begun to have second thoughts.
I don't have much sympathy for these types of people at all, and they get what they deserve. But I also have a major problem with extra-legal procedures like this, because it really is an offshoot of vigilantism, just instead of punishment, they are launching investigations and sting operations. Seems to me a job best left to the authorities.
I don't sympathize with these guys at all. They are doing something illegal, knowingly and they are taking a big risk by seeking out their fantasies/dreams. Everyone knows the consequences of having sex with underage children. There is no excuse for it. At all.
Actually in the NJ shores sting, one of my old fraternity brother was caught soliciting a 14 yo girl. HE was lonely and didn't care how old she was but still, why not just get a hooker if you are that desperate?
"Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that." ~George Carlin
ok all your points are taken, and taken very well. but whether or not you guys have sympathy for the people and whether they deserve 10-12 years in prison are completely different. and like i said, if the guys are preying on young kids over and over and over again ok, they are "predators", but in some cases, i just dont feel like the guy is a "predator".
I've only seen clips of the show, but I thought the whole premise was they ambushed the guy only after he lured "the child" somewhere. Meaning, it's already gone beyond "temptation".
I have mixed opinions on the show. Where I believe these guys should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, flashing their faces all over national television as a form of entertainment reeks of opportunism and makes me feel voyeuristic and dirty just watching it. To me it's not much better than watching public excecutions. I guess I just don't understand why people find it entertaining.
Snakes Gould wrote:ok all your points are taken, and taken very well. but whether or not you guys have sympathy for the people and whether they deserve 10-12 years in prison are completely different. and like i said, if the guys are preying on young kids over and over and over again ok, they are "predators", but in some cases, i just dont feel like the guy is a "predator".
I get where you're coming from with this whole "relative age" thing, and I don't think your 100% wrong. There is gray area when it comes to people of certain age groups, and different levels of culpability in these situations. But in the case of this show (which, for the record, I do not watch for the very reasons Jose stated above ^^^) these guys are not typically "gray area" guys, and Mr. Bullet For Dinner was WAY not a "gray area" guy.
It's hard to deal in absolutes, even in this situation. If I could provide free advice to everyone and their brother it would be to stay WELL AWAY from any of these girls. It is by all means better to be safe than sorry in these situations.
If "sympathy" were the only consideration in the criminal justice system, an awful lot of people would be doing life terms. Fairness and justice do have to prevail. I also believe the law should be enforced and investigated by the Executive Branch of the government, not normal citizens at the quasi-behest/enabling of some TV show.
To say so isn't justifying the actions of people who obviously have problems. It's not a good precedent here.
Does anyone know if the chat transcripts are posted online somewhere? I'd be curious to read them to figure out just how hard Perverted Justice tries to set these people up. It's one thing if they guy is all over them sending xxx pics and begging to come over, it's another if he's confused and just wondering what he should do....then they suggest that he come over.
I have really mixed feelings on this issue. On one hand I do think it's good that predators in chat rooms everywhere have to worry that they're talking to a decoy....if it prevents some children from having it happen to them then that's great. On the other hand, I agree with the "vigilante justice" label that was used earlier in this thread. It seems like too much of a setup and I agree that I feel a little bad for some of those guys....not all of them....but there are some that have legitimate mental problems that just need help more than anything. Arresting them, putting them in prison, then releasing them so they can do it again is not going to help anything, except TV ratings.
slomo007 wrote:Does anyone know if the chat transcripts are posted online somewhere? I'd be curious to read them to figure out just how hard Perverted Justice tries to set these people up. It's one thing if they guy is all over them sending xxx pics and begging to come over, it's another if he's confused and just wondering what he should do....then they suggest that he come over.
I have really mixed feelings on this issue. On one hand I do think it's good that predators in chat rooms everywhere have to worry that they're talking to a decoy....if it prevents some children from having it happen to them then that's great. On the other hand, I agree with the "vigilante justice" label that was used earlier in this thread. It seems like too much of a setup and I agree that I feel a little bad for some of those guys....not all of them....but there are some that have legitimate mental problems that just need help more than anything. Arresting them, putting them in prison, then releasing them so they can do it again is not going to help anything, except TV ratings.
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by J35J » Mon Aug 06, 2007 2:45 pm 
