# Sex Offender Registy: The Unintended Consequences **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 4, 2013, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030 "2013-01-04T04:16:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/21 "2013-01-04T06:23:30Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > Someone going out of their way to compile a dossier of a stranger’s life without their consent is stalking in my book. _ **Not** _ a stranger. Dude, let this go. Your position is ridiculous. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/22 "2013-01-04T06:25:58Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > I’m actually quite worried that the sex offender’s register is publicly searchable too. Duh. Of course it’s publicly searchable, that’s the whole point of a registry. The OP’s not doing anything that any of us can’t do from our couch. [Family Watchdog is a good one,](http://www.familywatchdog.us/) and you betcha I would check it before buying a home anywhere. There are 20 offenders within 1/2 mile of where I live, half of them classified as offenders against children. Why wouldn’t I want to know that, and damn straight I should be able to check that regularly. It’s the price they pay for not being in prison. On preview: lots has been posted since I started composing this. Perhaps **Sevencl** should consider just reading these boards for a while as you are new, and have effectively hijacked this thread. Let’s get back to the OP. ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/23 "2013-01-04T06:28:20Z")
Did you also find troll in that same dictionary Sevencl? To the OP - there is a lot of published materials and studies on the effects of the Sex Offender Registry. Not only for those that are guilty but not a threat. There is also much on how it actually reduces safety, even from those that fully deserve to be on it. Your tragedy makes it very personal, and it has opened a window for you. Be assured that thoughts go out to you, and that I, for one, find it perfectly understandable that you would want to know more about what caused the tragedy. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/24 "2013-01-04T06:37:28Z")
**Frosty Camel** , I can’t begin to comprehend what must be going on in your head. I’ve lost a kindergartener cousin to a drunk driver, and an uncle (20 years apart) to a trucker who fell asleep at the wheel, that’s nothing compared to what you’re going through. I can, however, understand the need to explore how a tragedy happened, and the events and life choices and consequences that all unfolded. I’m a curious person, and I really think under the same circumstances I would likely do the same research you have. It’s all part of trying to wrap your head around it all and make sense of things. I think your conclusions are logical, and if your building/hobbies/research is helping you work through it all, then kudos to you. There’s a similar story I’ve heard through my mom (the son of a friend of hers), I don’t remember the ages, but ultimately is was an older boy and younger girl, consensual sex that was of no consequence to either party, and yet the boy ended up on the sex offender registry with a significantly changed life. It never should have happened. He made different choices afterwards, though, and is doing OK today. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/25 "2013-01-04T06:40:14Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > _ **Not** _ a stranger. Dude, let this go. Your position is ridiculous. My position is a perfectly valid opinion. I’m stating that I think it’s immoral to do this, not that it’s illegal. But yes, this is off topic, and I’ve said what I think of the OP’s behaviour, so let’s leave it. EDIT: also, a stranger is someone whom you don’t know. I’m assuming the guy and the OP don’t have a personal relationship; OP mentions not having contacted him yet. ---
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/26 "2013-01-04T06:58:53Z")
This is the best thread hijacking I’ve ever seen, now lets all get back to talking about Sevencl and how their privacy was breached. ---
**Author:** ![duchessofdork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@duchessofdork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duchessofdork)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/27 "2013-01-04T07:01:05Z")
> [@Troppus](#): > > Public records can be perused by anyone who wishes to understand what would lead a young man to destroy a family. It isn’t stalking. Sounds like the OP is finding a way to hate the kid less. Leave him alone, he’s grieving. Absolutely. I would want to know everything I could about the guy who killed my family. I’d want to know why. I’m so, so sorry, Frosty. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/28 "2013-01-04T07:05:12Z")
> [@grude](#): > > This is the best thread hijacking I’ve ever seen, now lets all get back to talking about Sevencl and how their privacy was breached. I explained why I feel so strongly about people’s right to privacy because it seemed to be upsetting people. You all seem to feel strongly that someone has the right to invade someone’s privacy if they have a good enough reason, so why is it okay for OP to share their reason for doing what they did but not me to share why I think it’s wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/29 "2013-01-04T07:17:21Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > You all seem to feel strongly that someone has the right to invade someone’s privacy… I guessing that no one here agrees with you that anyone’s privacy has been invaded. I certainly don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/30 "2013-01-04T07:36:32Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > _ **Not** _ a stranger. Dude, let this go. Your position is ridiculous. His/her position is offensive and hurtful to someone who lost his entire family. Words fail to convey the sorrow of losing a family. It is a loss of the very essence of how humans define ourselves. It is a loss of holidays, birthdays, graduations together. It is a loss of the everyday and the special events that mark our lives together with loved ones. It is a loss of the present and the future, of the possibilities that may have been. Coming to terms with such a loss is a very difficult process. There is no one right way. I wish **Frosty Camel** well. In a search for meaning, you must accept that there may not be any meaning. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/31 "2013-01-04T07:40:33Z")
> [@Iggy](#): > > His/her position is offensive and hurtful to someone who lost his entire family. I’m sorry if it’s construed as offensive, but then I’m not exactly thrilled by people talking about a human being’s privacy in such cavalier terms. ---
**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/32 "2013-01-04T07:45:57Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > I’m sorry if it’s construed as offensive, but then I’m not exactly thrilled by people talking about a human being’s privacy in such cavalier terms. It’s like twisting the knife… incredibly painful to the target and shows insensitivity. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/33 "2013-01-04T07:53:15Z")
It needed to be said. Especially because no one else even seems to see the problem with it. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/34 "2013-01-04T07:56:57Z")
Whats this about an Electric Bycycle? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/35 "2013-01-04T08:00:15Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > It needed to be said. Especially because no one else even seems to see the problem with it. No…it didn’t actually need to be said. Some things are better left unsaid, especially in cases like this where something very tragic has happened to another person. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/36 "2013-01-04T08:05:37Z")
Yeah, well I consider someone having their privacy stripped away to be tragic, too, and two wrongs don’t make a right. ---
**Author:** ![AngelSoft](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angelsoft/32/440_2.png) [@AngelSoft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelSoft)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/37 "2013-01-04T08:09:52Z")
> [@Sevencl](#): > > Yeah, well I consider someone having their privacy stripped away to be tragic, too, and two wrongs don’t make a right. It wasn’t ‘stripped’ away. Morally right or wrong in the legal sense, his actions brought about the loss of privacy. It’s the consequence of his actions. A consequence that I’m sure Frosty Camel would gladly take up instead of what he has had to suffer because of this man’s choices in life. It sounds like the subject is a bit of a touchy matter for you, from what you’ve told but honestly, you’re overreacting. Frosty Camel has done nothing wrong and is perfectly justified in trying to find out as much as he can about the man who killed his family. I’ve never been in that sort of situation and I hope I never am, but I can only imagine if I were, I’d be doing the same thing. Trying to find out WHY something terrible happened is part of healing, even if you never find the answer. ---
**Author:** ![Sevencl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d9b06d/32.png) [@Sevencl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sevencl)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/38 "2013-01-04T08:29:09Z")
We’ll have to agree to disagree on the acceptability/morality of it. And that’s fine. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/39 "2013-01-04T09:09:51Z")
You know, **Sevencl** , not everything is about you. You might want to think about climbing down off the martyrdom high horse and consider that not everything going through your head needs to make to the keyboard, especially when your sanctimoniousness is expressed in a way that piles more pain onto someone already going through a level of heartache neither you nor I can comprehend. ---
**Author:** ![Encinitas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Encinitas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Encinitas)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2013, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030/40 "2013-01-04T09:27:45Z")
**Frosty Camel** , I applaud your efforts to let go of your anger. Forgiveness heals the forgiver not the offender. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sex-offender-registy-the-unintended-consequences/646030.md?page=3)