# Shouldn't have tickled him, Elmo \[Sesame Street puppeteer resigns after sex allegations\] **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2012, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798 "2012-11-12T17:29:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![RockytheflyingS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RockytheflyingS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RockytheflyingS)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/61 "2012-11-14T04:43:29Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I don’t think the coincidence is particularly odd. They were two of the most popular PBS shows at the time. > > Plus, I don’t think guys who abuse children can spot each other across a crowded room. That seems like it would be a secret kept from absolutely everybody. They, being PBS “stars”, don’t fall into this category, but I remember when Corey Haim died a lot of fall stars were claiming there is a big pedo ring in Hollywood and basically that’s how a lot of children get into/fall out of Hollywood. I’m not sure whether to believe it or not, because all the hasbeens who support these claims refuse to name names. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Noelq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/noelq/32/16438_2.png) [@Noelq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Noelq)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/62 "2012-11-14T18:56:30Z")
I am so incredibly relieved that this was false! ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/63 "2012-11-14T19:06:55Z")
I’m very disturbed that this man has been dragged through the mud because of a false accusation. It doesn’t matter who who was falsely accused, the accuser recanted as soon as the story received some notice. He, the law firm representing him, and those who publicized this story without thorough investigation deserve something rather horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Casey1505](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dc4da7/32.png) [@Casey1505](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Casey1505)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/64 "2012-11-14T19:10:33Z")
> [@Ferret\_Herder](#): > > I sometimes wonder if his father’s prohibition was not out of fear that he would be listening to a “pansy” but that he would hear a male authority figure quietly telling him that he had worth, he was a good person, he was special and loved. Well said. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/65 "2012-11-14T19:58:21Z")
I added the word “recanted” to the thread title to reflect updated information. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/66 "2012-11-14T20:54:23Z")
Sadly, this false allegation adds fuel to the idea that a man who molests a boy is a homosexual, while a man who molests a girl is a child molester. I don’t understand it either. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/67 "2012-11-14T21:08:22Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Sadly, this false allegation adds fuel to the idea that a man who molests a boy is a homosexual, while a man who molests a girl is a child molester. What? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/68 "2012-11-14T21:14:46Z")
I think Annie’s point is that if a person is accused of heterosexual child molesting, nobody sees this as a condemnation of heterosexuality in general. But some people do see homosexual child molesting as a reason to condemn homosexuality in general. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/69 "2012-11-14T21:22:18Z")
I’ve talked to some people who actually say that a man who molests boys is “a homosexual,” but a man who molests girls is “a child molester.” Boggles the mind, doesn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/70 "2012-11-14T21:28:26Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I’ve talked to some people who actually say that a man who molests boys is “a homosexual,” but a man who molests girls is “a child molester.” > > Boggles the mind, doesn’t it? A man who molests a boy is a homosexual, AND a child molester. Is your point that the person considers the homosexual label the more relevant one? Because I could agree that’s stupid. \*First \*tell me a person is a child molester, and later, if you want, include his sexual orientation. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/71 "2012-11-14T21:30:02Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I’ve talked to some people who actually say that a man who molests boys is “a homosexual,” but a man who molests girls is “a child molester.” > > Boggles the mind, doesn’t it? Yes. Stop talking to those people. 😉 But either way, this is not child molestation. The accusation might have been statutory rape had it stood up. 16 is the age of consent in much of the U.S., and calling this molestation suggests something totally different. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/72 "2012-11-14T21:35:12Z")
> [@bup](#): > > A man who molests a boy is a homosexual, AND a child molester. NO! Absolutely not. A homosexual is a person who wants to have sex with an adult person of the same sex. The only word for child molester is pedophile. Didn’t believe me, eh, **Marley** ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/73 "2012-11-14T21:45:58Z")
> [@bup](#): > > A man who molests a boy is a homosexual, AND a child molester. There are several longtime SDMB posters who should be here shortly to grandly proclaim that there absolutely, positively NO SUCH THING as a homosexual pedophile, to even suggest the possibility of the evil notion is a vile, base slander against each & every gay man and/or women who has ever walked the Earth, the very suggestion is an affront to every decent, open-minded Doper, and to dare to suggest differently is to cast your lot with the Ahmadinejad’s, Limbaugh’s and Gibson’s of this wicked, wicked world. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/74 "2012-11-14T21:49:48Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > NO! Absolutely not. A homosexual is a person who wants to have sex with an adult person of the same sex. > > The only word for child molester is pedophile. > > Didn’t believe me, eh, **Marley** And a man who wants to have sex with a 16 yr old is not a pedophile, he’s an [ephebophilie](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephebophilia) or [pederast](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pederasty). ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/75 "2012-11-14T22:00:34Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > There are several longtime SDMB posters who should be here shortly to grandly proclaim that there absolutely, positively NO SUCH THING as a homosexual pedophile, to even suggest the possibility of the evil notion is a vile, base slander against each & every gay man and/or women who has ever walked the Earth, the very suggestion is an affront to every decent, open-minded Doper, and to dare to suggest differently is to cast your lot with the Ahmadinejad’s, Limbaugh’s and Gibson’s of this wicked, wicked world. Thank goodness you got here first. > [@bup](#): > > A man who molests a boy is a homosexual, AND a child molester. As far as I know, people who abuse children to so without regard to their sexual orientation with adults. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/76 "2012-11-14T22:21:45Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > As far as I know, people who abuse children to so without regard to their sexual orientation with adults. [So this study](http://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2004_02_27_JohnJay/LitReview/1_4_JJ_TypologiesOf.pdf), which identified pedophiles as homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual, is garbage. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/77 "2012-11-14T22:25:40Z")
> [@bup](#): > > [So this study](http://www.bishop-accountability.org/reports/2004_02_27_JohnJay/LitReview/1_4_JJ_TypologiesOf.pdf), which identified pedophiles as homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual, is garbage. From a quick glance it looks like this has nothing whatsoever to do with what I said. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/78 "2012-11-14T22:34:12Z")
Well, that study was about different types of pedophiles. Nevertheless, it categorized them according to what gender they prefer to abuse. Googling [pedophile sexual orientation](http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=pedophile+sexual+orientation&hl=en&as_sdt=0&as_vis=1&oi=scholart&sa=X&ei=jhmkUO3UOsiq2QXfm4GQDg&ved=0CCoQgQMwAA) yields many studies that take it as a given that orientation with respect to gender still exists in pedophiles, and that pedophiles are not another category for whom the Kinsey scale makes no sense. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/79 "2012-11-14T22:52:36Z")
> [@bup](#): > > Well, that study was about different types of pedophiles. Nevertheless, it categorized them according to what gender they prefer to abuse. I am still not seeing how this relates to what I said. I didn’t say pedophiles have no preference among the children they abuse. I said it’s not connected to adult sexual orientation. If in your original post you were ignoring this issue and calling male pedophiles who abuse boys homosexual irrespective of this point, I guess we’re disagreeing about nothing. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 14, 2012, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798/80 "2012-11-14T22:55:35Z")
Oh. So you’re saying there are men who have (and like) sex with adult women, but also with little boys? If so, I was unaware of it. I always figured adult relationships were ‘beards’ for pedophiles, whether straight or gay. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shouldnt-have-tickled-him-elmo-sesame-street-puppeteer-resigns-after-sex-allegations/640798.md?page=5)