I agree with your point wholeheartedly. However, seeing as he’s a public figure, it would be fairly easy to figure out who he is. I think this is one of the most unfair habits the press has. They do it to the regular Joes all the time. I’m sure countless lives have been ruined for this and other types of “heinous” crimes where they pointed the finger at the wrong guy.
Also, he admitted his guilt.
Kalhoun, thanks for the info. Maybe this guy hired a spindoctor who advised him to “come clean”.
I’m curious though; what would be the chances of an American childmolestor in similar circumstances, winning a lawsuit against the press? Suppose the childmolestor sued the paper for the suffering of his family, caused by a paper printing names, adresses, pictures, etc?
Or is the general feeling that a childmolestor deserves everything he and his family get?
Good question. Maybe one of the lawyers around here could find a precedent on that. Regardless of whether or not you’re found guilty, the damage must be irreparable.
I really expected this thread to be about NAMBLA, for some reason.
OH, and
- as an accountant, I took offence at your post. Not really, but there was a glaring omission in your disclaimer, wasn’t there?
Finally, I feel compelled to point out to suezeekay that you wrongly ascribed the Dateline program to CBS, when it’s an NBC program. I know, that was petty & pedantic. I said it was a compulsion, didn’t I?
Charge and arrest is public information, the press is free to publish it. Address maybe not. Pictures are OK if taken in a public place. Family information is questionable.
I don’t think this has been adressed yet (apolgies if it has) but one aspect of this dynamic to consider is that it isn’t so much a sexual thing but a power thing. Some of these men may not so much be attracted by having sex with young boys, but rather having some kind of power over them. Sexuality has traditionally been regarded as something emotionally powerful, what with so many taboos about it. I think that at least some men feel satisfaction in having to make someone else submit to them sexually.
I know that some people get aroused by humiliating others. In this way, it can be a sexual attraction to the humilation, not the actual sex. I may be going in circles here, though. The point is, I don’t think all of them (pedophiles) are doing it for purely sexual reasons.
We’re told so about any kind of sexual assault (involving children or not) but I fail to be convinced, and I’m still no sure on what this statement is based.
I’ve read some time ago an article in which some specialist or another of child molestation divided child molesters in several categories. I don’t remember which exactly (it included things like the true pedophile who has a sexual attraction only for children, the opportunist, generally a father or close relative, etc…) but there was no “power-tripper” category. So, I assume that, at least, not everybody involved in the issue agree with this statement.
I’m not sure secondary sexual characteristics are that relevant. For instance, a man doesn’t display at all the secondary sexual characteristics an heterosexual man expects to find in a partner. Nevertheless, a sizeable proportion of men are homosexuals. So, I’m not sure why it would be more extraordinary for a man to be attracted to female children than to be attracted to adult males, solely based on secondary sexual characteristics.
My only point is that I doubt pedophilia is all that common; I think people are naturally set up to look for sexually mature partners in most cases. Besides, being attracted to a sexually mature man is perfectly ordinary; it’s only out of the ordinary in the case of a man who is attracted to other men. Being attracted to women or men are both relatively ordinary characteristics; having a sexual attraction to children is not normal for any segment of the population.
Couldn’t it be considered slander if it isn’t true? Or do they protect themselves with the stock “alleged” disclaimer?
…except for other children?
I wouldn’t say it’s all that normal for children to have sexual feelings towards anyone. That kind of thing is usually the result of sexual abuse.
Apparently I was an abnormal kid.
It is indeed ‘normal’ for paedophiles, and at last count, they did comprise a small segment of the population.
Re: the notion that children experience sexual feelings. Yes, they do. Any parent will confirm that kids are extremely interested in the sensations that arise when their hand inadvertantly touches their genitals.
I do doubt, however, that infants and pre-pubescent children can extrapolate the experience of their own genital/sensory pleasure to wish another person was included in their activities. THAT comes with ‘sexual maturity’ and the biological urge towards mating which happens at a much later age.