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One has to draw a line between perverted thoughts and actual child molestation. If there is no child involved, then it is only thought. Are thoughts and words now crimes?
I'd be more afraid of the person who caused another man to commit suicide.
And this is just "thoughts" how? Sorry, when you drive to meet them in person, it majorly crosses the line.
I tend to agree, Drew. You've got to understand that you don't know what dialog went on between the fake kid and the alleged predator. Some pervert who may have never gone that far may have surely been enticed by an adult attempting to snag another pervert.
There are people with all kinds of weaknesses. Being a kid seduced by an adult is a one thing (that being a crime). Seducing a pervert as an adult acting as a minor can easily be another.
Now I don't have any sympathy for those who get snagged/stung, but you should be critical of what techniques are used to inspire these criminal acts.
That is, for all the "abnormality" involved here ..the seduction and exploitation can get blurred.
We have the L&O version in our heads..showing us a lonely helpless minor seeking friendship and being exploited. What we (probably) don't see is someone methodically setting up someone to do exactly what they hope they'll do for the satisfaction of "the kill". There are people who actually cheer when this happens. They're happy when this stuff occurs. There is no "happy" or "cheerful" outcome here. This is serious business and personal zeal has no place in it, imo. No one should take joy in this type of activity. It should be a serious commitment. Crusaders always find their demons. If they can't find them easily, they'll work to create them. Their hunger for the kill is never satisfied. Very (potentially) dangerous empowerment for non-professionals.
People with these "compulsions" don't just throw it right up in high gear. Let's say you have a problem with pornography. You don't go from swearing off of the stuff to viewing it full time again. You first convince yourself that you're cured and in full control of things. You then say that you're strong enough to drive by the shop and not look ...next look but not stop ...stop but not get out ...get out but not go in ....go in but not look ...look but not buy ..buy but not view ..basically to the point where the difference between full blown engagement and the current level is a very small step to take ..making it easy.
Again, if a LEA is going to engage in stings, this is something that I feel is a favorable problem to attack in that manner. Now with private zealous organizations doing the bating? That's another story.
One thing I would like some feedback on ..because I don't really know how to view it myself ..is when you find a former molested child ..turned adult ..who, in turn, ends up being a child molester ..when do you switch your view of them from victim to criminal? Many can surely say "with the act" ..and I agree ..but where were you (we-me included) before the act occurred knowing that this was a highly probable outcome??