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I don't really disagree. I don't think public urination is anything other than poor behavior at worst. I don't think prosecuting teenagers for making out is the

I don't really disagree. I don't think public urination is anything other than poor behavior at worst. I don't think prosecuting teenagers for making out is the slightest bit sensible. The ritual of rugby players running around the field bare ass naked after they score their first try is nothing but funny, even if a kid happens to see it. And especially funny if a puritanical adult happens to see it. Separating out things that are not abusive from things that are is a different problem than dealing with people who we know are abusive. The number of people doing truly horrible things to children is not small in that you have to organize groups of people just to deal with the wake of psychological destruction they leave behind, and we are disturbingly soft on those perpetrators if you ask me. That we have convicted violent child rapists out there to register in the first place is a problem. I happen to think part the reason for that is that we don't truly care that much about kids and they have no voice to protect themselves. There are those who say "it's not that big a deal" - respected people who are in positions of authority- cops, judges, attorneys. It is a big deal, though.

icebraining 13y ago
The problem I see with your approach is that we risk contributing to the problem. As the story posted above of Jody Plauche shows, and it's far from rare, knowing the event will generate an extreme reaction can contribute to the child not reporting it and/or feeling even worse about what happened to them. Now, by extreme reaction I mean the "stamp the fuckers out of existence". Personally, I'm in favor of life in prison for convicted violent child rapists. But I don't think it should be treated as a punishment or revenge (including for the problems I mentioned above), but because we simply can't allow that to happen again.
- damoncali 13y ago
  I was being a tad hyperbolic, which I suppose makes your point. I don't care if we kill them off literally or not, so long as they are confined to life away from the rest of us. I have thought about your point, and I think it has some merit. On the other hand, perhaps we need to ratchet up the reaction a bit as I could also see harm being done by downplaying what is at its core a vicious crime. What is the cost of a victim watching a perpetrator of a horrible crime walking free with a slap on the wrist? I certainly don't advocate teaching children to fear strangers or filling them with thoughts of horrible boogeymen sex offenders. But once in hand, and convicted, the punishment should prevent further abuses by the offender.

icebraining 13y ago

The problem I see with your approach is that we risk contributing to the problem. As the story posted above of Jody Plauche shows, and it's far from rare, knowing the event will generate an extreme reaction can contribute to the child not reporting it and/or feeling even worse about what happened to them. Now, by extreme reaction I mean the "stamp the fuckers out of existence". Personally, I'm in favor of life in prison for convicted violent child rapists. But I don't think it should be treated as a punishment or revenge (including for the problems I mentioned above), but because we simply can't allow that to happen again.

damoncali 13y ago
I was being a tad hyperbolic, which I suppose makes your point. I don't care if we kill them off literally or not, so long as they are confined to life away from the rest of us. I have thought about your point, and I think it has some merit. On the other hand, perhaps we need to ratchet up the reaction a bit as I could also see harm being done by downplaying what is at its core a vicious crime. What is the cost of a victim watching a perpetrator of a horrible crime walking free with a slap on the wrist? I certainly don't advocate teaching children to fear strangers or filling them with thoughts of horrible boogeymen sex offenders. But once in hand, and convicted, the punishment should prevent further abuses by the offender.