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August 23, 2006

On-Line Community Easing Pedophiles' Guilt

Every parent should take some time to read this article about the growing influence of the on-line pedophile community.

What started online almost two decades ago as a means of swapping child pornography has transformed in recent years into a more complex and diversified community that uses the virtual world to advance its interests in the real one. Today, pedophiles go online to seek tips for getting near children - at camps, through foster care, at community gatherings and at countless other events. They swap stories about day-to-day encounters with minors. And they make use of technology to help take their arguments to others, like sharing online a printable booklet to be distributed to children that extols the benefits of sex with adults.

The article goes on to say that the catharsis of belonging to the on-line community is easing pedophiles' guilt over having sex with children. This story offers a chilling example of the sort of mental gymnastics the human mind is capable of performing in an effort to justify whatever a person desires to do. The ability to justify harmful behavior is precisely why society must not allow itself to be too sympathetic with criminals. Our sympathies more rightly should be placed with their victims, and punishment meted out accordingly.

Posted by Becky at August 23, 2006 11:50 AM