To Catch a predator

[Andrew is Good]

I've been watching a bunch of old episodes of To Catch a Predator, and I'm trying to gather my own opinion of the show. Watching it, it's like visual cheesecake, in that it's like watching a trainwreck if you will. I've heard all the negatives, read up on the negatives, but it certainly fascinates me. What are people's thoughts on this show?

[Monty Dawson]

I wish they would do another season... It's just pure entertainment. I know that what they're doing is "unfair" but if you're trying to bang a 12 year old boy you deserve it

[twiggy101]

Apr 10, 2011 12:30:06 GMT -5 Monty Dawson said:

I wish they would do another season... It's just pure entertainment. I know that what they're doing is "unfair" but if you're trying to bang a 12 year old boy you deserve it

I think one of the reasons why they quit the show was because the perverts are becoming aware of the show. So I think perverted justice is working on it's own still catching unwary predators and that's what matters.

And screw the people who criticize the show because they don't like people to be seen in their true colours.

[Andrew is Good]

Apr 10, 2011 12:34:08 GMT -5 twiggy101 said:

Apr 10, 2011 12:30:06 GMT -5 Monty Dawson said:

I wish they would do another season... It's just pure entertainment. I know that what they're doing is "unfair" but if you're trying to bang a 12 year old boy you deserve it

I think one of the reasons why they quit the show was because the perverts are becoming aware of the show. So I think perverted justice is working on it's own still catching unwary predators and that's what matters.

And screw the people who criticize the show because they don't like people to be seen in their true colours.

I don't think that's the criticism. A lot of it has to do with entrapment, potentially screwing up people going to jail, etc, where people may get off on technicalities. But, if all their ducks are in a row, which it does seem to be some of the time (some people have gotten some major jail time from that), then it's definitely a great way to get into. And hell, since they've been gone for awhile, that could give people a false sense of security.

But, on the other hand, it's actually been a pretty good deterant. I read a comment on youtube, as a person said a fun game is to pose as a 13 year old, and after awhile, announce to the whole chat room that they're Chris Hanson and this chat room is being recorded, and seeing all the people leave simultaneously.

The one guy I felt some sympathy for was this one guy who comes in, sees the decoy and says, this is wrong, I shouldn't be doing this, and goes to leave, and then "Excuse me, here, have a seat". The stuff being sent to the teen though was incredibly wrong and that's definitely something he should be charged for, but he looked like he didn't want to be there before people came out. But some are really awkward and creepy. I can't imagine having a kid and having to worry about shit like that.

[Deleted]

My all time favorite was the one where a guy showed up to meet a 12 year old girl, and he brought a bag that contained all sorts of things, such as, condoms, vaseline, alcohol, cigarettes,etc. The host asks him why he came over and he says "she has a video game that I'd like to play." It went downhill from there. I love that show.

[Bob Schlapowitz]

Hold on.............there are people who complain that what this show does is unfair to THE PERVS?? That's f***ing pitiful.

[Efren]

I find it hilarious, depending of who you believe it can be really entrapment-y, but who knows.

[ICBM]

I like tot hink there is a special part of hell reserved for pedophiles. This however does not mean that a TV show should do the job of law enforcement. Seriously how does this not result in cases being thrown out? I mean Larry Flint got in a ton of trouble(later over turned after a trip to the USSC) because he had video and released the video, of an FBI sting operation and the evidence was then tainted and poetially unusable(i dunno if it was or was not ruled admissible)

[kevservo]

Apr 10, 2011 12:46:04 GMT -5 @akeem said:

My all time favorite was the one where a guy showed up to meet a 12 year old girl, and he brought a bag that contained all sorts of things, such as, condoms, vaseline, alcohol, cigarettes,etc. The host asks him why he came over and he says "she has a video game that I'd like to play." It went downhill from there. I love that show.

My favorite excuse of all time "I came here to teach her a lesson about doing something like this" or something like that.

[Monty Dawson]

The only people I feel bad for are the guys who are actually mentally challenged. There was one guy who lived with his mom and clearly wasn't all there. I don't think he meant to hurt anyone or do bad, he literally didn't know any better

[Citizen Zero]

Vigilante justice is wrong and using it for cheap entertainment even moreso.

[The Line]

Apr 10, 2011 12:47:00 GMT -5 Bob Schlapowitz said:

Hold on.............there are people who complain that what this show does is unfair to THE PERVS?? That's f***ing pitiful.

It's not so much that it's unfair to them, but as previously stated, in some cases it gives the accused a lot of ammo to get out of jail time(althought their reputations are rightfully sullied). Also, entrapment is against the law. I'm all for protecting children(and everyone else,too) against sex crimes, but like Citizen Zero, I am not a fan of vigilante-led sting operations, regardless of their successes.

[jagilki]

But isn't entrapment "inducing a person to commit an offense that the person would otherwise have been unlikely to commit"?

If these guys are online having the convo's they are having I highly doubt the wouldn't of done this without Perverted Justice giving them a target to go after.

[The Line]

Apr 10, 2011 13:11:59 GMT -5 jagilki said:

But isn't entrapment "inducing a person to commit an offense that the person would otherwise have been unlikely to commit"?

If these guys are online having the convo's they are having I highly doubt the wouldn't of done this without Perverted Justice giving them a target to go after.

Yes and No. From what I've seen and read, many times the undercover guys approach the pervs, and target them(not every single perv is an evil godless devilman. Many have their own, deep-rooted psychological problems. Not excusing child molestation, but I think a little more rehabilitation rather than persecution is in order in many cases).In some cases different than going undercover outside a methadone clinic and trying to sell heroin the recovering junkies.

[Deleted]

Why don't you have a seat?

I'd love to see this show

[Red Impact]

It's shaky whether you could consider it entrapment, and it depends entirely on their methods. If they're in a chatroom and get into a conversation with a guy, that's not entrapment. For it to be entrapment, the guy would have to actually be persuaded to do it, rather than just getting the opportunity.

At least, that's my understanding of entrapment.

[The Line]

Apr 10, 2011 13:23:37 GMT -5 Red Impact said:

It's shaky whether you could consider it entrapment, and it depends entirely on their methods. If they're in a chatroom and get into a conversation with a guy, that's not entrapment. For it to be entrapment, the guy would have to actually be persuaded to do it, rather than just getting the opportunity.

At least, that's my understanding of entrapment.

my understanding as well. By the end, they seemed better at making sure they only did the former, but earlier on, PJ was culpable of the latter.

[Mozenrath]

I loved on Opie and Anthony show when they listened to a clip of a fan who ended up on the show. I don't think it's the proudest they've been of the pests, but....

[lennon]

Apr 10, 2011 13:02:17 GMT -5 Citizen Zero said:

Vigilante justice is wrong and using it for cheap entertainment even moreso.

What's wrong is a man wanting to have sex with a f***ing child...

[All-Encompassingly]

Have a seat for me sir, right over there.