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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think this petition is not ok

245 replies

NotInMyBackYard1 · 09/02/2017 20:03

Just that really - a man convicted of possessing indecent images of children has returned from prison and gone back to live at his parent's house. The locals have got hold of this information and have now set up a petition to get him 'rehomed' somewhere with no children. Outer Hebrides?
My view is he's done his time, he wants a fresh start, as long as he keeps himself to himself then just let him be? This petition doesn't sit well with me at all.

OP posts:
Sweets101 · 09/02/2017 23:05

And if you had known about your builder you'd have wanted to get rid of him wouldn't you?

ifoundthebread · 09/02/2017 23:06

I personally think there should be more facilities to help these paedophiles before they offend, please hear me out. Females start their period at age 12/13, this is biologically when they can start to reproduce and at one point in time, this was when they would start to carry children. So a man would have to have an attraction to the girl in order to want to mate. It is society that has decided under 16 year olds are minors, but a minor is a different age in other countries. So I can sort of understand why a man (someone over 16) could be attracted to a minor. But anyone attracted to kids younger than that should be hung, there's no possible reason/excuse for that. I in no way shape or form am condoning acting on impulse, but if you approach the police saying you want to rape a child there's not much they can do to help you.

SemiNormal · 09/02/2017 23:09

But anyone attracted to kids younger than that should be hung, there's no possible reason/excuse for that. Hmm

Anon1234567890 · 09/02/2017 23:11

Where is the petition, can I sign?

SemiNormal · 09/02/2017 23:13

semi it is so simple, if you act on an attraction to an adult you are not a predator if you act on an attraction to a child you are, do you understand that? So an adult with an attraction to adults is not a threat (barring other indicators), an adult with an attraction to children is. I don't really understand what it is that you don't understand tbh. - I do understand what you're saying but I don't think you understand what I'm getting at Confused

pineapplesplit · 09/02/2017 23:13

ifoundthebread it is differentiated in law. Being attracted to someone who has reached puberty is viewed very differently from attraction to someone who is pre puberty. For example a man could have 'consensual' sex with someone under the age of 16 but over the age of puberty and avoid any jail time at all if reported but if a someone had sex with someone under the age of puberty they would always be looking at jail time. Also being attracted to a child who has reached puberty is not defined as paedophilia, it has another name. Paedophilia is attraction to children who have not reached even the early stages of puberty.

pineapplesplit · 09/02/2017 23:15

Sexual attraction to people aged 11-16 is called hebephilia. Its not classed as paedophilia. I think in terms of the law its 12/13- 16.

ifoundthebread · 09/02/2017 23:16

pineapple thank you for understanding and explaining further.

Sweets101 · 09/02/2017 23:16

semi agreed, I really don't!

ifoundthebread · 09/02/2017 23:18

But for me there is not enough information in the original post to make me feel the petition is needed. I mean, Indecent photos is just our assumption they were young children.

thewindisscaringme · 09/02/2017 23:21

Like I've already said my FIL is a paedophile and I think capital punishment would be the best thing for him Angry

SharkBrilliant · 09/02/2017 23:22

I don't condone paedophilia (and I'm sure that no-one else on this thread does either), but I have to agree with some PPs that trying to oust paedophiles from community after community is counter-productive.

You can tell an obese person "just stop eating" or tell an alcoholic "just stop drinking" but being judgmental only makes the behaviour secretive (like lying about how much you've eaten that day etc). It has been shown that support groups where people talk to other "addicts" for support is helpful to recovery and abstinence of the vice in question. How can someone who's never had a drink tell an alcoholic what they should do to stay sober, how to avoid the things that trigger their drinking, or what to do if they are tempted to relapse?

If you tried to hold a "Paedophiles Anonymous" the attendees would be harrassed, beaten, run out of town etc. Of course no-one wants to roll out the welcome wagon for the neighbourhood paedophile, but the attitude of "let's just kill all paedophiles" obviously isn't solving the problem either.

pineapplesplit · 09/02/2017 23:22

ifoundthebread exactly. I dont think the petition is needed either. Because i know how many professionals will have looked at the situation and judged the person not to be an actual danger. Theres a vast spectrum of reasons why people may view child porn, and a vast variety of forms that porn may have taken. The guy could be anything from someone who made a stupid mistake, to a violent predatory paedophile and any of the many stages in between. I trust professionals to make that judgement than i judge some angry mum who just heard about it.
We have to allow people to do their job in assessing risk.

SharkBrilliant · 09/02/2017 23:22

On a side note, at what point exactly should we start killing these people/sending them to the bottom of the sea? There's about a dozen pictures in the family album of me in the bath with my brother at various stages of childhood, but that doesn't make my mum a paedophile. Or is she ok to own those pictures as long as she doesn't get aroused by them? What about an uncle looking at the family album? Seriously, can people not see that there are sometimes shades of grey to the whole "indecent images" thing?

It's black and white thinking that allowed paedophiles like Saville to get away with it because he was a "nice" guy who did charity work, not some stereotyped "dodgy bloke in a mac" outside the school gate

pineapplesplit · 09/02/2017 23:23

sorry i meant *more than id trust an angry mum

Wadingthroughsoup · 09/02/2017 23:25

And if you had known about your builder you'd have wanted to get rid of him wouldn't you?

I wouldn't have had him in my house, of course. But I wouldn't have sent him to work in someone else's house!

You don't know though, usually.

Well exactly. Given a choice between 10 unknown paedophiles living in my street, or 9 unknown and 1 known, I'd choose the latter. Not a great choice, granted, but you see what I mean.

ifoundthebread · 09/02/2017 23:25

shark you said what I was trying to but better, thank you.

SemiNormal · 09/02/2017 23:25

On a side note, at what point exactly should we start killing these people/sending them to the bottom of the sea? - Great question because upthread it would seem just thoughts/feelings are enough to be hanged. I'm very glad we can't prosecute or have someone hanged for thoughts alone because I've had many murderous thoughts about a certain Miss Hopkins so I'd be up for murder if my daydreams were put to the judge!

Sweets101 · 09/02/2017 23:27

I think if you are searching for naked images of children online it's pretty obvious isn't it?
The petition is free speech.
Paedophile Anon well the whole point is its Anon. But as you said yourself about paedophiles grouped together, might not be the best idea.

pineapplesplit · 09/02/2017 23:30

Paedophiles are humans whether you like it or not and as other human beings ourselves we should not be suggesting something as morally disgusting as murdering them.

lilnutter · 09/02/2017 23:38
Biscuit
ellamoromou · 09/02/2017 23:39

As a supposedly civilised society we can not let 'mob rule'. In law, we have to take emotion out of it and deal with facts. The facts are that a known paedophile is far less dangerous than an unknown paedophile. And these people need to live somewhere.

I'd much rather be aware who could potentially be a danger to my child than not. So to answer the OP, no, I don't think the petition is OK.

Thinking with my 'heart' I'd absolutely agree with 'wiping them off the face of the earth'

With my head? Unrealistic and those wiped off could be your dad, brother, grandad etc.

Sweets101 · 09/02/2017 23:39

I don't condone it but I do think if you abuse others you shouldn't be suprised if you get abuse in return.

Sweets101 · 09/02/2017 23:41

Thing is, usually if a paedophile lives close by you are not informed.

YouHadMeAtCake · 09/02/2017 23:41

Split your concern for them concerns me. Hmm

What about the ones that torture rape and murder tiny babies and children of any age? Groom them . Kidnap them and keep them prisoner for years and years to satisfy theirs and others fucking depravity.

Do you think it's morally disgusting to execute them ? Or do you think should we just let them carry on? Morally disgusting? They are disgusting and an abomination.

They maybe humans in the most basic sense of the word but they give up all their rights when they abuse or seek to abuse children. They're fair game from then on. Lots of people disappear, do you never wonder why?