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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

aibu to be suspicious of former members of PIE

45 replies

haggistramp · 31/07/2020 08:02

If you found out a man had been a member of PIE (Paedophile Information Exchange if you didn't know which was a legitimate organisation in the public domain with the backing of several prominent mps arguing to lower the age of consent/ make paedophilia socially acceptable) but appeared respectable now with a high up job, and had apologised for being a member, claiming he didn't understand what it was or he was just 'networking' would you still be highly suspicious of them and question their motives for everything? Yanbu - man is most likely a paedophile
Yabu - it was a long time ago, he didn't know what he was doing

OP posts:
User87471643901065319 · 31/07/2020 08:26

I can't vote without more information.

I would want to know exactly what his former views were when he was a member of PIE and what his views are now.

I would want to know the reason he has changed his mind (to determine if he really has changed his mind).

What does he believe the age of consent should be?

Is he open and forthright with his opinions about other things.

Has he been open with you about being a former member of PIE. If so, why?
Would you have found out about it anyway so he is pre-empting that or did he not really understand and does he genuinely repent his former opinions?

Have you got children and how old are they?

How did you meet him?

SciFiScream · 31/07/2020 08:27

Can't vote. Be suspicious.

Original poster
haggistramp · 31/07/2020 10:17

Its not someone I've personally met but someone in the public domain. Personally I'm suspicious, to the point that I'd consider that chances are he is a closet paedophile and shouldn't be in any position of power that has any ramifications on young/vulnerable people and (although never likely to happen) wouldn't let him anywhere near my children.

OP posts:
contrmary · 31/07/2020 10:28

I wouldn't trust a current or former member of any pro-paedophile group.

When you phrase it like that it's astonishing that anyone would!

It's bizarre to think that such groups existed/exist. This group were affiliated with the civil rights movement now known as Liberty and with elements of the gay rights movement. Astonishing to think that these days.

BubblesThaDragoon · 31/07/2020 10:33

I would be suspicious of anyone linked/associated with PIE apology or no apology 🤷‍♀️

noblegiraffe · 31/07/2020 10:37

Whoops I accidentally joined an organisation of paedophiles called Paedophile Information Exchange thinking it was a golf club doesn’t exactly wash.

The word paedophile had exactly the same meaning back then.

BrokenBrit · 31/07/2020 10:40

I would be very suspicious and want nothing to do with him.
It’s not like it was a harmless phase or something that you can stop being.
Maybe some may be able to stop acting upon their urges but I would never trust this person.

Anonymum263 · 31/07/2020 10:45

100% would not trust.

SerenityNowwwww · 31/07/2020 10:48

I couldn’t. I was a small kid on the 70s and I knew they were ‘bad men’ - so an adult can’t even use the excuse that they were hoodwinked (and that’s the least of the excuses).

Thelnebriati · 31/07/2020 10:50

Call my cynical but I doubt anyone accidentally joined PIE, didn't understand what it was, or thought it was just a social group. Those all sound like excuses.
Even if it turned out to be true, I still wouldn't trust their judgement.

Flowers009 · 31/07/2020 10:52

Them types don't change, I never even knew a group like that existed. Don't trust him

KingFredsTache · 31/07/2020 10:53

If he is in the public domain, can't you just name him? Is it public knowledge that he used to be a member of PIE?

SerenityNowwwww · 31/07/2020 10:54

Harriet Harman and Jack Dromey were working
At the National Council for Civil Liberties (now Liberty) in the late 1970s. PIE was affiliated to the NCCL from the late 1970s to early 1980s. I bet a the women who protested were branded bigots, fantasists, evil feminists and Nazis.

picklemewalnuts · 31/07/2020 10:54

At the time there was an alliance with gay rights groups, so people who wouldn't have been near it with a barge pole had they been thinking straight were suckered into it. I think at the time the age of consent was higher for gay youngsters than for straight youngsters, so I can see a validation there.

I certainly wouldn't trust their judgement. Maybe if they were actively and positively contributing, showing lots of examples of good judgement... maybe if they had been very young...

I'd certainly be keeping an eye on them.

Rosebel · 31/07/2020 11:07

I'd like to think they could change but I'd never be able to trust them or leave any child alone with them.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 31/07/2020 11:12

I would be very cautious. The name was a bit of a give away.

BurMaMa2 · 31/07/2020 11:31

Worked amongst this group of people many years ago. In my (professional and personal) opinion, they are not likely to change their predilections. They may be able to control their behaviour.

Campervan69 · 31/07/2020 11:38

There's a lot of talk about this on Twitter at the moment

twitter.com/Sal_Robins/status/1288486557213585410?s=19

James Dreyfuss is trying to draw attention to what's going on and asked blue ticks (verified accounts with lots of followers) to condem whats going on.

Sadly I haven't seen anyone brave enough to do so. No-one big at least ie with a huge following.

SerenityNowwwww · 31/07/2020 11:57

I think I know who you are talking about - any links to the transport industry north of the border?

Original poster
haggistramp · 01/08/2020 01:49

@serenitynowwww, 👍. Its very disconcerting.

OP posts:
ttim985y · 01/08/2020 02:01

nope wouldn't trust no matter what their excuse is.

As someone said above, it's not something you accidentally join because you didn't realise what it was. It was called the Paedophile Information Exchange... clue was in the name.

backseatcookers · 01/08/2020 02:04

At minimum an apologist at some stage in my opinion. Which I couldn't look past.

Bullshit they didn't know... it's in the fucking name of the organisation?!

LemonadeAndDaisyChains · 01/08/2020 02:19

I can't vote without more information

Same
Not nearly enough detail

RedHelenB · 01/08/2020 02:52

So were they arguing for the age to be lowered for consensual gay sex from 21 to 18/16 back then or was it more than that?

hammie46i · 01/08/2020 03:02

What's the name of this person?

I wouldn't go near anyone who had once belonged to PIE and to me it's as bad as someone telling me they had sexually abused a child in the past. You don't belong to a group like that unless you have plans to sexually abuse children.

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