Posted on 08/14/2007 4:27:34 AM PDT by Dudoight
The show was an instant success. It lured would-be child-sex predators to a public shaming, delivered by a handsome host. Ratings, awards and even praise from members of Congress followed. But now Dateline NBC's "To Catch a Predator" series is taking heat. And so is the police chief of the Collin County town that hosted it eight months ago. The troubles stem from the show's visit to Murphy, where more than 20 people were arrested but escaped prosecution because of evidence problems. Also a former district attorney ensnared in the sting shot himself.
(Excerpt) Read more at dallasnews.com ...
I’ve stopped watching it. You seen one —you’ve seen them all.
In this latest round, the one that ended up with a guy dead, none of the men was prosecuted.
Note the language, the show exposed more than 250 potential predators. Many men were exposed as potential predators without ever being prosecuted or given an opportunity to refute the charge. NBC proceeds immediately from arrest to prosecution to punishment, all in one step.
Thats a big part of the problem the arrest warrant is based on stuff given to the police by NBC and perverted justice nether of which will give out the unedited transcripts and tapes.
Nobody is defending perverts. Some of us are raising an objection before when Dateline NBC replaces our police, courts and judges.
I find it amusing that so many here suddenly trust the NBC.
I don’t feel sorry for them. The reason they went to the house is that they were under the impression that minor children were waiting for them and would perform sexual acts.
The critical difference is that I make my own judgement for my own purposes and making decisions about myself and my children. For those purposes "looks suspicious" is enough to get me to cross the street.
What we are talking about here is a TV network, working in concert with local police, punishing people upon arrest. When the police get involved, a higher standard is required. When dealing with the state, we all have a presumption of innocence. For instance, the police can't throw somebody in jail who "looks suspicious", on that basis alone.
Do you see the critical difference there?
Granted. If the police want to arrest these guys and run them through the ringer, have at it! I just don't like the idea of NBC assuming the role of judge, jury and executioner.
99.44% of FReepers hate NBC and the rest of the MSM. But on this issue, they accept that NBC is nothing but wonderful.
The fact that there were twenty guys with cameras, lights and microphones, police dogs and guns in his house at the time is just a coiky-dink?
The men can defend themselves. It’s rather hard considering their location at the time but they can defend themselves. Oddly, none of them ever do. All they have to do is say “I didn’t do it”. What’s NBC going to do then?
No that’s not my picture
No that’s not my phone number
No I was never in that chat room
NBC is kinda left out in the cold, don’t you think?
good point
From the shows I’ve seen, the potential predators are all given the opportunity to debate their presence at the house. They are not required to answer any questions and are free to leave whenever they want (only to be tackled as soon as they exit). After which they are charged and processed. That option wasn’t afforded to the former DA and frankly nbc didn’t do themselves any favors by coordinating the DA’s arrest to fit their schedule.
Wow, I have read a few of your posts up to this point and it sounds like you sympathize with perverted child predators. Yeesh.
NBC doesn’t act as judge. The perverts do all the work. NBC just records it.
If you go into a chatroom and chat up one of their decoys, you cannot be found. You have to provide some information that incriminates you, that identifies you. Otherwise, they’ll just go to the next pervert. There is no shortage of them.
Most of the people who appear that way are arguing “in theory”. Devils Advocate so to speak.
As a parent I am glad those perverts are caught. There is no excuse for them to talk like that to posters they believe are minors and then drop in when the "minor" says he/she is home alone. There is no entrapment - Dateline had copies of their chats. One guy actually showed up nude.
Allow me to clear that up for you... I do not sympathize with child predators.
I hate NBC as much as anybody, but you know the cliche about the blind squirrel. These guys who show up at the supposed house of a minor child expecting sex are guilty of something, just by virtue of showing up in the first place.
Where is the adjudication stage before the “potential child predator” (as NBC calls them) is filmed and broadcast to millions of homes? Who presides over that adjudication, if it exists? Who decides the facts? Who carries out the punishment?
Answer: NBC, NBC and NBC. Judge, jury and executioner.
Some of the cases are really hard to believe. I used to think it was like professional wrestling.
I bet Chris Hansen doesn’t last much longer. It must be really hard to do the show. The first year it was a novelty. Now it is just incredible that anyone shows up. Many of them watch the show. You have to wonder if some of them are just wanting to get caught.
actually I thought it was from running his screen name. For instance if you run your screen name through google and other search engines depending what you posted and where you can be found.
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