I think I have written sufficient disclaimers in this article. But if you need another, here you go.
I loathe pedophiles. I think they should be, upon conviction, punished severely.
However, I think conviction should occur before punishment. Dateline is acting in concert with the police, as an agent of the police, and is imposing punishment prior to conviction. This is a problem.
I think that you just summed up what most of the Anti-Dateline posters on this thread think.
Speaking for myself....if they ran these same honey traps, turned the evidence over to the police, got their convictions, then did a "total package" show...here's what they did, here's the evidence, here's the conviction and results... I think that I'd be more supportive of something like that. Not good TV, and no "instant gratification",. though.
The rabid sensationalism of the perv showing up at the scene of the crime, and the interview...there's just something wrong with that. NBC plays judge, jury, and executioner...all rolled up into one package.
I'd also be interested to find out how many "misses" there are, that don't make the show. Innocent bystanders, people that are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, rabid opportunists that see a video camera, etc etc etc. It sounds like - in Texas at least - there were plenty of people accused where the charges didn't stick. How long before "Dateline" grabs ahold of someone who's totally innocent? And, will the same people that are dead certain these predators should be shot on sight rush to defend the innocent man? Or will they say "Well, he likely did *something* or else they wouldn't have shown it..." and let it go at that?
What punishment is Dateline imposing?