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Kudos to the author for getting this problem more public attention, but he didn't spend enough time watching those boards to fully describe comprehend how dangerous they are. These sites are often the initial meeting point online for pedophiles. They validate each other immeasurably, often convincing others not to seek help if they mention the ida. "We are NOT sick!" is a constant rallying cry. The pedophile who might initially feel shame or fear about their desires are strengthened by finding proud pedophiles claiming to be lawyers, doctors, judges, professors, IT professionals, government employees.

In addition to the validation issue, these boards provide a way for pedophiles to get together in real life... I saw many cases where they would get brave enough to meet and take road trips together or travel to other's homes. They also encourage each other to get jobs with children. My children haven't sat on a Santa Claus lap since 1996 when I saw many bragging about their jobs as Santa working malls, parties, etc. Some members were nervous about trying to get such jobs, the others pushed them to do so reassuring them that "no one suspects why you apply for the job" and that they've "gotten jobs as Santa every Christmas for years" and bragging about how easy it is to "cop a feel" right in front of smiling parents :-(

I could go on for hours about what I've seen folks use these websites for, there are so many other dangers. Just a few more are posts to each other about how to find schools in areas you travel through, how to adopt or foster children, resources for how to become volunteers for child-oriented organizations, using the new hand-held "walkie" type radios to find and meet children in your neighborhood, how to find newsgroups and Internet chat groups that trade child pornography, how to cover your tracks so that you can't be traced easily while finding child porn or actual child victims on the Internet... the list goes on and on.

The only thing we can really do as citizens is write to congress and senate critters telling them you strongly support harsh penalties for child predators and child porn, we need enforcement of Megan's Laws, and funding the task forces all over the country that trace child predators on the Internet and try to take them off prior to them finding any more victims, etc... The ACLU works passionately to protect pedophiles so we have to holler as loudly as they do that we want child predators to stop getting light sentences and then to get monitored well once they are released.

The only thing we can really do as citizens

I am so sorry to read what you write, although I am not surprised, but you are only talking about treating the symptom. We opened this door when we accepted free love in the '60s and we aren't going to close it until we repent and beg G-d to have mercy on America.

Whether that mercy would come in the form of America's salvation or her destruction I can't say.

Shalom.