LOL! Well, only one of my sons is a chick-magnet. The others are more the pasty-white, slightly nerdy type, if that makes anybody happier (it does me -- less to worry about).
I won't say what I do for a living, but it involves sociopaths (and even some people outside my family).
I'm no expert on sociopathy, though I have read some books about it. But my BS-detector goes up when I hear people labeling someone a sociopath on such thin evidence.
And I object to the pathologizing of everyday life. Calling typical teenaged male behavior (a little shoving, a little kicking of younger brothers, partying and playing poker five nights a week, occasional lying, sneaking out, etc.) "sociopathic," or evidence of a "dead conscience" is going too far, IMO. (I'm not saying you've done that, but I think some here are cobbling these things together with sinister gossip, and coming up with sociopathy.)
To me, that's like labeling every normal little boy who can't sit still in a boring classroom as suffering from "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder."
this island, Aruba, creates an environment for hiding the truth. It is well-known as being parasitic. It encourages old and young to bury the truth.
This may be true. I don't know. But part of the problem is that the Dutch system of justice is so secretive, at least while the investigation is ongoing. Supposedly the Arubans like it that way, and that is their right, I suppose.
This may be true. I don't know.
Knowing the history and reputation of Aruba is very important for understanding the backdrop of this case. Do some research.
Aruba has a long history of being a drug transit point (for shipments to the U.S. and Europe) because of its closeness with S American (17+- miles to Venezuala and not too far from Colombia). It is a known hotbed of organized of organized crime families from Europe and South America. The hotels are said (by the CIA) to be owned by these families. Furthermore the casinos in the hotels are primary factors for the laundering of drug money. And by the way, it is commonly known that the LE, the banks, the newspaper (Diario), the judiciary, and damn near everything else on the island is owned by or is on the payroll of...Aruba's crime families.
Do some Googling and see what you will find. Aruba is one of the dirtiest islands in the world regarding organized crime.
Also, if you know anything about The Netherlands, you will know that it is one of most drug-infested countries in the world. Aruba is a big supplier (transit-wise, that is).
Without knowing the backstory of Aruba, it is hard to form any realistic opinion as to this case, IMO.
I've raised 3 sons....youngest turns 21 next month. What you describe as "typical" teenaged male behavior may be true of an older teen....in college or whatever, but not of a high schooler. Perhaps my husband and I were just lucky, but I tend to credit it more to common sense. A 17 year old high school senior is not "typically" playing poker 5 nights a week. Nor is he drinking and hanging out at bars.
My boys tussled and kicked and punched, occasionally. When they were little. I can't even imagine the older one kicking anyone when he was 17, much less his younger brothers!
Finally, maybe it's just me, but for a mom to describe one of her sons as a "chick-magnet" is just odd. Popular, nice looking young man, smart, funny, polite, etc. are terms I have definitely used. But "chick-magnet"?
Believe it or not, there is a mountain of evidence on this case. Huge amounts of film footage from the very beginning. While a lot of this evidence may not be admissable in court, he has given us a birdseye view of the case and of the people involved...particular the van der Sloot family.
I may wrong, I think you are drawing conclusions that are not merited. You seem to be grounded (maybe even stuck) in one factor and that is the fact that you are a mother of a boy about the same age as Joren. All your points seem to be a function of that. Study the evidence carefully and let go of the mother's perspective and see if your point of view doesn't change.
Respectfully, DS