Consider this scenario: You are a journalist and you get a letter from a person who is obsessed with child pornography ONLY (no sex w/minors nothing JUST pictures on the internet,etc.) and cant help himself but is begging for help. He writes to you seeking help; however, you report him to the police. He is now in prison for life. Do you feel you did the right thing? How would your morals interferer w/ that decision?
2006-12-12 06:04:18 · 18 answers · asked by Anonymous in Education & Reference ➔ Higher Education (University +)
Wait.. why did he tell YOU?? That's weird.
I would talk to some people who know about this sort of thing (i.e. a police officer, a psychiatrist, etc) using hypotheticals like you did with us. Then you can make an educated decision.
If he hasn't acted yet and is reaching out that is a good sign. However, that doesn't mean he isn't a sick, creepy man who is capable of taking this fantasy too far.
Good luck.
2006-12-12 08:13:13 · answer #1 · answered by Eve 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
What people do in the privacy of their own home is their business. You said that he only looks at pictures and would never have sex with a minor for real.
So then it's no one else business. He is not doing anything wrong and if you report him then you are a dirty rat.
On the other hand if he asks for your help then you can help him find a counsellor of some kind. Like a psychiatrist or psychologist. But not the police.
Also keep in mind that even though the legal age in America is 18 or 19 I think, it wasn't always like that. You may have grandparents or great grandparents that got married when they were 16. And some countries actually go as low as 12. So just because our laws say it's wrong doesn't necessarily mean that it is unless it is against what the girl wants.
2006-12-12 06:21:46 · answer #2 · answered by Agent Smith 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
First what makes you think he would go to jail for life. You said no sex with minors. If you report what you know (Because he is a potential threat to himself or others/children) he will be outed and referred to counseling. Yes I feel that would be the right thing to do. My morals? What about his morals? How do those children who's pictures are on the Internet get there. How do you think their morals are effected by adults taking pictures of them. And why are they on the Internet....
Supply and demand. Sooooooo if you are a parent think of your child having their naked body photographed by a spouse, uncle, aunt, grandparent, and some "person who is obsessed with child pornography" jacking off to it. Or how about you in a binkin at the lake last summer with your friend and it is on someones my space and you know its your friends dad who really kinda likes young girls so he likes to look at your picture and when no one is looking and pleasure his overweight cigarette smelling balding self. My morals would be just fine letting the chips fall where they may after I made the call. However I believe the police wouldn't do anything anyway.
2006-12-12 06:29:55 · answer #3 · answered by mother hen 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Why do you have to go to the police? Why not contact a social worker or a psychiatrist to see what they have to say?
If they person is asking for help I feel like they recognize that they have a problem and don't need to be locked away. I would have a difficult time doing nothing, but I would not call the police.
My morals clearly interferer with this decision. Which one do you put first, do the right legal thing or do the right human relation thing?
2006-12-12 06:10:38 · answer #4 · answered by jrstina624 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The national midsection for lacking and Exploited little ones has a reporting function on its cybertipline web site. you may document a document related to newborn pornography and that they'll path your criticism to the ideal regulation enforcement authority.
2016-10-05 05:36:53 · answer #5 · answered by catherine 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think reporting him would be the thing to do and I don't see how looking at pictures and nothing else could possibly result in a life sentence so you that wouldn't be an issue.
2006-12-12 06:15:34 · answer #6 · answered by Tallulah 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You probably saved some children from him. Sooner or later he would have moved on from pictures to the real thing. But how did he get life in prison when actual rapists and murderers don't get that harsh a sentence?
2006-12-12 06:13:40 · answer #7 · answered by Didi 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
of course you did the right thing! what IF he had been a child molestor..you dont know for sure that he has never raped a child or never will..he just didnt admit it toyou..at least behind bars he doesnt have the opportunity and he can get help with his problem..i think i would have had more of a moral conflict if i hadnt reported him..child pornography is wrong and in my opinion is the first step to something even more disturbing..
2006-12-12 06:09:16 · answer #8 · answered by Shina Beana 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
1. he would not go to jail for life.....most don't spend more than 5-7 yrs for child porn.
2. if he asked for help that means he realizes he has a disease and is reaching out. if the person was having a heart attack and was reaching out...would you deny it? if the person was a coke head and was reaching out for help to get clean....would you deny it? so why deny this help?
turn them over to a licensed doctor/counselor in this field and feel that you did the right thing. past that its not your obligation to do much more.
now if the person didn't ask for help and was just going around showing or bragging about the images he was looking at...then yes...I'd turn him in for child porn.
Only a rational, mature, well thinking adult can realize a problem within themselves and then be willing to ask for help. Help them find the next step with a doctor.
2006-12-12 06:08:53 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
Of course that's not the right thing. He was asking for help, and his habit, while not mainstream, wasn't actually hurting anyone (seeing how the porn was out there already - he wasn't making it or acting on it). I would feel horribly guilty for that.
2006-12-12 06:09:18 · answer #10 · answered by eri 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋