If you knew a sexual predator was your neighbor, but you have no kids, would you treat them differently?

Question

If they said good morning, hi neighbor, etc.,
would you respond with an acknowledge?

By predators, I mean they are known, convicted, and registered.

Answer 1

YES i would be polite but try to avoid them

Answer 2

I have no kids. There are none in my neighborhood. So I would treat them the same as anyone else.

I have a relative that I had to live with, as a child. He was a sexual predator toward little girls. I am a boy, so I was not at risk. Keep in mind that polices on sexual predators have changed a lot in 20 years. Also he was never actually convicted so everyone knows by world of mouth, not by the registry.

Because everyone knew about him, life was hard. Remember that I had to ride the bus with all the other kids in the neighborhood. I got beat up and picked on becuse they didn't like my uncle. I’m not saying everyone should cut sexual predators a break. I am saying that you should consider how their family suffers.

I am 40 now, and can’t have a phone in my name. Why? Because his name and mine are spelled close to the same. People will call me, looking for him. I used to get hate messages on my answering machine (10 years ago).

So I ask that you just be polite. Remember that he or she might have family.

Answer 3

I'd still be civil to them. I'd keep an open mind about the label, too, because I know about people who were talked into plea agreements because they were involved with a 16 or 17 year old that had a fake ID, someone they met in a bar or doing the graveyard shift at a truck stop, and they assumed the person was an adult then got the shock of their lives when they were arrested.

That's very different than the pervs preying on 12 year olds... or 6 year olds... or 2 year olds!

So, sure, I'd be civil. I'd say "good morning" to them just like any other neighbor.

Answer 4

Sorry but if it's a convicted pervert then I would do everything I could to get rid of it and as for speaking to it, I would make it perfectly clear that if it spoke to me a second time it would get no response. These people are the scum of the earth and need to be locked away for eternity, what they do is not an illness it's perversion that is directed at the children or the world thereby blighting the life of the victim and the family for all of their lives and there can be absolutely no mitigating factors.

Answer 5

I would be polite, but also cautious as I know that Sexual Predators that don't have access to kids will either find them or move on to the single girl like me living next door.

Answer 6

I have two girls and check the registry every now and again. So it is hard to say what I would do if I didn't have kids. I probably would never even think to check. But what bothers me is that the police constantly find people who should be registered but are not. If somebody takes the time to register (I know it is the law) chances are they know they did something wrong.

Answer 7

I saw a show called Night Visions.
There was an episode where a 'sexual predator' was moving in their apartment complex.
He was murdered to protect the children. However, he was accused in error.
Then the true predator moved in.
I learned a lesson from that episode, not to judge so hastily.

Answer 8

Probably. There are ways to find information on the nature of the crime (violent or non-violent). I would be cordial with the individual but I don't think I would invite them over to grill burgers and dogs on my deck. On the other hand, if my neighbor were one of those hot teacher molesters (like the one in Florida), I would reconsider.

Answer 9

I would probably say hi. That's about all I say to my neighbors that aren't sexual predators anyways.

Answer 10

No, I would speak and acknowledgment. He hasn't presented a danger to me and done nothing wrong . He is registered by law like he is supposed to and not threatening me so why not speak.Whether to contiue the conversation or not would depend on the situation. But to say hi . Why not?

Answer 11

I would be careful. I mean, sexual predators aren't always pedophiles. I would certainly lock the doors and windows at night!