Did anyone else get mad about the report 20/20 did about Dateline NBC's "To Catch a Predator"??

Question

I got so mad..ABC was slamming Dateline NBC's "To Catch a Predator" they are just jealus because there show is better and they didn't think to do it first..at least NBC is doing a good deed..letting people know what kind of creeps are after our children the public needs to know that..the less prediators there are the better..don't want them around my children..

Answer 1

To Catch A Predator has been a great success and I am happy to have it on the air. Any program that can protect our children from the animals who are molesting our kids is a good one. No excuses from these criminals; get them off the streets and make examples out of them. If one child is spared then I am happy about the show. Dateline has no business slamming a successful program which is helping us to catch these guys before another child is hurt.

Answer 2

No I did not see the 20/20 show but if they did a show on it in a negative way then yep they are jealous. I like the fact that these low life's go into a house looking for a 9 year old girl and then here, "hello, I'm Chris Hanson, with Dateline". I think the look on their faces is almost funny. I think people should see and know what kind of people are out there in this world. Who knows it might just keep a kid safe if their parents see the show or if they see the show. It does keep some kids safe by helping to take down another person who is trying to molest the children in this nation.

Answer 3

I think to catch a predator is a great show. However, I do believe alot of these people are being set up on stings that they have no intention of doing anything. People say things behind a computer that they would never say in real time. The addiction of the internet itself and being part of a community is exciting to many. Especially, those who get the internet for the first time. They don't realize what they are saying most take as true I am not in denial there are sick people out there that will drive for miles with the intentions of meeting a younger person to perhaps hurt them. I do, acknowledge there are some online that strike up a conversation with someone because they are looking for attention. We can point fingers at the predators all we want. How about pointing fingers at the parents who have no clue what their children are doing ONLINE????????????????????????????????
Its the parents responsibility to not let their child have access to a computer in their bedrooms. Use the computer for homework in an open room. You can give me a thumbs down all you want. Its the PARENTS responsibility to monitor EVERYTHING their child does on the computer. If the parents work, guess what? Remove the hard drive or place parental controls on the computer. Parents don't understand how their children could possibly become victims DUHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHhh. For the record, Parents, stop letting your teenage daughter walk around in scampy clothes and inviting the unwanted attention.

Answer 4

I agree with ABC.

The story is the police in Murray Texas were contacted to have the "To catch a Preditor" people set up a sting in the town. NBC pays "Perverted Justice" to operate the sting. The DA for the town said this is not good police work and the town should not operate this way. The police chief decided to go ahead anyway.

23 men were caught up in the sting. The DA (rightfully so) said that since the Police did not have custody of the evidence (the conversations both written and phone calls between the PJ people and the "preditors") that his office could not say that the informaton gathered was taken legally or that what was provided was a complete record of the conversations so he would not be able to prosecute.

Texas law makes it a crime to solicit sex from a minor. The crime was committed on the internet. There was no need to have the "preditor" come to the house to have a conviction.
Once at the house with the police there, the "preditor" should be read his rights before any interrogation. Is Chris Hanson's questioning of the "preditor" a police interogation?
Is it necessary to bring the guy to the house?

Also, in order to make a arrest, it looks like the "To catch a Preditor" people talked the police into going to a "preditors" house. The guy shot himself. If the police would have went t the guys office on monday and arrested him. He would still be alive. So is Hanson somewhat responsible for the guys death.

Of course you want these child molesters caught but people have rights and proceedures are made up to protect those rights. If you got caught up in a sting where a person could leave out one line of your conversation and turn you from innocent to guilty. Would you trust a vigilante group like "Perverted Justice".

The final thing was "Perverted Justice" sells clothing on its website. No convictions no sales. So there is some rational behind believing that they might be self serving rather than serving justice. Oh and one of the items sold on the website was thong panties that say "contents certified to be over 18 years old." what the hell?

We are not living in the 16th century. You people can run around yelling burn the witches but our Government is suppose to be innocent until proven guilty. Your no different that the Taliban. People doing wrong should be caught but vigilantism gets you nothing but a bunch of innocent people hanging from trees.

Answer 5

I was upset by 20/20's report and even more upset by the fact that there was not one conviction that came from the original program. I'm sorry, if a man travels, buys condoms, and shows up for a date with what he believes to be a 13 year old girl then he has already commited the crime regardless of whether or not his pants come off!

Answer 6

I missed the show but I for one am so glad that they are doing those predator shows. I wish more things were done to pull these guys out and keep them away from all children. These pedophiles are a shame on this country that needs to be dealt with more often and more severely! Shame on 20/20 for knocking it. Shame on the network that allowed it!

Answer 7

I agree with you. From watching the Bill O'Reilly show, however, it seems that the Dateline people at MSNBC didn't share all their info (like the chat-room logs) with the prosecutors' offices and this has caused a big problem (like insufficient evidence or entrapment charges) so the creeps walk.

Answer 8

I remember one time when the lead on 20/20 was Lawrence Welk. That week on 60 minutes Mike Wallace put on native Afghan clothing and went behind enemy lines during their civil war. I can see nothing has changed as far as 20.20's coverage.

Answer 9

I am from the Dallas area. The DA dropped the ball, then when Dateline proved he dropped the ball and gave himt he chance to explain why he dropped the ball, he ran over to 20/20 and boo hooed like a little baby. It was his fault and he knows it.

Answer 10

I am upset by it as well, I like the "Dateline" episodes. They take sickos off the streets and protect our children in the process. This selfish stunt by ABC is going to blow up in their face big-time as public opinion shifts heavily against them.