Fear and Loathing in Newcastle

[kneeshooter]

I'm positively fuming, as I suspected I might be. I'm listening to a presentation, actually - let's call it a scare story - from CEOP. The presenter is telling me, rather badly, that looking at pr0n will make me a paedophile.

I am not claiming that it's not a serious issue and that real harm is done to children around to world because of child pr0n, but I resent being piss-poor attempts to intimidate and scare me.

Now I shall attempt to say something sensible in the Q&A.

My starting list is:

"How much do you spend on education as compared to detection/prosecution?"
"Do you believe that the problem can be solved?"
"How much evidence is there of translation from online into the offline world?"

More suggestions welcome.

Comments

[furzepig.livejournal.com]

"Do you think fear is a viable tool to getting your message across?"
"Is the current climate of hysteria at the mere mention of paedophilia a hindrance in discussing any of these issues rationally and objectively?"

Of course - by objecting to his methods and criticising him, the hysterical reaction is that you are obviously on the side of the offenders (see: identity card/privacy debates, terrorism debates, etc). Which, quite clearly, you aren't - but such is the world we live in. I'm reminded of the superb Reith Lectures on the 'climate of fear'. I really must listen to them again.

[skinfitz.livejournal.com]

Does that mean that not looking at pr0n, or looking at 'vanilla' pr0n can 'cure' paedophiles?

Didn't they try this in the past trying to 'cure' homosexuality?

[ayrton-nix.livejournal.com]

will make me a paedophile

is this along the same lines as 'occasional use of recreational drugs will turn you into a crack fiend who mugs people and beats up old ladies to feed your habit'?

[kissmeforlonger.livejournal.com]

Surely people look at child pr0n because they're already interested in it?

[skinfitz.livejournal.com]

...actually there is one glaring error in this presumption. Considering that everyone looks at pr0n, then that means that everyone is a paedophile?

Ask him if he's ever looked at pr0n. Then ask him if he's ever been tested for paedophilia.

[ebb.livejournal.com]

"Could you please give me a definative on what you refer to as p0rn? For instance, is it simply suggestive imagery regardless of what is or isn't actually 'on show' as it were or are you specifically referring to graphic images and what therefore is classed as graphic? Where is the line drawn over what is p0rn and what is not?"

"Surely things such as page 3 girls and the plethora of mens lifestyle magazines such as loaded need to be removed from the publics grasp, given their soft p0rn content?"

"Is it the image itself which causes such reactions or is merely thinking about the image and imaging such things (aka fantasies) enough, in your view?"

"Do you feel that removing access to p0rn would actually decrease or increase the number of instances of paedaphillic activities? Can I refer you to prohibition in 20s America whereby 'for the good of the people' access to alcohol cited a huge rise in criminal activites?"

[sixtine.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't suggest saying anything but does looking at Playboy turn you into a rapist? I loathe the climate of fear being generated and the right wing morality that is pressing people to nod in submission instead of raising their liberal views.