To catch a predator

Has anyone seen or heard about the American reality TV show called 'to catch a predator'?

Quick brief for those who haven't. Members of the shows production team pose as underage children in internet chat rooms. They work up very sexual conversations with men, and organise a meet up where the man thinks he's gonna get some action.

When the man turns up at the house, the TV's cameras are rolling, and the shows presenter comes out with full transcripts of the internet conversation between the man and the alleged underage child. The men sometimes bring alcohol, johnny's, etc at the the underage's request.

Here is a quick clip of a teacher who went to what he thought was a 13yr old boy in an empty house.

These men get exposed for what they really are, and you can witness them crumble as they gradually realise that they're getting busted. Police are usually waiting outside to take them in afterwards.

Sick people like this deserve all they get, and I guess it's no different to setting up drug busts. The only thing is what do people think about it being a televised bust?

At the end of the day it's nobodies fault but their own. Makes for great watching though.

[G]

Serves them right...

Would probably be classed as entrapment in the UK and they would get away scot free.

[keith_d]

There are some sick f***ers out there, but I'm not convinced that publicly humiliating these sad b*****ds is really entertainment. Maybe that's just my own measure of how low I think society should go.

[gruntygiggles]

Not sure how it would be classed over here, but to be honest, I think that this kind of show is a very valuable tool in the fight against this sort of crime.

I don't like the idea of TV execs and broadcasters becoming detective, judge and jury, but I think that the show, on face value serves some very real and useful purposes:-

Any conviction they get from a show like this is a good thing. It is one less predator able to con his way so easily into abusing someone.

It is another platform with which the message can be got across to parents that these people are out there, in their communities, even teaching in their schools and because of that, if it makes one parent more vigilant and able to stop this happening to their son/daughter, then it is a good thing.

Sometimes the line between journalism for the good of society and journalism for the good of ratings can be so fine that it can't be seen. In cases like this, I don't think it really matters too much. These are people that may never have been caught without this program. Who can put a cost on how valuable that is to the potential future victims?

I personally like the way it was handled. That teacher probably thought he was talking to the kids father and so was no doubt more giving of information than if he had been cuffed and interviewed at a station. He dug his own grave!

Originally Posted by keith_d

There are some sick f***ers out there, but I'm not convinced that publicly humiliating these sad b*****ds is really entertainment. Maybe that's just my own measure of how low I think society should go.

this

[gruntygiggles]

Originally Posted by keith_d

There are some sick f***ers out there, but I'm not convinced that publicly humiliating these sad b*****ds is really entertainment. Maybe that's just my own measure of how low I think society should go.

I feel that way too, but as said in my post, I wonder does it really matter when it is a way of catching these people.

Depends on your perception I guess. I see it as being more educational than entertaining. People, no matter how much you read the papers or watch the news normally just get stories or pictures of people like this and so it is "something that will never happen in this town". But a show like this might make people think twice and keep a closer eye on their kids and the people they are talking to.

this

Originally Posted by gruntygiggles

These are people that may never have been caught without this program. Who can put a cost on how valuable that is to the potential future victims?

Rather spare the life of a person (as that's what something like this could take) than spare a sick paedo from public humiliation at the expense of some peoples entertainment. Perhaps it's entertaining because it's a relief too see another sicko getting caught, and not necessarily the fact that he's being publicly humiliated - but if that's the cost of catching him then so be it.

Speedplay, you've been warned.

[Dave20046]

Originally Posted by gruntygiggles

It is one less predator able to con his way so easily into abusing someone. !

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Catch_a_Predator
looking into it a bit more it looks like they catch or more likely have a brush with far more than filmed. According to wikipedia in the 3 day operation that caught the teacher linked above another 18 men attended the house. Reads as though only 3 of those saw any consequence.

In the full 1 hour episode you will see at least 12 guys if not more. Not sure about how many face the consequences though, but I guess that is ultimately down to the police after the show.