Perverted Justice

over a tortilla quiche i read an article in the new york times about a cyber vigilante group called perverted justice. Check here for more info. this group ensnares pedophiles using volunteers posed as young girls in various chatrooms on the web. once they establish a good rapport with on-line predators, they ask them to meet at their house where their parents are supposedly away. once the pedophiles get to the house they realize they have been stung, as tv cameras film their entrance, and cops arrest them as they try to leave. this organization has engaged in their perverted justice operations in many states across the country. And their efforts have resulted in the arrests of hundreds of men.

this group, whose origins and inner workings are still a bit mysterious, is largely supported by the NBC program, Dateline NBC, which films the pedophiles' entry into the homes, and uses their tv host to ask the men questions about what they are doing there. they then show them transcripts of the on-line conversations (all full of sexual innuendo)they have been having with the young girl/perverted justice volunteer. at this point, all of the men run from the house, and are greeted by police outside who arrest them for sexual predator offenses.

cyber vigilantes. what an interesting concept. of course we have heard of law enforcment agencies engaging in similar operations, but a citizen's organization with the help of a TV network? Incidentally, Dateline NBC gives the group 70 K for each hour of programming. now, however, the group has come under fire for their tactics, being accused of entrapment. they definitely lay a trap, but these men, through their questionable actions, fall right into it. let's face it, a grown man who is not interested in having sex with teenage girls will, most likely, not troll for them on the internet. fucking ridiculous. who cares if they are ensnared? if they didn't have dubious intent they wouldn't find themselves in such a situation.

i don't have a problem with vigilante justice per se, but it does depend upon the justice being sought. in this case, i'm all for it. i'm not in favor of vigilante groups, such as those racist rednecks patrolling the U.S/Mexico border. These assholes will spend a lot of time and money playing federal agent-cowboy man just to keep impoverished Mexicans from "invading" and "polluting" the good ole U.S.A. gotta love the diesease/infection language frequently used. They should use their time and money instead, working for groups like perverted justice. Imagine if all those rednecks committed to eradicting child sexual abuse and murder in this country? i suppose there is more glory and masculine, jingoistic fulfillment in patrolling the borders than in trolling the web for sexual predators.

jb