New Twist on the Guy Jumping From Carnival Cruise Ship

[Cool-Beans]

I'm taking my Godson to WDW. Nothing creepy going on at all. He's a good kid, I want to do something nice for him.

Why does everyone assume that any trip with a child not your own is creepy?

 

[piglet too]

I think it is a shame that so many are assuming that this guy was abusing the boy. Just because he is a family friend does not make him a pedophile. For crying out loud, there are parents that molest their own kids. Would we be talking about how a dad or a mom must be molesting the boy just because they fell overboard?

If there is any truth to the rumors, I feel sorry for the boy.

 

[Cool-Beans]

And one thing: In International waters, pedophilia is not a crime. It also may be legal in countries the ship was visiting. That makes me even more suspicious that there is something going on.

Actually being a pedophile (or an ephebophile, like this guy would be IF he were attracted to adolescents, which I'm not convinced of) isn't a crime, is it? Seriously asking. I can't imagine it would be, but not sure. It's the sex acts that are criminal, right? Or no?

eta: criminal or not, it is creepy.

 

[Hannathy]

Why do we assume that this man was/is a pedophile. I went to St Louis when I was 10 to visit a family friend who was 23 years older than me. She was my mom's best friend. I also went again when I was 18. I think that we are really jumping to conclusions or is because he ia a man and this is a boy

I agree. What is wrong with a non-relative taking a kid on a trip. I went lots of places with family friends as a child. What did my parents do---They said thank you.

Why do we always have to jump to conclusions now and always be paranoid and think the worst of people.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I agree. What is wrong with a non-relative taking a kid on a trip. I went lots of places with family friends as a child. What did my parents do---They said thank you.

Why do we always have to jump to conclusions now and always be paranoid and think the worst of people.

Because he was drinking and fell off a ship.Doesn't look to good.

I am really hoping it was just "nothing" but with all the focus on the news with the poor kids, it really makes you lose faith sometimes.

 

[RitaZ.]

I don't know if you all have seen pics of the guy, but he is quite large; which probably explains why he survived in the ocean for as long as he did.

http://www.local10.com/news/11269014/detail.html There is a slide show that shows the rescue and pics of the guy.

 

[Art Vandalay]

The only thing I find disgusting in all this the assumption that it is somehow improper for a guy to have a close relationship with a kid.

I seriously doubt most would make the same assumptions if this were a female adult involved.

Certainly there's something seriously messed up here. But the fact that so many jump to the conclusion that he's got some sort of improper relationship with the kid says a lot more about society's attitude towards men than anything. I am a single dad and I get the same attitude all the time doing everyday things with my daughter. That, to me, is sickening.

Don't get me wrong. Pedophiles are truly beyond sick and should be dealt with VERY harshly -- when proven. It's that last bit that seems to go by the wayside.

 

[bicker]

I seriously doubt most would make the same assumptions if this were a female adult involved.

Sucks to be a guy, sometimes.

 

[RitaZ.]

I seriously doubt most would make the same assumptions if this were a female adult involved.

The majority of pedophiles are men, not women. I go by the theory that if something doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. The few times that my gut instinct has "failed" me is when I consciously chose to ignore it. My kids are too important to me to put them in a situation that I don't feel comfortable with. I undertand about wanting to do something nice for a kid and all that. However, this is how pedophiles lure kids. They offer them things that they can't afford or have access to.

Most mature adults that age don't want to be hanging out with young teens, it's a fact. I don't care how nice the adult appears to be. The guy is 19 years older than the kid. Something is off there.

Now, these comments are my personal opinion on what I would do. I'm not saying that the guy is definitely a pedophile. All I know is what I have seen on TV and read.

 

[MushyMushy]

The only thing I find disgusting in all this the assumption that it is somehow improper for a guy to have a close relationship with a kid.

I seriously doubt most would make the same assumptions if this were a female adult involved.

Certainly there's something seriously messed up here. But the fact that so many jump to the conclusion that he's got some sort of improper relationship with the kid says a lot more about society's attitude towards men than anything. I am a single dad and I get the same attitude all the time doing everyday things with my daughter. That, to me, is sickening.

Don't get me wrong. Pedophiles are truly beyond sick and should be dealt with VERY harshly -- when proven. It's that last bit that seems to go by the wayside.

Well, as I said in my post, innocent men need to protect themselves as to how things look. This thread is a prime example. Maybe it would have been different if he hadn't been alone with the boy. When you're a man -- and yes it sucks -- you've got to do everything you can to make sure nothing looks bad.

 

[Art Vandalay]

Well, as I said in my post, innocent men need to protect themselves as to how things look. This thread is a prime example. Maybe it would have been different if he hadn't been alone with the boy. When you're a man -- and yes it sucks -- you've got to do everything you can to make sure nothing looks bad.

I certainly agree that whatever the case here, the guy wasn't on his best behavior. There may be something fishy going on or there may not.

My point is it is NOT ok to expect the vast majority of innocent men to never have a close relationship with a child. It is NOT ok to assume something's wrong when one does. It is NOT ok to make such assumptions under the cover of "better safe than sorry." It is NOT ok to throw all men in the same bucket on the minute chance that one might be a sick, twisted individual.

Sorry if I take this personally, but really, there's no other way to take it when people assume such things merely based on a Y chromosome. Many reasonable people who would never otherwise consider discrimination based on gender, race, religion, etc. suddenly find it ok to do so in these circumstances. One cannot pick and choose. Either it is abhorrent to pre-judge based on gender or it is not.

 

[hiwaygal]

I certainly agree that whatever the case here, the guy wasn't on his best behavior. There may be something fishy going on or there may not.

My point is it is NOT ok to expect the vast majority of innocent men to never have a close relationship with a child. It is NOT ok to assume something's wrong when one does. It is NOT ok to make such assumptions under the cover of "better safe than sorry." It is NOT ok to throw all men in the same bucket on the minute chance that one might be a sick, twisted individual.

Sorry if I take this personally, but really, there's no other way to take it when people assume such things merely based on a Y chromosome. Many reasonable people who would never otherwise consider discrimination based on gender, race, religion, etc. suddenly find it ok to do so in these circumstances. One cannot pick and choose. Either it is abhorrent to pre-judge based on gender or it is not.

I agree with you!

 

[kennancat]

The Sentinel had a little more on the story today: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-moverboard1707mar17,0,2765464.story?coll=orl-home-headlines

If this man is the teen's godfather, I'll assume he has known the family and the child since the boy was a baby. I wouldn't automatically assume that he is a pedophile.

 

[NewJersey]

Typical of the DIS, we have the pitchforkers out accusing this guy of being a pedofile? Considering we know very little about this, I'll hold my 'judgement' until we get the full story.

I mean seriously, it seems as though he is the godfather, and people immediately accuse him of being a pedofile?

Yes, that could be true...but people here could be WAY off.

 

[MushyMushy]

Sorry if I take this personally, but really, there's no other way to take it when people assume such things merely based on a Y chromosome. Many reasonable people who would never otherwise consider discrimination based on gender, race, religion, etc. suddenly find it ok to do so in these circumstances. One cannot pick and choose. Either it is abhorrent to pre-judge based on gender or it is not.

I understand where you're coming from -- I really do. But when it comes to the well-being of my kids, I absolutely have to pre-judge in those types of situations. I think it's best to err on the side of caution, and to me, that wouldn't be sending my kid off alone with another adult like that.

 

[RitaZ.]

It is NOT ok to throw all men in the same bucket on the minute chance that one might be a sick, twisted individual.

If we were doing that, then our kids wouldn't have a relationship with their fathers, uncles, grandfathers or any other males. I don't lump all men in the same group, I take each one as an individual. If there are certain behaviors that appear off to me, then I take a "closer look".

 

[Mermaid02]

Are they saying that it's definate the guy jumped or did he fall? If he jumped and is suicidal than the parents were in the dark about the guys REAL frame of mind. What kind of person takes a kid on vacation for their 16th birthday and then decides to mark the occasion by committing suicide?

 

[Cool-Beans]

It's a good thing to watch out for your kids.

But nice people shouldn't stop doing nice things just because someone else twists it into something wicked.

People who take kids on vacation to be nice should continue to do so and not worry about other people mistaking their intetions. Even if they are men.

 

[bicker]

The guy is 19 years older than the kid. Something is off there.

I think this is the problem: The assumption that all situations where a man (the child's godfather) is 19 years older than a boy must unequivocally be nefarious. I bet that 99.9% of the time, such situations are not only innocent, but beneficent. While the 0.1% for men translates to 0.0001% for women, there is still something bad about making the assumption that whenever there is a situation like this, that it must be one of those 0.1% situations. And I think this problem feeds on itself, and can even result in a lot of really bad situations, where men won't come to the assistance of a child for fear of how that interaction would be perceived.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Are they saying that it's definate the guy jumped or did he fall? If he jumped and is suicidal than the parents were in the dark about the guys REAL frame of mind. What kind of person takes a kid on vacation for their 16th birthday and then decides to mark the occasion by committing suicide?

Exactly....you know are forced to question his character. To NOT do so is folly and the reason why kids are put into danger imo.