To Catch A Predator on NBC

[boomhauer]

I'm sure many of you have seen this program on Dateline NBC. This is gonna be a weird post, but it's been bothering me.

First off let me say, I can't stand the host, Chris Hanson. What a pompous ****. He acts all tough with these guys he "catches", when in reality, if there wasn't a swat team waiting outside, he'd be headed in the other direction like a big baby. There's just something about the way he acts that I absolutely hate.

As for the people they catch - They're all perverted weirdos. No sympathy for their stupidity whatsoever. But, what I don't get is - Isn't entrapment illegal? Right form the start, these sickos arent really chatting with young girls. They're chatting with a private agency, posing as young girls, monitored by the police, to catch these guys for something they might do. I just don't get that. Ever see the movie "Minority Report"? That's what this reminds me of. Let's arrest people before they commit the crime.

As for the guys going to jail - Good. Obviously, they went there to seek illicit behavior from children. They deserve what they're getting (most of the time.) I guess I just have a serious misunderstanding of the law of entrapment.

 

[Mermaid02]

I'm sick of this sick show. But if it catches some pervs I guess it's a good thing.

 

[chris1gill]

This has been brought up before... In this case, it's not entrapment because the agents receive the first message from the pervert... and they aren't the ones to suggest he come visit them.. it's when the pervert suggests that that they respond with the address...

I can't believe the stuff that goes on with these chats however... just can't believe these things happen with such young children involved... obviously in this case it's an adult receiving these messages, but the pervert thinks the kids is 13, 14? That's just awful...

 

[highland3]

They way these guys are "baited" is perfectly legal in the U.S. and Canada and is a common law enforcement tactic.

As for the show.... one episode might have been informative and educational for parents... but a weekly parade of pervs??? Well... it just seems like too much to me.

As for Chris Hansen... I agree... he'd be hiding in the truck if it weren't for the long arm of the law hiding nearby!

 

[highland3]

I can't believe the stuff that goes on with these chats however... just can't believe these things happen with such young children involved... obviously in this case it's an adult receiving these messages, but the pervert thinks the kids is 13, 14? That's just awful...

Amen! As a parent of a 10 yr old dd... I watch her internet activity closely and we talk about "stuff".

 

[chris1gill]

Amen! As a parent of a 10 yr old dd... I watch her internet activity closely and we talk about "stuff".

We have an almost 12 year old boy... we've set down the rules... no IM's or chat's of any kind, no myspace either... those rules get broken & I will personally disconnect & take the computer apart.... Not to mention the computer's are in the family room....

It's unbelievable what we have to worry about If it weren't for the Chris Hanson special's I would never have thought it was prevalent.....

 

[DawnCt1]

I agree its tiresome. When you've seen one you've seem them all. Having said that however, it has provided a valuable service, alerting parents and catching the bad guys. So I am just as glad that it is on. I do wonder however if the bad guys will just get more clever and harder to catch.

 

[lowie]

i'm thinking that what FOLEY has done is worse then what those guys on the shows did. he ACTUALLY had contact with an underage person. those freaks on the show were set up.
in the end I believe they all deserve the same punishment, i haven't heard of one of those TV show guys getting to go into re-hab

 

[summerrluvv]

It amazed me on last nights show how many of the guys have seen the Dateline shows before and STILL came to the house!!!! Did you see the previews for next time where the guy was someone that had came to one of their first stings and he shows up again for another one!!

The doctor made me sick. Absolutely sick. A respected member of the community like that preying on a 13 year old and then had the nerve to say he wasn't going to do anything.

In NY these predators are no longer charged with a felony. It's a misdemeanor. There was a story in the paper a few days ago about a man that lives nearby who is a registered sex offender, set up an account on myspace and was sending pornographic emails, chats, etc. to someone who he thought was a 13 year old boy. He was arrested and he was only charged with a misdemeanor. Something is wrong there. I don't know about you guys, but there needs to be a serious crack down on sex offenders being allowed to have computers or be on the internet. It's nothing but trouble.

 

[chris1gill]

It amazed me on last nights show how many of the guys have seen the Dateline shows before and STILL came to the house!!!! Did you see the previews for next time where the guy was someone that had came to one of their first stings and he shows up again for another one!!

The doctor made me sick. Absolutely sick. A respected member of the community like that preying on a 13 year old and then had the nerve to say he wasn't going to do anything.

In NY these predators are no longer charged with a felony. It's a misdemeanor. There was a story in the paper a few days ago about a man that lives nearby who is a registered sex offender, set up an account on myspace and was sending pornographic emails, chats, etc. to someone who he thought was a 13 year old boy. He was arrested and he was only charged with a misdemeanor. Something is wrong there. I don't know about you guys, but there needs to be a serious crack down on sex offenders being allowed to have computers or be on the internet. It's nothing but trouble.

Summerlov, I didn't see last night's show, but are you serious, one guy was a doctor?And someone from next week was actually caught by them before in one of their prior stings??

What does that say about our justice system? What you yourself have said about the NY laws is just disturbing... Why are these people allowed to continually prey on children? It is just so disturbing that anyone would do that...

 

[Robinrs]

I think it's the only important thing a news show has ever done. If you don't like it don't watch it but I'm glad it's on. If it keeps ONE douche bag from thinking Chris Hanson might catch his horny butt on camera, GOOD for him.

As for Chris being cocky, good for him.

For every smart parent there is a clueless one who had no idea this was going on. Yes, YOU'VE sat down with your kids but not everyone has any idea what their kids might or might not be doing online. If this show informs one uninformed parent in Duluth, then it's done it's job nationwide.

Geraldo has a daily show, Flava Flav's show is on nearly daily, and so are Rush, Hannity and CNN... why can't this show be on regularly. What are our priorities????

 

[wvrevy]

1 - If I was the host, I'd have to say that I would feel superior to the scum that were targeted, too. I mean...we're talking about potential pedophiles here. Hard NOT to feel superior to that kind of worthless waste of oxygen.

2 - Has anyone from Congress shown up? Sorry....had to be asked.

3 - Entrapment is convincing a suspect to commit a crime they would otherwise not have committed. This doesn't fit the description because, as has already been noted here, all contact is initiated by the perv.

4 - Anything that gets child predators off the streets - even tmeporarily - is a good thing, in my opinion. I won't go as far as Robin to say that it is the MOST important thing a news program has ever done, but it's certainly up there. They should be commended, arrogant host or not.

 

[Tikitoi]

For this show to be aired so often, you do get sick of it, because it does seem to be a fine line between entrapment. Certainly not rooting for the pervs, but it seems necessary to come down on the judges who go so easy on these freaks.

 

[Stacerita]

I missed the last one, but usually catch this show. I don't think the host is cocky at all. I like him. And this is not entrapment. The bad guy is the one who makes the move and initiates the stuff. The show serves a purpose. Even if its the same thing over again. But for those parents who missed the first few times it was done, they at least can see it and get a clue as to whats out there.

 

[CaliforniaDreamin]

Geraldo has a daily show, Flava Flav's show is on nearly daily, and so are Rush, Hannity and CNN... why can't this show be on regularly. What are our priorities????

This is an excellent point. This show performs a service. Like someone else pointed out, it should deter these sickos from arranging meetings for fear that they will end up on tv. I watched it the first few times it was on, and although it is a bit redundant (same sickos acting like they were only coming to "protect" the underage girl) it is still an important show. I hope they continue doing it.
I have to admit though, everytime I see that it's on, I'm reminded of Conan O'brian when he opened the Emmy's and he made an appearance on the show. It was hilarious. Hard to fine humor in something disgusting, but I got a kick out of it.

 

[Micca]

The ratings must improve when they do these shows or they wouldn't be doing it so much. I wouldn't be surprised to see NBC spinoff a weekly show with this theme. I watch it in disbelief at the men from various walks of life who are caught and all swear up and down they were only coming to the house to talk, watch tv, etc. They are sick and sad and I can't believe there are so many of them.

 

[momrek06]

I think it's the only important thing a news show has ever done. If you don't like it don't watch it but I'm glad it's on. If it keeps ONE douche bag from thinking Chris Hanson might catch his horny butt on camera, GOOD for him.

As for Chris being cocky, good for him.

For every smart parent there is a clueless one who had no idea this was going on. Yes, YOU'VE sat down with your kids but not everyone has any idea what their kids might or might not be doing online. If this show informs one uninformed parent in Duluth, then it's done it's job nationwide.

Geraldo has a daily show, Flava Flav's show is on nearly daily, and so are Rush, Hannity and CNN... why can't this show be on regularly. What are our priorities????

ITA!!!

I think Chris Hansen is AWESOME in his roll as the host. I think he is rather calm, cool and collected. I do not see him as a pompous **** AT ALL! He was recently on Oprah discussing the show and she is thrilled with it as well and asked Chris if he would assist her and CHANGING THE PUNISHMENT LAWS for these PERVS...because some states let them off in months and others YEARS..she would like a standard MIN of 5 years for PERVS.

I am so glad this show is on OUTING all these MORON/IDIOTS/LOSERS whatever you want to call them...these creeps preying on our kids !!!

I would LOVE to see a weekly SHOW on this SUBJECT with Dateline.

Everyone of these dudes LIE. They say they were only coming by to "talk"...yeah right equiped with condoms etc etc and then when Hansen pulls out there chatroom dialogue they are SHOCKED/EMBARASSED/DISMAYED at themselves.

How much longer would these MEN be doing this if DATELINE had not intervene in THESE cases? This CRAP has been going on too long. It needs to stop, and the laws need to be TOUGHER.

So, OP, as far as I am concerned keep "ROCKING ON" Chris Hansen and keep the show ON and keep doing what you do best CATCHING THESE PERVS and PRONO KINGS!! And then, just then, our world might be a little safer.



ETA: Yes, I have seen a Doctor, a Rabbi and many student/teen counselors all being CAUGHT on this show....so even your All-American (acting) neighbor could be chatting right now on his computer next door to you in his cozy home with the lawn all landscaped to a young girl.....PERVERT.