Snowpix@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
Didn’t an entire TV show get into some serious hot water for doing this sort of thing which resulted in someone committing suicide while filming an episode? These people are potentially putting themselves in serious danger if they corner a pedo who feels like they have nowhere to run or anything left to lose.
cupcakezealot@lemmy.blahaj.zone 3 weeks ago
Snowpix@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
That’s what I was thinking of. Thanks!
conditional_soup@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
If they corner anyone, tbh. This is a pretty ruinous accusation.
KneeTitts@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
If they corner anyone, tbh. This is a pretty ruinous accusation
nah in the US they make you president for it
conditional_soup@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Only if you’re rich. I doubt these fuck sticks are going after rich people
russjr08@bitforged.space 3 weeks ago
No of course not, then they’d actually face consequences for it.
(Yes, I know there are people who do this to those who aren’t rich and still face consequences but I get the feeling that’s more of “the exception rather than the rule”)
Krono@lemmy.today 3 weeks ago
And since these are internet vigilante kids with no oversight, they will inevitably corner some non-pedos too.
Put yourself in that situation- a couple teenagers with cameras approach you on the street and start accusing you of some of the sickest crimes imaginable. Even though the accusation is false, this has the potential to ruin your career, your relationships, your entire life.
I’m not sure how anyone would respond, or should respond, but I can definitely see how people might resort to violence when falsely accused of this horrible shit on camera.
Microw@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Just happened here in Austria. Police took 20 people into custody (13 have since been formally arrested) for luring people to fake dates where they beat them up.
The suspects said they hunted pedophiles, but at least in some of the cases they targeted young adults who expected to come to a date with 16-18 year olds.
KneeTitts@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Microw@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
Imported US culture (movies, TV etc) has successfully planted the idea in a lot of people that teenagers under 18 are “essentially the same as little children”. So no one cares about technicalities.
belastend@slrpnk.net 3 weeks ago
More importantly, it would not be illegal in Austria.
HawlSera@lemm.ee 3 weeks ago
16 is the age of consent in most countries. Even a surprisingly large amount of US states have it there.
In mine the age of consent is “16” or within 5 years of your current age. Whichever is lower.
You’d still get a lot of weird looks, social ostracization, and mean comments but it’d be legal.
We actually had a case recently where a 16 year old had sex with a 45 year old in the latter’s van and the police couldn’t do anything because according to her she consented and 16 is within the age of consent here.
Raising concerns about whether the age should be raised. But no one expects anything to be done about it. I mean this state has a lot of Republicans in charge and I’m sure some of their mistresses are about to turn 16 themselves…
ZombiFrancis@sh.itjust.works 3 weeks ago
It isn’t the medical definition at work, here. It’s the legal one.
Snowpix@lemmy.ca 3 weeks ago
Exactly. Vigilante justice is not the solution here, it’s only going to get a lot of people hurt.
unphazed@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
Especially when there are legitimate routes to volunteer under police guidance and jurisdiction. Join one of those groups instead, and let the legal system jail them.
Landless2029@lemmy.world 3 weeks ago
The huge issue with these vigilantes is accusing someone of pedophilia, like rape, can have damning consequences on someones life. Beyond losing their job they could take their own life.
To catch a predator was a good series because it was a sting. They had adults pose as teens and bait pedos to a house.
You wouldn’t go to that damn house with the home alone teen unless you wanted to commit statutory rape.