Exactly. Vigilante justice is not the solution here, it’s only going to get a lot of people hurt.
corner a pedo
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.
Snowpix@lemmy.ca 5 days ago
unphazed@lemmy.world 5 days 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 5 days 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.
Microw@lemm.ee 5 days 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 5 days ago
Microw@lemm.ee 5 days 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.
futatorius@lemm.ee 4 days ago
Yeah, many normal, healthy people (even Americans) started having sex long before they were 18.
belastend@slrpnk.net 5 days ago
More importantly, it would not be illegal in Austria.
HawlSera@lemm.ee 4 days 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 days ago
It isn’t the medical definition at work, here. It’s the legal one.