NBC Dateline "Predator" Suffers Its Own Perverted Justice
I have written on more than one occasion that the NBC Dateline "To Catch A Predator" series is all about making money through an exploitation of the worst part of human nature. Like the group of people that gather at the base of a tall building to watch a depressed and disturbed individual contemplate suicide via jumping to his or her death, Dateline viewers are offered an "inside look" into the perversion that is pedophilia.
But here in America we have some issues to resolve.
Should a television network be allowed to become a de facto arm of the law enforcement system? When I teach journalism I often discuss the important issue of ethics. Journalism has a history of largely ignoring ethics up until the post-World War II era. We are now seeing a backsliding dynamic when it comes to ethics in journalism because of the appeal to sensationalism, gossip, celebrity watching (a creation of Hollywood's own public relations, advertising and marketing engines), and a penchant for voyeurism in a vicarious manner.
But we already have too many cameras invading our personal space and personal lives. One of the principles of journalistic ethics is to determine whether a story is in the public view or a private matter, and if it is private, then whether or not there is a right of the general public to know. Most assuredly those conspiring to commit a crime are thrusting themselves into the public view. Most assuredly those seeking to commit sexual acts with children are subject to the public right to know. But should it be broadcast in the manner in which NBC, Dateline, and the producers of the "Predator" series have chosen? And if the answer to this question is "yes," then should it be an ongoing series that exploits the voyeuristic and pornographic tendencies of the general public?
I know how I see the issue. When Dateline presented this issue in its original "Predator" segment, I felt that it had crossed a line of taste, but that a one-time airing of the issues, dynamics and problem involved in predatory pedophilia was worth the crossing the line of decorum. But Dateline has turned this type of programming into a moneymaker. Given that NBC has significant issues trying to maintain a competitive role among the major networks, it has decided to grab the attention of viewers by appealing to these base instincts of the general public, demonstrate that such segments garner huge numbers of viewers, and sell all of the available commercial spots at a premium.
While I agree the predatory nature of pedophilia needs to be outlined in a public manner, I do not think we really understand the issues. In the first place, we define pedophilia a lot differently in our culture. Now I am not just saying that we define pedophilia a lot differently than other cultures, but that we have historically re-defined it in our own country. Indeed, during the Colonial and Expansion Eras of our nation, young teen-aged girls were practically sold off into marriage. Marriages occurred between older men--sometimes men that were in their thirties or forties--and a young girl as young as thirteen. These marriages were not only sanctioned by the families, but also by the majority of church leaders and the legal authorities.
As our nation grew and expanded, and as we entered into the Industrial Revolution, young girls were exploited either by what amounted to practical slave labor for those with industrial production capacity, the rich that required domestic servants, or by those that were seeking young wives. In fact, becoming a teen-age wife might have actually been a better alternative that working in the mills and factories of the time. Marriage at an early age might even be better than the fate of working as a maid, cook or other servant in the households of the wealthy since many of these servants were often sexually exploited in the process.
In all but the most urban centers of our nation, teen-aged girls were subject to marriage well into the 1960s. We still have a patchwork quilt of laws from state-to-state regarding the age of sexual consent. The age of consent for sexual acts has also been a political football at times, subject to the whims of a fickle legislature. During the 1960s and 1970s many courts were recognizing that sex between two teen-agers close in age was not necessarily "statutory rape," but an expression of puberty, adolescence, and the process of exploring sexuality. While such was not considered the ideal manner to express puberty, adolescence or sexuality, the courts were recognizing that it was the role of parents to educate their teens regarding moral and sexuality issues, and criminalizing sex was not necessarily a positive step. Since the Reagan Era, this approach has been retracted by the vast majority of courts and most expressions of sexual intimacy by teen-agers are considered criminal acts in one manner or another.
Still, there is such a thing as statutory rape. The concept is that when a person lacks the capacity to consent, then the sexual act is abusive, invasive and illegal. Then, too, there is such a thing as rape and incest, both being an exploitation and invasion of the person by use of coercive force, threat or undue influence. It is here that the legal concept of "mens rea" (intent or reason for an act) comes into play.
Most assuredly those people caught by Dateline's "Predator" series possess an evil intent that qualifies as a criminal act. But is it the role of Dateline to exploit these events into a moneymaking process? Does Dateline take the necessary steps to prevent casting aspersions on someone's character? Does Dateline ever cross the lines of decency, libel, slander or offer a disregard for humanity?
Perhaps the question is answered in the recent lawsuit filed against NBC, Dateline and the producers and presenters of the "To Catch A Predator" series? Does Dateline's alliance with the group known as "Perverted Justice" cross a line where journalists are no longer reporting the news, but are creating the news and participating in it in such a way as to disregard the ethics and principles of journalism? Do the folks at NBC and Perverted Justice disregard constitutional issues and violate the rights of those accused, or do they merely serve as a tool that allows law enforcement to circumvent the due process protected by constitutional principles?
Of course pedophilia is a horrendous social and criminal act. Children should not be exploited, invaded or assaulted in this manner. The sexual development of a child should be something that is guided by the child's family... or so we are led to believe. But there is another form of pedophilia that is considerably more perverse than what has been depicted on Dateline: incest... a sexual exploitation committed by those that are supposed to love and protect children. Of course, incest remains largely under-reported, outside of the attention of the media, secreted by most families because of the stigma, and treated as a crime without any regard for the dysfunction that underlies the act itself.
We are also led to believe that pedophilia, rape and incest is on the rise. This is the lie of sensationalism and the dynamics of secrecy. Incest and pedophilia have always been with us. Like all forms of child abuse and exploitation, we are just beginning to learn the depths of its depravity because we are paying attention to it. But, as a lot of victims of sexual abuse will tell us, the worst part of being sexually exploited is the way our families, communities and our legal system responds to such assaults and abuse. We collectively continue to ignore the issues and problems inherent in dealing with sexual matters, especially those we perceive as criminal, exploitive and morally repulsive.
Maybe the lawsuit against NBC, Dateline and Perverted Justice will garner some attention not only to the issues of exploitation by the predators labeled by the Dateline programming, but also the exploitation by NBC, Dateline, Perverted Justice and our collective lack of proper understanding of the problems and dynamics. But I am willing to bet that we will continue to ignore the real issues and tune in to the next episode of "Predator" aired by NBC and Dateline.
'Predator' Suicide Prompts $105M Lawsuit
But here in America we have some issues to resolve.
Should a television network be allowed to become a de facto arm of the law enforcement system? When I teach journalism I often discuss the important issue of ethics. Journalism has a history of largely ignoring ethics up until the post-World War II era. We are now seeing a backsliding dynamic when it comes to ethics in journalism because of the appeal to sensationalism, gossip, celebrity watching (a creation of Hollywood's own public relations, advertising and marketing engines), and a penchant for voyeurism in a vicarious manner.
But we already have too many cameras invading our personal space and personal lives. One of the principles of journalistic ethics is to determine whether a story is in the public view or a private matter, and if it is private, then whether or not there is a right of the general public to know. Most assuredly those conspiring to commit a crime are thrusting themselves into the public view. Most assuredly those seeking to commit sexual acts with children are subject to the public right to know. But should it be broadcast in the manner in which NBC, Dateline, and the producers of the "Predator" series have chosen? And if the answer to this question is "yes," then should it be an ongoing series that exploits the voyeuristic and pornographic tendencies of the general public?
I know how I see the issue. When Dateline presented this issue in its original "Predator" segment, I felt that it had crossed a line of taste, but that a one-time airing of the issues, dynamics and problem involved in predatory pedophilia was worth the crossing the line of decorum. But Dateline has turned this type of programming into a moneymaker. Given that NBC has significant issues trying to maintain a competitive role among the major networks, it has decided to grab the attention of viewers by appealing to these base instincts of the general public, demonstrate that such segments garner huge numbers of viewers, and sell all of the available commercial spots at a premium.
While I agree the predatory nature of pedophilia needs to be outlined in a public manner, I do not think we really understand the issues. In the first place, we define pedophilia a lot differently in our culture. Now I am not just saying that we define pedophilia a lot differently than other cultures, but that we have historically re-defined it in our own country. Indeed, during the Colonial and Expansion Eras of our nation, young teen-aged girls were practically sold off into marriage. Marriages occurred between older men--sometimes men that were in their thirties or forties--and a young girl as young as thirteen. These marriages were not only sanctioned by the families, but also by the majority of church leaders and the legal authorities.
As our nation grew and expanded, and as we entered into the Industrial Revolution, young girls were exploited either by what amounted to practical slave labor for those with industrial production capacity, the rich that required domestic servants, or by those that were seeking young wives. In fact, becoming a teen-age wife might have actually been a better alternative that working in the mills and factories of the time. Marriage at an early age might even be better than the fate of working as a maid, cook or other servant in the households of the wealthy since many of these servants were often sexually exploited in the process.
In all but the most urban centers of our nation, teen-aged girls were subject to marriage well into the 1960s. We still have a patchwork quilt of laws from state-to-state regarding the age of sexual consent. The age of consent for sexual acts has also been a political football at times, subject to the whims of a fickle legislature. During the 1960s and 1970s many courts were recognizing that sex between two teen-agers close in age was not necessarily "statutory rape," but an expression of puberty, adolescence, and the process of exploring sexuality. While such was not considered the ideal manner to express puberty, adolescence or sexuality, the courts were recognizing that it was the role of parents to educate their teens regarding moral and sexuality issues, and criminalizing sex was not necessarily a positive step. Since the Reagan Era, this approach has been retracted by the vast majority of courts and most expressions of sexual intimacy by teen-agers are considered criminal acts in one manner or another.
Still, there is such a thing as statutory rape. The concept is that when a person lacks the capacity to consent, then the sexual act is abusive, invasive and illegal. Then, too, there is such a thing as rape and incest, both being an exploitation and invasion of the person by use of coercive force, threat or undue influence. It is here that the legal concept of "mens rea" (intent or reason for an act) comes into play.
Most assuredly those people caught by Dateline's "Predator" series possess an evil intent that qualifies as a criminal act. But is it the role of Dateline to exploit these events into a moneymaking process? Does Dateline take the necessary steps to prevent casting aspersions on someone's character? Does Dateline ever cross the lines of decency, libel, slander or offer a disregard for humanity?
Perhaps the question is answered in the recent lawsuit filed against NBC, Dateline and the producers and presenters of the "To Catch A Predator" series? Does Dateline's alliance with the group known as "Perverted Justice" cross a line where journalists are no longer reporting the news, but are creating the news and participating in it in such a way as to disregard the ethics and principles of journalism? Do the folks at NBC and Perverted Justice disregard constitutional issues and violate the rights of those accused, or do they merely serve as a tool that allows law enforcement to circumvent the due process protected by constitutional principles?
Of course pedophilia is a horrendous social and criminal act. Children should not be exploited, invaded or assaulted in this manner. The sexual development of a child should be something that is guided by the child's family... or so we are led to believe. But there is another form of pedophilia that is considerably more perverse than what has been depicted on Dateline: incest... a sexual exploitation committed by those that are supposed to love and protect children. Of course, incest remains largely under-reported, outside of the attention of the media, secreted by most families because of the stigma, and treated as a crime without any regard for the dysfunction that underlies the act itself.
We are also led to believe that pedophilia, rape and incest is on the rise. This is the lie of sensationalism and the dynamics of secrecy. Incest and pedophilia have always been with us. Like all forms of child abuse and exploitation, we are just beginning to learn the depths of its depravity because we are paying attention to it. But, as a lot of victims of sexual abuse will tell us, the worst part of being sexually exploited is the way our families, communities and our legal system responds to such assaults and abuse. We collectively continue to ignore the issues and problems inherent in dealing with sexual matters, especially those we perceive as criminal, exploitive and morally repulsive.
Maybe the lawsuit against NBC, Dateline and Perverted Justice will garner some attention not only to the issues of exploitation by the predators labeled by the Dateline programming, but also the exploitation by NBC, Dateline, Perverted Justice and our collective lack of proper understanding of the problems and dynamics. But I am willing to bet that we will continue to ignore the real issues and tune in to the next episode of "Predator" aired by NBC and Dateline.
'Predator' Suicide Prompts $105M Lawsuit
The sister of a former U.S. state prosecutor who killed himself after he was targeted by a television show as a suspected pedophile is suing NBC Universal for $105 million.
Louis William Conradt, 56, shot himself in November 2006 after he was confronted at his Terrell, Texas, home by police, whom the lawsuit said were carrying television cameras for a "To Catch a Predator" segment of NBC's Dateline program.
"To Catch a Predator" involves Dateline and Internet watchdog Perverted Justice luring suspected pedophiles to a "sting house" by using online decoys. NBC has said Conradt had contacted a decoy posing as a 13-year-old boy.
But Conradt did not visit the "sting house" the show set up in Murphy, Texas, 35 miles from Terrell. The lawsuit said 24 men were lured to the Murphy home and arrested, but no charges were brought as a result of the operation.
The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Manhattan by Patricia Conradt on behalf of Conrad's estate, accuses NBC's Dateline of "steam-rolling" police to arrest Conradt, a retired district attorney for Kaufman County.
The lawsuit said police and members of the Dateline crew traveled to Conradt's house "with neither a search warrant nor an arrest warrant" that met legal standards.
"Both police officers and other members of the party were wearing cameras ... very large cameras, on the cutting edge of technology, that normally are worn only by television reporters," the lawsuit said.
"They were met by (Conradt). He told them 'I'm not gonna hurt anyone' and shot himself. Then a police officer said to a Dateline producer, 'That'll make good TV.' Death was an hour later," it said.
"The stigma of suicide irrevocably has spread its dark shadow over his good name and reputation," the lawsuit said.
NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric Co., said it had not yet received the lawsuit.
"But we plan to defend ourselves vigorously as we believe the claims in the suit to be completely without merit," it said in a statement.
This is the second lawsuit filed against NBC in the last three months over the "Dateline" predator series. In May, the show's former producer, Marsha Bartel, sued the network in Illinois federal court, alleging she was fired after she raised ethical concerns about the show's methods.
Labels: Dateline, exploitation, NBC, pedophilia, sexuality, suicide, teens
posted by Jim Downey at 6:08 AM
2 Comments:
Xavier attacked this guy ( Bruce Raisley ) because he complained about them using a photo of his kid. He seems to be caught in the middle because he knocked down the pedo site last week with some type of DDOS. Both Peej AND the pedophiles continue to harass him. It looks to me Perverted-justice and corrupted-justice(pedos) ARE THE SAME PEOPLE!
They are the same, anonymous. You watch, it will come out that the very ones that are attacking are guilty of the same, or worse. It takes a sick mind to run after a man pretending to be a girl then seducing him to meet them. Many of these people are pathological Narcissists and they believe "the ends justifies the means." If you point out something to them, they always point out someone else, call you stupid, or a fearmongerer. Basically, that means you caught them and they are trying to bluff themselves out. Call the bluff.
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