Oprah today?- Page 2

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:20pm

I wouldn't expect anything more than that tremendously, insultingly simplistic view of the matter, Captain.

[M J R]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:21pm

We try 13 year olds as adults for murder in this country under the reasoning that they were at an age of accountability for their actions........

Updated On: 2/16/06 at 12:21 PM

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:23pm

Yes..that's not even really even worthy of a response but I can't help myself.

So where do you draw the line Captain? Let's say a grown man convinces an eight year old to have sex with him. Now..the eight year old could say no...but doesn't for whatever reason. That's not real rape? Please.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:25pm

Hey, I know I'm quoting Namo here, but we don't have to swallow everything put before us hook line and sinker. Erik is strongly defending the kid, MJR and I have doubts. I am not ready to convict him of anything, I simply have doubts because of some red flags that I personally saw. I said I hope I'm wrong.

[M J R]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:25pm

Not that I'm agreeing with Captain, but I'll ask you the same question, Erik: Where do YOU draw the line?

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:26pm

I guess I'm just not sure what you would be ready to convict him of? That his story is untrue?

And you make a good point MJR...but I would also argue against that.
Updated On: 2/16/06 at 12:26 PM

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:27pm

convicting him was a metaphor, Erik

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:29pm

I know that...I'm just trying to get what you're trying to say. That his story isn't true?
I'm not really arguing that. I'm saying if his story is true and he was abused that he is indeed a victim, even if he may have exaggerated parts of his story changed things to make himself look better.
Now since the case is being federally prosecuted I think it's safe to assume that the majority of what he is saying is true.

[boxers7]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:39pm

Something just didn't sit well with me that the mother was so oblvious to everything. If a child is 13 he should not be going unaccomanied to Las Vegas with a friend for a "computer convention". And owning an apartment? How could a mother of a teenager not know that he was residing somewhere else?

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:39pm

I'll try to be clearer. I was trying to say that I can't be sure of anything here. yes, there is a case and it's being tried. Of course, there should be one. Pedophilia is clearly a heinous crime. They should arrest and prosecute everyone who's found guilty of it.

What doesn't ring true to me is this kid's whole attitude towards it. He was old enough to travel to Mexico to live with his father. Well, then he's old enough to leave once his father suggested escalating the career. If this kid wasn't happy at this point, he didn't have to stay. He was strung out on drugs? I have no idea if that's true. Do you? Why, because he said so? He may have wanted to escalate the career and make even more money. We don't have proof of any of this.

[M J R]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:43pm

It comes down to accountability - how old must someone be in this country before we hold them accountable for this actions? Again - DISCLAIMER - what happened to him as a boy was an awful crime - BUT - it would not have happened had he not made the choice to strip for a webcam. He had the brains to maturity to own his own WEB DESIGN BUSINESS at that age - it's not unreasonable to suggest that he should also be held accountable for his actions. (Not those of the men who raped him, just his own.)

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:44pm

What career...

Ok...remember..he was 13. Just because he went to Mexico by himself doesn't mean he was old enough to do so. Of course there was a problem with the parenting here...there's no question about that.

And when your 13, and obviously troubled, you don't make proper decisions...that's why we have child protection laws.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:45pm

"He had the brains to maturity to own his own WEB DESIGN BUSINESS at that age - it's not unreasonable to suggest that he should also be held accountable for his actions. "

BUT..you don't know what else was going on in his life. His mother was obviously not involved very much and his Father helped sell him out for sex. So there were obviously other factors here clouding his judgement.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:46pm

it's not unreasonable to suggest that he should also be held accountable for his actions

Oh yes. Yes it is. VERY unreasonable.

[M J R]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:46pm

that's why we have child protection laws

And this is why his mother should be charged with neglect and child endangerment, for starters...

There's plenty of blame to go around - and some of it is his.

Updated On: 2/16/06 at 12:46 PM

[boxers7]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:49pm

True, but I think that any 13 year old, who is in Middle School can differeniate right from wrong in this case. A fifth grader for that matter knows to keep their private parts to themselves. In this day and age it is rediclous to incinuate that anything going on in his life would lead him to think that behavior is acceptable. Does anyone feel bad for prostitutes that get STDs? NO! They know very well what they are getting themselves into.

Again, I do feel for this kid, but anyone can see that he brought it upon himself.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:49pm

Erik, 13, 3, or 30-he was old enough to go to Mexico, because he did it. He got there. He was able to get back here the same way. Don't forget how rich he was.

Here's my final thought on this You can't have it both ways. you can't go whoring for a good deal of your life, become one of the most popular and sought after boys, having at least 1500 men after you, accepting gifts galore, traveling the world, getting your own apartment so you can continue whoring from your new bedroom and new equipment, then go to Mexico where your father helps you make even more money, and then turn around and say waaaaa, waaaaa, look what I was forced to do! Feel sorry for me and call me a hero because I'm now admitting it on tv.

[M J R]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:53pm

THE. END.

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 12:55pm

So not the end. Jane2, you made me throw up in my mouth with that.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 1:00pm

You really have to be kidding me.

You can't go whoring for a good deal of your life??? HE WAS 13!!!

A 13 year old is still be very easily manipulated by an adult. Especially a troubled one. And remember this boy wasn't being manipulated by ONE adult but THOUSANDS of adults through the internet. What you saying is like saying a rape victim deserved it because she dressed provactively...she knew what she was doing what she got dressed right?
It's not like this boy woke up, signed on the computer one day and said...gee let me go whoring. He was manipulated by adult pedophiles.
The End? LOL..ok. End on flawed logic.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 1:05pm

Who said he was troubled?

Let's not forget he was president of his high school class. No dumb kid he. Very clever, he ought to be hired by Donald Trump immediately.

Flawed logic? Whatever, Eric. sorry, pop. Listerine.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 1:07pm

You can't go whoring for a good deal of your life??? HE WAS 13!!!

You're naive if you think 13 isn't old enough to know what you're doing. Especially such a bright kid. Um, and how many years did he continue? Is he 13 now?

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 1:07pm

So popular Class Presidents can't be troubled? What world do you live in?

It was pretty clear to me from his lack of parental involvement to his father living in Mexico and being willing to sell him for sex that he was troubled.

[Jane2]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 1:11pm

you know, this is the only thing that bothers me about this thread. My posts were all my opinion only, and I did KEEP saying that I can't be sure, but here are my red flags. I never once insulted anyone else for their opinions. However, Erik and Popculture boy, you seemed to have to insult me for my opinions. Why can't you just accept others' opinions without getting so nasty? What's your problems?

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/16/06 at 1:17pm

I didn't insult you, Jane2. To insult you would be to call you a dumb c**t or something. I simply said that your OPINION was so distateful to me it made me throw up a little.