I'm sure you have all seen this ongoing Dateline show that sets up a sting to attract online predators. Actually, its amazing that even guys that have seen the show still fall "prey" to this. I have seen all but one episode(there have been 7)and over and over its unbelievable the different men that show up, sometimes driving many hours, expecting to have sex with a 13 or 14 yr old. They come from all walks of life, all ages and even a Rabbi and a minister. The problem I'm having is in why i feel sorry for these guys? Most appear to be simple guys caught in a complex social issue, not hard core pedophiles. Only 2 of the 80 had priors that involved under age sex. And as i struggle with how i can feel sorry for them, I'm reminded of my own experience. I was sexual molested when i was 8yrs old by a handy man that wormed his way into a close relationship with our family. It happened once and i made it very clear(as clear as an 8yr old could i guess)that it was wrong and will not happen Again. Next year this man went off to serve in Korea and i did not see him again for 15yrs. when i did(i had and have never forgotten)i confronted him, not knowing really what i was going to say or if i was going to punch his lights out(i was a big boy back then) I'm not sure to this day whether when he saw me it even came to his mind... anyway, i walked him out of sight of people and just came right out with it.. he immediately began to sob. He even offered that if i wanted to hit him he would understand(like i needed his permission)But, i just couldn't. I found myself counselling him. Was he abused as a child? yes. He is married and has to daughters i asked if it continues, he swore it didn't. I really didn't believe him but i did recognize a tormented and sad human being kneeling(he dropped when he knew what i was about to say) in front of me. A couple years later my sister told me that she too had been molested. Had i known that when i saw him i know the out come would have been much different. So, i didn't forgive him, but told him it was an illness that needed to be treated. That's one reason i guess i feel sorry for those guy's on Dateline. The other reason is much more complex and I'm sure after i "illuminate" it will be much more controversial. As i have stated over and over in many of my postings it all relates back to Nature. Always remember we answer to a much more powerful force than each other and society. We are an animal and as an animal we answer ultimately to nature. Did you know that every (other) animal females are mated as soon as they are sexually mature. That maturity is around 13, 14 or 15 for humans. Men are biologically programed to pick up on that. Is it that the rest of the male population is unaware and these guys that show up are? I think not. I am in full belief that any male over twenty that is shown a picture of a cute naked 13 yr would experience arousal. Its that those of us that exhibit control have the strength to resist. And whether we resist because its not socially acceptable, or not lawful or both, is a big problem with this issue. April 17 2007 One of the biggest problems with pedophiles is how they are received. Its really a complex problem with fairly simple solution. If, the chain is to be broken we must all take a good long look at all aspects not just end results. First, its a disease no different than any other contagious disease. You are not born a child molester. Its nurture not nature. Some catch the disease by direct contact(While being abused) some catch it from the environment they are in(Priests)Regardless of how one contracts it, if it is continuously looked as a perversion that one chooses on their own free will we will never ever cure the world of it. Just look at how pedophiles are referred to..... no one calls a person suffering from any disease an (an or AN A) your not a cancer your not an Aids you are suffering the ills from them. No one says he is suffering from pedophilia they say he is "A" pedophile. The only other time in history this took place as far as a kind see is with a person who suffered from lepercy . They were a leper and must be kept separated and shunned. Jesus was one of the first persons to regularly visit leper colonies..and he never became "A" leper. Second, They should not be punished as a criminal and put in general prison pop. The other inmates know he is not a criminal and they look at him as a disease that they don't want to catch so they kill them. And finally, it must be able to be spoken about openly and easily. The reason i never caught the disease is no different than why some come in contact with HIV but strangely don't get aids. Different immune systems i guess. what really bothers me is the way that Dateline uses these men for their ratings and profit. If they were sincerely interested in protecting the young boys and girls they would broaden the scope of the show to show possible reasons for the desire and show what is being done both medically and in psychologically. Are there programs to get these men help? Do they work? Whats in the future for them and the problem that is never going to go away by just having a few stings here and there........ At first I applauded Dateline for the show, now I feel it should be pulled. Until they think more about human suffering than ratings. which we all know there are two chances of that...... yep slim and none!