Are liberals (not libertarians) critical or laudatory of To Catch A Predator's sting-operation methods?

Question

Do they see it as a great way to take pedophiles down or "entrapment" of the perpetrator?

Answer 1

I'm ambivalent about sting operations in general, although when I do think about the question, I usually end up concluding that the mark has the choice not to participate in illegal activity.

But "To Catch a Predator" leaves a bad taste -- televising it dilutes the seriousness of the offense the people intended to commit; it has a sniggering Beavis tone to it that I found disgusting. So after one episode, I haven't watched it. I think it's a good thing to identify and deal with those potential criminals, but I'll skip the spectacle.

Answer 2

As long as they stick to saving children from these adult animals it's a great thing.  These perpetrators that prey onchildren can't get enough punishment for the pain they cause.  Pain that will stay with a child through adulthood.  Lock them up and throw away the key.  Liberals are more worried about the rights of the criminals, ask the ACLU.

Answer 3

It is an interesting question because of the status of minors. On the one hand we often charge them as adults for violent or sexual offenses, but in this situation I wonder what culpability an actual minor has if s/he "lures" an adult? Why is there no sting operation to catch the little idiots playing with fire? Wouldn't it be something if a swat team raced into some kid's bedroom after s/he started talking about s*x with an adult? That would be a life lesson! Anyhow, this seems to be a question to attempt a demonstration on liberals being soft on child molestation. I guess if we get emotional enough, we can agree to give up enough rights to stop and catch all the monsters, but then we will all have no freedom so we can live safely in our cages.

Answer 4

This is the first TV show that shows that illegal and immoral use of the Internet for child solicitation can and will be dealt with.   I do not totally agree with the "dramatizing" of the confrontation of the violator, but the basic premise of "If you do it, you will be caught" is sound.  Hopefully, other pedophiles will reconsider before using the Internet as a tool to further their sickness, but unfortunately if probably won't help.