7 November
2006 Editorial by Peter J. Carr
Owner Chatmag.com
With the suicide
of Louis Conradt Jr. Dateline NBC's series "To Catch a Predator" has clearly
crossed the line from a "news program" to "Blood Sport" television. Viewers
will tune in not to see justice, but for revenge, and the perverse thrill
of perhaps viewing a live killing or suicide. Of course, Dateline does
not broadcast their program live, and would, hopefully, censor out any
bloodshed. The thought is there, in the background, that someone else will
die on "To Catch a Predator".
For several years,
I've campaigned against online vigilante groups, the most visible being
Perverted-Justice.com. During that time, I was the lone voice until Scott
Morrow created Corrupted-Justice.com and took up the fight against unlicensed,
vigilante organizations. I have always maintained that legitimate law enforcement
should be conducting online sting operations, following proper police procedure,
and in accordance with legal standards.
Prior to Dateline
NBC, a few local TV stations had conducted stings utilizing Perverted-Justice.com.
Dateline NBC made online stings their stock in trade and garnering ratings,
those all important ratings. Ratings keeps Jerry Springer in business,
and now I add Dateline NBC to the sleazy world of tabloid/shock television.
Did Dateline NBC
consider the potential consequences of their stings? If they had not, they
have no business in television journalism. This is not the first suicide
related to Perverted-Justice.com. It was only a matter of time before a
suspected predator used a firearm, either on the Dateline NBC cast and
crew, or themselves.
NBC now has no
choice but to cancel the "To Catch a Predator" series. NBC cannot afford
to be known for television that clearly resembles the Roman Coliseum.
There is a real
need to apprehend online predators, and that is being done now by various
law enforcement agencies, both local and Federal. The Internet Crimes Against
Children Task Force leads the way in capturing predators.
There is no room
for vigilante groups, or television networks who air programs that place
ratings ahead of common decency.
Dateline NBC cannot
be Judge, Jury, and now Executioner. It is time to end "To Catch a Predator".
Peter J. Carr
Owner/Publisher
Chatmag.com
External Links:
Chatmag News.
Dateline
NBC, Perverted-Justice.com Sting Ends in Suicide.
Chatmag News.
NBC,
Dateline NBC Attempts to Distance Themselves from Suicide.
Corrupted-Justice.com
Murphy,
Texas Discussion Forum, Local Politics.
This Forum provided
by Chatmag.com, after the Murphy Messenger shut their forum. Discussion
will be limited to the Dateline NBC/Perverted-Justice.com sting.
