Sexting-- Child Porn Sex Offender Status for Kids?

[Renee750il]

While i do agree with you about it not being a sex offender registry type situation (I agree with you, can you believe it?), I don't think that it is exactly harmless. It is the type of thing that can cause enough trouble for a girl that I could easily see her having to change schools or something from the humiliation. Plus it very likely will follow the girl to college, even a future job--not too many schools out there falling all over themselves to hire young teachers with naked pics on the net.. But again, it's an action with a consequence built in--I don't see the need to label the girl as a sex offender and waste time and money on the legal process....

Things change. In the near future we're going to see that it doesn't really follow and make difficulties.

Not too long ago we were hearing all sorts of shock and dismay because we had a president who had smoked pot (even if he didn't inhale ), but here we've just had eight years of one who not only has a record for DUIs, but of cocaine use . . . and he was lionized by many of the same people who were appalled because his predecessor smoked a little weed.

A few digital naked pics aren't going to be that big a deal.

 

[Dakotah]

Yes, but a girl who sends a nude pic of herself to her boyfriend shouldn't be treated the same as a rapist.

Ditto.

Only thing I have to say is that I agree with LauraLeigh....

And since I don't feel like quoting all of her posts, I'm dittoing you to.

 

[PixieSticksandTricks]

That is not how I read it. I read that they can turn out like that EVEN if you are good parents... not that they will.

I too have seen it go both ways with great parents having horrid kids and horrid parents have the nicest kids. There has to be more to it than JUST parenting. SOme of the worst kids I know had over protective parents.. hover mom types. They WERE good through high school.. but holy hell when they got to post secondary....!!!

!

I agree. HBH I think that was a little over dramatic. I don't think anyone here is hoping your children are going to become out of control sex fiends... but I"m pretty sure you already knew that But I also don't think it's fair to assume the worst of the parents because a teenager did somethign stupid. LOL teenagers doing something stupid when their parents have their backs turned even when they are good parents is not unheard of

I agree with all the above. HBH no one is wishing for you to fail as a parent. Just pointing out it can go both ways.

 

[mrose_s]

I agree the punishments are getting stupid, strangley enough. My mother never stopped us from going on the net, I had a mobile at 13 (was given my first second hand and have bought and paid for all mine from then on) and yet I have never got myself into a compromising position.

I have no understanding of these girls that meet guys online at 13 and are happy to meet them and end up disapearing. The real world was never hidden from me or my sister (granted, we had to deal with the reality of it earlier than most) but we knew very well what dangers were out there, that some strangers were very dangerous and what some peoples motives are.
Whats more, we tell her nearly every single thing that happens in our life, I've tried a couple of times to keep things from her I thought she'd be less than proud of but she picked what I was doing from the beginning.
Funnily enough, she is the black sheep of her family, her parents thought they did a fine job instilling "manners" in her... or maybe they stopped thinking that when she drove 400kms naked in a minnie moke home from Canberra in her 20's.

 

[sillysally]

Things change. In the near future we're going to see that it doesn't really follow and make difficulties.

Not too long ago we were hearing all sorts of shock and dismay because we had a president who had smoked pot (even if he didn't inhale ), but here we've just had eight years of one who not only has a record for DUIs, but of cocaine use . . . and he was lionized by many of the same people who were appalled because his predecessor smoked a little weed.

A few digital naked pics aren't going to be that big a deal.

I think you underestimate employers, especially in professions where ethics are an issue. You would be surprised at how many employers check their potential hires on the web--most of my cousins in college have been advised by their counselors to clean up their internet lives around the time when they hit junior year. In our area it is hard to get a job as an elementary teacher. If you have 2 college grads, ready for their first job, equal in other ways except that one has naked pics that the school finds out about, the naked pic girl is very likely going to get pass over.

I'm not saying that it is the end of the world, but it is not exactly meaningless either. Just because *you* are not bothered by it does not mean that the people doing the hiring won't be.

 

[LauraLeigh]

I agree with all the above. HBH no one is wishing for you to fail as a parent. Just pointing out it can go both ways.

This pretty well says what I wanted to say, I just arrived back home, caught up with the thread... I would never wish any parent to fail...

Kids from good homes make mistakes, kids from bad ones as well.. Hell we ALL make mistakes, I just feel strongly that this is a case where the punishment far exceeds the *crime*....

I also agree with Necho, kids and teens have been doing this kind of exploration of their sexuality since the beginning of time, Right or Wrong... it's just now the technology makes it more *tangible*

 

[Renee750il]

I think you underestimate employers, especially in professions where ethics are an issue. You would be surprised at how many employers check their potential hires on the web--most of my cousins in college have been advised by their counselors to clean up their internet lives around the time when they hit junior year. In our area it is hard to get a job as an elementary teacher. If you have 2 college grads, ready for their first job, equal in other ways except that one has naked pics that the school finds out about, the naked pic girl is very likely going to get pass over.

I'm not saying that it is the end of the world, but it is not exactly meaningless either. Just because *you* are not bothered by it does not mean that the people doing the hiring won't be.

Right now it is an issue . . . in five years when these kids are finishing up college? Probably not that much of an issue.

You can't work in a field where they're much more aware of personal ethics than law, contrary to all the jokes and popular culture myths. I've got over 15 years there -- and done a good bit of screening for hire.

 

[bubbatd]

Let's not forget that kids today are exposed to so much today and have way too much free time on their own !

 

[Dekka]

And the employer would have to find them.... Unless you stick them on facebook its not that easy to just pull them up. Yes if they dug and dug they 'might' find them. And then if it was just a torso shot, or even a full body, unless it looks just look like you its no different than any other smut pic on the internet.

Talking to people who ARE entering the world as public school teachers it doesn't seem that hard core when getting a job. (and one of them is teaching over seas)

Now if they charge them that is a different story.

 

[Lilavati]

If I had a child, she'd find herself grounded for life, with no internet priveleges for quite a while if I caught her at that. Its stupid, and dangerous, and more than that could have consequences down that road.

That said, this is the business of parents. Not the government, not the schools, not the police. Parents. And saying it is to protect the children while you label them child pornographers and sex offenders is so hypocritical and nonsensical as to be completely outrageous. To be labeled a sex offender these days prety much means your life is over. And exposes you to all sorts of dangers (including vigilatantes), makes it nearly impossible to get a job, go to school, or do anything else of worth. It is utterly appalling that they are even THINKING of doing this, let alone actually doing so . . .

So, would I punish my child? Yes. Oh yes. And then I'd sue and fight like hell against any attempt by the government to do it for me. This is not a criminal issue. It is not a public safety issue. It is an issue of chldren being stupid and running into stupider laws and the stupidest prosecutors the world has ever known.

/end rant

Oh, and I'm pretty sure having nude pictures of yourself out there would not stop you from getting a job in law, at least anywhere you'd care to work. I know that if I was doing the screening and found that out, I'd shrug and laugh and feel sorry for the poor soul . . . and assume that they had learned their lesson. However, if they were a sex offender . . . well, odds are they wouldn't be hired, or even allowed to take the bar, even if everyone knew it was that stupid . . . there's too many issues with sex offenders. Most of the lawyers know how stupid, useless and cruel these laws are . . . but with all the restrictions and liabilties, how could we hire one?

 

[Gempress]

Perhaps I'm cruel, but I don't see a thing wrong with it.

Shoe on the other foot: your 15-year-old daughter sends a racy photo to her boyfriend. Soon, it's all over the school: he sent it to everyone he knows. I don't know about you, but I'd want that kid punished. And I don't mean by a grounding.

Yeah, the kids just send to their friends. Sure. I bet it would eventually find its way to somebody's college-age brother, and from there into the adult population. Is propagating child porn somehow more innocuous just because it started among children? If one child beating up another is now considered assault, I don't see why one child passing nude photos of another child isn't distributing kiddie porn.

 

[CaliTerp07]

Shoe on the other foot: your 15-year-old daughter sends a racy photo to her boyfriend. Soon, it's all over the school: he sent it to everyone he knows. I don't know about you, but I'd want that kid punished. And I don't mean by a grounding.

They're labeling the 15-year-old daughter as a sex offender too, though.

 

[Gempress]

They're labeling the 15-year-old daughter as a sex offender too, though.

*shrug* If letting her off the hook means letting him off the hook, I'm all for it. Honestly, I'd rather see both punished than both get off with only their cell phones taken away. But like I said, maybe I'm just overly harsh. Perhaps my perceptions would change if and when I had a teenager someday.

Still, it makes me wonder how many of those "innocent" photos, unknown to the general public, are currently circulating among groups of adult pedophiles. There's a thought to make your skin crawl.

 

[Dekka]

Perhaps I'm cruel, but I don't see a thing wrong with it.

Shoe on the other foot: your 15-year-old daughter sends a racy photo to her boyfriend. Soon, it's all over the school: he sent it to everyone he knows. I don't know about you, but I'd want that kid punished. And I don't mean by a grounding.

Yeah, the kids just send to their friends. Sure. I bet it would eventually find its way to somebody's college-age brother, and from there into the adult population. Is propagating child porn somehow more innocuous just because it started among children? If one child beating up another is now considered assault, I don't see why one child passing nude photos of another child isn't distributing kiddie porn.

Aside from the fact that your 15 year old daughter is also now a sex offender..

If you assault someone it doesn't ruin your life the way being a sex offender does. There is no assault list.. you don't need to notify people when you move.. you don't get witch hunted and driven out of neighbourhoods...

AND if your 15 year old daughter is stupid enough to take pics and send them out.. how is she any smarter than the bf who shares them with a few people? Both are stupid decisions.

 

[bubbatd]

One thing the girls need to know is to drop their boy friends pronto !!! I would never want to talk to them again !!!

 

[Lilavati]

*shrug* If letting her off the hook means letting him off the hook, I'm all for it. Honestly, I'd rather see both punished than both get off with only their cell phones taken away. But like I said, maybe I'm just overly harsh. Perhaps my perceptions would change if and when I had a teenager someday.

Still, it makes me wonder how many of those "innocent" photos, unknown to the general public, are currently circulating among groups of adult pedophiles. There's a thought to make your skin crawl.

Some of it has to do with the REASON kiddie porn is illegal. Kiddie porn is illegal because it involves the exploitation of children . . . not because some pervert might get off on it. That is, in fact, the reason, and that is why drawings of children having sex are, in fact, legal. Why "Lolita" isn't banned. A teenage girl taking a nude picture of herself is not exploiting children . . . you can't exploit yourself. The reason for the law is to protect children from exploitation . . . punishing the very child you are supposed to protecting in a particularly severe way is not the intent of the law . . . if anything, its the very opposite. Charging a 15 year old who took a picture of her self, or her half-wit boyfirend, so that the become sex offenders will bluntly ruin their lives. Think about it . .. can't leave the state, can't go to school, can't live in a dorm, can't go to the park, the beach, church . . . and worse, their name and pictures on a list stating they are child pornographers . . . and yet, if a child was harmed, she did to herself.

That's why. Children can be charged with assault because they have, in fact, done exactly what laws against assault are intended to punish and prevent . . . attacked another person. But child pornography laws are supposed to prevent adults from taking advantage of children in a particularly disgusting way.

Or think of it this way. In many states, it is totally, absolutely, unquestionably legal for two sixteen year olds to have sex with each other. However, if they film themselves doing it, even if they don't show it to anyone, they have committed a felony. A very serious felony that will brand them for life as evil perverts. That, honestly, makes no sense whatsoever. If one of those kids is stupid, and sends the tape to a friend, they have committed a federal felony. What they did was legal . . . but taping it was not. No one was exploited, no one was harmed. And its hardly the little kid pornography that really turns the stomach. Perhaps there should be a law making that illegal, because it might spread, but not the child pornography laws, and the sex offender registries.

Keep in mind, about the adult perverts who might see it that it dang hard to tell the difference between a 15 year old and a 18 year old, especially since there are plenty of legal videos of grown women made to look much, much younger. It might be sick, it might be wrong, but its not like those sick adults are really seeing anything they couldn't see anyway.

 

[Snip]

This all begs the question....which of you have done 'nude' pics? Beyond that, who has them 'somewhere' on the net? And next, who will send me copies??

(Nech and the rest of you fellas, I'm sure there will be a lady along that might like yours.....I'll pass though!)

 

[sparks19]

Trust me... if there WERE nude photos of me online... no one wants to see them LOL.

 

[jess2416]

*whistles innocently*

-goes back to lurking

 

[Renee750il]

BWUAHAHAHAAAA . . .

But none on the net that I'm aware of . . . and certainly none I took myself.