I am made most uncomfortable by these vigilante groups, though. I mean, what kind of oversight or procedural structure do that have? Do we know entrapment is never used? The article does reference a fake 18-year-old profile. Do they use those to draw men, and then "admit" to the men that they're actually 14 or something? Because that's entrapment, as far as I'm concerned.
Yeah I'm pretty uncomfortable about these groups, too.
For me, it's the creepiness of a bunch of men spending a ridiculous amount of time online trying to "stop these monsters" -- according to them, anyway. I submit that most... okay at least some... of them are doing it for one reason only: They like it. They do. They enjoy the conversations, the sex talk, hearing all the gory details, and then being the big hero at the end.
When I think of.... Okay, like the things that really bother me are things I can't stand hearing about, things I distance myself from; not because I don't care, but because I do. Pedophiles, cruelty/abuse of animals are two that I definitely can feel sick about when I've spent too much time reading about them or seeing victim's pictures, etc. There is NO WAY these guys are 100%, all of them, doing this for the betterment of mankind (or whatever they claim... it'll be something like that.)
I don't mean to take away from those hired or appointed to task forces to find these guys and name them for punishment -- those guys are heroes, and I wish them luck and godspeed always. But the ones who "volunteer" (and sometimes wind up having the case thrown out, which is even worse -- the guy will now be more careful!) -- just seems (and again, it's just my opinion) off to me.
I was unfortunate enough to see a few seconds of (horror, to me) a video clip of -- it was something they were doing to kittens. And I'm telling you, I so often wish I'd never seen that, never even heard it was possible.... I can't even say what they were using them for, like typing it will make it so. It bothered me that much (hell, it's bothering me now, still, and it's been months since I saw that clip...)
And as much as I'd like to clip the balls of every person in that video who stood by and/or participated in this horrific abuse, there's just no way I could stand to be close enough to it to do anything effective... know what I mean? I couldn't stand hearing people planning it, talking about it, I just tried to pretend I'd never heard of it (and then it goes away, see!?) I did care, I swear I did and I do, but I can't have it as a focus or even a part of my life, because it kind of fucks up my mind... it definitely clouds an otherwise clear day, fact. My point is: How does one surround himself with that which he truly hates, finds appalling and all as they say, yet surround himself in it, not because it's his job, but because --?
You know, maybe they are all just awesome citizens and upright dudes and if they are then that kinda makes me suck for saying this. But I'll say it anyway, because I think I'm right.
So... yeah. Applying that logic to what these guys voluntarily do? I absolutely do not believe that at least some of them are doing it for personal gratification purposes. And when (if, more like it) a good arrest is made, and they look all "I got him! Look at me!" I'm always thinking "This guy's enjoying this WAY too much..."
Just something I've always thought, not sure if anyone else ever got that vibe or not, but damn, it's strong with some of those "vigilantes" ... my opinion, anyway.
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