Didn’t I just write something about the inappropriate use of the internet? What is going on here?!
So in today’s “Tales From The Darkside” I’m going to talk about child pornography and a national effort to get that junk off of Facebook.
Several (rhetorical) questions here (cause I’d probably get REALLY UPSET to hear any answers):
- Why do we need a national petition to stop something that’s already illegal that shouldn’t be there or happening in the first place?
- How can Facebook’s Safety Team Leader, Charlotte Carnevale, say in reference to child pornography on Facebook “there’s plenty of it” and just leave it like that?
- If Mark Zuckerberg has been made aware of this criminal activity taking place on his website (apologies if I’m calling it the wrong thing) why is he not leading the charge in doing something about it?
- Why is a reporter (not a detective, not a law enforcement officer or federal agent) by the name of Chris Hansen who has a series “To Catch a Predator” http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10912603/ THE NAME in bringing online predators to justice?
Instead of focusing more on what’s wrong, I’d like to introduce you to one “what’s right”, MenAPAT http://menapat.org/ - the group that’s behind the White House petition to get child pornography removed from Facebook.
One of the misperceptions about DV victim-survivors is that they’re all “man haters” – (let’s see if I can recall the label correctly) – “vindictive, lesbian-feminist Nazi *itches”. In reality, DV survivors love men – they just love men who aren’t bullies, abusers or violent; men who are gentle men and gentlemen – like the men of MenAPAT, Men Against Prostitution And Trafficking, who proclaim that
As men, we are taking a stand against anyone who exploits women and girls. Now is the time to declare our strength and virtue; to use our unique abilities as men to help end this horrible crime. Yes, men are the problem. But together, we must be part of the solution.
How can ANYONE not fall in love with that? (And for guys, how can you not respect/admire that?)
Child pornography is NOT a victimless crime and is so much more then some perv getting his kicks off of looking at nude pictures of little kiddies. Aside from the obvious trauma and lifelong consequences of being exploited by an adult as a victim, there are also significant consequences for consumers. Dr. Gail Dines does an excellent job of explaining the dangers, painful life and significant harmful relationship consequences of looking at porn in her book PORNLAND that I think every male should read as a precautionary tale. The consequences of viewing porn that Dr. Dines talks about are quite severe considering the perceived harmlessness of the behavior.
Images depicted in child pornography aren't what you might think; more often then not, they entail pictures of children - small, young children - performing in sexual acts against their will. Many are victims of trafficking and exploitation - believe it or not - by their own parent/s! HOW do kids get caught up in all this? Terrifyingly, quite easily - click here http://www.internetsafety101.org/grooming.htm to see how easy it is.
As an adult, imagine what it would be like as an adult to be told to strip naked and lie down or strip and perform while someone's taking pictures of it all - if you think THAT'S traumatizing as an adult, just imagine what that's like for a child!
I’m signed on as #10,771 and as of this publishing, we only need 14,031 to go so take a minute out this weekend and lend your name to a truly worthy effort.
I can’t say this enough: the responsibility in stopping abuse belongs to all of us; this is our world, our society, our communities, our families, our children, our lives – no one’s going to make it all better for us so let’s do our share! Start by signing on here: http://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/force-facebook-block-all-child-pornography/MXFyHWNN?utm_source=wh.gov&utm_medium=shorturl&utm_campaign=shorturl
Comments