[tlj009]

I don't mean to be excessively pragmatic, but how many cases of a parent inappropriately showing porn to their children can there possibly be? I don't see any way it makes sense trying to come up with a standard on this when it is almost certainly going to have to be handled on a case by case basis anyway.

Maybe, but shouldn't something be done in those few cases. From what I can tell, the only good thing that resulted here was that the mother got custody. Charges can't really be brought when there is no law against it. Even if it is considered on a case by case basis.

[bobthecockroach]

Originally Posted by tlj009

Maybe, but shouldn't something be done in those few cases. From what I can tell, the only good thing that resulted here was that the mother got custody. Charges can't really be brought when there is no law against it. Even if it is considered on a case by case basis.

There are already so many laws that if you wanted to, you could probably put any person alive today in jail for life. There are plenty of vague laws that can be used in cases like this (like contributing to the delinquency of a minor; what *can't* that mean?). There's no need for special legislation on the issue, and I doubt it would matter anyway, since it's not like next time it happens, people are just going to go, "Oh, well they must've got the law right last time, so let's not even debate it." People are always going to debate issues like this.

[tlj009]

There are already so many laws that if you wanted to, you could probably put any person alive today in jail for life. There are plenty of vague laws that can be used in cases like this (like contributing to the delinquency of a minor; what *can't* that mean?). There's no need for special legislation on the issue, and I doubt it would matter anyway, since it's not like next time it happens, people are just going to go, "Oh, well they must've got the law right last time, so let's not even debate it." People are always going to debate issues like this.

The DA ruled that there were no laws on the book to charge the man with. That includes contributing to the delinquency of a minor charges. I am sure that the law can be twisted in a variety of ways and I have seen it happen. But I surely won't encourage more of it.

[metropolis4]

My job is basically that of a social worker in many ways and I have seen cases similar to this and they never turned out good.
When children are exposed to the type of acts and behavior depicted in pornography they are unable to process it the way an adult can, they often become unable to understand appropriate boundaries with other children, and often end up in very bad situations as adults where they cannot relate appropriately to other people and often get themselves into abusive relationships.

The last two children I worked with who were exposed to pornography with their parents were placed in a foster home. There were constant problems because instead of playing with the other children in a typical fashion they tried touching them inappropriately and other things I can't post on here. It scared the other children and they didn't want to be around them and the kids got in trouble for their behavior. They got confused because they didn't understand why they were being punished since they thought that is what you do with other people. And they couldn't understand why the other children didn't like them and didn't know how else to interact with them to make friends. They ended up being isolated and depressed. It was all very sad... Morality aside this is something that can be detrimental to a childs well being. We already have a system in place that removes children from homes where they are being abused in other ways. Shouldn't social/emotional abuse be considered in the same way that physical abuse is? Even though it's more difficult to show/prove

[JerryLove]

There's certainly a strong level of "repeating what they see". I also see a lot of problems with children involved in, or often watching, certain fighting arts and shows (power rangers), where they routinely end up kicking other kids or things.

[scarlet.starlet]

Originally Posted by JerryLove

Really? I thought we were discussing what was or was not an appropriate standard for custodial interference by the government using both this instance and some hypotheticals involving Christians as ways to explore the real-world ramifications of those decisions.

I apologize for my emotional outburst. I'm in the Academic forum; I should be thinking logically instead of getting upset. Thank you, Jerry, for gently setting me straight.

[JerryLove]

Originally Posted by scarlet.starlet

I apologize for my emotional outburst. I'm in the Academic forum; I should be thinking logically instead of getting upset. Thank you, Jerry, for gently setting me straight.

Now if I could just set me straight :P