Comments on: Platinum Studios targets sex offenders http://www.comicsbeat.com/2006/12/11/platinum-studios-targets-sex-offenders/ The News Blog of Comics Culture Sat, 11 Feb 2012 22:03:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= hourly 1 By: Rivkah http://www.comicsbeat.com/2006/12/11/platinum-studios-targets-sex-offenders/#comment-10371 Rivkah Mon, 11 Dec 2006 19:14:42 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2006/12/11/platinum-studios-targets-sex-offenders/#comment-10371 Sadly, like Jason says, sexual abuse happens more often from <i>within</i> a family and their already trusted circle of friends and acquaintances. If somebody wants to make a difference, it should be encouragement in school for kids to speak out against parents, siblings, and relatives who are abusing them. My mother was abused by her brother-in-law when she was thirteen, and she went all through highschool thinking that was <i>normal</i>. I hate stuff like this because it gives people a false sense of security, a feeling that if they can just "keep an eye on the neighbor next door" they'll be okay. So instead of pushing for more programs in schools to increase awareness, parents across the globe breathe a sigh of relief and think that stuff like this is all it takes to address the issue, not realizing that more efforts are needed such as how to <i>prevent</i> certain types of people from actually turning into sexual predators in the first place (it isn't like they just pop out of Zeus's head) and treating it like the recurring mental illness it is and sending them off for actual treatment so they never do it again. I get kind of worked up over this issue. My uncle was never identified or labeled as a sexual predator by any police system because by the time my mom actually worked up the nerve to report it, over seven years had gone by, and by that time, you can't bring up charges. He's wealthy, successful, and considered an "outstanding" citizen in his neighborhood. It makes my stomach churn. People shouldn't be looking across the street. They should be looking right at home. Sadly, like Jason says, sexual abuse happens more often from within a family and their already trusted circle of friends and acquaintances. If somebody wants to make a difference, it should be encouragement in school for kids to speak out against parents, siblings, and relatives who are abusing them. My mother was abused by her brother-in-law when she was thirteen, and she went all through highschool thinking that was normal.

I hate stuff like this because it gives people a false sense of security, a feeling that if they can just “keep an eye on the neighbor next door” they’ll be okay. So instead of pushing for more programs in schools to increase awareness, parents across the globe breathe a sigh of relief and think that stuff like this is all it takes to address the issue, not realizing that more efforts are needed such as how to prevent certain types of people from actually turning into sexual predators in the first place (it isn’t like they just pop out of Zeus’s head) and treating it like the recurring mental illness it is and sending them off for actual treatment so they never do it again.

I get kind of worked up over this issue. My uncle was never identified or labeled as a sexual predator by any police system because by the time my mom actually worked up the nerve to report it, over seven years had gone by, and by that time, you can’t bring up charges. He’s wealthy, successful, and considered an “outstanding” citizen in his neighborhood. It makes my stomach churn. People shouldn’t be looking across the street. They should be looking right at home.

]]> By: Jason A. Quest http://www.comicsbeat.com/2006/12/11/platinum-studios-targets-sex-offenders/#comment-10370 Jason A. Quest Mon, 11 Dec 2006 14:34:15 +0000 http://www.comicsbeat.com/2006/12/11/platinum-studios-targets-sex-offenders/#comment-10370 I wonder if these educational materials will point out what a bad idea is it to focus on sex-offender registries as a way to protect children from predators. Such as the fact that children are more likely to be abused by people they already know and trust, rather than by some stranger who happens to live in the same part of town. Or the fact that most of the people in those registries have no history or likelihood of preying on children. Protecting children from abuse is important... and sex-offender registries are a lousy way to do it. They focus attention where it's least needed, alarming parents about people who are not a real threat to their children, and giving them a false sense of safety if they don't find anyone in their neighborhood who's been caught and convicted. The best solution is for parents to talk with their kids and teach them how to stay safe... anywhere, and to protect themselves... from anyone. It sounds like that's what Platinum's "edutainment" materials will be helping with, but I question how much of that good information will be drowned out by the well-intended but misguided "let's solve this with technology" approach of the group they're working with. I wonder if these educational materials will point out what a bad idea is it to focus on sex-offender registries as a way to protect children from predators. Such as the fact that children are more likely to be abused by people they already know and trust, rather than by some stranger who happens to live in the same part of town. Or the fact that most of the people in those registries have no history or likelihood of preying on children. Protecting children from abuse is important… and sex-offender registries are a lousy way to do it. They focus attention where it’s least needed, alarming parents about people who are not a real threat to their children, and giving them a false sense of safety if they don’t find anyone in their neighborhood who’s been caught and convicted.

The best solution is for parents to talk with their kids and teach them how to stay safe… anywhere, and to protect themselves… from anyone. It sounds like that’s what Platinum’s “edutainment” materials will be helping with, but I question how much of that good information will be drowned out by the well-intended but misguided “let’s solve this with technology” approach of the group they’re working with.

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