14 year old girl arrested for child pornography.

[anders81]

I actually thought, no, I was -certain-, that this legal action would be ridiculed on these boards. Simply because of it's absurdity. I'm stunned to read that people actually think she should in any way be officially punished, it's just hard to fathom how anyone could actually believe that..

As a Norwegian I might lack the proper insight into the american culture, but I've never been so perplexed at it before. In fact, I'm a great admirer of the US, I absolutely love going over there on holiday, mostly because of the friendliness and positive attitude of the american people. Especially in small towns and villages, you can't help feeling welcome really.
But you have some issues, especially with sexuality.

Why on earth would you want to punish this girl? The purpose of laws against child pornography is to ensure the protection and safety of children, not to uphold the public morale or anything like that.
If a 14 year old is publishing naked pictures of herself, it's a case for her parents, not the police (except to prosecute those who recieve them or re-distributes them, but that's another discussion).

She needs help and parental guidance, not judicial punishment. How anyone could even think to believe different, is actually quite disturbing and sad.

She's not a criminal, she's a teenager. Teenagers have always done, and will always do, dumb and thoughtless things like these. That's pretty much the whole reason we got these people called "parents".

 

[Fronken]

She deserves whatever she gets really, i mean if your 14 and publishing naked photos of yourself you are indeed a f*cking idiot and she deserves to be punished for acting in such a dumb way.

Same principle as a drunk driver who's never done it before, and decides to try it out one night, he deserves everything he gets because its really freaking stupid.

Oi, talk about two entirely DIFFERENT examples there.

First one impacts the girl and whoever sees the picture, and isn't LIFE THREATENING.

Second one impacts the driver and everyone who he runs over/runs into. Drunk driving is life threatening.

I understand your disgust, but dude, use better analogies. Seriously.

I just said that its the same principle, its a very stupid choice, and yeah, drunk driving is much more serious, but that wasnt the point...

 

[t.tocs]

Oh the times...they are...a changin'

I think it's funny how the US gov't (I'm from the US) has only one answer to everything...lock them up, throw away the key. Or we won't lock you up, but we're going to put you on this list...that's all...what will the list do? Oh, just ruin the rest of your life...good luck finding a job! Oh, and that teaching job you wanted...yeah, you're not going to get that.

 

[bkd69]

I actually thought, no, I was -certain-, that this legal action would be ridiculed on these boards. Simply because of it's absurdity. I'm stunned to read that people actually think she should in any way be officially punished, it's just hard to fathom how anyone could actually believe that..

As a Norwegian I might lack the proper insight into the american culture, but I've never been so perplexed at it before. In fact, I'm a great admirer of the US, I absolutely love going over there on holiday, mostly because of the friendliness and positive attitude of the american people. Especially in small towns and villages, you can't help feeling welcome really.
But you have some issues, especially with sexuality.

Why on earth would you want to punish this girl? The purpose of laws against child pornography is to ensure the protection and safety of children, not to uphold the public morale or anything like that.
If a 14 year old is publishing naked pictures of herself, it's a case for her parents, not the police (except to prosecute those who recieve them or re-distributes them, but that's another discussion).

She needs help and parental guidance, not judicial punishment. How anyone could even think to believe different, is actually quite disturbing and sad.

She's not a criminal, she's a teenager. Teenagers have always done, and will always do, dumb and thoughtless things like these. That's pretty much the whole reason we got these people called "parents".

Not all Americans. Just the idiots. Most people in the country feel that, while technically against the letter of the law, it's an absurd misapplication of the law, and is more appropriately a matter for parental oversight.

 

[Neo Kojiro]

At the risk of sounding like a pedo, i think fourteen years old wouldn't really count as child porn. Especially if the girl was old enough to think that naked pictures are something that someone wants. I really think it's just the usual teenager shenanigans, and what should be done is the usual tightning of parental constraints that'll be virtually useless and annoy the person being constrained by them. Fairly standard, really.

As far as the actual question goes: GODS, i hope so. Nothing would make me happier than to see such a bog of teenage-and-moron interaction shut down. Hell, shut down ANY site that centers on people describing themselves, since it's mostly just attention whores and perverts to begin with.

Incidently, i'm proud that my home state is where this occured. Nothing gives a fondness for one's homeland like absurd and/or disturbing news reports.

 

[khululy]

Gawd they act like the never seen a nude 14 y/o before...

sure it's not a wise thing to just post them on myspace she could just email them but a quick removing of the pictures, a ban and fine should work in this case imho.

14 year old girls aren't that aware of the world yet and when they're in love they walk mostly on a pink cloud.

 

[S.H.A.R.P.]

I actually thought, no, I was -certain-, that this legal action would be ridiculed on these boards. Simply because of it's absurdity. I'm stunned to read that people actually think she should in any way be officially punished, it's just hard to fathom how anyone could actually believe that..

As a Norwegian I might lack the proper insight into the american culture, but I've never been so perplexed at it before. In fact, I'm a great admirer of the US, I absolutely love going over there on holiday, mostly because of the friendliness and positive attitude of the american people. Especially in small towns and villages, you can't help feeling welcome really.
But you have some issues, especially with sexuality.

Why on earth would you want to punish this girl? The purpose of laws against child pornography is to ensure the protection and safety of children, not to uphold the public morale or anything like that.
If a 14 year old is publishing naked pictures of herself, it's a case for her parents, not the police (except to prosecute those who recieve them or re-distributes them, but that's another discussion).

She needs help and parental guidance, not judicial punishment. How anyone could even think to believe different, is actually quite disturbing and sad.

She's not a criminal, she's a teenager. Teenagers have always done, and will always do, dumb and thoughtless things like these. That's pretty much the whole reason we got these people called "parents".

I agree. She's probably too young to think of the consequences of her actions. Her parents need to teach her some proper behaviour, slap it in her if necessary, but don't ruin her life for something that she can't truly be held accountable for. Oh, and kill her internet, that'll teach the youngster a lesson.

I do wonder though, what spurs a fourteen year old girl to take these pictures and upload them? Surely, this wasn't solely on her own initiative? My guess is that some external factor is part of the equation. Though nowadays society is rather screwed, and some people seem to do anything to get some attention...

 

[johnman]

Thats stupid, Sure she shouldnt have done it but she did and theres no need to treat the case so heavy-handedly. Who is the victim here? The girl? Who was the only person involved in taking the pictures? the girl. I know this goes agaisnt the american god botherers but who cares?

 

[frank220]

She's a teenager for God's sakes. She probably doesn't have much of an idea that there are perverts on the internet. Let her grow up and understand why she is being punished for this incident.

 

[veloper]

The police need to go back to fining speed offenders on the road.

 

[MisterAnarchist]

Hah! That's where unfettered liberty gets us as a society! Hate to sound triumphant here but sexual liberation isn't always a good thing! Like any other kind of liberty, it has bad side effects

Well right now we're in a balance between two extremes, overbearing totalitarianism or chaotic anarchism, both of which would work but with the balance we're getting the negatives of both. And guess which one I'm rooting for?

EDIT: Hypothetical question, putting this here cause I know someone is going to try and answer me.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

it's nothing new - girls have been doing that underage for years - she just had the bad luck to get caught

Years? Try millennia.

 

[t.tocs]

it's nothing new - girls have been doing that underage for years - she just had the bad luck to get caught

Years? Try millennia.

The camera has only been out for a couple centuries...but I think I know what you mean. Girls have been doing the nasty at young ages for a while now. Hell, a couple centuries ago, it was socially acceptable to marry a 13 year old. It was thought of to be prestigious. Poor girls.

 

[Dr Commie]

She deserves whatever she gets really, i mean if your 14 and publishing naked photos of yourself you are indeed a f*cking idiot and she deserves to be punished for acting in such a dumb way.

Same principle as a drunk driver who's never done it before, and decides to try it out one night, he deserves everything he gets because its really freaking stupid.

I couldn't agree more with the statement about the drunk drivers. Granted people will agrue that it is not fair that she get registered as a sex offender but honestly if you are dumb enough to do that you deserve it same as the drunk driver. Yes it will make her life so much harder when she is older but most children don't do that and she should have had more common sense not to also.

 

[Straitjacketeering]

While all of you are going deep into the future of laws and legal actions i'm going to say what's real about this topic.

A fourteen year old girl labeled as a sex offender is HILARIOUS.

 

[CertifiedWaffle]

Oh wow...14?! What was going through her head? What and idiot, she gets what she deserves.

 

[Hamsterlad]

Life lesson. do not post nude pics of yourself on line.

what in the hell was she thinking?!

 

[Mask of 1000 Faces]

Ahh... Myspace, I'm so glad I deleted my account.

I think a certain 14 year old is a wee bit of an attention whore, not to be cruel, but I doubt she had "child pornography" in mind when she was posting it.

Anywho, to answer your first question, yes, I wouldn't be suprised at all if they started targeting teenagers, especially younger ones, because for whatever reason the authorities are trying the "target the source" tactic. Will it work? Probably not, unless they reform a few laws (which generally take a long time, atleast in this country) it'll probably continue, especially if its a trend.

Good god, a trend, I must have graduated just before this madness started, or atleast became a public grievance.

If its a trend, and people start to supress it, it will undoubtably continue, nothing says rebellion better than supporting a trend your parents want to put down.

And as to your second question, I'm not too sure how to answer, but I think its safe to say that the laws (atleast in America, dunno about the rest of the world), are a cluster of technicalities.

Example, at my work, I'm not allowed to stop someone shoplifting, I'm supposed to let security (one guy) catch them. If I even touch them, they can sue me for assault.

*sighs* The Justice system is, and forever will be, completly screwed up.