Might as Well Get to the Polanski Thing

[Lunamaria]

In some countries 13 is a legally acceptable age for sexual activity, granted there are qualifiers but still. It's deemed that it doesn't necessarily "Mess a child up." Its up to her to decide how much it effected her and the prosecution to prove it.

Of course what he did was wrong under US law and he should be punished. Its up to the court in question to decide if they believe he is guilty and to what extend that should be punished. But after all this time, his current age, the lack of her willingness to take part in the case and apparent lack of repeats of such activity I wouldn't be surprised if he got a short or suspended sentence. You can throw some of his past into that as well if you want.

This is nothing to do with his movies or who he is. Making an example of him because of that crime is just as bad as letting him go because of what "good" he's done. He should be treated the same as everyone else. As for the extradition its a complicated procedure as not every country has the same laws or even the same social standards. And while one poster has a gripe against France on other cases you can have the same gripe with the US.

I do wonder how it will turn out but on the grand scale of things it doesn't really matter, this will be blown over by the next Paedophile horror story, then the next....

 

[Abedeus]

Ok here's a question

Why is pedophilia immoral, illegal?

Basic law making suggests that anything that causes harm to the fabric of society is immoral and therefore illegal, given a multiracial, multicultural, multireligious civilisation.

So how does pedophilia cause harm to society? What if both parties are willing? And more importantly how is the age of a child determined? How is a child different from an adult?

Just asking this question to prevent populism (which seems to be the de facto tool of the ignorant opinions floating around).

If you have a opinion on something and you don't know why or how, you're not really contributing to the human race.

So you see nothing wrong in a 50-year old guy seducing (more like - brainwashing) a 7-year old to give him oral sex? This is so sick, I had troubles writing that. Fact is - kids before 15-16 know nothing about sex, sex education and so on. It can only end badly.

 

[milomalo]

well this is something i wasnt expenting to read here, but i mean that in a good way, you have a valid point of view and yes what could be more punishment that your name is attached that one bad thing you done in the past... forever.

keep the good work bob.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

On the day he was arrested the headlines in Reuters read:

1) Anger in France and Poland over Polanski arrest
2) Poland okays forcible castration for paedophiles.

One wonders why Poland is so angry, and whether Roman got off lightly?

Are you kidding me?

Nope, I can only go with what's in the papers.

1) There was little anger in Poland. There were some people that defended him, but a lot of us also wanted him to rot in jail.

Or have his bits removed, by the sound of it.

2) Where did you hear that? Oh, right, our prime minister said that as a joke, for which he apologized the same day. But it was over a year or two ago.

Seriously, that was the headlines on the 28th of September.

 

[Zac_Dai]

I'm going to be controversial, so hold onto your hats.



If you stick your penis into a little kid, you deserve jail time.

Dude, no.
Didn't you read?

He's made movies.
This totally excuses him.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go fuck some kids and write some books.
That just about balances the scales, right?
Maybe help some little old ladies across the street to make sure my karma matches up perfectly with my anti-karma.

Feels weird saying it but I totally agree with your post.

I find it hard to believe people can so easily overlook a child sex crime and being a fugitive from justice just because you're famous.

The worse comments are the "She was asking for it/Said it was ok" ones. Ugh.

 

[pyrojam321moo]

The law should be impartial to humanity. To the victims wishes, the sentimentality of the accused, and, most of all, to fleeting empathy. Those who commit crimes, any crimes, should be used as examples to deter further criminals. The law has done its job if it has deterred one person. He should suffer the jail time, his family should suffer it for not allowing him to serve it earlier, and it should be the maximum time he can be given for fleeing sentencing. It's a slippery slope once you start letting anyone off light, one that eventually leads to social decline.

 

[Zac_Dai]

I'm going to be controversial, so hold onto your hats.



If you stick your penis into a little kid, you deserve jail time.

Dude, no.
Didn't you read?

He's made movies.
This totally excuses him.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go fuck some kids and write some books.
That just about balances the scales, right?
Maybe help some little old ladies across the street to make sure my karma matches up perfectly with my anti-karma.

Feels weird saying it but I totally agree with your post.

I find it hard to believe people can so easily overlook a child sex crime and being a fugitive from justice just because you're famous.

The worse comments are the "She was asking for it/Said it was ok" ones. Ugh.

At some point you have to accept your imprisoning a frail 70 year old man for an incident that happened 30 years ago and since which he hasn't re-offended and has a family reliant on him.

The films aren't involved!

Besides I haven't even seen any of them and I still think jail time will be pointless as he is already rehabilitated!!!

Does that mean when I'm 70 I can be a rapist or a pedophile and get away with it?

Also its not about rehabilitation its about serving your punishment under the law. Length of time since the event doesn't change that.

If someone raped me as a child and only 30 years later could they be brought to justice I don't think I'd be entertaining the idea of letting them off their punishment because it had been a while.

 

[Abedeus]

Nope, I can only go with what's in the papers.

Oh, that explains a lot. Recently in newspapers - "IS THE WORLD COMING TO AN END?!". And I'm not kidding you - this was the headline.

Or have his bits removed, by the sound of it.

Mmmm no.

Seriously, that was the headlines on the 28th of September.

Can't be held responsible for whatever crappy newspaper you're buying. I think I would've seen something like that, or heard on the news.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Can't be held responsible for whatever crappy newspaper you're buying. I think I would've seen something like that, or heard on the news.

Would that it was a crappy newspaper

 

[BehattedWanderer]

There is no innocence, only varying degrees of guilt. I say hang everyone, for any reason.

Hang the victim for getting molested, hang the criminal for the act?

 

[Abedeus]

Can't be held responsible for whatever crappy newspaper you're buying. I think I would've seen something like that, or heard on the news.

Would that it was a crappy newspaper

I thought you said "newspaper", not "Internet website".

Also, forcible castration is not legal in Poland.

There is no innocence, only varying degrees of guilt. I say hang everyone, for any reason.

Hang the victim for getting molested, hang the criminal for the act?

"Mobsters beating up a shopkeeper for protection money... Very naughty... Shopkeeper not paying the protection money?! EXACTLY AS NAUGHTY!!!"

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

I thought you said "newspaper", not "Internet website".

I said "papers", meaning news-sources. I rarely read hard copies.

Also, forcible castration is not legal in Poland.

Like I said, that's the image we receive, validity is second to headlines.

But who is telling the truth?

http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSLP481286

 

[Jenx]

I'm with the "hang them all" people. Punish the guy because he friggin broke the law. And punish the damn little ***** for drinking and taking drugs. Then punish all the judges, all the people in hollywood and all the politicians who keep nagging on and on and on about this. Then kill yourselves because you shouldn't be wasting your time on this either. I'll be jumping out of my window right now too, since none of this is any of my business either and I should not be sticking my nose in it.

 

[karpiel]

anyone who directs a film as excellent as Chinatown deserves a get-out-of-jail-free card in my book.

 

[mrverbal]

I agree with people who think Polanski should be let off.

I mean, I personally murdered some guy 30 years ago, and was found guilty of it, but I've been in hiding since. I wrote a book, though, and haven't murdered anyone else. I don't think jail time is appropriate. Plus, that OJ guy might have been a murderer, but he played pretty good football!

Face facts, people. When you drug and sodomize a thirteen year old, excuses are pretty thin on the ground after that.

If Polanski was some random who'd fled the country before the trial, no one would even THINK of saying he didn't deserve the full punishment of the law thirty years later. But for some reason having been already found guilty and making a few movies gets you a free pass?

And saying he hasn't done anything in the last thirty two years: Whoop-de-frigging do! I was born in 77, and I also haven't drugged any thirteen year olds and fucked them in the ass in the last 32 years. Can I have an award now?