@izzythepush,
Quote:However, we're talking about two different things.
Among their other problems, neither Hawkeye nor BillRM can actually discuss the legal issue of child pornography, or understand why the possession and viewing of it is a crime, despite the fact that such behaviors are regarded as criminal pretty much everywhere on the globe, and for the same reason--the viewing and possession of child pornography continues the abuse and sexual exploitation of the children in these images as well as creating the demand that keeps child pornography a thriving industry. So, virtually everyone under the sun can understand these basic issues, and agrees upon them, except for these two. Since the only essential difference between a delusion and reality is the number of people sharing the belief, it is quite reasonable to conclude that these two are divorced from reality.
Of course they had to shift the discussion to an idiotic comparison between child pornography possession and manslaughter--two completely unrelated crimes. They can't discuss the rationale for the child pornography laws, nor can they discuss the laws themselves--they haven't read the laws, nor have they cited the specific laws verbatim. They flaunt their ignorance by criticizing laws they haven't read and aren't familiar with. So, why not discuss manslaughter? Why not discuss burglary too. Or identity theft. Or anything else under the sun that has absolutely nothing to do with child pornography.
And, of course, they harp on what they consider to be the "cruel and excessive" punishments that child pornography violations may carry, since they fail to understand why these crimes are regarded quite seriously in terms of the harm they cause to the sexually abused and exploited children involved. They deny the harm or try to minimize it, or demand "proof", again demonstrating that what is more than obvious to most people on earth eludes them. They do not share the same reality as most people--which is, again, evidence that rational discussion of the topic is beyond their capacity because their thinking begins with disordered premises. They see no victims, so they conclude there is no crime, so, of course, the punishments are too harsh. They want dead bodies, or burned flesh, or visible physical scars on children. They have no normal capacity to understand emotional and psychological damage to children, or profound violations of privacy issues, or the lasting harm caused by sexual exploitation, their concern is only for the pedophile, with whom they apparently identify, and helping that pedophile to enjoy minimal sanctions for his crimes involving child pornography.
They erroneously argue "justice" for the pedophile involved with child pornography, forgetting that "justice" is for the victims and the safety of the community at large. Defendants are afforded just treatment, in terms of due process, but the sentences they receive are the expressions of "justice", justice is rendered by punishing the guilty. And, in terms of the child pornography laws, the sentences, around the globe, have become increasingly harsher as appreciation of the severity of these crimes against children has deepened. Again, this reality eludes Hawkeye and BillRM because their perception is so faulty and skewed. They are right, the rest of the world is wrong. They might as well be arguing that the earth is flat.
Trying to discuss child pornography, or any sexually related crimes, with these two is like trying to discuss religion with JGoldman10--it's impossible, there is no discussion. No matter what is said to Goldman, he responds with his same fixed, rigid comebacks. He can't shift perspective, he can't absorb anything said to him, and both Hawkeye and BillRM respond in much the same manner, simply re-chanting their own mantras just as Goldman does. Except Goldman realizes that there is no discussion on the issue, he knows he's preaching and not debating. Hawkeye and BillRM delude themselves that they are "debating" when no such thing is taking place. They, like Goldman, simply repeat themselves.
And, no matter the issue, for Hawkeye and BillRM, the laws are always "unfair" and wrong, just as, for Goldman, the Bible is always right. The similarities between the three are quite striking. And, just as people are aware of Goldman's psychological problems, it is difficult to ignore the problems displayed by Hawkeye and BillRM. And just as people interact with Goldman in an insulting manner, sometimes for sheer amusement, the same occurs with Hawkeye and BillR, except these two think they are meriting attention for something positive--Hawkeye thinks that page views of this thread matter as an indication of substance and regard. He foolishly thinks that Goldman is a train-wreck, but denies that people view him similarly, and view his threads for similar reasons.
There is a striking lack of substance in the posts of Hawkeye and BillRM, just as Goldman lacks substance, and the three of them are all quite smug, insulting, self righteous, and mainly motivated by insatiable needs for attention, something all three of them can apparently satisfy only in cyber space. There are at least two threads on the board where Hawkeye and BillRM have only been talking to each other, and reinforcing each other's skewed perceptions, for quite some time, and, no doubt, they think they are "winning" some imaginary debate in those threads too.
Personally, I don't give a damn what these two think, on any issue, any more than I really care about Goldman thinks. And I am of a mixed mind on the issue of responding to them, as is the case with Goldman. On balance, I do think it is crazy to keep feeding them, unless one just wants to hear more of the same from them. On the other hand, there is some perverse satisfaction in batting them around, simply for amusement, not unlike playing the Acronym game or any of the trivia games on this board. That's really what they are--trivial entertainment. To take them seriously would be a joke.
And, I love to see their reactions to posts like this. It's just like watching Goldman get all puffed up and doing his song and dance.They are all so predictable, and, in some ways, amusing to watch, in a sick sort of way.