As far as being a "true pedophile" - he may not be, as those are people who are primarily or only attracted to children - but he IS a predator, and it was not a single attack. Sexual offenders are 4 times more likely to reoffend than other criminals released from incarceration, plus they tend to escalate as they go on. I'd be surprised if there weren't older girls/women he had also assaulted.
Sad to say, I wouldn't be surprised if he's done something to his wife without her consent or while she was sleeping too.
As far as being a "true pedophile" - he may not be, as those are people who are primarily or only attracted to children - but he IS a predator, and it was not a single attack. Sexual offenders are 4 times more likely to reoffend than other criminals released from incarceration, plus they tend to escalate as they go on. I'd be surprised if there weren't older girls/women he had also assaulted.
Sad to say, I wouldn't be surprised if he's done something to his wife without her consent or while she was sleeping too.
Just to give some context for how fundies deal with sexual abuse. There's this guy, Jack Chick, who write "tracts" which are pamphlets that people leave places so they'll be found and read. Fundies, including the Duggars, love tracts. This is one about molestation: scans-daily.dreamwidth.org/4530227.html
I was sexually molested by a relative when I was seven. I still have not come to terms with it. I was a bubbly outgoing kid with great grades, a lot of friends and I was the fun one. The day it happened I knew something was wrong but didn't know how to deal. I shelved it and had basically mental breakdown at 35. I died at seven years old, I still wonder how no one noticed I became that overweight recluse who turned into a whore. I don't blame my parents but I know my DNA was changed that day and that is what he did to those girls. They went to sleep one person and woke up to another person whose life is changed forever.
The other thing I think coming back to is that with Josh living outside DC, and being a lobbyist who so vocal with the far-right campaigns, they were obv. grooming him for politics. Wasn't that one of JB's own personal failed dreams?
The fact that they thought he could proceed as such with this in his closet is mind-blowing. The arrogance and utter hubris and feeling of being untouchable is nauseating.
As far as being a "true pedophile" - he may not be, as those are people who are primarily or only attracted to children - but he IS a predator, and it was not a single attack. Sexual offenders are 4 times more likely to reoffend than other criminals released from incarceration, plus they tend to escalate as they go on. I'd be surprised if there weren't older girls/women he had also assaulted.
"true pedophile"? that's like "legitimate rape" right?
How many kids does one need to sexually molest before you rate it as being "true"?
I don't understand people's responses, I really need to stay off of Facebook.
I have someone on my Facebook from TK saying it was just a "curiosity thing". She is a SOCIAL WORKER.
That's really pathetic . Unfortunately I also know some people in that line of work who would share that view. They don't give you an exam on basic human decency before you get licensed.
I feel so sad for the victims in this situation, and also for the wife and kids. I hope she takes steps to protect herself and her children.
I don't understand people's responses, I really need to stay off of Facebook.
I have someone on my Facebook from TK saying it was just a "curiosity thing". She is a SOCIAL WORKER.
That's really pathetic . Unfortunately I also know some people in that line of work who would share that view. They don't give you an exam on basic human decency before you get licensed.
I feel so sad for the victims in this situation, and also for the wife and kids. I hope she takes steps to protect herself and her children.
Are we sure she knew the whole extent? Or is it possible they glossed some of the important details. ?
She said that she and her own parents knew.
Given that her parents did not freak the fuck out, I am guessing she has also been indoctrinated into this fucked up mindset that "forgiveness" from god makes everything okay.
Are we sure she knew the whole extent? Or is it possible they glossed some of the important details. ?
According to her statement Josh told her what happened before they started courting. Even if he didn't give details it still should have been a red flag to her and her parents.
As far as being a "true pedophile" - he may not be, as those are people who are primarily or only attracted to children - but he IS a predator, and it was not a single attack. Sexual offenders are 4 times more likely to reoffend than other criminals released from incarceration, plus they tend to escalate as they go on. I'd be surprised if there weren't older girls/women he had also assaulted.
"true pedophile"? that's like "legitimate rape" right?
How many kids does one need to sexually molest before you rate it as being "true"?
Damn guys, I'm not a Duggar defender nor was I the one who started saying he was a 'true' pedophile. I think ANY assault is legitimate, real and should be punished. I'm a victim of abuse/rape myself. Understand that I'm not justifying, downgrading. In fact I'm actually saying the opposite.
Words, meanings, all that. A pedophile is someone who is attracted to children, exclusively or primarily. Rather than finding adults attractive, they like those of prepubescent age. Plenty of pedophiles don't assault anyone and the ones that do should be punished far more than the current laws allow.
However, he has always seemed so smug and has grown up in a position of power, due to their beliefs. I would venture to guess that he is a narcissist and his assaults are more of a power play, and NO ONE is safe. His wife, female coworkers, neighbors, etc etc. I think playing to the "omg true pedophile" assumes there aren't older or other people in his life that he's abused - and not only would I never trust children around him, but there is not one person that should be exposed to him that could possibly be viewed as vulnerable, because I think they could become a victim.
Are we sure she knew the whole extent? Or is it possible they glossed some of the important details. ?
I think it's totally possible she knew nothing but was advised by their PR team to say Josh told her (because that makes him seem more "open and honest").
This is what I'm thinking. That whole "statement" released was to save face. I don't buy it at all.
I am sure Anna will continue to stand by her man. No doubt in my mind. She may be freaking the fuck out a bit about how they are going to pay the bills though. With no job, no TLC and no features in People, they will have no income. I imagine finding a new job is going to be a challenge for him.
I believe I read that Jim Bob had been saving pretty much all the money from their years on TLC plus they have investment properties and money from their books so they are likely set. Ben and Jessa, no so much. Kid needs to get a job.
Post by lexxasaurus on May 23, 2015 13:03:16 GMT -5
mofongo - you're right as far as we know. Thank god we don't have to worry about anyone over the age of 12, amirite?
I didn't say I thought either way, I'm not a psychiatrist. I just said he may be a threat to everyone, and I hope all of the women that are exposed to him are safe, whatever age they are.
ETA: by power play I meant the fact that serial rapists aren't in it for sex. It's a show of dominance and power. They were not always asleep, but as far as we know they were younger than him. That puts him in a position of power.
mofongo - you're right as far as we know. Thank god we don't have to worry about anyone over the age of 12, amirite?
I didn't say I thought either way, I'm not a psychiatrist. I just said he may be a threat to everyone, and I hope all of the women that are exposed to him are safe, whatever age they are.
Is this sarcasm, b/c that is NOT what I said. I said for all we know, at this time, the victims have been 12 and under. I'm not a psychiatrist, but I am a social worker, as far as I know it would be somewhat unusual for someone to molest young children and also assault/rape adults. Honestly, this conversation is getting icky.
Yes it is sarcasm, yes it is icky. I honestly was not trying to start as argumentative, and I respect your stance as I'm sure you've seen plenty of this in your work. So this is my last say.
I work in a field where I see this stuff as well, so I get the anger. I come from a background with abuse so I hurt for these girls. None of us know the case and can definitively say WHO is at risk, and everyone took "he might be a predator that's also assaulted others, not just children - we don't know" as "lolz, he's not even a REAL child molester". Not the case, just noting that yes we only have evidence of one thing but it could be more, it could be many, and I'm praying that with this publicity he will not have the chance to assault anyone else.
I'm not being sarcastic but why does it matter now if the files were destroyed since they've been publicized?
I would imagine it takes away any sort of record attached to his name, right? Obviously, he's not being charged, but I've read other things that say there could have been civil suits and the like brought against him. Maybe this isn't a possibility without the official police report? I'm really just speculating. I don't actually know.
I'm not being sarcastic but why does it matter now if the files were destroyed since they've been publicized?
I don't know this, but if all the files that are on the internet are redacted (which I think they are but I'm not positive), then the destruction prevents the confirmation of the names of the victims.
Post by textbookcase on May 24, 2015 18:59:02 GMT -5
I have been off the grid for the past 4 days, so I'm just catching up on all of this. I'm working my way through the thread now, so I apologize that I'm not all caught up. I came back to a FB feed full of people supporting this sick fuck and I have seriously been raging all day. I cannot believe that anyone could think that this is in any way justifiable. I am incensed and I am re-evaluating some friendships, seriously.
I have been off the grid for the past 4 days, so I'm just catching up on all of this. I'm working my way through the thread now, so I apologize that I'm not all caught up. I came back to a FB feed full of people supporting this sick fuck and I have seriously been raging all day. I cannot believe that anyone could think that this is in any way justifiable. I am incensed and I am re-evaluating some friendships, seriously.
Lol.. I just saw that you liked/commented on my post an hour or so ago.
The guy messaged me today (he just noticed I defriended him) calling me ignorant, naive, close-minded, and childish for not being up to open discourse and varying viewpoints on the subject. And how he was so surprised because I live in NYC, a city with such a mix of different people, but it was clear that I can't handle discussion and debates and that it was really too bad, but ultimately for the best since he left middle school antics in middle school, whereas I still needed to.
Lol, oookay.
So gross. I can't even engage with the crazy all over my FB wall. Each time I pass an article in support of the Duggars I want to rage, but I know it's going to fall on deaf ears. I feel so, so horrible for those poor girls who were robbed of the chance of having a "normal" childhood. I am also a victim of childhood sexual abuse (by my older stepbrother) so I completely empathize with them. The difference is that I received ACTUAL counseling and my abuser was removed from my presence, while those girls have had to grin and bear it for all of these years. Fucking disgusting.
Funny how according to Huckabee, white Christians get to be forgiven while black teenagers get shot and deserve it.
Here's something else Huckabee had to say, regarding Roman Polanski:
"Some things are either right or wrong. It doesn't matter who does them. When Hollywood hero Roman Polanski drugged and raped a 13-year-old girl and then fled the country instead of facing the consequences of his own guilty plea, there should be no defense of him from anyone. What he did was evil and reprehensible. The fact that he is a great director doesn't obscure the fact that he robbed a child of far more than Bernie Madoff stole from his victims.
What has our culture become when people can commit despicable criminal acts and yet get defended and excused because they are celebrities. If David Letterman takes advantage of subordinates who work for him, then it's not funny, it's pathetic and immoral. The audience shouldn't laugh and applaud; they ought to walk out in disgust. And instead of actors and even governments seeking the release of Roman Polanski, they should be screaming for justice." -- Mike Huckabee, FOX News commentary, 2009
Post by spellingbea on May 24, 2015 22:49:19 GMT -5
DH just posted this in response to a FB dummy that is about to be unfriended (I broke it up into paragraphs):
"He wasn't 13, he was 14. That was the age at which his parents discovered he had already molested 5 girls, one of whom would have been about 4 years old. He was 15 when his parents found out the behavior had continued, and then pretended to get him treatment (something his mother herself later recanted).
When I was 15 I could drive a car to my after school job, and do most things an adult does. Most "conservative Christians" would have no problem trying me as an adult for crimes far less serious than molesting small children, but I'm not a Christian tv hero. Teenagers are "just children" when it fits the narrative of someone who wants to make an excuse for them. There is no liberal conspiracy here just to damage someone like Huckabee, who literally has no chance of ever becoming president. The reason this is getting so much traction is because Josh Duggar molested children, and then went on to make a political career out of labeling, maligning and lobbying against those he believed were sexual deviants and predators. His mother, who covered up for him along with his father, did more of the same...warning good "conservative Christians" that transgender people could not be trusted around children because they were most likely sexual predators. The hypocrisy is part of the story.
The other part of the story is the people who think that "it was up to the family to handle it as they saw fit", who in effect, will make it easier for the Josh Duggars of the world to sexually abuse small children. What happened to those girls is something they will carry with them for the rest of their lives. They could not count on their own father to protect them from their brother. Females are worth a lot less than the eldest son in the cult the DUggars belong to. It isn't the fault of the "liberal media" that the girls are having to relive all of the horrors they lived through, it's the fault of people who refused to do the right thing when they should have and went on to tell the rest of us how Christians are supposed to live but refusing to do it themselves. They didn't follow the most basic principle of protecting their children from evil, so they deserve what they are getting now, and more."