Journal #11

The articles on sexting are resounding. While I do feel that it is a serious issue, I completely disagree with putting someone on the sex offenders list for such a minor crime. It demeans and lessens the authenticity of that list. Now that I know some of the acts that they'll put people on the list for, I'll think twice before completely mistrusting someone who is on that list. And that is wrong! That list is there for people who molest children and commit true sexual crimes, and while sending a naked picture of your ex-girlfriend to your friends is awful and a crime, it is not in the same league as those who should be put on that list. It appears like the real problem is is that no one has prepared for a time when children have so much freedom with their image and instead of trying to put in place laws that will appropriately address the situation, they're trying to make an example of the first ones so kids don't do it again. Here's a crazy idea, tell kids it's wrong! Incorporate that into the health curriculum of middle school. Because in all honesty, they probably don't know that it's wrong! Education is key in these cases, because if they know that it's wrong and they still do it, they deserve a different kind of punishment than if they did it without realizing the severity of their actions.