“if a small amount of legit uses of piracy infrastructure makes it “acceptable”, then shouldn’t the large amount of legit uses of online gaming networks make the small amount of predatory uses of online systems some how enough to block it all off?”

IF we were talking about a sex offender registry that was limited to offenses against children by adults (say over 18 on under 18 just to draw a theoretical line in the sand) but we’re talking all those on the registry whether or not they can be classed as pedophiles.

The scope is too broad (drag net approach as I said) and the probability of “escapement” (to use a fishing term) is too great the way it’s being done now.

And yes, places where there are children playing on or off line MAY attract a pedophile, though the candy store is more like becoming a coach in organized sports, teacher or janitor at an elementary or junior high or, hell, even a well known university. (Penn State, say.) Or a Sunday School teacher or lay preacher or youth pastor at a church, or just about any other activity you can think of where there are children present and the pedophile can move from stranger to trusted adult in a relative hurry. On line is somewhat more difficult because it often brings with it a log record, say, to restart the game.

As others have noted there’s a parental responsibility here. The computer or game box is NOT a cheap baby sitter. Children need to talk to their parents about what’s happened in their games that makes them uncomfortable and parents either have to ask or give them express permission to talk to them about it no matter what the creep on the other end of the game box says. Children are almost always creeped out by the pedo at the other end, at first, and the constant demands to “keep it our little secret”. And parents need to listen and understand that their son or daughter isn’t making this up. (Not all pedos prey on girls only, you know.)

Indeed, why let them do their shopping there? In real life or on the Internet? Don’t. At the same time don’t penalize those who have no inclination or record of being sexually attracted to and willing to draw the child into their reality/fantasy world. Target it a bit better.

As it is, I’d wager that not a single child is being protected from on line predation by a pedophile or that the instances will drop all that much if at all.

As for the offenders themselves, what is being accomplished if they aren’t pedophiles, by blocking them off? Not much, I’d wager, other than to continue to marginalize and punish them as our post modern version of the lepers of old.

As for your attempt to link this issue with real and imagined copyright infringement is nothing short of despicable. The two are not analogous.

Nothing real is lost in copyright infringement whereas lives are destroyed when a child is sexually, physically and/or emotionally abused. You have no idea, none at all of the special kind of hell we go through in life, as long as it lasts for most of us. Children blame themselves for the abuse, you know, and carry that blame and shame with them as they grow into adulthood. I certainly did. I’d go on at length about what it did to my life but you’re more interested in using these children as pawns in your silly games than have any real concern for them/us. As children or adults.

One day you may learn to deal with us as real people not abstractions you can use for your despicable analogies. One day politicians may do that too. But I’m not holding my breath for that to happen.

All that said, I pray that you never know the pain and torture a child important to you goes through as you watch him or her grow up, self destructive and none of the promise you once saw gone. Even at then you’ll know less than a hundredth of what he or she is going through.