Crowd Cheers as Convicted Rapist is Eliminated in Olympic Beach Volleyball
Non-paywall: https://12ft.io/https://www.thedailybeast.com/crowd-cheers-as-convicted-rapist-is-eliminated-in-olympic-beach-volleyball?ref=home?ref=home [https://12ft.io/https://www.thedailybeast.com/crowd-cheers-as-convicted-rapist-is-eliminated-in-olympic-beach-volleyball?ref=home?ref=home]
I’m very conflicted about this whole thing. On the one hand, yeah it’s kind of a scandal and people have every right to be booing him every time he touches the ball.
On the other hand, he was convicted, sentenced, did time and is now back in society apparently showing remorse. People are calling for his career to end and various wishes of death on him. Why can’t he continue his life?
Are we supposed to lock up all criminals forever? Kill them? Just not allow them to follow their chosen career after getting out? Or is it just sports they shouldn’t be allowed to participate in?
This is exactly the point I’m trying to make, but am getting downvoted because I apparently sound like a “child rape apologist”.
I understand the crime is emotionally charged, but that doesn’t mean anyone convicted of it should just be thrown in the oubliette.
that doesn’t mean anyone convicted of it should just be thrown in the oubliette.
Yes it does. I think having empathy is a good thing and most people deserve it. Not child rapists.
child rapists or pedophiles? One is a crime another is a psychiatric disorder.
Less than half of child rapists are pedophiles.
Most child rapists are not pathologically attracted to children.
You can think what you’d like but pedophelia has official DSM-5 Diagnostic criteria and there’s an entire academic body of literature behind this.
No, i just dont care about anything you’re talking about. All it comes off to me as you are trying to say being a pedophile is not that bad.
Claim whatever by whomever. Nothing now can change the fact that you are pro pedophile and thats just weird.
I’m not pro-pedophile? I’m someone who took a college class on the matter. I’m very far from an expert, but I can tell you know much less.
Fuck anyone who harms children. But being attracted to children is not a choice, science has proven that. And acting like these people are all evil (even if they’ve never acted on their urges) makes then less likely to seek help because of shame, and increases the rate of children who are hurt.
I believe people can change and I think it’s important we hold space for people to do so. However, that hinges on the person actually growing, which often starts with showing remorse. I know you implied that this guy has done so, but I haven’t seen any evidence of that.
Even the quote you posted somewhere else about it being the worst thing he’d done, or something like that? That very much sounds like a, “I’m not sorry I did it, I’m sorry I got caught” kind of statement.
Asked if van de Velde had ever expressed any remorse to him for rape, Immers [his teammate] said: “No, he doesn’t, he doesn’t explain it.” (source)
“I have been branded as a sex monster, as a pedophile,” he said. "That I am not — really not.” (source)
If there’s an apology or some actual statement showing his remorse, I’d love to see it, but I’m skeptical that it exists. This whole controversy he’s had a huge opportunity to step up, apologize, and rebuke his prior actions. Instead, he’s faced it all with silence and a reaction of ‘I don’t want to talk about it.’ That is not the behavior of a person who acknowledges they were in the wrong, imo.
Seems like this whole debacle is because he didn’t make a press tour saying to the whole wide world how remorseful he is, but the comittee said that experts determined that he was remorseful though, so we shouldn’t trust the experts now?
Van de Velde has fully engaged with all requirements and has met all the stringent risk assessment thresholds, checks and due diligence. Experts have stated that there is no risk of recidivism.
Van de Velde has consistently remained transparent about the case which he refers to as the most significant misstep of his life. He deeply regrets the consequences of his actions for those involved. He has been open about the personal transformation he has undergone as a result. Since his return he has participated in major international events without incident.
I agree, it seems like a small amount on the face of it.
But at the same time, I’m more inclined to trust the judgement of the prison system (at least in The Netherlands) as to whether he is ready to return to society.
It is possible and encouraged to try and have empathy for even the worst of people.
Am I an islamic terrorist because I think the CIA shouldn’t torture the 9/11 planners for two decades?
Torture isn’t imprisonment though. One of them is an established method of punishment for actual criminals and the other one is just pointless.
Also the US has the death penalty so you know I suppose it’s proportionate by their standards.
While I agree this seems extremely small. The netherlands is not the US. The specifics of court cases are not made public. We have no idea about them. It might be a very ambiguous case that barely fit the definition of rape or whatever.
Not trying to defend rape or rapists, but we may need more context before we can judge the length of a sentence.
It seems like a lot of criminals who “did their time” really didn’t do much at all.
Compare that to a lifetime of hurt caused to the victim(s) and their families, and it just doesn’t seem good enough.
On the other hand, he was convicted, sentenced, did time and is now back in society apparently showing remorse.
Nope, neither of those.
What do you mean? He served 13 months and got out on parole. He’s publicly expressed remorse, but that isn’t exactly conclusive. I assume there would have been some genuine remorse inside, otherwise there would be no parole.
My point is, if you stop anyone who has been to jail returning to normal society at all, then why let them out at all? You might as well just put every criminal in jail for life, or just kill them straight away.
He didn’t just return to society though. He returned to a place with more prestige, than most people of the same society will ever experience in their lives.
While I agree with the sentiment, that criminals need a way back into society, that doesn’t mean they should have a right to return to their old lives. Especially if those lives includes representing there nation at international events.
He should have to deal with the consequences of his actions and that should include that certain actions exclude you from certain positions in a society, no matter if you served jail time or not.
Did you consider that the Netherlands thinks its important to stand by its rule of reform over punishment? You are being incredibly vague as well with what the person deserves.
Say it plainly, what should have been done instead?
You might as well just put every criminal in jail for life, or just kill them straight away.
Just the child rapists is fine with me. There’s no reforming that.
“I can’t reverse it, so I have to carry the consequences. It’s the biggest mistake of my life.”
Source: The article linked in the OP
If that’s not remorse, I don’t know what is.
Remorse: “I am sorry for what I did and the impact it had on the victim. I made stupid choices that hurt another person, and while I can never take that back, I will seek to do better so no one needs to suffer from my actions again.”
Not sorry you did it, just sorry you got caught: “I can’t reverse it, so I have to carry the consequences. It’s the biggest mistake of my life.”
apparently showing remorse
He showed no remorse. He called it nonsense. He said he made mistakes as a youth. He has not even bothered to offer anything in the way of an apology.
The “conservative mindset” that someone who raped a 12-year-old over and over should, at the very least, make a public apology before being allowed to join their Olympic team?
You’re right, that’s a total MAGA position. Trump 2024!
Absolutely. We all know what big fans of public apologies MAGA people are.
And, of course, suggesting someone who raped a 12-year-old girl multiple times should make a public apology before being allowed on an Olympic volleyball team definitely means I don’t believe in governments.
It’s amazing how you’ve gotten me totally right so far.
Well it’s no surprise how you are mistaking how right (wing) you truly are.
I have the impression you like repeating those exact words too, like a sicko.
Again, you totally have me pegged. There is nothing more right wing than expecting a child rapist to apologize for repeatedly raping a child before being allowed on an Olympic team. That’s basically Hitler-level evil.
And that’s why I will definitely be voting for unrepentant rapist and known friend of Jeffrey Epstein, Donald Trump.
And also why I definitely hate government.
Trump 2024! Anarchy forever!
There ain’t a gram of good faith here.
Agreed. Now, stop defending the CONVICTED CHILD RAPIST, you creepy fucking weirdo.
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