Pete Townshend-child porn researcher

[sbp]

Just another of his many talents.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...e_townshend_dc

LONDON-British rock star Pete Townshend, guitarist with legendary band The Who, on Saturday admitted paying to view Internet child pornography but denied he was a pedophile and said it was for research purposes.

The guitarist took the unusual step of issuing a public statement after a newspaper said police were investigating an unnamed music star as part of Britain's largest-ever operation against Internet pedophilia.

In the lengthy statement, Townshend said he had paid to enter an Internet site advertising child pornography "purely to see what was there" as research to fight the crime.

"I am not a pedophile. I think pedophilia is appalling," he said in the statement which was distributed by a woman to reporters outside his home in Richmond, south London.

"On one occasion I used a credit card to enter a site advertising child porn. I did this purely to see what was there," he said.

Townshend, 57, said he felt "anger and vengeance" toward those who found child pornography attractive, and said he believed he was sexually abused as a child but could not remember clearly what happened.

"To fight against pedophilia, you have to know what's out there," he said, adding that he was involved in an anti-pedophilia campaign that had fizzled out.

Townshend, who is married with children, had earlier left the house in a Mercedes car.

A spokesman for London police refused to comment on the matter, saying it did not talk about individual cases and was not able to confirm that police were investigating a rock star.


"Hello kiddies."

[gwilks98]

Yeah, I saw this on the news last night. And you know, he never did publish what conclusions he ascertained from his "research"...


Any photoshop users out there wanna try cropping him into that photo of Bill Clinton reading playboy to some 3rd graders?

[zenbooty]

Jeez, the guy comes out openly and gives and explanation for his behavior, and automatically some are ready to disregard it and torch the guy. No charges have been brought up, he's innocent until proven guilty of some crime. So let's give it a rest, already.

[Freelance Superhero]

Originally posted by sbp
Townshend, who is married with children, had earlier left the house in a Mercedes car.

i fail to see how this is relevant...

[ufcrusher]

Actually unless the British legal system has recently been completely revamped...he is GUILTY until proven innocent. That is how the English legal system works....now if he was facing charges in the US...he would be innocent until proven guilty.

[Windsor]

Originally posted by ufcrusher
Actually unless the British legal system has recently been completely revamped...he is GUILTY until proven innocent. That is how the English legal system works....now if he was facing charges in the US...he would be innocent until proven guilty.

You're quite serious about that?

Never knew that.

[Johnnymac]

Originally posted by Windsor


Jeez, the guy comes out openly and gives and explanation for his behavior, and automatically some are ready to disregard it and torch the guy. No charges have been brought up, he's innocent until proven guilty of some crime. So let's give it a rest, already.

Um last time I checked he wasn't a cop or any other type of law enforcement. I can't believe that he made excuse of wanting to check it out "to see what was there". There is no reason to check that out. Just because someone can explain a particlar behavior does not make it legal or acceptable.


-C

[zenbooty]

Originally posted by cracker



Um last time I checked he wasn't a cop or any other type of law enforcement. I can't believe that he made excuse of wanting to check it out "to see what was there". There is no reason to check that out. Just because someone can explain a particlar behavior does not make it legal or acceptable.-C

Why does he have to be a cop to do research? He claims to have worked on projects involving the problem, so why rush to judgement?

[Windsor]

Has this guy done other stuff before? Sounds like people have some pre-conceived notions about him already.

It might be a wee bit eccentric, but his story is entirely possible, albeit weird.

[ufcrusher]

Originally posted by Windsor


You're quite serious about that?

Never knew that.

Yes, I am serious. Its one of the main differences between our legal systems. Many countries use the prove your innocent point of view. Its much easier and cheaper for the government...the defendant has the burden of proof rather than government.

[sbp]

Originally posted by gwilks98
Yeah, I saw this on the news last night. And you know, he never did publish what conclusions he ascertained from his "research"...

He needs to do more research in Thailand along with Gary Glitter.

from here
"So far around 1,300 people have been arrested, including a judge, magistrate, dentists, hospital consultants and a former deputy headmaster.

Fifty police officers have been arrested and eight charged."

[Grimm]

Originally posted by zenbooty
... he's innocent until proven guilty of some crime. So let's give it a rest, already.

Weren't you the guy holding the rope when that lynch mob came after me for defending some people who had not been tried yet?

[Nija]

if i read correctly, the "research" he was doing was to investigate his own child-absue ridden past.

I say, I'll stay over herrrrrrre until he's proven anything, guilty or innocent.

cause whoooooo are you? who? who? who? who? tell me who are you?