Sex, sex, and more sex
Have you noticed the increasing frequency of sex crimes being reported in the news, particularly sex crimes by public officials? You know, public officials - the people who are supposed to be protecting us from things like sex crimes?
This morning alone, there were three such stories in the news - one local, one state, and one national - all three of them involving public officials:
Local: Corvallis police officer Ryan Thayer resigned amid allegations that he had a sexual relationship with an Oregon State University student while he was supposed to be on patrol. Thayer, 25, was accused of having sex with the woman while he was on duty, lying to supervisors about his whereabouts and activities, disobeying orders, and using a department cell phone to talk with the woman. And by the way, he's married and has children.
State: Portland Police Chief Derrick Foxworth is facing a city investigation after allegations of "sexual impropriety" were made against him. His accuser: Angela Oswalt, 46, a desk clerk at the St. John's precinct.
National: Brian J. Doyle, 55, deputy press secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was charged with using a computer to seduce a child (actually an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl). He is the fourth-ranking official in the department's public affairs office.
What is it about these men - and perhaps men in general - that makes them think 1) illicit sex is normal, 2) they're not hurting anyone, 3) no one will find out, and 4) it's okay to use their positions of power to exploit women?
This morning alone, there were three such stories in the news - one local, one state, and one national - all three of them involving public officials:
Local: Corvallis police officer Ryan Thayer resigned amid allegations that he had a sexual relationship with an Oregon State University student while he was supposed to be on patrol. Thayer, 25, was accused of having sex with the woman while he was on duty, lying to supervisors about his whereabouts and activities, disobeying orders, and using a department cell phone to talk with the woman. And by the way, he's married and has children.
State: Portland Police Chief Derrick Foxworth is facing a city investigation after allegations of "sexual impropriety" were made against him. His accuser: Angela Oswalt, 46, a desk clerk at the St. John's precinct.
National: Brian J. Doyle, 55, deputy press secretary for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, was charged with using a computer to seduce a child (actually an undercover agent posing as a 14-year-old girl). He is the fourth-ranking official in the department's public affairs office.
What is it about these men - and perhaps men in general - that makes them think 1) illicit sex is normal, 2) they're not hurting anyone, 3) no one will find out, and 4) it's okay to use their positions of power to exploit women?
posted by Editor at Large at 8:29 AM
2 Comments:
wow, you are one judgemental SOB. What have you done wrong in your life? Was this front page news? I'd say, cut people a little slack till you've walked in thier shoes.
We're sorry if we offended you, Anonymous. We don't mean to judge these men so much as to expose their hypocrisy. All three of these men are publicly appointed officials, in jobs intended to protect the public, and all three abused their positions of authority by taking advantage of women.
Yes, of course, we have been hypocritical - and made many other mistakes - in our lives. Who hasn't? It just seems to us that the frequency of sexual impropriety, particularly in positions of authority and power, is increasing, and we have to wonder why.
While we continue to analyze that question, do you have any suggestions as to how much slack we should cut such men?
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