
Everyone seems so shocked that an attractive, intelligent, charismatic young man could sexually abuse those girls. But I think it’s so important that people realize that child abusers don’t always have creepy mustaches. Sexual abuse isn’t usually some random person you’ve never met who kidnaps you in a creepy van. It’s usually someone you know, and maybe admire. And he or she probably looks pretty normal. Mike Lombardo looks awfully normal, and like a nice young man, while Pizza John looks like a nightmare with a white van. Mike Lombardo is a sick man, and Pizza John just really likes pizza.
Another thought: Too many people seem to be blaming the 15 and 17 year old girls who were involved here. Yes, the pictures were consensual, but this is literally THE reason we have laws of consent. As a society, we have decided a 15 year old is too young to consent to have sex, or send pictures of herself. This means that under no circumstances is it ok to harass a 15 year old to do any of these things, even if she eventually gives in. Mike knew what he was doing was illegal and wrong, but the whole point of these laws is that the 15 year old girl probably didn’t understand why in 5 years she will not want naked pictures of herself to exist. We need to protect these kinds of victims, not blame them.
(via scienceing)