Yekke,
You’re right. My last post was an emotional outburst with almost no logical component to it. It’s just hard to remain impartial because i know someone that was a victim of abuse, and I see how it affects her daily life, several years later.
The cr was blessed with the presence of an amazing man, several years ago. His username was MiddlePath, and his father was a convicted molestor. When the news of his father’s crimes broke, his life turned a hundred shades darker. Everything was affected- his friendships, his happiness, his self esteem- everything just fell apart.
So there is room for compassion on both sides- the children of the molestor, and the abused victim.
I would not go so far as to have compassion for the actual abuser. My personal belief is that once you reach a certain age, you need to take charge of your life. If this man saw from his thoughts and actions that he was a potential abuser, he should have gone for help that very moment. Therapy, meds- whatever it takes. There is no room for mollycoddling in an area as serious as this.
In almost all other areas, I would advocate compassion and empathy. But when it comes to abuse, there is too much at stake.