Back in my day, we didn’t need fancy psychological jargon to spot a crook. Sex predators? They were the ones who’d smirk through court, blaming the victim’s “provocation” or claiming “it wasn’t that bad.” Sure, some might’ve spun tales, but let’s not act like every offender is a master manipulator. Plenty of them faced consequences without all the theatrics. Kids these days act like every predator’s a genius at gaslighting, but reality’s messier. Some just don’t think straight, not because they’re evil, but because they’re broken.
The research says “sex offenders tend not to take responsibility,” but that’s a broad brush. Sure, cognitive distortions exist, but so do people who genuinely regret their actions. Blaming victims? That’s cowardice, no doubt, but let’s not conflate survival tactics with systemic patterns. Society’s quick to label anyone with a conviction as a “predator,” but not all crimes are premeditated. Some are impulses, not calculated schemes.
This obsession with “cognitive distortions” feels like another way to vilify without nuance. Back then, we dealt with consequences, not endless rehashing of trauma. If someone’s truly remorseful, they’ll own up. If not? They’ll keep spinning. But let’s not turn every flawed human into a villain.
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