Buyer wants smelly shoes ... For children

campdave

Idiophreak wrote: »

So, if you were selling said Mothercare catalogue online and someone sent you a question saying "are there pictures of children in underwear in it? I'm only interested if so.",

That's a completely different statement to what the person posted, so a little unfair to base a post on something that was neither said nor implied.

Idiophreak

campdave wrote: »

That's a completely different statement to what the person posted, so a little unfair to base a post on something that was neither said nor implied.

Maybe...my point was just that OP has reason to believe there may be a sexual motive behind the person buying the shoes, so it's a bit different to banning mothercare catalogues.

campdave

Idiophreak wrote: »

Maybe...my point was just that OP has reason to believe there may be a sexual motive behind the person buying the shoes, so it's a bit different to banning mothercare catalogues.

And the poster didn't say they shouldn't report it, just commented from their experience that the authorities would not have the resources to do anything about it. but don't let that stop a little internet what-about-ery.

Idiophreak

campdave wrote: »

And the poster didn't say they shouldn't report it, just commented from their experience that the authorities would not have the resources to do anything about it. but don't let that stop a little internet what-about-ery.

Err...They said that reporting it was overreacting and that they should just block them on ebay.

steveo3002

whats in his buying history? any thing that might be strange?

StumpyPumpy

Idiophreak wrote: »

So, if you were selling said Mothercare catalogue online and someone sent you a question saying "are there pictures of children in underwear in it? I'm only interested if so.", you'd still not feel the need to report it? All perfectly legal and above board, right? I mean people have their quirks, don't they...but as long as it's legal...may as well make a few quid?

Personally, the second there's a hint that something related to children is to be used for sexual gratification, I'd be reporting it. Whether it's actually illegal or not is a different question...whether any action would/could be taken is something different....but at least I'd know I'd done my part.

Like you suggest, 99/100 it will be some kids pranking each other...but you never know.

So, have you reported all the people who enquire about this range coming out of Ann Summers? http://www.annsummers.com/p/teacher-s-tease/18sepeas1025004 or indeed Ann Summers for selling the range? It certainly ticks the boxes for being related to children and for sexual gratification.

Do you really think CEOPS will be interested in it? My point is and always will be that there is a world of difference between images of child abuse and all of the above. Everyone has different quirks and tolerances to behaviour particularly when sex is involved, so how do you decide what to report? My answer is you draw the line where the law draws the line, a lot of people here seem to think it is anything they find a bit dodgy.

Personally, I find the schoolgirl outfits a bit dodgy, as I do Nun's outfits, but I also know they are not illegal, so am I failing in my duty in your eyes by not reporting them every time I walk down the local high street?

Do you report the person that sits on the park bench everyday doing and saying nothing to anyone? Because he/she (and please, don't forget "she") might be having unwholesome thoughts about the children that play there? Or do you just report them if they are male? Or if they "look weird"? Or if they don't look like "one of us"? Where do you draw the line? Of course you report them if they are approaching children, but that is different, because then they have crossed a line, a legal one. But if they don't, do you report them because they make you, personally, feel uncomfortable? Because 1 in 1,000 or in 1,000,000 or whatever might actually go on and commit an offence?

Any child abuse is too much child abuse, but a sense of proportion and a considered response will go a lot further than a knee-jerk reaction. This is just as much "doing your part" as reporting all and sundry that does nothing other than use up valuable resources that could be better deployed elsewhere.

SP

campdave

Idiophreak wrote: »

Err...They said that reporting it was overreacting and that they should just block them on ebay.

Giving reasons, from their experience, why reporting would do no good.

In an ideal world, the police would be able to investigate every complaint we receive. We don't live in an ideal world, or pay the taxes that would permit this.

ballisticbrian

You can't really compare an Anne Summers range with someone asking you if they can purchase the smelly odour of your own 6 year old child?

StumpyPumpy

ballisticbrian wrote: »

You can't really compare an Anne Summers range with someone asking you if they can purchase the smelly odour of your own 6 year old child?

You don't need to; the law does it for you: while both are considered by many people as unsavoury, neither are illegal.

And they are absolutely the same when used as a counterpoint to the statement included in the post I quoted:
"Personally, the second there's a hint that something related to children is to be used for sexual gratification, I'd be reporting it"
In fact, I would say that the Ann Summers range more explicitly fits this description than the smelly shoes does.

SP

porto_bello

FattyBettyBoo wrote: »

I've had a look at the CEOP report form and I don't think it's appropriate in this case. I think I will report it to the local police.

This is the question below ... It's the 'specifically wants girls shoes' that worries me

Hi, I'm looking specifically for well worn girls shoes. Please could you tell me if these smell worn? If not, are there any in such a condition you'd be willing to sell? Also, are they from a smoking household? This is a genuine question - thank you.

I would certainly draw this to the attention of the police. Print off the listing with photo(s) and the messages, showing the enquirer's eBay ID and hand them over to the police. Let them decide what action is appropriate. Whatever the outcome, you've done your bit.