And yet another victim falls prey to a rock spider, the heinous subterranean vermin who stalk the defenceless in our "civilised" society:

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,24003207-5017004,00.html

Dickie

You've obviously followed the Ferguson case more closely than I have and I'm not really in a strong position to dispute what you say and won't attempt to.

I agree that paedophilia is a disorder of sexual preference and that it lasts for life. I'm still not as convinced as you are though that there was no hope of rehabilitating Ferguson at least to the point where he wouldn't have represented a threat to society. I'm inclined to think it may have been possible at one time, if properly resourced and managed, though it certainly won't happen now, thanks to the efforts of our tabloid media and the vigilante mob they’ve whipped up.

Here are a few excerpts from ABC reports in 2005 when this same saga was last being played out, which in my opinion do at least give some indication that it's not quite the open and shut case that you paint it to be.

"Dennis Ferguson’s counsellor, Wendell Rosevear, has worked with more than 800 victims of sexual abuse and 90 perpetrators.

Dr Rosevear says his client is becoming a desperate man and the constant attacks may be counter-productive, increasing the chance he will re-offend.

'If you put people down and put people down you'll get a revenge response,' he said. 'It's human and its predictable.' Dr Rosevear says Mr Ferguson is trying to change.

'The major factor in re-offending is denial and that's why society is so angry, they see him in denial but I want to put the case that he actually wants to be honest to resolve his issues,' he said.

'People don't come and ask for help unless they want to resolve their issues.'

Dr Rosevear argues it's ultimately in the interests of society to rehabilitate sex offenders, and in this case, that job has just been made all the more difficult."

Dickie (continued)

"Dr Rosevear states that it was Jesus who said, 'Treat other people how you want to be treated', and we're almost in a post-Christian culture where, instead of treating other people how we want to be treated, we're treating other people how they treated us - a revenge culture - and I think it's very primitive, and it's based on people trying to get their needs met, but I'm saying it actually makes it worse instead of better."

I think this comment of the counsellor's is particularly apt, though I'm sure you won't see it this way.

Hi Bronwyn

I do believe we may have crossed wires here.

I must reiterate: Ferguson has always refused counselling for paedophilia. How then can he be rehabilitated?

The Courier Mail, during 2003 stated:

"According to prominent Melbourne criminologist Dr Tricia Fox, Ferguson's world view is one totally consistent with that of a pedophile.

"Typically they cannot logically and rationally see that their sexual preferences are wrong or inappropriate," Fox said. "I've never met a convicted sex offender who said he was guilty. They tend more or less to serve out their full sentences."

In the same article it was advised that: "Ferguson has made an appointment to visit Dr Wendell Rosevear, a well-respected medico who works closely with newly released prisoners and he also intends seeing a psychiatrist. For what reason? "I feel I need to get to the bottom of it," he said.

'"It" being his pedophilia? No, his anger at the system.'

Then on July 2 of this month, Dr Wendell Rosevear advised the ABC that "he has not seen Ferguson for some time, but says he has had to close his books because he cannot keep up with the demand from male victims and perpetrators seeking help."

"Some time?" Rosevear's subtle advice tells me that Ferguson dropped out anyway.

Paedophiles over the past few decades, have had more access to psychiatric treatment and counselling than ever before. This does not portray a culture which seeks "revenge." And how has society benefitted? For their efforts they must now endure sophisticated paedophile rings and a massive increase in convictions for sex offenders.

When I permit my grandies to play on the footpaths with their little friends, I too must stay on the footpath in case they're snatched. Paranoia? Not at all. Kids are being regularly snatched or lured into cars. Kids have been deprived of the glorious freedom, the liberty to run wild without a care.

Ferguson was apprehended for offending as a youngish man.

He's now sixty, refuses counselling yet remains defiant and violent - a "victim?"

Time is not on his side. The man's a monster Bronwyn.

Dickie: "Paranoia? Not at all. Kids are being regularly snatched or lured into cars"

Your response may not be paranoia, but it is predicated on a poor understanding of risk versus the hazard involved. The hazard, in this case is "snatching" of the kids and the risk is the likelihood of its occurrence. Given that there are millions of kids on the street at any time and that there are at most a couple of incidents of "stranger danger" in a year, the risk is very low. Please note that I'm not minimising the awfulness of the hazard, just trying to bring a little perspective.

I take the view that my kids' exposure to the hazard is pretty low anyway, and I do the sensible things that I was taught as a child, such as ensuring they understand to always stay together if they're going to the shops or the playground and they know not to allow strangers to come too close, but I want them to be children while they can, not premature old ladies jumping at shadows.

Let me ask you, Dickie, if a child was snatched whilst you were "on guard", what could you do about it? Does your presence achieve anything, even your own peace of mind?

Relax, the worst fears are rarely realised.

It is interesting to see the various arguments. According to some,no rock spiders can be healed. In other words the jailing to correct bad habits is a waste of time. According to some of the elaborate figures I have seen recently,at least 5 percent of the population are rock spiders and the ones that have been through the penal system are still as bad as ever. I am in need of a guard to spend his whole day to protect my 11 yo boy. Maybe the guard would be a closet rock spider too. This is too hard to believe. What I do believe is the capacity to make false allegations for revenge or dollars. I also believe that there are many convictions made by emotional juries without witness or corroboration. In these issues we need judges to make decisions on the merits of each case,not emotion. I also believe that compensation in all but admitted cases should be withdrawn and you would suddenly see many many rock spider subjects disappear. Yes,many are in it for the dollars and hate. Ferguson,stole some kids and I have never seen the evidence of his trials. I can only assume that he was convicted on the merits of the various cases. Can anyone tell me why he kidnapped them children? What were they to him? We only hear about previous convictions. What are the convictions?
Angryant47