Pete's credit card

[Sroundtable@xxxxxxx]

In a message dated 1/13/2003 1:56:26 PM Eastern Standard Time, TheWho-Digest-Owner@igtc.com writes:
> Why would Pete allow his credit card to be used & money taken from> his account (I assume) & given to even *one* of these type of web-> sites?> > OK.  You're against child porn.  So, in order to see what's actually> on one of these sites you make a payment to these people?  You con-> tribute a sum, albeit a small one, to the people who run one of these> sites?> > Wouldn't your second thought (after being disgusted by the site itself)> be, "Well, they're not getting any of *my* money!"?> > I mean, I can see being curious as to the content, but to go through> the process of entering your credit card info, etc., knowing full well> that this will "link" you to the site, just > seems......insane?
I must admit, this is troubling me at the moment, as well.  I have been searching for legitimate reasons for Pete to have entered the site and been foolish enough to actually use his credit card.  I'm having a tough time with it.  I will say that if Pete spent his actual money on this site, it is an absolutely despicable act and likely will tarnish Pete's reputation irreparably.  It IS possible to give a credit card number to enter a site and then either stop payment, or cancel the membership before it goes into effect.  As far as I'm concerned, there needs to be no $$ changing hands for Pete to be truly exonerated.  I am hoping this is the case.  In addition, what Paul said about Pete not actually downloading anything on the site had better be true.  I think Pete can recover if it is shown that he didn't actually download the child porn, and that there is no evidence that he has posessed any kind of child porn in the past.  I PRAY that this is true.  I think we are all.  In my heart, I believe that Pete is the furthest thing from a paedophile.  At the same time, it may be true that he did something exceptionally stupid and damaging to his career, life, and to those associated with him.  One thing that gives me hope is that it is not a major story on new channels from what I have observed.  Last night I was surfing CNN, Fox News, and Headline news to see if there was any mention in the headlines scrolling at the bottom, and I saw nothing about it all night.  Let's all pray that Paul Townshend is right.
mc