ROBERT LITTLE,
Madam, - The media circus has thrown into the ring the latest object of disgust, deformity and curiosity for our collective disdain. Or is Tim Allen merely a clown, slipping on a banana skin placed in his path by our present-day culture?
So much of what we read, hear and watch is only skin-deep. The tabloids that condemn Allen with the loudest and boldest headlines continue to peddle photographs of bodies as their main commodity. A cursory run through my junk e-mail throws up a heap of invitations to view any number of strangers bearing their flesh, coupled with all kinds of offers to reduce debts and get rich. I'm not so Old Testament as to suggest a plague be sent to purge the world we live in, but I do recognise that we are already plagued with all kinds of instant-gratification solutions that contrive to lure us from a simple and (dare I say it?) honest way of living.
The physical level is the only one that seems worthy of recognition, to the point where "spirituality", or even a little soul-searching, gets side-lined to the odd radio show here and a high-brow newspaper column there. By and large, appetite would seem to govern our tastes, and even photographs of children, forced to partake in the lowest form of adult gratification, might hit the spot for 30 seconds, until we move on to the next object, insatiable once more.
Is this a true picture of where we are today? Or could it be that the denial of spirit (and even real emotions) suits certain sections of society, as it makes for more convenient, and more efficient business?
We may have moved out from the shadow of the Catholic Church. This is positive, in my view, as it opens up a plethora of possibilities and free choices. But must we crawl out of that shadow on all fours? - Yours, etc.,
ROBERT LITTLE,
Coolagh,
Callan,
Co Kilkenny.
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Madam, - As a psychiatrist, I read reports of the Tim Allen trial with increasing bewilderment. The astonishing spin of transforming a case of clear, and self-confessed, child pornography into one meriting collective sympathy for a man described by a psychologist giving evidence on his behalf as a "rescuer" is repulsively fascinating. "Rescuer" would appear to be an extraordinarily risqué word to choose given the circumstances, suggesting an unspoken, and ultimately not misguided, confidence in the sympathy that was openly displayed in court to the defendant.
In the psychological evidence given by Dr Tony Humphreys on Tim Allen's behalf, the defendant's behaviour was described as "compulsive". It is important to point out that paedophilia is not an addictive disorder, is not classified in any internationally accepted definition of mental disorder as an addictive disorder, and does not respond to treatments for addictive disorders.
Paedophilia, rather, is classified as a sexual perversion for which there is no specific effective treatment. This is also the reason why the "treatment" of paedophilia rests with the judicial, rather than the psychiatric, services. I would thought that an Irish court would view with a sardonic eye the increasing use of psychiatric labels to "medicalise" antisocial behaviour.
This tendency is not being driven by professional bodies, and while one may be amused by the concept of the Hollywood disorder "sexual addiction" (between consenting adults), this does not apply when one party is a non-consenting child to adult sexual fantasies. - Yours, etc.,
VERONICA O'KEANE MB,
PhD, MRCPsych, FRCPI,
Institute of Psychiatry,
London SE5
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Madam, - I feel your Editorial of January 18th misses the point. Just as there would be no incentive for lawbreakers such as burglars and housebreakers to ply their trade if there were no fences to sell the goods on, or end users to purchase the stolen property, similarly, in the absence of voyeurs such as Tim Allen to support these despicable and pornographic websites to the tune of over a million dollars a month, their evil originators would quickly find something more lucrative to do with their time.
In my book, Tim Allen is as guilty as if he himself had terrorised the poor unfortunate children who were the unwitting "stars" of the whole sordid business. - Yours, etc.,
D.K. HENDERSON,
Castle Avenue,
Clontarf,
Dublin 3.
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Madam, - The hardest part of this punishment must surely be the public shame and humiliation which, unfortunately, Tim Allen's family must also endure. So, for the sake of Darina and their children, let's stop the stone-throwing now. - Your, etc.,
LYNDA CRAWFORD,
The Rectory,
South Circular Road,
Dublin 8.
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Madam, - Tim Allen and his family have been publicly humiliated. His career has been terminated, his family business is under threat, he has admitted wrong doing, apologised and sought treatment. The bleakness with which he is now contemplating his future is barely imaginable.
We have heard from the sanctimonious and the vengeful. Now can we hear from the compassionate? - Yours, etc.,
SHEENA VERNON,
Ardeevin Road,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
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Madam, - In the light of the Allen case are we now to assume that it will become common practice for defendants with the wherewithal to contact a PR expert at the same time as their legal representative? - Yours, etc.,
BRENDAN GALLAGHER
Chestnut Drive,
Mullingar,
Co Westmeath.