Crucial Information regarding a Ripperologist

[Admin]

At this point, we are making the decision to close the thread. We believe everyone has been given the opportunity to say what they want to say and there is nothing to be gained from further discussion.

In the future, should this ever be referenced or mentioned on the forums, hopefully only in a relevant or necessary capacity, please be advised to be careful of the terminology used to describe Spallek and do not imply or accuse him of actions that have not been proven.

Thank you for your understanding.

[Ally]

I think the problem here is there is a vast difference between people who actually feel a sense of shock from this and those who are riding high on manufactured outrage and melodrama.

That being said, the idea that ones actions, even when it comes to abuse of children, should have no bearing on their reception in the broader world, is not one I support.

[caz]

Caz, I agree with you mostly, except that I don't agree with the "let's just hush up on the boards and pretend this didn't happen so people are more comfortable" part....you have to let people work through something like this in whatever way they choose to, and then, when it is meant to, the conversation will fade away, and Spallek will hopefully end up in prison for a long time where it belongs...

Er, yes, Capps, except that I didn't write what you put in quotes above and I don't recognise your "hush up...and pretend...so people are more comfortable" interpretation, which wasn't my point at all. I feel no less 'comfortable' about the fact that someone in our little community did this than I do about all those currently at liberty in the wider community, who are allowing kids to be put at risk as I type. At least this one of 'ours' was forced out of his community - and ours - before we knew anything about it.

What I should have said was that now this particular case is out in the open here, I see little to be gained from making a meal of it here (once I'd had my say, naturally ).

Love,

Caz
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[anna]

Robert,

I wasn't referring to the general situation....I was referring to the fact that I am here for a purpose,and anything other than JTR involving another member of the boards,to do with a crime they comitted,is of no consequence to me.Although,I would lend my support if anyone needed it.

[Robert]

Anna, if someone views photos of this nature, it is definitely not just his business. It's the business of the abused kids in the photos. Crimes were committed against them, in order that someone viewing the pics would get a kick out of them.

[anna]

Hi all,
I'm just wondering why someone would feel the need to post this "Crucial Information" in the first place....
They are sorry they have to share this with us..so,why do it at all,and tarnish the reputation and memory of a long time poster,and a friend of some of us on the boards..why not just shut up,and pm Stephen with the info,and wait for a reply as to whether it was our Andy or not. Nobody needed to know about this here...but you just had to broadcast the news.
As to whether Andy could return here..I have no objection,whatsoever.
What he did was his business,and not mine.I am here to share infomation.
People return under other usernames,so he may well return.None of us knows who reads or posts on the boards,so that whole trail of thought is useless,in anyway.IMHO.
I shall remember Andy for his interesting posts and wealth of information on Druitt,and not for what someone has taken it upon themselves to share with us.

[Magpie]

Were there no signs with this guy, other than his apparent obsession with MJD (which might have been a bit of a red flag, actually)??

With respect, Andy's "obsession" is no more a red flag than anyone else's "obsession" with their preferred suspect or theory. What you now call "obsession" has been up to this point been seen as dedication, and Andy was (justly) admired for it.

Has it come to this, that anything and everything the guy said or expressed has to now be "reframed" in light of his conviction?


btw, I am a long-time Druittist too, and in fact worked with Andy a couple of years ago on a project to track Druitt's sporting career and associations--am I now required to add a disclaimer to any posts I make on Druitt, declaring that I am not now, nor have I ever, been tempted to diddle kids?

[cappuccina]

Hi Natalie,

I understand that, and you must be shocked and horrified....all the better to "get it out in th open", though, so people can see what the "real deal" with this guy was, and can continue to be careful...

I mean where I live you have to go through a background check just to volunteer in the public schools, to drive kids to field trips for school and scouts, let alone to coach or be a youth group minister....The background check is something I am happy to do....We ALWAYS though, have this group of parents or relatives who really object to getting a background check....that's a super red flag for me....

Were there no signs with this guy, other than his apparent obsession with MJD (which might have been a bit of a red flag, actually)??

[Natalie Severn]

Caps,
Some of us met him, and its taking time to process the different ways you start to see and remember someone.His family must be going through hell.But the abused children---you are so right to defend their right not to be abused and have their innocence violated.
Best
Norma
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[cappuccina]

I absolutely agree with you Robert!

Caz, I agree with you mostly, except that I don't agree with the "let's just hush up on the boards and pretend this didn't happen so people are more comfortable" part....you have to let people work through something like this in whatever way they choose to, and then, when it is meant to, the conversation will fade away, and Spallek will hopefully end up in prison for a long time where it belongs...

[claire]

Exactly, Caz, perfectly put.

[jason_c]

Thanks Jason.
But how come that even table legs were covered in Victorian times in case they gave rise to unwanted attention from lascivious men?
I think the pair quoted above are just trying to justify something distinctly unsavoury which is in violation of a child"s right not to be exploited by dirty old men.

Sorry Nats but this is a myth.

[Robert]

I have two hopes :

1. That the police manage to identify the children involved and rescue them from further abuse.
2. That the perpetrator's family somehow find a way through all this.

[caz]

I just feel very sad that an intelligent person who knows he has a fatal weakness of this kind could have had no conscience about going into the church and making it his career. It taints so much more than the individual concerned.

I met Andrew when he came to a meeting of the WS1888 (the photo in the article removes all reasonable doubt as far as I'm concerned) and naturally he wasn't wearing a sign above his head. But I do find all this shock horror "what? in our house?" stuff a tad naïve, considering how many posters we have seen coming and going on the two main ripper sites over the years. Does anyone think he is going to be the only one with criminal secrets or associations of one sort or another?

Most of us may not have so much as a parking fine against our names, but who knows what any of the individuals here may get up to when they are not here reading or posting?

It's obviously not a case of 'least said, soonest mended' for all the victims worldwide who suffer abuse to supply these people with their photographic jollies; but maybe it should apply here on the ripper message boards, where - hopefully - we are all adults and very far removed in every sense from the primary source for this sorry tale.

Love,

Caz
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[JTRSickert]

Hey everybody. I have something I'd like to say.

Of course, the news I found out about this is not pleasant. I myself have never met the man so I really can't be as affectted as some or most of you may be, especially if you talked, communicated, or corresponded with him.

having said that, let me just make a suggestion. First of all, I'm not telling anybody on here what to do or what to say or whatever. But, since I was the one who discovered this news, I just want to say that now that we know what he did and have discussed it at length, I think maybe it's time to move on to other matters, like getting back to discussing issues of the Ripper case.

I mean, that is essentially why we are all here right. Dwelling on this topic is not going to make a difference, neither to him nor how we feel about the actions he committed. So, my personal suggestion is just to close the discussion of this topic and lets get back to our original passion: Discussing isues of one of the most notorious unsolved series of murders ever committed in History And that's all I'm going to say on that subject.

If you feel you need to comment though on this, feel free.