MD - Children's Book Writer In Hot Water Over Comments To 10 Year Old Girl

New Posts

Being a mom of two daughters, ages 8 and 10, and hearing all these child molestation horror stories these days I can't afford to give anyone the benefit of the doubt.
His comment was extremely inappropriate and he knew that. And I don't really think someone asking for their face to be autographed is unusual at all. I don't think there is a body part that hasn't been signed out there these days.
I still applaud what these parents did...we should ALL be on the look-out for one anothers kids.
 
Ang50 said:
Well - he said he responded w/ something equally silly - not equally "will never happen." I got the impression that he was trying to match her - I'll do something silly (sign your forehead) if you do something silly (dance naked).

So in your interpretation - he never intended to sign her forehead. He was saying - signing there is as unlikely as you dancing naked on the tabletop. It'll never happen b/c dancing naked is totally inappropriate as is signing on people's foreheads.

My interpretation is silly for silly, not inappropriate for inappropriate. And that in matching her for silliness, his statement is weird.

However, I will say that I'd be quite sure he didn't INTEND for the child to dance naked. And giving him the benefit of a doubt - would have stopped her if she said OK.
Click to expand...

This is how I interpreted his comment. He could have used a better choice of words, but he was stating that he will no more sign her forehead, than she will get on the table and take her clothes off.

If there is a next time and he's ever asked that request, I'm sure he'll just say "NO!", which I'm sure he's wishing he had said to this girl.
 
I don't understand how being asked by a child to sign her forehead is an odd request. Kids get their faces painted at all sorts of events and the retort to her request doesn't even make sense and not in context at all. At the least it was very rude and shows how stuck up this guy is about his autographs and he's not all that knowledgeable about kids and how to talk to them, writer or not. He could have just told her that he couldn't do that and to please get a piece of paper. Does anyone know if this guy has a website where kids could possibly leave comments and give him access to their emails?
 
yeah, what's so odd about it? i agree, to a kid, it's just like face-painting. i mean come on.... just say "why, SURE, thanks for asking!" and sign her forehead, and there you go! what was the big deal....????

it does seem like we are entering into a kind of witch-hunt era... i mean, WHY is this even national news in the first place???

i understand the seriousness of molestation and also how strangely common it's become,, which is scary, and becaue of that we feel we can't take any chances..... and it is weird that he said what he did.... but, geez people. does the entire world really have to know about what the guy said......???
 
Ang50 said:
Fine - but whatever the circumstances, if that were my little girl, and my husband or I were present for the comment, he should expect to get punched. (Hubby would do more damage, but maybe I'd kick the man instead.)

Maybe it's not criminal, but can't a children's book author be a little more creative and less creepy with his "silly" suggestions? Like - get on the table and do the Hokey Pokey?

I've worked with children for a lot of years, and indulged their silliness w/o ever asking them to take off their clothes.
Click to expand...
--agree--If i was a father and he said that to my daugter,he'd be spitting out teeth and I'd then need a tetnus shot for my hand
 
reb said:
yeah, what's so odd about it? i agree, to a kid, it's just like face-painting. i mean come on.... just say "why, SURE, thanks for asking!" and sign her forehead, and there you go! what was the big deal....????

it does seem like we are entering into a kind of witch-hunt era... i mean, WHY is this even national news in the first place???

i understand the seriousness of molestation and also how strangely common it's become,, which is scary, and becaue of that we feel we can't take any chances..... and it is weird that he said what he did.... but, geez people. does the entire world really have to know about what the guy said......???
Click to expand...

The whole world needs to know b/c this guy won't get prosecuted for what he said. (and shouldn't...) BUT - we live in an era where we don't know our neighbors and our children come into contact with a wide variety of people. We can't prescreen everyone for our kids.

So - when things like this make the news, I now know to think twice before I allow my child to attend this guy's book signing. Otherwise I'd never know.

That's a big part of the reason for a sex offender registry as well. One of my LE friends has said that these men operate in the shadows - they look like everyone else, they BLEND. When they're called into the light, then people can conduct a "neighborhood watch."

This author is now on nationwide "Level Orange", IMHO. If the story didn't make the news, he'd just move to the next school, or state, and this could happen again and no one would know that there's a pattern.
 
Peter Hamilton said:
--agree--If i was a father and he said that to my daugter,he'd be spitting out teeth and I'd then need a tetnus shot for my hand
Click to expand...

Last night we went to a school carnival, and there was this man who kept watching my daughter as she got her face painted. My daughter is 4 and gorgeous (of course I think so!). She has long curly hair, slim, usually dresses like a boy - but she always attracts attention.

I stared this guy down... and he wasn't getting it. Then after the facepainting was done, he asked to take her picture. I was going to say no - until the facepainter said "This is my husband" and she had already said that they have two girls themselves 6 and 8. So he had mostly been watching his wife do the painting - a lot less creepy...

Every parent is always assessing risk in any situation... risk of falling off that thing they're climbing, health risk of what they're eating, and risk of people they come in contact with. This author's comments put him in a different risk category.
 
Ang50 said:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/harford/bal-md.ha.author26apr26,0,2701084.story?coll=bal-loca

At the end of the BSun article, it states that a Child Services Agency has begun an informal investigation.

It also states that this guy was a LAWYER for 20 years before becoming an AUTHOR. If anyone knows to choose words carefully, it's this guy.

**Also - apparently he didn't ask her to dance. Just to get on the table and undress. Which somehow is worse to me...
Click to expand...

Yes, he should know to choose his words carefully. The fact that he didn't, and with so many witnesses is what leads me to believe he is not, in fact, a pedophile. I think a true pedo would be way more careful than that.

It also tells us that he is older. He was a lawyer for 20 years and has been an author for a long time. Not to generalize too much, but I do feel that people with young kids are very aware of this issue, while people my parents age tend to be less cautious with their words in front of younger kids and think that "my generation" overreacts to everything.
 
angelmom said:
Yes, he should know to choose his words carefully. The fact that he didn't, and with so many witnesses is what leads me to believe he is not, in fact, a pedophile. I think a true pedo would be way more careful than that.

It also tells us that he is older. He was a lawyer for 20 years and has been an author for a long time. Not to generalize too much, but I do feel that people with young kids are very aware of this issue, while people my parents age tend to be less cautious with their words in front of younger kids and think that "my generation" overreacts to everything.
Click to expand...

I understand your considerations. I'm not saying he's a pedo, but I would say that I would not allow my children around him.
 
Ang50 said:
I understand your considerations. I'm not saying he's a pedo, but I would say that I would not allow my children around him.
Click to expand...

I'm with you. Although, I don't know if I'd object to him visiting their school if he was always escorted. His presentations with the dog sound really cool.

ETA: I've had to explain way worse comments to my children from strangers and, unfortunately, sometimes friends and relatives who didn't think before they spoke. They'll live.
 
angelmom said:
I'm with you. Although, I don't know if I'd object to him visiting their school if he was always escorted. His presentations with the dog sound really cool.

ETA: I've had to explain way worse comments to my children from strangers and, unfortunately, sometimes friends and relatives who didn't think before they spoke. They'll live.
Click to expand...

Maybe, if I investigated his books and I was with my child. At least he's a known risk...

This 10 y.o. will live, but if people downplay the incident, then what message does that send? Especially to a young girl - there's a sexual overtone to what he said, whether it was intended or not.

If my daughter came home w/ this story, I would make sure she understood that no adult is allowed to talk with her like this, even if they are joking. Then I would raise h*ll with the district and if I didn't get results, I probably would go to the press.
 
So, he was a lawyer and made his money at that then went on to writing. The guy has most likely now made gobs of money at this children's writing thing and is about done with it and doesn't care what he says. Obviously, he isn't really all that into or cares what anyone thinks because he wouldn't have said such a thing. With his legal training he knows that nothing can be done about it anyway. I've got a feeling that parents have been bamboozled into buying his books. Maybe they weren't even written by him if he's that crass and crude.
 
angelmom said:
It also tells us that he is older. He was a lawyer for 20 years and has been an author for a long time. Not to generalize too much, but I do feel that people with young kids are very aware of this issue, while people my parents age tend to be less cautious with their words in front of younger kids and think that "my generation" overreacts to everything.
Click to expand...

Richard was born August 11, 1942 in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated from The American University and the University Of Maryland School Of Law.

http://www.richardstack.com/richardbio.html

So he'll be 65 this year.
 
Has anyone ever read any of his books? There may be hidden innuendo in his writings. For an author and former lawyer, this is definitely a terrible choice of words. There are so many different responses he could have said to the little girl asking to autograph her forehead. The normal thing for him to do would have been ask a nearby adult for blank paper to sign on for her. It was a school, they'd have to have alot of blank paper.
Autographing a forehead isn't that unusual anyway. I think he was just saying that he was responding to her question with something "equally" unusual; just so that he had an excuse in his mind to have said that. There is no excuse for it. As a lawyer, you would think he wouldn't just blurt out the first thing that came to mind as a reply; and if he did just that then we have reason to be concerned.
 
txsvicki said:
So, he was a lawyer and made his money at that then went on to writing. The guy has most likely now made gobs of money at this children's writing thing and is about done with it and doesn't care what he says. Obviously, he isn't really all that into or cares what anyone thinks because he wouldn't have said such a thing. With his legal training he knows that nothing can be done about it anyway. I've got a feeling that parents have been bamboozled into buying his books. Maybe they weren't even written by him if he's that crass and crude.
Click to expand...

MeoW333 said:
Has anyone ever read any of his books? There may be hidden innuendo in his writings. For an author and former lawyer, this is definitely a terrible choice of words. There are so many different responses he could have said to the little girl asking to autograph her forehead. The normal thing for him to do would have been ask a nearby adult for blank paper to sign on for her. It was a school, they'd have to have alot of blank paper.
Autographing a forehead isn't that unusual anyway. I think he was just saying that he was responding to her question with something "equally" unusual; just so that he had an excuse in his mind to have said that. There is no excuse for it. As a lawyer, you would think he wouldn't just blurt out the first thing that came to mind as a reply; and if he did just that then we have reason to be concerned.
Click to expand...

Really? Did either of you even look at his website?

This is a guy who retired from his law practice to write children's books about his dog. He visits schools, with his dog, for very little money, and spends tons of time with the kids talking to them about writing. I have been responsible for booking speakers for a group before, and his fees are not even on the high side. Also, his "list of demands" make him seem like a pretty down to earth guy compared to some of the divas I've had to deal with - and I'm not booking the Today show! I'm talking about local community groups, etc.

He signs the books at a separate time b/c he doesn't want the kids who aren't getting an autographed book to be left out. He wants all of the kids to have the same opportunity.

He was literally surrounded by adults and kids at the time he said this, and requests to have a faculty person with him while he is at each school. Does that sound like a predator to you?

I have read most of these books. They are very cute, although they won't go down in history as great literature. As a parent and dog owner, I find them very amusing, and can totally see how he got the idea from watching his kids grow up with dogs and all the funny stuff that naturally happens. In fact, when my husband had to write a children's story for his Masters degree, he used The Doggonest Christmas as inspiration and wrote about our beagle and our three kids.

I agree that this was a poor choice of words and that the school can't be too careful, but "hidden innuendo" in his books? Accusing him of not caring about kids at all? I think some people might need a WS break.
 
Thanks for the reality check angelmom.
 
angelmom said:
Really? Did either of you even look at his website?

This is a guy who retired from his law practice to write children's books about his dog. He visits schools, with his dog, for very little money, and spends tons of time with the kids talking to them about writing. I have been responsible for booking speakers for a group before, and his fees are not even on the high side. Also, his "list of demands" make him seem like a pretty down to earth guy compared to some of the divas I've had to deal with - and I'm not booking the Today show! I'm talking about local community groups, etc.

He signs the books at a separate time b/c he doesn't want the kids who aren't getting an autographed book to be left out. He wants all of the kids to have the same opportunity.

He was literally surrounded by adults and kids at the time he said this, and requests to have a faculty person with him while he is at each school. Does that sound like a predator to you?

I have read most of these books. They are very cute, although they won't go down in history as great literature. As a parent and dog owner, I find them very amusing, and can totally see how he got the idea from watching his kids grow up with dogs and all the funny stuff that naturally happens. In fact, when my husband had to write a children's story for his Masters degree, he used The Doggonest Christmas as inspiration and wrote about our beagle and our three kids.

I agree that this was a poor choice of words and that the school can't be too careful, but "hidden innuendo" in his books? Accusing him of not caring about kids at all? I think some people might need a WS break.
Click to expand...


:clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

DNASolves

Who is Escambia County John Doe (1989)?

Members online

... and 81 more.
Total: 4,298 (members: 82, guests: 4,216)

Online statistics

Members online
82
Guests online
4,216
Total visitors
4,298
Totals may include hidden visitors.

Forum statistics

Threads
592,402
Messages
17,968,432
Members
228,767
Latest member
Mona Lisa
Back
Top