Transcript of the above video: 

I don't usually use like sort of colloquial hyperbolic phraseology in the titles to these videos. But we all know what WTF means; we all know the country of Germany, so I think you can figure out what we're talking about here in the title. That said, I am also not monetizing this video. I am going to turn the comments off for this video. I just wanted to make this video because quite honestly, I would feel ethically remiss if I didn't at least say something on this channel about this because, let's just jump in. 

I recently I heard about this situation from recent article from the website Reduxx, reduxx.info, the article is titled: "Pro-Pedophile" Activist Group Celebrates As Germany Decriminalizes Child Porn Possession. Quoting directly: "Germany's Parliament (Bundestag) has received the votes necessary to remove a section of the criminal code which made the possession of child sexual abuse materials a felony crime." As it should be. Quoting further: "Once the Bill, passed last Thursday, comes into effect, minimum sentences for the possession of child pornography will be reduced, and the offense will be downgraded to a misdemeanour." Quoting further: "According to the Bundestag, the Bill stipulates that "possession and acquisition should be punishable with a minimum penalty of 3 months' imprisonment and distribution with a minimum penalty of 6 months' imprisonment, and distribution with a minimum penalty of 6 months' imprisonment. The offenses regulated infection 184b of the Criminal Code are therefore classified as misdemeanours and not as crimes." Quoting further: "A statement of opposition was released by the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Christian Social Union of Bavaria. Quote: "The distribution, possession, acquisition of child pornography must, in principle, remain classified as crimes" reads the declaration." No it must not in principle, it 'must'. It just must. 

What are you doing in Germany? What is the underlying policy position that justifies this change? What is the net benefit to society by effectively decriminalizing child pornography? And just full disclosure, if you want to know my biases or you want to know where I'm coming at with this, there are those who can make arguments that I would be very open to these type of things, especially offenses committed against children, I would entertain the notion of death penalty consequences for that kind of behaviour. I urge those who are watching this video, go check out that article, read it in detail because I thought this was all hyperbole. It was sort of nonsense sort of percolating up through the ether of the internet and then I went in and read it. No this appears to be, this is happening. And again, what is the public policy justification for this? What is the benefit to society by doing this? I can see that there is a discreet subset of people that will be benefited by this but they are the very people who prey on the weakest in society, so why would the law be changed to facilitate them? The more I ponder that question, the darker the rabbit hole I go down goes. 

So I guess in closing for this video, again I reiterate the statement in the title, like what? Like what? Also I think it's worth pointing out, no that is not the attitude in Southeast Asia. It is definitely not the attitude here in Thailand. If anything, I think that most, if you talk to your average Thai person, really in politics, outside politics, anywhere, I think this is not just a bipartisan issue, I think this is a Thailand issue. I think any Thai would tell you, no, no if anything we probably want stricter penalties for such behaviour. We're not in the mood, it's not in anyone's best interest in Thailand for this to be encouraged and therefore strict penalties against such behaviour are warranted. Again that's one man's observation from just being here on the ground. That being said, hopefully, I won't even say cooler heads, wiser heads, just more commonsensical heads prevail in Germany to forestall what in my opinion is just a gross subversion of legislative due process.