I have looked into this pretty deeply and am even more angered knowing that this is most likely the cause for the behavioral changes in most of these men.
Often when we are depressed we are not fully aware of it at the time. We will feel sad, lonely, cut off from the world and different then we normally do, but we will most times brush it off as being tired or stressed or think that it will change on its own. The fact of the matter is, depression is not something that is easily cured on its own and often we need professional help to rid it.
So what does addiction have to do with depression? A whole lot! When we are depressed, our body lack endorphin's.
Here is a little about endorphins.
Addiction is a common response to depression or, more precisely, to the deficiency of brain chemicals and nutrients that lead to depression. When we don’t have enough endorphins – the happy chemical – we seek highs to increase endorphin's and manufacture happiness.
So what happens is when we find something that releases endorphin's we start to feel a little better. We continue to do that activity, what ever it is. Drugs, drinking, sex, gambling etc. Because it is helping us to feel better that activity or substance is craved. When the "happiness" of what we are doing begins to decrease with time because of abuse of the thing we are doing, we do that activity more. The cycle goes on an on until it becomes an addiction. Once addicted it is not easy to stop because when it stops the release of endorphin's stop.
This is why we need medical intervention when something becomes an addiction. People often want to stop what they are doing but find it almost impossible.
Because of this, many men are addicted to sex or are able to converse in this manner. It brings a high. It releases the endorphin's. It does not mean that they are a threat to society. It means that they need medical help. Help to deal with the underlying cause which is depression. Once the depression is cured, then these types of conversations would not be necessary to them anymore.
We see all types of men being arrested from these stings. From rich to poor. Anyone could have depression. Anyone can be going through a major change in their lives. Depression is not prejudice.
This is why I believe that all men should be evaluated for depression and mental issues before being thrown into prison and punished for live. A little psychiatric help could go a long way and help save these men. Do you think that they are going to get any less depressed in prison? They are going to get more depressed and probably cause a bigger rate of re-occurrence when they are released.
I strongly believe that all the men who were arrested in these stings should be individually evaluated by a doctor to find out what was going on in their lives when this incident occurred. It is only fair. I would bet that there would be an extremely high percentage of men who are found to have been depressed when this isolated incident occurred.