CARLYLE - Why is sharing nude and sexual photos becoming so common, accepted and even expected?
Here at the RCMP, it seems we can’t go longer than a week anymore without a boy or girl of any age demographic making a complaint involving a naked photo or video of themselves that has been shared or put on the Internet by a spouse, friend, or ex.
I will never blame a victim of a crime like this because it is not their fault. In the past I asked a female why she would share a nude photo with someone she had just started dating, and her response was that it was expected and the norm for anyone dating now to be sharing nude photos, even after only a couple dates.
This shocked and worried me and frankly I’m scared for my children growing up.
I can’t tell anyone what they do in the privacy of their own home or who they choose to share personal sensitive photos with, but I can say that once a photo goes on the internet or is shared, there is no getting it back and it is out there forever.
I also want to reach out to all the people posting and sharing sensitive, personal photos they don’t have permission to share. Before you share these photos, I want you to grab each side of your head and give it a shake. Not only is this illegal, with many legal ramifications, it also can ruin someone’s life as they know it.
Countless people have taken their own life after their naked photos have been shared or put on the internet. There are too many of these stories to count and every one of them is a tragedy. I have given presentations in schools about The Amanda Todd story and I encourage everyone to research her story.
Amanda Todd was a 15-year-old girl in British Columbia who took her life after being bullied and having nude photos shared online. The suspect responsible for sharing the photos was charged criminally and will be in jail for over 11 years for this and other charges.
It was a busy traffic ticket week for the Carlyle detachment area, with mostly people hitting the ditches due to poor driving conditions. Several other infractions took place with most of these infractions being for speeding. Other fines were issued for not wearing their seatbelts, failing to stop at a stop sign, distracted driving (cellphone) as well as some tinted windows infractions.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge the members of the public who thank us for everything we do, even after receiving a fine for a traffic violation. It is noticed and we appreciate your thanks. For those members of the public that are not so pleasant, we are not trying to make your day miserable, we don’t make the laws but it’s our job to enforce them.
On Feb. 7 at 2 a.m., the RCMP responded to an intoxicated male walking on Main Street in Kisbey near Highway 13. RCMP located the male and placed him under arrest. The intoxicated male advised he left his residence when an argument took place with his spouse. He was transported and lodged in RCMP cells until he was sober.
On Feb. 8, RCMP received a call of vehicle that drove over a pile of wood on Highway 13. The collision caused significant damage to the undercarriage and oil pan on the vehicle, which caused the vehicle to break down. The vehicle was towed from the scene to be repaired and the wood was cleared from the highway to ensure it didn’t claim any more victims.
On Feb. 10, RCMP received a complaint of a stolen dog. The caller stated his small white dog was stolen out of this vehicle while parked outside the dentist office in Carlyle. Luckily shortly after the complaint was made, the small dog returned home safe and sound.
That same day, RCMP were patrolling the area and came across a vehicle parked in the middle of the road in front of a yield sign. The vehicle’s headlights were turned off but a light was on in the interior of the vehicle. Upon further investigation RCMP determined that the female driver was impaired by drug. She was transported to hospital where a blood sample was taken in order to confirm the driver’s impairment. The driver was also issued a $360 fine for possessing or consuming cannabis in a vehicle.
On Feb. 11, RCMP received a complaint of people doing drugs in a vehicle at the rink in Carlyle. Members attended and located the vehicle. RCMP tested the driver’s saliva which came back positive for THC (marijuana). RCMP then transported the driver to the hospital and obtained a sample of the driver’s blood to confirm his impairment.
Several 911 misdials took place this week with the majority of people either pressing 9 to dial out of a hotel or business and then pressing an extra 1, or people trying to dial 411 and hitting 911 by mistake. I know these types of accidents happen but want to try and ask people to take caution not to press 911 as police need to attend all 911 complaints.
On Feb. 13, RCMP responded to a truck and trailer that jack-knifed across Highway 13 between Carlyle and Arcola. The trailer was blocking the eastbound lane. A local farmer showed up on scene and helped by pulling the truck and trailer back onto the road with his tractor. Good deeds like these is why you can’t beat rural small town living, with so many people willing to help one another out.
It’s okay not to be okay!
Mental health calls this week varied from people with dementia, people suffering from drug and alcohol psychosis, to people suffering from depression. We want to encourage everyone to reach out for help and talk to someone if they can. No matter how bad things may seem remember that they will always get better.
Life can be very difficult to say the least. Please reach out and check in with friends, co-workers and family see how they are doing. It’s a perfectly normal question to ask people how they are doing. Don’t let people suffer in silence. If you see someone that you believe needs some help but won’t accept help from you, please let the police or their family know.
In Saskatchewan you can call/text the mental health crisis line at 2-1-1, or Counselling Connect Saskatchewan Canadian Mental Health Association 1-306-384-9333.
