It certainly looks like Kitna's life has turned in a completely unexpected, and difficult, direction. I suspect a number of us were hoping there may have been an explaination that would keep young Kitna out of deep trouble but it seems the exact opposite is happening. I can't imagine what his family is going through. He's just a kid himself you know.
After reading the linked articles and reading what he told the police I think society dodged a bullet with this arrest. The alleged chat reads like a person clearly w/o limits of perversion. The quotes and listed (short) chat interaction are so completely telling (and creepy) of his knowledge and intent.
There have been some persuasive studies conducted to explore the possibillity of free will being an illusion, that we are predisposed in our decisions and our actions perhaps predetermined in certain circumstances. A review of Sam Harris's book has this to say ~ The Song Remains the Same: A Review of Harris’ Free Will. A recent series of studies asked the question, “What if free will does not actually exist?” The authors acknowledge that the notion is frightening, but not new, as Wegner and Wheatley (1999) argued that the experience of making a choice is something the brain creates after the choice has been made. Essentially, our experience of free will is nothing more than post hoc causal inference that our thoughts caused some behavior. The feeling (of choice) itself plays no causal role in producing that behavior. The position has remained relevant and empirically-supported up until the present day. Cognitive scientists have proposed that free will is the result of “background noise” (Bengson, Kelley, Zhang, Wang, & Mangun, 2014) in the brain before a choice is made, and that free will is a trick the brain plays on itself (Bear & Bloom, 2016). They describe the experience of making a choice as something the brain creates after a choice has been made. In computer-based, forced-choice, experimental preparations, they find a pattern of responding that suggests the participants’ “minds” swapped the order of events in conscious awareness so that the sensation of choice precedes the behavior of choosing. Researchers proceed to offer what they consider to be a radical solution to a series of related findings in these studies. Perhaps in the very moments that we experience a choice, our “minds are rewriting history, fooling us into thinking that this choice - that was actually completed after its consequences were perceived - was a choice that we had made all along” (Bengson et al., 2014). Although not cited by these researchers, B. F. Skinner argued the same points four decades earlier (Skinner, 1971). In addition to the provocatively titled Beyond Freedom and Dignity, Time magazine featured Skinner on the cover (9/20/71) with the byline “B. F. Skinner Says We Can’t Afford Freedom.” Skinner argued that feelings (in this case, of freedom) are mistaken for causes of behavior because they occur at the same time, yet they serve no causal role (Skinner, 1974). He argued that behavior is a product of past history and current contingencies and therefore behavior cannot be “free” in the common-sense use of the term. For Skinner, the feeling of being free was useful, but not causal in any way. ... .... Free Will by Sam Harris argues that free will is an illusion and that that fact should not undermine morality, or diminish the importance of social and political freedom. Harris incorporates findings from neuroscience and psychology to argue persuasively that free will is an illusion but that abandoning that illusion will not make life less worthwhile or fulfilling. Harris acknowledges early on that if the scientific community were to declare free will an illusion, it would “precipitate a culture war far more belligerent than the one waged on the subject of evolution in the 20th century (p. 1).” Of course, Skinner proved that postulate by instigating his own culture war in the 1970s by advocating the same thing. That is, that free will is a useful illusion. ________________________________________ What if Free Will as conventionally thought is but an illusion allowing us to live our lives believing we are in control, but our actions are predisposed or even predestined as some scientists propose. But taking it further, yes Free Will does exist, but only when we make choices running counter to what might be expected. Bundy was predisposed to be a killer. Though he knew right from wrong, good from evil, he was unable or unwilling to make the better choice to spare lives by exercising Free Will. He preferred to selfishly followed his baser predisposed inclinations, satisfy his perverted desires and murdered innocent victims in his path. I propose Free Will is the unselfish action exercised when we choose to do things for the benefit of others rather than following our selfish or baser desires, however they may have entered into our psyche and influenced who or what we are or becoming. It could be said it allows for karmic retribution and possibilities for positive change and redemption. Should people like Bundy and Kitna be punished for their offences? Yes, I say. They knew or know the laws, they knew what they were doing was wrong but rather than abstain or cease in their antisocial behaviors they chose to continue the behavior, selfishly gratifying their perverse desires rather than doing what they knew to be 'the right thing.'
As a Christian I’ve literally given up on certain seemingly intractable debates, free will or no being one of them.
I was sickened, disgusted, confused, disappointed and just sad all at the same time last night and this morning. It’s hard to feel all those things at once …but this kind of news will do it. Heartbreaking.
Thank you lacuna. Indeed - Does such a thing as "Free-Will" even exist? Compelling subject matter. I'm no Freud or Erickson but "SEX" is a difficult subject to tackle. Difficult because Americans can't speak freely on the topic and even if they could are typically villified for it if they do. I know i struggle with this topic. What "indeed" are the factors involved with the decisions relating to indulge in heterosexual and homosexual sex? Or for that matter sex of any kind - Voyerism? Pedophilia? Necrophilia? Femicide? Much like death, this subject is not properly elucidated in American Society. I don't think most Americans are comfortable discussing it so they simply don't talk about it. Sex is typically a "physical" act and by implication that aspect is not "dinner-table" stuff. I don't know many people that like to acknowledge if they are dominate or submissive, if they like pain combined with pleasure, one or the other, both or neither. I do think one of the terrible shortcomings of our American Society is the pathetic way that this issue is pigeonholed and filed into an orthodoxy that is typically controlled by religous if not political points of view. Sex is as much a part of our lives as our lungs and breathing, sadly, rather than acknowleding a perfectly normal behavior, that can lead to a better quality of life, many many people wish to treat it in ways that result in sexual repression, mental trauma, personal and work related power plays, and an entire litney of social behaviors that keep sex (in the Closet). NO, I am not suggesting Kitna's behavior was in any way excusable but I do think that the Republican social contract with the American people, (forced Judeo/Christian belief system) with Ron DeSantis as the current "standard bearer" may currently be defined as social "de-evolution"
I'm just disappointed the team/UF response hasn't been more absolute. Suspended indefinitely is a weak passive response. I don't like reading headlines about "Florida QB Kitna". Needs to be "former", and should have happened yesterday. I get innocent until proven guilty and due process, but being a player at UF is a privilege, not a right. For GPD to have known about this in June and then arrest him a few days after the season ends.... could be random timing, but the optics are just horrible. UF and Napier should have been way out in front on this, and all we have is yesterday's UAA statement.
Do want them to super-duper suspend him? Its hard to say they are being too lenient. No one thinks there's a path back here do they? If you think he's owed due process, what complaint can you really have?
Must have been one of the best kept secrets in all of Gainesville. UF's Kitna to post bond as details of case emerge
I saw June too …but UF was never involved in this. Went straight to law enforcement and federal. The university was caught off guard by this, as is everyone. There may be a few who might try and spin the optics but overall I think any reasonable person could look at this for what it is. An unfortunate situation involving a young athlete living a secret and abhorrent fantasy life.
The timing is curious but the report on the investigation linked above by G8R92 stated the investigation began in June, not that GPD were notified or became part of the investigation. That's not clear and still conjecture at this point I think. From the same link - The Gainesville Police Department released Kitna’s arrest report Thursday, providing graphic details about the complaints filed against the now-suspended football player. The investigation began in June with a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children into images of child pornography being shared on the social media platform Discord. The investigation led authorities to Kitna.
I practiced as a prosecutor and defense attorney for over 30 years. The sex crimes involving children were the worst cases for me I ever handled. Over everything. Still have nightmares....
The timing could be because it took a long time to investigate ... they probably had to get several warrants along the way, and several branches of law enforcement cooperating across multiple states and jurisdictions, as they traced the anonymous postings back to his phone or computer.
Has anyone told us how old the girl(s) were? Also, were the pictures of someone who had them taken against her will? I'm not condoning Kitna's actions but I'm trying to get more informed on this situation. If the girl(s) was 17 and posed on her own free will without telling people she was underaged that might slightly change this situation.
Six months doesn't strike me as odd ... initial investigation, larger investigation, prosecutor's office, grand jury ... I could honestly see them trying to accelerate it so that there's less media circus if AR declared and he was the starter for the bowl game.
