Van de Velde was booed and jeered while competing at the Games. Dutch Olympic officials went to lengths to protect him from the press during the event.
He has now opened up to Dutch publication NOS about his experience, admitting that while he anticipated backlash, the intensity of it took him by surprise. "I definitely had a moment of breaking down, both before the tournament and during it. But I thought ‘I’m not going to give others the power to bully me away or get me away’.
I do this on purpose. Calm and rational people will attend calm and rational debates. I don’t actually expect to receive rational responses in a thread like this. My only goal is to plant the potential for a rational response when the normal reaction is anger.
So if I had to choose one, I’ll go with very stupid. :) I’ve been called worse by those who claim I am in support of the act of pedophillia, when I am in support of treatment of those who have not taken action, and against the label and stigma produced by our society which stops these individuals from coming forward.
As a culture we equate action and desire without action as the same thing in these circumstances. People then who might seek help do not for a very real fear of their life, potentially literally, ending.
I’ll take very stupid in a semi-relevant thread if it helps even one person decide to seek treatment. Because that decision will stop harm for themselves, and importantly stop potential harm to a child in the future. Whether harm was maliciously intentioned or not.