The Spy Next Door

Readers were disturbed by Katherine Laidlaw’s exposé on Pete Forde, the Toronto tech CEO who photographed his housemates naked and has been charged with seven counts of voyeurism. There was some debate, however, about what motivated him.

“The thrill of the act is not an uncommon justification for anything from cheating on one’s spouse to shoplifting. Pete Forde tells Katherine Laidlaw that ‘it’s far less sexual than everyone has the right to assume.… Jumping out of a plane would be easier.’ He should have taken up skydiving. It’s painfully obvious that he is rationalizing his way out of the guilt and shame that he absolutely should be feeling right now.

“Even if I set aside everything I, as a mental health professional, know about voyeurism and buy his claim that he didn’t get a sexual thrill out of this behaviour, the fact that he is still entertaining the notion of forgiveness with the women whose privacy and trust he utterly violated demonstrates a lack of basic decency. Until he actually cares to understand the harm he’s done, he is going to remain an isolated and rejected man who deserves to be isolated and rejected.”

—Sam Getty, torontolife.com

“So many people, even very successful people, seem to have a conflicting drive to self-destruct. Most of us act and then rationalize the ‘why’ later. Know yourself, people. Be on guard.” —IGnuGnat, Reddit

“He didn’t have a drive to selfdestruct. He had a drive to use women for his sexual purposes. And he was arrogant enough to think he wouldn’t be caught.”

—Pigeonofthesea8, Reddit

There was also debate about the value of doing the story at all.

“Not to take away from the specificity of the experiences of Pete Forde’s victims, but all we have here is yet another predatory loser who unfortunately had the smarts to be able to do to women what many men wish to do. The ‘boon’ of his interview throws no light anywhere. There are literally millions of Torontonians doing positive and progressive things with their lives who are more deserving of a few pages in your magazine and of our collective time.”

—Rachael Hancock, Toronto

“A really well-written story that will creep you out. You should read it despite that.”

—@judithtimson, Twitter

“It’s weird to read an article about someone you worked with doing bad things. I hope everyone involved finds some peace.”

—@MichaelTutton, Twitter