Are These Grounds for Legalizing Pedophilia?

[Saint Frankenstein]

And according to the fact they physically and psychologically damage the child.

I'm not arguing that it's okay to have sex with children. I'm just saying that a pedophile and a rapist aren't the same thing. The psychology of the two is not the same.

Many researchers taking a different view of pedophilia - Los Angeles Times

I really don't know the statistics of how many don't.

I don't know, either. I'm not getting my information from statistics.

 

[Twilight Hue]

No. It shouldnt be legalized. One of the most heartbreaking accounts was an arranged marriage whereas the young girl around 10 i think died from internal injuries sustained from sex with her "husband" much much older. I can't find the link to that tragedy.

Science has advanced to the point to where it can medically determine a reasonably safe age based on physical and psychological parameters. Let children just be children.....

While pedophiles may be wired a certain way, I would think there must be better alternatives available than complicating and even traumatizing actual childern who are at a time of vulnerability of which can't be compared to that of a full grown adult.

 

[Revoltingest]

Distantly related story:
I once rented an apartment to a convicted pedophile who had sex with a child. It gets worse....the victim was his own daughter. Due diligence required that I interview & thoroughly vet him, & verify that the apartment met all legal requirements. We even discussed what he did & how it affected him, although we avoided the most excruciating details. It would've been creepy if I weren't far more concerned with assessing everything to ensure optimal outcome for everyone...client, neighbors, court, tenant, my company. I believe these perps need a place to live, & it's better that it be someplace acceptable to the court with above board safeguards to him & the community.

 

[LuisDantas]

If the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence indicated that pedophilia were an inheritable sexual orientation, like heterosexuality, would you favor legalizing it on those grounds alone? Why or why not?

Of course not. Why would I?

It matters not what causes pedophilia; it is still something harmful in its expression.

 

[lewisnotmiller]

Distantly related story:
I once rented an apartment to a convicted pedophile who had sex with a child. It gets worse....the victim was his own daughter. Due diligence required that I interview & thoroughly vet him, & verify that the apartment met all legal requirements. We even discussed what he did & how it affected him, although we avoided the most excruciating details. It would've been creepy if I weren't far more concerned with assessing everything to ensure optimal outcome for everyone...client, neighbors, court, tenant, my company. I believe these perps need a place to live, & it's better that it be someplace acceptable to the court with above board safeguards to him & the community.

*shudders*

I'm thinking you might have had a shower or ten after that.
I had to interview a father (along with some more senior members of staff) who we suspected of interfering with his daughter whilst teaching, and that was simply horrible. I guess at least the guy you were dealing with seemed to be transparent. I sat there thinking I was either interviewing someone I really wanted to thump (I taught the daughter), or I was putting an innocent guy in a horrible situation, and I had no idea which was the truth.

*sighs*

Still gets to me when I think about it, so apologies on railroading a response to your story with my own story!

 

[Aquitaine]

Meh, can't we just shoot Pedophiles or something, or at least just lock 'em up until they die or we find a "cure"?

Who'd seriously want to *legalise* such a thing?!

 

[Revoltingest]

*shudders*

I'm thinking you might have had a shower or ten after that.
I had to interview a father (along with some more senior members of staff) who we suspected of interfering with his daughter whilst teaching, and that was simply horrible. I guess at least the guy you were dealing with seemed to be transparent. I sat there thinking I was either interviewing someone I really wanted to thump (I taught the daughter), or I was putting an innocent guy in a horrible situation, and I had no idea which was the truth.

*sighs*

Still gets to me when I think about it, so apologies on railroading a response to your story with my own story!

Oh, stop apologizing. Your story is far more interesting than a debate where
no one disagrees. Anyway, your situation seems more difficult than mine.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Meh, can't we just shoot Pedophiles or something, or at least just lock 'em up until they die or we find a "cure"?

No. Wtf.

Who'd seriously want to *legalise* such a thing?!

It's not illegal to be attracted to anything or anyone. What's illegal is acting on it, in this case.

 

[Aquitaine]

No. Wtf.



It's not illegal to be attracted to anything or anyone. What's illegal is acting on it, in this case.

In that case, who'd seriously want to legalise acting on it?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

In that case, who'd seriously want to legalise acting on it?

No one, really. Although you can find a tiny number of people who want to legalize anything you can think of.

 

[freethinker44]

If the overwhelming weight of scientific evidence indicated that pedophilia were an inheritable sexual orientation, like heterosexuality, would you favor legalizing it on those grounds alone? Why or why not?

Nope, it would a catch 22. First of all, if it infringes another's rights, it shouldn't be legal, so it would stand to reason that it could only be legal if both parties consent. Which is fine, except that no child can or should be able to give proper consent, therefore consensual sex with a child is not possible.

 

[dawny0826]

I'm not arguing that it's okay to have sex with children. I'm just saying that a pedophile and a rapist aren't the same thing. The psychology of the two is not the same.

Many researchers taking a different view of pedophilia - Los Angeles Times



I don't know, either. I'm not getting my information from statistics.

But, a pedophile can be a rapist.

The psychology absolutely can be comparable, when you factor in personality and mental illness.

Of course, someone could have tendencies, notions, whatever and not act upon them, but, when the question is asked...should we legalize it? How the hell do you legalize that which is usually connected to abuse, exploitation and victimization?

Just as important, why would anyone want to?

 

[Revoltingest]

By this logic, it's okay for me to be a murderer at heart, as long as I don't murder.

You'd be surprised how many of us....er, them there are thinking of it but not doing it.
It reminds me of Wednesday Addams' homicidal maniac costume.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

But, a pedophile can be a rapist.

Sure. Just like a person attracted to adult women or men can be a rapist.

The psychology absolutely can be comparable, when you factor in personality and mental illness.

No, they are two different things.

Of course, someone could have tendencies, notions, whatever and not action upon them, but, when the question is asked...should we legalize it? How the hell do you legalize that which is usually connected to abuse, exploitation and victimization?

No one is arguing for legalizing sex with children here.

 

[Alceste]

but pedophiles rape children, children can not give meaningful consent, therefore getting off to the thought of having sex with a child is a rape fantasy.

No, pedophiles are sexually attracted to children. They don't necessarily become rapists, so please don't kill yourself if you feel a strange sexual urge for Harry Potter or something. We don't inevitably act on our impulses.

 

[Alceste]

I'm not arguing that it's okay to have sex with children. I'm just saying that a pedophile and a rapist aren't the same thing. The psychology of the two is not the same.

Many researchers taking a different view of pedophilia - Los Angeles Times



I don't know, either. I'm not getting my information from statistics.

Me neither. My mother in law is a psychoanalyst. She sees people who are sexually attracted to children but do not act on it all the time. They are the majority.

You can't really get statistics on who is sexually attracted to children. Who is going to say yes to a question like that, except maybe to their psychoanalyst?

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

Me neither. My mother in law is a psychoanalyst. She sees people who are sexually attracted to children but do not act on it all the time. They are the majority.

I believe it. I've talked to a lot of people who are attracted to children and none of them want to act on it. I have attractions that aren't legal to act on, myself, and I'm not going to act on them.

You can't really get statistics on who is sexually attracted to children. Who is going to say yes to a question like that, except maybe to their psychoanalyst?

Exactly. Any statistics about it are likely to be flawed due to them skewing towards criminals and the mentally ill. A pedophile who has himself under control isn't likely to identify himself as such.

 

[Alceste]

Nope, it would a catch 22. First of all, if it infringes another's rights, it shouldn't be legal, so it would stand to reason that it could only be legal if both parties consent. Which is fine, except that no child can or should be able to give proper consent, therefore consensual sex with a child is not possible.

Just to reiterate, pedophilia is already legal. Sexually assaulting children is not. That's as it should be.

 

[Wherenextcolumbus]

No, pedophiles are sexually attracted to children. They don't necessarily become rapists, so please don't kill yourself if you feel a strange sexual urge for Harry Potter or something. We don't inevitably act on our impulses.

but a lot of them seem to become rapists or watch child porn, which is rape.

 

[Alceste]

I believe it. I've talked to a lot of people who are attracted to children and none of them want to act on it.



Exactly. Any statistics about it are likely to be flawed due to them skewing towards criminals and the mentally ill. A pedophile who has himself under control isn't likely to identify himself as such.

No kidding. It's so taboo and there's so much public hysteria around it, anybody who has a "thing" for kids but is otherwise completely normal is never going to admit to it in our society.