Is Paedophilia Just Another Sexual Preference?

Originally posted by gfad

Firstly I dont think we can take the opinions of people who society deem to be too dangerous to live with normal people (inmates) as gospel!

And again Im not talking about raping children, Im talking about attraction to a child, there is a difference. Someone could be attracted to a child and even have a relationship without "taking a childs youth away".

Sure you can. After all, many people in prison have been victims of childhood sexual abuse. Are you doubting that they hate them, or just think that their opinions don't count?

When you say relationship, what do you mean? Parents have relationships with their children. Teachers have relationships with children. Do you mean sexual relationship? The fact that someone is attracted to children means that they should never be around them.

OK I see how this thread is going now but Id just like to say that this was just like a thought experiment and Im just playing devils advocate.

Is it concievable that a Paedophile could go through his/her life abstaining from illegal sex? Im not sure...

If paedophilia is a valid sexual preference which some psychologists do think it is, is it possible to provide them with simulated child prnography to keep them from needing sex with a minor?

Originally posted by gfad

Originally posted by lombozo
I truly believe that murderers should be executed. I also believe that a pedophile who actually commits an act against a child should be executed as well. Pedophiles who have child porn, and the like, but have never committed an actual act, should be chemically castrated.
Just my 2 cents

Ok this brings me back to my original point, people used to have these opinions about homosexuals (some still do!). Some homosexuals were castrated. Do you think we may look back in the future on paedophiles as we now do on homosexuals? .... Ok you probably wont, but you see my point?

No offense intended, but no I don't see your point at all. In fact I disagree fully. While history does indeed show, that homosexuals were persecuted, homosexuality and pedophilia are practically polar opposites. While it's certainly not my cup of tea, homosexuality is 2 consenting individuals. Pedophilia is a completely 1 sided, selfish act. Pedophilia is heinous, and I said it before, and I'll say it again, pedophilia should be a capital offense.

Originally posted by gfad
Is it concievable that a Paedophile could go through his/her life abstaining from illegal sex?

Highly unlikely. The disorder causes the thoughts and urges to be carried out. At this point there is no cure for the disorder.

I think the opposite might be the case since there are some studies linking pornography with sexual violence. I'm not sure about my stance on that, but have my doubts. However, I seen no reason to provide them with any preventative measures of that sort. Its a matter of self control. Either they will offend, or they won't. This is not like providing methadone to an adict.

Originally posted by Crakeur

Originally posted by lombozo While I do not link pedophiles and murderers, I hold them in the same disregard. I truly believe that murderers should be executed. I also believe that a pedophile who actually commits an act against a child should be executed as well. Pedophiles who have child porn, and the like, but have never committed an actual act, should be chemically castrated.
Just my 2 cents

I think you might have raised the ire of murderers world wide. In prison, the most despised crime is pedophilia. That's why pedophiles are usually held in special protective custody, lest they have their throat cut but some angry prisoner.

I think they're both horrific acts but I tend to think that murder is sometimes an act of desperation or environment (not saying it is ok) whereas pedophilia is the murder of innocence. Taking a child's youth away, scarring them for life. That is why many convicts attack pedophiles in prison. Payback for something done to them that the convict feels put them in their criminal shoes.

Here, here! I apologize to the murderers. Children are such a precious thing. Pedophilia is absolutely hurting a child in an almost immeasurable way, and wrong to the point of no return.

I would like to say i'm not a pedophile, first off.

I find it hard to understand the sexual attraction to children, and think of it as being preverted and wrong, as others have said, there is an age where we know in this day and age what is right and wrong as a populus, and to exploit a child and take advantage when he/she doesn't know any different is a sick control factor not a sexual act, it morally wrong and most all people would think so, even thinking of sex with a child i think is wrong, negitive and is like feeding a beast waiting for the pandoras box to open and act on the urge
To parallel this with Hedro/homo sexuality is not right and something i would not support.

I am although a homosexual openly, and feel that as an adult i have the right and to practice my sexuality with other consenting adults. I'm like any other normal thinking adult, experianced in both Hetro and homo, but feel that was more comfortable and feel more normal as a homosexual.

Some would say that i am preverted for being sexually attracted to other men, and to carry out that attraction, but as adults we can choose, and as long as we are not hurting others, mentally or emotionally or physically i see no wrong in being sexual

The difference is in thinking Positive and not negitive, step out of the box and you can clearly see the defining lines....

Originally posted by Dark_Raven
consenting adults.

Key phrase. Keep that in mind ya'll. Young children are not capable of a 'sexual preference'. Not really. They aren't capable of understanding all the ramifications of sexual relationships. Even when things are explained to them by a pedophilia PREDITOR they still are not able to give consent because -

1) they really don't understand
2) the pedophile is a preditor and will say/do anything to snare his/her victim.



[edit on 9/15/2006 by FlyersFan]

We all obviously agree that pedophilia is a nasty thing. What about the promotion of children as a sex object? Take a look at the pictures of Jon Benet Ramsey as an example. Now add 30 more girls, just like her, and put them on a stage and hold a pageant. Who's in the audience? Parents and who else? I'm guessing there's a sick group of individuals who follow the 5 year old pageant circuit.

What about young looking escorts? I had a client a few years back who owned and operated an escort service that catered to gay men. His escorts had to be legal but they had to look very young. My client would come by with one of his "boys" and these kids looked like they were in there mid teens at best. His promotion of sex with underage looking boys might help keep a guy from going after the real thing or, worse, it might compel a man to go after the real thing.

It's like any other thrill. You need more and more to give you the rush of the original high.

Originally posted by Crakeur
We all obviously agree that pedophilia is a nasty thing. What about the promotion of children as a sex object? Take a look at the pictures of Jon Benet Ramsey as an example. Now add 30 more girls, just like her, and put them on a stage and hold a pageant. Who's in the audience? Parents and who else? I'm guessing there's a sick group of individuals who follow the 5 year old pageant circuit.

You have an excellent point here. There are lots of things wrong with child pageants, and the sexual aspect definitely there. If you get a chance to watch Little Miss Sunshine, it really shows how insane it is, but in a funny way. The part of the movie that caught me off guard was how much the pageant MC looked like John Mark Karr.

This is exactly the sort of thing that justifies bringing back the death penalty in the UK. Too many wooly liberals.

Originally posted by Dark_Raven
I would like to say i'm not a pedophile, first off.

I find it hard to understand the sexual attraction to children, and think of it as being preverted and wrong, as others have said, there is an age where we know in this day and age what is right and wrong as a populus, and to exploit a child and take advantage when he/she doesn't know any different is a sick control factor not a sexual act, it morally wrong and most all people would think so, even thinking of sex with a child i think is wrong, negitive and is like feeding a beast waiting for the pandoras box to open and act on the urge
To parallel this with Hedro/homo sexuality is not right and something i would not support.

I am although a homosexual openly, and feel that as an adult i have the right and to practice my sexuality with other consenting adults. I'm like any other normal thinking adult, experianced in both Hetro and homo, but feel that was more comfortable and feel more normal as a homosexual.

Some would say that i am preverted for being sexually attracted to other men, and to carry out that attraction, but as adults we can choose, and as long as we are not hurting others, mentally or emotionally or physically i see no wrong in being sexual

The difference is in thinking Positive and not negitive, step out of the box and you can clearly see the defining lines....

Very well said. What you choose to do with another consenting adult is your business, and none of my business. Pedophilia is nothing at all like homosexuality,
and trying to tie the 2 together is ludicrous IMHO.
Just my 2 cents.

In VA we are undergoing the process of committing sexual predators civily after they have served their time in prison. A lot of those commitments are being appealed, but there higher manditory sentences, and judges that will put these "things" away forever, the civil comittments are what we have to use to keep the predators out of society. Well, that's what they get for claiming it as a disorder. They want to stay out of jail by saying they are sick and need help, then help they will get after prison in a state hosptial...forever.

Im obviously not promoting sex with children and Im not even discussing the act of sex with children Im talking about why people are attracted to them. Paedophilia is a real tangible thing that exists and has to be dealt with. Its the elephant in the room.

I honestly believe that paedophilia just like homosexuality isnt something imparted upon you but something you are born with and cant change. I dont think you can rehabilitate a paedophile just as I believe you cant force a straight person to be attracted to somone of the same sex. These things seem to connect paedophilia with other accepted sexual orientations to me.

This of course means that there are people who are born as paedophiles/sexuals ,and I think, dont act on these urges. They go through there lives never having sex with children, maybe even never having sex at all. We never hear from these people because of their secret, they never get counted.

Imagine that paedophilia is a sexual orientation; perhaps there is a higher proportion of paedosexual rapists (child molesterers) than heterosexual rapists because children are intrinsically more vulnerable, yet there are still paedosexuals who dont abuse children just as there are heterosexuals who arent rapists.

And dont scream consent at me, I know!

Originally posted by hogtie
In VA we are undergoing the process of committing sexual predators civily after they have served their time in prison. A lot of those commitments are being appealed, but there higher manditory sentences, and judges that will put these "things" away forever, the civil comittments are what we have to use to keep the predators out of society. Well, that's what they get for claiming it as a disorder. They want to stay out of jail by saying they are sick and need help, then help they will get after prison in a state hosptial...forever.

sure beats having to check the sexual predator lists to see who's in your area.

I'm going to suggest this policy to a friend of mine who has a few years left in office.

gfad,
I agree that this is a predispostion, like heterosexuality and homosexuality. Some are just attracted to children. It is not normal for an adult to be attracted to a child, so what attraction is there, I do believe is part of the psychological makeup. Maybe sexual, maybe a predisposition to control and cruelty towards children. As long as they stay away from them, there isn't a problem. But on this issue, I just see no grey area. The cruel and predatorial nature of the offender leaves no room for any kind of moral of social flexibility. My only conern with understanding their nature is to find better ways to catch them, or better yet, weed them out before they offend.

Crakeur,
Good luck with that. Like I said, there are a lot of appeals going on right now, so it will be interesting to see how it all turns out.

Is it possible that pedophiles have actually developed, from any number of causes, a sexual obsession with children? Lacking consent it takes the form of a predatory act (or, to keep gfad from getting his BVD's in a twist, a predatory fantasy). Most pedophiles have other partner-based sexual outlets. Many are married or in relationships. So could this be a mental health issue (as FF pointed out) in the obsession category rather than a preference?

Originally posted by jtma508
Is it possible that pedophiles have actually developed, from any number of causes, a sexual obsession with children? Lacking consent it takes the form of a predatory act (or, to keep gfad from getting his BVD's in a twist, a predatory fantasy). Most pedophiles have other partner-based sexual outlets. Many are married or in relationships. So could this be a mental health issue (as FF pointed out) in the obsession category rather than a preference?

That's a good question, and though I said that there was a predisposition in a previous post, there are also very strong indicators that it is linked to previous abuse. An offender may have been molested as a child, and while being victimized there could still have been a physical sexual response. In the future the same response could be triggered as an adult. So in that sense, it they may not be born with it, nor would it be a decision to be attracted. Just a physiological repsonse to past sexual sensation.

Well its not right anyway for a start.

Children have rights too. Also maturity into adulthood when they become mentally and physically ready, its simply not sexuality if the other is not matured to do so.
You may as well call a shoe fetishes a sexuality. It is not its an obsession the shoe can not get up and say I want you to lick me. See for me its not does not sound like sexuality its if the other person can not respond with mutual thought and maturity. So if a girl is drunk and she does not understand her situation is it right to have sex with them? You would get the Police round the next day at your house.

Problem is many can not control their urges and I think its part of that make up anyway and people should be pretected or they should come forward and say hay 'I need help' get me out of this menality but instead they let it get out of hand.

Maybe there should be a helpline for these people like drug addicts so they may prevent an event of going to prison or killing someone. The more society hates them the worse they can not come foreward to help them selves. If goes beyond that then prison is best as nothing will stop them.

[edit on 15-9-2006 by The time lord]

Originally posted by hogtie
I agree that this is a predispostion, like heterosexuality and homosexuality. Some are just attracted to children. It is not normal for an adult to be attracted to a child, so what attraction is there, I do believe is part of the psychological makeup. Maybe sexual, maybe a predisposition to control and cruelty towards children. As long as they stay away from them, there isn't a problem. But on this issue, I just see no grey area. The cruel and predatorial nature of the offender leaves no room for any kind of moral of social flexibility. My only conern with understanding their nature is to find better ways to catch them, or better yet, weed them out before they offend.

If it is part of their psychological make-up obviously weeding them out before they offend is the optimal solution but it brings in the problem that you cant lock someone up because you think they are going to commit a crime.

Similarly it almost seems (dont kill me) prejudiced ... discriminating against people because of something they were born with. This applies equally if paedophilia is a disorder ... people with depression or schitzophrenia cant help having the disorder and its considered non-PC to discriminate against them.

Originally posted by jtma508
Is it possible that pedophiles have actually developed, from any number of causes, a sexual obsession with children? Lacking consent it takes the form of a predatory act (or, to keep gfad from getting his BVD's in a twist, a predatory fantasy). Most pedophiles have other partner-based sexual outlets. Many are married or in relationships. So could this be a mental health issue (as FF pointed out) in the obsession category rather than a preference?

Well does a heterosexual person have an obsession for someone of the opposite sex?

Also you cant call a paedophile predatory until they attack someone can you?