This is one of those takes that’s so controversial I’m afraid to post it, which is exactly why I have to.

I neither endorse nor disavow this, and no, I’m not in the picture.

  • milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee
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    28 days ago

    As to people who have paedophilic desire - rather than those who actually rape children - there wasa very interesting thread I read a while back, on Reddit I think, of “I’m a paedophile, AMA”. Very interesting to see the experience of a couple of people who have that attraction but choose not to molest children by acting on it.

    Child sexual abuse is a very serious evil, but regarding attraction to children, I think treatment’s a very appropriate route.

    • Jerkface (any/all)@lemmy.ca
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      26 days ago

      Do people generally need treatment not to rape everyone they are attracted to? I guess I’m special that way. I’m into all sorts of (adult) people and I’ve never had the impulse to rape any of them.

      It’s not that weird that pedophiles don’t abuse children. We all manage our sexual feelings.

      • milicent_bystandr@lemm.ee
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        25 days ago

        Aww, your so spethal.

        Clearly some people do need treatment to not go and do evil things with their desires. If you can save a person from their own desires, by treating them, isn’t that better than executing them?

        But for those who don’t - and I hope… wish that was most people - that desire can still eat away at you and make life unhappy, especially if you don’t have any legitimate way to fulfil your longing for romantic relationship. Treatment, including good, old, counselling (when done right) can help.

        And consider a middle ground. The incel who always complains at women because he can’t get a girlfriend. The married woman who flirts with other husbands. The rich businessman who makes his attractive secretaries uncomfortable but never quite abuses them. The paedophile who can’t hang out with their friends who have children without feeling urges and making inappropriate remarks. Are these egregious enough to cut those people off from society? But if you can help them; if they’re willing to be helped; their quality of life and those around them can be improved.