Child Sex and the Law

[The Dharma Bum]

[exploited]

Out of curiousity, do you have any actual evidence that the lefthanded stuff is wrong, other than simply not liking it?

Noting whether or not a person is lefthanded doesn't exactly require a methodology. They either are, or they are not.

[The Dharma Bum]

Well, most recent presidents are left handed. Do you think that means they are physically and mentally inferior child molesters?

[Darkhorse]

[exploited]

The reason I brought this topic up is to demonstrate what I believe should be the most important criminal justice principle of all: compassion. I think the evidence clearly shows that true pedophilia is a naturally occuring phenomenon, which results from differences in brain structure and development.

Problem is, these differences can present very real dangers to children. I will admit that it is possible for a pedophiliac relationship to not be harmful - but I don't think it is very likely, especially not within this particular cultural context.

The point is, we respond to this by throwing pedophiles in jail, where they face systematic brutality for having a condition they cannot help. Then perhaps we let them out... if they agree to stuff like sex offender registries, chemical castration, and other "treatments." I do not think this is compassionate, and based on recidivism rates, it doesn't appear to work anyways.

I believe that more resources need to be focused on pedophilia, so that we may develop a treatment that allows for "normal" sexual expression, but also allows them to control the impulses they have, so that our children are not put into dangerous and frequently life-altering situations. This requires funding, but that funding will not be forthcoming if the common response to pedophiles is "kill them," not "treat them."

I imagine the first thing we need to figure out is how to distinguish true pedophiles from those engaging in violent sexual fantasies that aren't about orientation but instead about inflicting the most pain on the most vulnerable.

The second thing is to dedicate more funding to behavioural-chemical treatments, involving therapy and medication, with the goal of bringing true pedophiles out so we can treat them with dignity, not condemn them with shame.

[exploited]

[exploited]

[uebermann]

Personally, I think the majority of the damage comes from society. Girls and boys are treated waaaay differently by their peers when a situation like this comes up. And even by other adults. The boy who slept with his hot teacher? Treated like a king. The girl that slept with her teacher? Peers will often tease and call the girl a slut and make her feel bad about the whole situation and everyone else around her will treat her like a victim, or like someone who committed a huge sin, all because she fell in love. Due to hormones or other issues really doesn't matter, feelings are feelings.

Obviously the situations are a bit different when talking about a 16 yr old vs an 8 yr old. So age is going to play a part in this too. But for the most part, I don't think there is any more damaging emotional effects than a normal breakup would have if society were to not know about the situation. Anecdotal, but you can check on reddit and plenty of other sites where girls are talking about having sexual relations with teachers in their past and didn't get caught and they didn't view the relationship as tragic, life-shattering experience.

I would like to have a more involved post on this but I am at work and time is short. Maybe after the weekend I can elaborate.

[Mr.Bill]

If a 16 YO shouldn't be held responsible for getting drunk and killing 4 people with a car because he's not emotionally capable of understanding what he did.. Then I don't know how we can expect kids to understand and consent about having sex acts with adults..

[exploited]