Here is my assessment of the discussion so far:

[name deleted] presents the case that (1) pedophiles are human, (2) not all pedophiles are child molesters, and (3) a de-demonization of pedophiles would be more productive in curbing child sex abuse. Pedophilia is an unchangeable mental condition, such as schizophrenia, for which support and therapy must be sought.

The other posters on the board contend that (1) pedophiles are monsters, (2) all pedophiles are, or are in danger of becoming, child molesters, and (3) pedophiles must be demonized because they are demons and because such an element must be eradicated from society. Pedophilia is a dangerous sexual craving for innocent children, akin to an uncontrollable desire to rape others. In their minds, intimate contact between adults and minors is always wrong, just as rape is always wrong.

The crucial question: is pedosexual behavior (sexual contact between an adult and a minor) always wrong? If it is inherently a moral evil, then we probably ought to lock them up for life or place them under constant surveillance, as we would do to someone with an impulse to rape others. Another important question: does pedophilia constitute a compulsion to engage in pedosexual behavior?

I think the above two theses are highly arguable — pedosexual behavior is not necessarily 100% wrong in all cases, and poor impulse control and pedophilia are not necessarily part of the same package. Here is a preliminary effort to defend my position:

Contention A: Pedosexual behavior is always wrong; or pedosexuality is an inherent moral evil
Reason 1: The minor is unable to consent.
Response 1: A five-year-old certainly does not possess the mental apparatus to weigh the factors and reach a good decision, here “good” denoting what is beneficial to him or herself. But someone in their middle to late teens certainly can consent to sexual behavior. Also, the age of consent is rather arbitrary, based on a notion (as someone pointed out earlier) that individuals magically start making responsible decisions when they reach age X. Another point to consider is the behavior being consented to. As people mature, the meaning of sexual activity changes. Speaking from my (rather limited) life experience, I know my conception of sex when I was 11 was considerably more concrete and stimulation-oriented than my current attitude towards it. Young children have a simplistic and concrete view of sex, usually without the symbolic significance adults attach to it. For a seven-year-old, sexual stimulation “feels good”, and that’s that. Is it possible that, for example, when they agree to be fondled, they “consent” to the “feel good” stimulation only?

       

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