Not every pedophile is a rapist.

[c172]

That would be correct.

[Regina]

Because a fetish is getting sexual gratification from a particular scenario or object, while a sexual orientation is the gender you are attracted to. That's not "semantic", they're very different things.

Liking the feeling of being in power over someone helpless during sex is not a sexual orientation.

What's the part I bolded got to do with pedophilia though?

Because like I said, if just being attracted to young-looking legal adults isn't enough for you, it has to be a child, then that's obviously what it is.

I'm not saying I think pedophiles should be demonised and punished if they don't act on their... whatever the hell it is, I haven't said that at all. I'm simply saying why I don't consider it a real sexual orientation in the way that heterosexuality, homosexuality or bisexuality is.

I do think it's a fetish and I do think it's a choice, because like I said I don't see how a) attraction to one specific age group works when you are outside that age group yourself, and b) why these people would be attracted specifically to someone under 18, but apparently not attracted to someone over 18 who looks under 18. I raise my eyebrows at that, I'm sorry.

[Losty]

What? I don't get it...it's like if you told someone "just being attracted to a feminine person isn't good enough for you? It has to be an actual woman?"

Of course it has to be an actual woman. Sexual attraction is a lot more than just physical appearance. But being sexually attracted to children in no way means you automatically like dominating or anything like that.

[Losty]

I find it really weird that you look at this situation and think I can't understand this, therefore it is not true.

On a side note I highly doubt 18 is the deciding factor.

[Angrboda]

Because a fetish is getting sexual gratification from a particular scenario or object, while a sexual orientation is the gender you are attracted to. That's not "semantic", they're very different things.

This is nothing more than a case of self serving definitions. Traditionally acknowledged sexual orientations involve sexual attraction to a sex or sexes. That is not what makes it a sexual orientation. If we're to set the traditional orientations in brackets and ask what makes them unique above and beyond pedophilia, presenting a definition of sexual orientation that can only apply to traditional sexual orientations is simply sidestepping the question. I could equally well argue that a sexual orientation is a non-volitional attachment to a particular class of individuals as objects of sexual gratification, and thereby side step your self serving definition. All you've done is make more semantic distinctions.

Liking the feeling of being in power over someone helpless during sex is not a sexual orientation.

What is your evidence that this is the primary gratification for the pedophile? How do you know that a pedophile doesn't feel genuine sexual attraction to children?

[Athene]

I don't believe pedophilia is an orientation. 

It's a proclivity, that's likely borne of an individual's sociopathic tendencies, IMO.

[Macoleco]

Because the real thing and copy are two different things.

Yes, some adult girls look very young, but you KNOW she is not actually a kid.

Remember the brain is the most important organ when it comes to sex. And the brain knows it is not a real kid, therefore you dont reach the same level of excitation.

[Losty]

Being a child molestor might make you a sociopath but I don't think being a pedophile does.

[Regina]

Because a fetish is getting sexual gratification from a particular scenario or object, while a sexual orientation is the gender you are attracted to. That's not "semantic", they're very different things.

This is nothing more than a case of self serving definitions.   Traditionally acknowledged sexual orientations involve sexual attraction to a sex or sexes.  That is not what makes it a sexual orientation.  If we're to set the traditional orientations in brackets and ask what makes them unique above and beyond pedophilia, presenting a definition of sexual orientation that can only apply to traditional sexual orientations is simply sidestepping the question.

How is it though? Sexual orientation being words to the effect of "the sex and/or gender one is attracted to" is overwhelmingly what "sexual orientation" means by most peoples' definitions, it is considered a spectrum between "attracted to men" and "attracted to women" and it can't really go anywhere else from there. I haven't invented anything new in what I said. You're the one shifting the goal posts and changing up what "sexual orientation" means, not me.

I'm done here. I said my opinion and that is my opinion, if it's "bigoted" then it's gonna have to be bigoted on today, I don't accept it.

[Macoleco]

This is nothing more than a case of self serving definitions.   Traditionally acknowledged sexual orientations involve sexual attraction to a sex or sexes.  That is not what makes it a sexual orientation.  If we're to set the traditional orientations in brackets and ask what makes them unique above and beyond pedophilia, presenting a definition of sexual orientation that can only apply to traditional sexual orientations is simply sidestepping the question.

How is it though? Sexual orientation being words to the effect of "the sex and/or gender one is attracted to" is overwhelmingly what "sexual orientation" means by most peoples' definitions. I haven't invented anything new in what I said. You're the one shifting the goal posts and changing up what "sexual orientation" means, not me.

I'm done here. I said my opinion and that is my opinion, if it's "bigoted" then it's gonna have to be bigoted on today, I don't accept it.

I think the fact that you dont want to change your point of view proves my point.