Should pedophilia be legal?

[Esquilax]

The answer to the OP is an obvious no and in my humble opinion, it does not deserve to be asked. Alas, it is acceptable here on these forums to do so.

Actually, I'm happy the question got asked here. Because now that it's been asked, we can all respond with a very strong no. And we all need to be saying no, because apparently the message isn't getting across to some people that pedophilia is wrong.

Perhaps this is optimism, but I'd like to think maybe enough nos might prompt someone to think.

[Tea Earl Grey Hot]

The answer to the OP is an obvious no and in my humble opinion, it does not deserve to be asked. Alas, it is acceptable here on these forums to do so.

Actually, I'm happy the question got asked here. Because now that it's been asked, we can all respond with a very strong no. And we all need to be saying no, because apparently the message isn't getting across to some people that pedophilia is wrong.

Perhaps this is optimism, but I'd like to think maybe enough nos might prompt someone to think.

Just saying "no" without reasoned argument backing that up isn't going to do much.

[Autumnlicious]

TGAC has a point.

There is a striking amount of religious logic in this thread.

While I believe that the majority of cases are so clear cut in being illegal, I must note that asserting such a belief does not require that I insist that others bow down to it simply because I said so.

There are much better reasons for being against a type or set of subtypes of relationships than simply a person saying such.

Take for example the issue of consent and being mentally capable, as well as the average person fitting both those categories.

I'd like to remind our moral majority crusaders that they have an opportunity to enshrine their beliefs in well thought out reason.

Pedophilia (average of all cases) is harmful and thus limited in law. The degree of allowing or denying such is variable, between jurisdictions. Minor differences in law alone allows for the possibility of edge cases that are undesirable.

[Gilgamesh]

For everyone in this thread who's asserted that pedophilia = child rape; you're wrong.

Pedophilia should be legal, yes. Having sex with prepubescents (if you're not a young'n yourself (I'm not going to suggest what ages these laws should all go by to allow flexibility)) should not be legal.

[Tea Earl Grey Hot]

Well, in any case, I can ensure you guys I'm not a pedophile. I'm in fact wearing a pedometer right now and it says "0".

[Grockel]

I value your responses, although I'm disappointed that no one has used logic or empirical evidence to challenge my argument.

Gay sex is consensual, pedophilia means unconsensual - therefor rape.

Do children consent to being sent to bed? Do children consent to being fed junk food, or raised catholic? Adults have the right to do whatever they want to children, as long as they don't cause harm.

Children are not asexual. Toddlers have been known to masturbate, even doing so in public as they are unaware of any taboo. Why can't an adult be a apart of this sexual experience? Even a newborn can enjoy non-penetrative genital stimulation.

[Zen Badger]

I value your responses, although I'm disappointed that no one has used logic or empirical evidence to challenge my argument.

Gay sex is consensual, pedophilia means unconsensual - therefor rape.

Do children consent to being sent to bed? Do children consent to being fed junk food, or raised catholic? Adults have the right to do whatever they want to children, as long as they don't cause harm.

Children are not asexual. Toddlers have been known to masturbate, even doing so in public as they are unaware of any taboo. Why can't an adult be a apart of this sexual experience? Even a newborn can enjoy non-penetrative genital stimulation.

I suggest you ask an actual victim of child rape if they enjoyed the experience.

Because the several people I've known who were victims definitely did not.

BTW I'm a father of five girls and grandfather to nine.

And I tell you now that if any piece of slime molested them I'd strangle the perpetrator with their own intestines.

[KichigaiNeko]

Do children consent to being sent to bed? Do children consent to being fed junk food, or raised catholic? Adults have the right to do whatever they want to children, as long as they don't cause harm.

Children are not asexual. Toddlers have been known to masturbate, even doing so in public as they are unaware of any taboo. Why can't an adult be a apart of this sexual experience? Even a newborn can enjoy non-penetrative genital stimulation.

So you are saying that because "Adults have the right to do whatever they want to children, as long as they don't cause harm."
paedophilia is OK?

No children are not asexual-agreed. So this gives an adult the right to have sexual intercourse with a child contra to the societal taboos on the topic?

And no we do NOT 'enjoy' sexual stimulation even as toddlers and certainly not as young children and definitely not as pre-pubescent adults.

From someone who WAS molested according to your "wisdom".
Now fuck off Wanker

[Vera]

Pedophilia should be legal, yes. Having sex with prepubescents (if you're not a young'n yourself (I'm not going to suggest what ages these laws should all go by to allow flexibility)) should not be legal.

Paedophilia is having sex with prepubescent children.

[Aractus]

Grockel there are two things here, and even Germans though he would be loathe to admit it, wouldn't disagree with this.

Firstly, paedophilia is a sexuality, or at least a part of a person's sexuality. Just as a person has the capacity to be sexually attracted to members of the opposite sex, members of the same sex, - and dare I say this (and not be labelled a racist) - members of their own race, members of other ethic groups, they can also be sexually attracted to children.

As we know, you can not change a person's sexuality. So I feel the stigma associated with having sexual attraction for children is wrong, and that it is unfortunate that some people feel that way. That was the first part, the second part I think may surprise you.

Adults having sex with children is considered one of the most heinous crimes. The rape of a child causes significant trauma and physical harm. However consensual sex with children, which may not even be penetrative, is a grey area. In order for something to be justifiably criminalized it must be harmful, for this reason homosexuality has been decriminalized. There are several factors which need to be discussed when deciding if pedophilia is intrinsically harmful.

Grockel, we know as a quantifiable fact that sex has the capacity to be harmful. We most often associate this with rape, but it's not exclusive to the forced rape of another person, sex can be bad even after saying "yes".

Children also do not understand risks and consequences fully as adults do. They are far less likely to want to use condoms (ie "safe sex"), wouldn't know how to get tested for STI's and cannot cope with the burdon of pregnancy on their own.

Not every 11 and 12 year old who has sex is going to have regrets and have it negatively affect them. But it's a very real possibility, and it's a risk that we, as responcible adults, wouldn't want to take. Children need to be allowed to develop into fully functioning adults so that they can make their own life choices, and so that they've been given the best possible start in life.

---

If a 13 year old has sex with a 18 year old on a consensual basis this means she or he will not report him or her at the police.

FIXED that for you! Now it's correct and I agree with it.