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**Mister Agenda** · February 28, 2013 at 4:00 pm

Pedophilia is the state of having a sexual attraction to children. It's perfectly legal, though not socially respectable. Acting on pedophilia, on the other hand, is illegal. Someone with that attraction who never acts on it is to be commended.

There are gray areas, necessarily, since the cut-off age is somewhat arbitrary, and relative age is an important consideration. Part of the dynamic is relative power, which includes social experience. We don't allow adults to make binding contracts with minors because a 30-year-old salesman has too much social power in talking a 14-year old into an easy payment plan. Similarly, there is a difference between a sexual relationship between teens a few years apart with one below the legal age of consent, and one where one of the participants is 15 and the other is 25. It's perfectly possible to write the laws to eliminate most 'edge' cases so you don't have 17 year olds going to jail for having a 16-yo GF or BF. You can't eliminate edge cases entirely because some degree of arbitrariness is inevitable (can they be four years apart or only three? what about three years and two months?), given that we aren't issued with a clear physiological signifier of when we're too young or too old or too far apart in age...or at least we've collectively decided that onset of puberty usually isn't old enough, so we have to pick an age instead.

Deicide73 · February 28, 2013 at 4:02 pm

So I take it you would be the parent in my example. If you think someone against pedophilia is being illogical then so be it.

**Mister Agenda** · February 28, 2013 at 4:05 pm

Are you talking to me? I don't think I stated being against pedophilia is being illogical, although I suppose it could be construed that I am against acting on pedophilia rather than having the condition of pedophilia, which can't really be helped as far as I know.

~~ideologue08~~ · February 28, 2013 at 4:07 pm

(February 28, 2013 at 4:05 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: Are you talking to me? I don't think I stated being against pedophilia is being illogical, although I suppose it could be construed that I am against acting on pedophilia rather than having the condition of pedophilia, which can't really be helped as far as I know.

What's your definition of pedophilia, what age is the cut off point?

Tea Earl Grey Hot · February 28, 2013 at 4:12 pm

**Mister Agenda** · February 28, 2013 at 4:17 pm

(February 28, 2013 at 4:07 pm)mo66 Wrote:
(February 28, 2013 at 4:05 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: Are you talking to me? I don't think I stated being against pedophilia is being illogical, although I suppose it could be construed that I am against acting on pedophilia rather than having the condition of pedophilia, which can't really be helped as far as I know.
What's your definition of pedophilia, what age is the cut off point?

The definition of 'pedophilia' is 'sexual attraction to children' and doesn't include a cut-off point, which is a legal matter and varies between jurisdictions. The definition of 'child' is a human being below the age of full physical development or below the legal age of majority. I personally think the legal age of consent should be at least 15, and that further, the older partner should be no more than 3.5 years older.

~~ideologue08~~ · February 28, 2013 at 4:22 pm

(February 28, 2013 at 4:17 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote:
(February 28, 2013 at 4:07 pm)mo66 Wrote: What's your definition of pedophilia, what age is the cut off point?

The definition of 'pedophilia' is 'sexual attraction to children' and doesn't include a cut-off point, which is a legal matter and varies between jurisdictions. The definition of 'child' is a human being below the age of full physical development or below the legal age of majority. I personally think the legal age of consent should be at least 15, and that further, the older partner should be no more than 3.5 years older.

I know the definitions, i just wanted your opinion of what should constitute pedophilia. I personally don't see anything wrong with a 14 year old having a consensual relationship with anyone. In my opinion 14 should be the cut off point. The fact of the matter is that 14 year olds do get into relationships , watch porn, are out of control on the sexual front.

**Mister Agenda** · February 28, 2013 at 4:34 pm

I agree that what the exact age of consent should be is debatable, as is relative age. I personally have less problem with the age of consent being 14 than I do with the older partner being, say, a third again as old. But I'm aware that it's a personal preference. If the citizens don't collectively agree with me, I won't get my way.

RonaldReagansGhost666 · February 28, 2013 at 4:36 pm

People, people; we don't let kids drive for the same reason we don't let them drink alcoholic beverages or have sex

**Mister Agenda** · February 28, 2013 at 4:37 pm

(February 28, 2013 at 4:36 pm)C3P0 Wrote: People, people; we don't let kids drive for the same reason we don't let them drink alcoholic beverages or have sex

That is correct. Perhaps the age of consent should be tied to the legal driving age. Thinking

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