Pedophilia. Is it a problem, and is there a solution?

[Agent Proto]

Alright. If you haven't heard on the news, children in Florida have been molested and/or have been killed by sex offenders. It's been rough for kids, and their parents, and there is renewed interest for the lawmakers to decide what to do with pedophiles. The legislatures in Florida are deciding whether to lengthen the prison terms for sex offenders, or deciding to go to a more costlier "solution" as to "tag" each sex offender to keep a watch on them for life.

However, there's also study that suggests pedophilia is a disease or problem, similar to that of alcoholism, and it can be treated so that these "urges" could be more controlled on. Either way, this pedophilia is probably becoming a bigger problem, where no child can be safe.

What do you believe about pedophilia? Do you think it's a big problem? Do you think it can be treated like it's a disease? Is there a solution to the bigger problem?

[Alice]

ofcourse its a problem and no there isnt a solution. Its not a disease, more like a mental illness...its not related to anyother disease (as you said alcoholism...). Most people think homosexual men r the ones doing it when in actuality 85% of child molestors turn out to be straight men.

Its always been a problem since forever, and I dont think we can fix it. Its like raping and killing.. no fixing it, just punishment by the law.

[Rye]

If paedophilia is a disease, then someone better had find a cure, because the people who are paedos are, to put it frank, sick ****ks.

A paedophile is the worst type of person, in my books. It ruins a child's life, their family's life, and it's just plain disgusting.

[Casey]

Especially that story recently about Jessica Lunsford who was abducted in her home late at night. It just happened to turn out that the location where she lived was in a area of about 80 sex offenders/child molestors. I think the best action is to prevent this from happening is to inform the public of where these predators live. Also on the parents behalf they have to make sure that every lock in the house is locked, that their childeren are being supervised, that they do not live in a area with alot of sex offenders/child molestors, etc. Maybe even hire a bodyguard if your rich, just like that one movie "Man On Fire" which was good movie by the way...

Its always been a problem since forever, and I dont think we can fix it. Its like raping and killing.. no fixing it, just punishment by the law.

[Necronopticous]

There is a big difference between a pedophile and a child molestor, if every guy out there watching lolicon anime was molesting children, and if every guy watching tentacle hentai was raping women there would be a hell of a lot more crime than there actually is. The main thing is whether or not the person acts on whatever their bizzare fantasy might be. All acts that come out of people acting on these fantasies are definately a problem. I do believe that fantasies can be treated in a sense that they can be let go, what is unfortunate is that I think it requires the person to actually WANT to be free of that fantasy and those who are acting on it most likely do not care to rid themselves of it.

In essence, I think that even if we could free pedophiles and sex offenders of their taboo fantasies, it probably will not bring down the actual crime rate of rape or child molestation because those who would actually act on the impulses will generally not be the ones seeking treatment. Getting the fantasies our of pedophiles who would not actually molest a child is great but unfortunately will probably not stop child molestation.

edit:: However, one definate advantage of the possibility of ridding pedophilia related fantasies would be that the incentive for those criminally producing child pornography would decline as there would be less people trying to get their hands on it.

[TasteyPies]

Oh, I know! Lets brainwash them and load them up with pills!

I bet you a fiver if anything happens its something close to that.

[udsuna]

I'm the resident psych major here, I'll field this. To define pedophelia as a "mental disease" is a slippery slope, and not entirely accurate. To be honest, what makes people desire children is as much a mystery as homosexuality. True, some cases are the result of molestation or abuse, but most are absolutely impossible to predict.

What I CAN tell you, is there is no cure, probably will NEVER be a cure... I pity "pedophiles" in that they can't help their desires. It's the child molesters, the ones who actualize that desire, that I can (and will, and do) hate.

Ultimately, nothing can change a pedophile... just like homo or hetero sexualities, it's a more or less permamently locked system. The only effective way to stop pedophiles from desiring what they do is the same way as any other sexual alignment: kill the sex drive entirely.

The problem with that is obvious, when you realise that most child molesters don't UNDERSTAND what's wrong with what they do. Their feelings are as "natural" to them as mine are to me. They think it's *right* somehow. If someone started telling all homosexuals that they were to wear ankle bracelets and use hormone-surpression therapies...

Oh, and if you want to know what the numbers on pedophiles are:

25-30% (otherwise) Heterosexual males.
10-15% (otherwise) Gay or Bisexual males- this catagory is primarily the victems of molestation themselves.
35% Pedophile males, who have no sexual interests outside of children.
20-30% Women... unfortunately, female pedophelia is GROSSLY under-studied. This is the best guess with current knowlege, and we really have no idea. The number could well go up to 50% without surprising me at all. Women aren't suspect as much, they get reported less, the reports are believed less often, and DNA evidences are harder to acquire.

It should be noted that a great many pedophiles actually *SURPRESS THEMSELVES* and never act upon their desires. Just as a normal person can choose celibacy, so can a pedophile. Which could easily alter the statistics... we really don't know how many people out there actually desire, but never pursue, this behavior.

EDIT: To answer original post. YES, it's a problem. NO, it cannot be cured (without destroying sex drive entirely- which I'm cool with- I say "snip, snip, good bye testicles and/or clitoris"). And as far as I'm concerned, the most effective solution involves a big pen, a .22 caliber rifle, me, and unlimitted ammo.

[Emerald Aeris]

I woudln't call it a disease. Cancer is a disease. Manic depression is a mental illness. Pedophilism is just a predisposition that someone has, an unfortunately malignant one, much like alcoholism, or being a psychopath. It's different in a way I'm struggling to explain.

[Kawaii Ryûkishi]

There is a big difference between a pedophile and a child molestor, if every guy out there watching lolicon anime was molesting children, and if every guy watching tentacle hentai was raping women there would be a hell of a lot more crime than there actually is. The main thing is whether or not the person acts on whatever their bizzare fantasy might be.

Not nearly enough people get this.

[The Captain]

Has anyone here ever read "Lolita" by Vlad Nabokov? It's an interesting take on this whole discussion.

Take care all.

[Sasquatch]

I don't see much difference in paedophiles and homosexuals, to be frank.

"And as far as I'm concerned, the most effective solution involves a big pen, a .22 caliber rifle, me, and unlimitted ammo."

A .22 has low power. And what's the big pen for? Either way, I concur.

I also don't believe that alcoholism is a "disease", just like drug addiction, but that's a different subject entirely.

[udsuna]

A .22 has low power. And what's the big pen for? Either way, I concur.

The pen is so they can run and try to dodge, the .22 is because I like them (and they will break through human skulls, so they're good enough). The idea is simple: one should a little time for each target. Instead of just mowing them down with a chain gun.

Although, when selling the footage on pay-per-view, it might be best to use the chain gun :shoot: .

In all seriousness, pedophelia really is as much a mystery as homosexuality. But, before you start thinking this is an anti-gay thing, we really don't know what causes people to be hetero or bisexual, either. I'm bisexual, I try not to gay-bash. Even when the truth sounds like it.

[fire_of_avalon]

Everything I've ever read about pedophilia catalouges it under psychological paraphilias, which envelop most sexual deviations and fetishes. I've never read about homosexuality or bisexuality being listed as a paraphilia, however I have a very tenuous grasp on the little I know about psychology. I just don't see how, scientifically speaking, the two of them are nearly similar, other than the fact that no one is entirely sure why this happens.

In the end, real psychological help is out there for people who need it. I think some people just don't want to lose their sex drive, and really who would?

However, I do feel sex offenders, while they do have rights if they have paid their debt to society, should be monitored much more closely than they are currently. I also think Megan's Law should have far stricter rules on forcing state and local governments to notify residents of a sex offender moving into the area.

[Alice]

Saquatch

I don't see much difference in paedophiles and homosexuals, to be frank.

make me wanna punch you why doncha...

how can u not see a different.. pedophiliacs are feeding off the powerlessness of a child, while homosexual men/women feed off of the love of their partnets. Pedophelia borders on rape... homosexuality is a consentual thing, and is usually about love, rarely domination.. HUGE difference between an adult and a kid, and an adult with another adult... baka....

[Fourleafclover]

I don't see much difference in paedophiles and homosexuals, to be frank.

You may disagree with someone, but your choice of expression is basically a flame. --foa