Will pedophilia ever be legalized?

[COBHC]

Before you say "no", keep in mind that people 60 years ago would have never thought that someday people would be pushing for legalization of gay marriage.

I guess there'll be a movement for legalization of pedophilia or adult-child marriages by 2050, unfortunately. There already are some underground freaks who think it should be legalized, like Jack McClellan or NAMBLA.

Eventually, pedophilia will be considered acceptable, movies will be released depicting adult-child "romance" just like Brokeback Mountain depicted homosexuality. And anyone who stands against pedophilia will be labeled as an anti-pedophile bigot or a Christian zealot. And personally, I don't think we should waste time wondering if pedophilia will be legalized. Our time will be better wasted finding out when pedophilia should be legalized.

It's only a matter of time until some generation loses common sense and starts saying it's OK to be a pedophile. I guess you people should feel luckier than me, since I'll probably be one of the few people here to live long enough to see such a tragedy.

[Iuris]

Let's keep the fine terminology aside and ask instead how the norms regarding acceptable age for sexual activity and age difference between sexual partners will develop.

For most of history, what we now call pedophilia (actually hebephilia) was the norm. Puberty is the moment when biologically humans are supposed to start sexual activity and the expected delay to 18 years is quite recent and (in my opinion) artificial. Examples abound. Not so many years ago, a question of decades, actual teens (not the current 18+ teens) were present in erotica and pornography, arranged marriages were arranged for rather young couples, etc. etc. etc. Only recently have some extreme cases of sexual abuse of minors started a moral panic which has made these practices unacceptable.

Personally, I see it as unrealistic. When puberty hits, boys start getting attracted to the girls around them (and vice versa), and just because they turn 18, they don't instantly turn from normal teen to adult pervert for retaining that attraction.

I therefore expect that the norms will relax eventually, returning to sexual maturity as the turning point for acceptable sexual activity. I actually see this as a good thing, purely biologically, as I am concerned that the recent trends of delaying pregnancy to ever later periods and away from the ideal biological child bearing age as harmful.

HOWEVER, this has NOTHING to do with the matter of consent or abuse. I do hope we shall not return to the stage where the woman was the property of the man and her consent was seen as automatic. So, while I see nothing wrong with a teen being with an older partner, good luck trying to actually find one willing. After all, the vast majority of affection goes to persons roughly the same age, so those with a youthful fetish may well find their affection unrequitted.

[jitobear]

Lets get the FACTS correct, shall we? Pedophilia is legal now. Acting on it is not. Not is every adult who molests a child is a pedophile. Children can't consent to and are harmed by sexual activity with adults. There is a huge difference between a consenting adult and a child. Between sex and rape. And no, I do not forsee rape being legalized any time in the future.

Comparing consenting adults to rapists. Pretty freakin pathetic.

[JPSartre12]

Originally Posted by Iuris

Let's keep the fine terminology aside and ask instead how the norms regarding acceptable age for sexual activity and age difference between sexual partners will develop.

For most of history, what we now call pedophilia (actually hebephilia) was the norm. Puberty is the moment when biologically humans are supposed to start sexual activity and the expected delay to 18 years is quite recent and (in my opinion) artificial. Examples abound. Not so many years ago, a question of decades, actual teens (not the current 18+ teens) were present in erotica and pornography, arranged marriages were arranged for rather young couples, etc. etc. etc. Only recently have some extreme cases of sexual abuse of minors started a moral panic which has made these practices unacceptable.

Personally, I see it as unrealistic. When puberty hits, boys start getting attracted to the girls around them (and vice versa), and just because they turn 18, they don't instantly turn from normal teen to adult pervert for retaining that attraction.

I therefore expect that the norms will relax eventually, returning to sexual maturity as the turning point for acceptable sexual activity. I actually see this as a good thing, purely biologically, as I am concerned that the recent trends of delaying pregnancy to ever later periods and away from the ideal biological child bearing age as harmful.

HOWEVER, this has NOTHING to do with the matter of consent or abuse. I do hope we shall not return to the stage where the woman was the property of the man and her consent was seen as automatic. So, while I see nothing wrong with a teen being with an older partner, good luck trying to actually find one willing. After all, the vast majority of affection goes to persons roughly the same age, so those with a youthful fetish may well find their affection unrequitted.

You don't see the harm in promoting childbirth for physically mature, but mentally immature teens? How many young teens do you know that can afford to raise a child? How many young teens do you know can establish a long-term commitment to a spouse?
Wow!

[josephdphillips]

Originally Posted by JPSartre12

You don't see the harm in promoting childbirth for physically mature, but mentally immature teens?

It's going to happen with or without promotion. I myself am the product of such a union. My mother was 16, my father was in his late 20s.

Originally Posted by JPSartre12

How many young teens do you know that can afford to raise a child? How many young teens do you know can establish a long-term commitment to a spouse?

I don't know of any adults who can afford to raise a child, nor any that have established long-term commitments to spouses. Most marriages end in divorce, and many children are raised in poverty, as I was.

Pedophilia refers to an attraction to children who are prepubescent. I don't see that being legalized ever.

[COBHC]

Originally Posted by josephdphillips

Pedophilia refers to an attraction to children who are prepubescent. I don't see that being legalized ever.

Most people in 1950 never saw gay marriage being legalized ever. I think it's only a matter of time.

[Jo Bennett]

Originally Posted by COBHC

Most people in 1950 never saw gay marriage being legalized ever. I think it's only a matter of time.

There is a qualitative difference between the two. It is possible to demonstrate that adult-child sexual activity is harmful to the child, and that children lack the emotional capacity for informed consent. The legalisation of homosexual activity is a result of a philosophy that says that it is not enough to disapprove of something to make it illegal, it must be demonstrably harmful to people who haven't made an informed decision to take part in it. There is no slippery slope that leads from the legalisation of homosexual activity to the legalisation of adult-child sexual activity.

[JPSartre12]

Originally Posted by josephdphillips

It's going to happen with or without promotion. I myself am the product of such a union. My mother was 16, my father was in his late 20s.

Your story sounds like that of my grandparents. My grandmother was 16 and my grandfather was 26 when they married. He was 97 when he died and she was 93 when she died, having been married for 71 years.

I don't know of any adults who can afford to raise a child, nor any that have established long-term commitments to spouses. Most marriages end in divorce, and many children are raised in poverty, as I was.

My condolences, but you're chatting with one that can and has. I have three post-grad kids and a wife of 31 years and counting and enjoy a comfortable life. We waited to have kids until we could afford to raise them on one income and neither of us came from wealthy homes. In fact, my mother was widowed when I was 13 and never remarried.

Pedophilia refers to an attraction to children who are prepubescent. I don't see that being legalized ever.

Personally speaking, as long as they make bullets, neither do I.

[josephdphillips]

Originally Posted by COBHC

Most people in 1950 never saw gay marriage being legalized ever. I think it's only a matter of time.

The marriage of adolescents to adults, or to each other, does not bother me. In 1950 it was legal, and society has not changed since then.

[josephdphillips]

Originally Posted by Jo Bennett

There is a qualitative difference between the two. It is possible to demonstrate that adult-child sexual activity is harmful to the child, and that children lack the emotional capacity for informed consent. The legalisation of homosexual activity is a result of a philosophy that says that it is not enough to disapprove of something to make it illegal, it must be demonstrably harmful to people who haven't made an informed decision to take part in it. There is no slippery slope that leads from the legalisation of homosexual activity to the legalisation of adult-child sexual activity.

So it boils down to what "informed" means.

[gansao]

The Pashtun men in Afghanistan are partial to the odd sexual encounter with young boys
Afganistan Homosexuals......... or not

[COBHC]

Saudis to review marriage law after 8 year old weds man, 58 - Telegraph

Arab girls don't have it to good. They're basically slaves to their husband. It's the same with some Hindu girls, but they're expected to marry before puberty.

[COBHC]

Originally Posted by josephdphillips

The marriage of adolescents to adults, or to each other, does not bother me. In 1950 it was legal, and society has not changed since then.

Getting rid of the age of consent is a completely different issue.

[josephdphillips]

Originally Posted by COBHC

Getting rid of the age of consent is a completely different issue.

I wouldn't repeal it, but I would lower it.

The question, if I understand it correctly, is whether or not we will legalize sexual relations between adults and prepubescent children.

I don't see that happening, because there is a consensus that such children cannot give informed consent.

I think the more interesting question is whether approval of polygamy will follow approval of gay marriage.

[COBHC]

Originally Posted by josephdphillips

I wouldn't repeal it, but I would lower it.

The question, if I understand it correctly, is whether or not we will legalize sexual relations between adults and prepubescent children.

I don't see that happening, because there is a consensus that such children cannot give informed consent.

Like I said, people in 1950 could barely imagine a world where most people are in favor of gay marriage. I think it's only a matter of time.

I think the more interesting question is whether approval of polygamy will follow approval of gay marriage.

I bet it will.