- I'm a member of the Virtuous Pedophiles online community. I can assure you that we don't exchange "pedophilic tips and tricks" on how to groom and molest children. The only tips and tricks we exchange are on how to best avoid situations that could put some of us at risk of offending. But even if it sounds hard to believe, the vast majority of us pose absolutely no risk to any children. Sexually abusing a child has simply never crossed our minds, and we are as confident that we'll never do it as anyone can be confident that they won't commit any other crime. For the most part, we don't have irresistible "urges" that we have to constantly fight, and for those that may, easy and safe access to professional help can really help make children safer. But unfortunately the current environment isn't conducive to pedophiles coming forward and admitting to professionals that we have these attractions, with mandatory reporting laws and all the stigma associated with our condition.
- We didn't choose to be sexually attracted to children, and we'd very much like not to, but it is what it is and we cannot change it. Who in their right mind would choose to voluntarily belong to the most vilified and hated group in modern society? All we ask for is some understanding that just having certain desires does not automatically turn us into child rapists, much like any heterosexual man is not automatically a woman rapist. We are not ticking time bombs, and we don't deserve to be automatically hated for having attractions that we did not choose and cannot control. What we can control, though, is our actions. A pedophile and a child molester are two different things. Many pedophiles (I'd be willing to bet most) never molest children, and many child molesters (according to some studies up to 80%) aren't even pedophiles.
- Many of us internalize society's attitude towards us and develop strong feelings of shame, guilt and self-hate that lead to severe episodes of anxiety or depression, suicidal thoughts and, all too often, actual suicide. An individual in distress is much more likely to make a poor choice and harm a child. Perhaps a lot of people don't care that every year too many teenagers that discover their attractions for the first time can't cope with them and decide to take their lives, all because they are too afraid to seek professional help. Perhaps some people will care, and will realize that changing our attitudes as a society and encouraging pedophiles to seek help if they feel they need it can only lead to better balanced individuals and safer children.
Stikked
