My older step-cousin just got sentenced

[Nullifidian]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

Of course I don't condone abuse. My dad and step-mother both worked their careers with the Children's Aid Society, my mother was a social worker who now works for Red Cross. I know how bad abuse can get better than almost anybody who wasn't abused themselves. (And of course, can't understand it AT ALL compared to people who've been abused themselves)

I didn't mean to imply you'd actually even consider condoning abuse lol. It was more or less for comedic effect, as if it's not obvious enough already that that's not something to condone at all.

[devonin]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

Well here's a question for the thread:

Do you think the expression of a sexual preference like pedophilia or bestiality or any other preference involving things that can't consent is inherently impossible to express without doing something wrong?

Given things like the Oculus Rift and Kinect, we're clearly not too far away from pretty realistic and immersive VR. This comes down to the debate over things like whether cartoon or animated child porn is actually child porn and/or harmful illegal since no actual children were involved in its production, and thus weren't actually harmed in its production or enjoyment.

The obvious concern is that if you made things like that legal and totally okay, that all kinds of people, now indulging these otherwise illegal things artificially would become more prone to want to go and do them out in the world (And a million studies of violent video games not making people violent argue against that)

So what if we said "Okay people, here's the crazy sex simulator program with all the force feedback bells and whistles. You can do ABSOLUTELY ANYTHING in here, and it's not illegal, it's not criminal, go nuts. BUT if you go out and do any of those things to actual people, summary execution." do you think that would work? Do you think that being able to have as close to real interaction with their fetish of choice as technology can make it would start to churn out a bunch of actual sex offenders? Or do you think being able to exercise that particular fetish whenever they wanted would reduce the chance they felt they had go to do something highly illegal for the same feeling?

[L.B.D.D]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

you can't answer that

because VR does both things

1) introduce people to previously "illegal" sexual arousal they were too afraid to check out before (gateway)
2) satisfy people's twisted or whatever sexual fantasies (control)

hehhh

[Arkuski]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

You guys do realize masturbation isn't a protected right. People shouldn't have a social obligation to support whatever sexual fantasies you have.

[omega_grunt666]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

Completely tasteless and disturbing, yes. Wrong? Only as wrong and virtually slaughtering people (and children) in video games. And people seem pretty OK with that at this point.

People are going to be doing these things regardless of it being legal or not, personally I would prefer to see a shift towards mental health aspect of it all. Instead of needlessly wasting lives and tax dollars on incarcerating people over victim-less "crimes". There always needs to be a big divide between virtual activities and real life (look at the modern video game culture and violent crime for example) and people with issues distinguishing these things, or who can't understand the harm their causing need professional help, not a free apartment and food for X months so they can "think about what they have done".

That being said, I in no way advocate those activities in real life or VR, but since there is no way to stop them in any meaningful or effective way why even try. The effort is better spent educating people and improving overall quality of life regardless of random preferences/fetishes the individual ultimately never had control over. We have a big physical health focus these days, but almost no equivalent for mental well being.

(In response to devonins VR comment, wasn't entirely clear here)

[Dynam0]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

So glad they take dangerous sex offenders like this guy off the streets...

[choof]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

are we really justifying pedophilia

[Coolboyrulez0]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

also remember pedophilia =/= hebephilia =/= ephebophilia

[omega_grunt666]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

are we really justifying pedophilia

Clearly, yes, go grab the nearest toddler.


For real though, people can't control what turns them on, they can however control their actions and seek help if they feel the urge to do anything illegal/immoral. No one here is going to defend someone for propagating CP but its still important to play devils advocate. Otherwise where is the discussion? Pedo BAD, CP BAD, yes good. /thread

[Nullifidian]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

are we really justifying pedophilia

Just as much as teleiophilia (the sexual preference for adults) or any other sexual preference. The feelings aren't something someone can control and any psychiatrist would tell you they come across unusual preferences daily. The act of abusing children is still an abysmal act though, so don't mistake this as justifying or condoning abuse.

[choof]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

child pornography is pretty strongly rooted in child abuse

[Nullifidian]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

Obviously child pornography involves abuse, because the child isn't old enough yet to consent. I'm not talking about pornography but about the sexual attraction itself.

[Dynam0]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

If we're saying people with abnormal sexual preferences (like pedophiles) need psychiatric help...what makes other abnormal preferences acceptable? Is being non-heterosexual abnormal?

Just thought I'd toss a log on the fire

[MixMasterLar]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

hmmm I see the political correctness runs deep in this thread.

I'll agree that pedophilia is an illness, and I'll agree that getting people who feel that attracted to little, underdeveloped children help instead of merely looking them up for 10 years is probably a good idea in it's own right, but how in the hell can you set there and compare that to being attracted to someone your own age? My God it's like you missed the point that they are children who are being abused for someone's sick fantasy

"I'm not talking about the act, I'm talking about the attraction"

Then get that joker some help. Don't encourage people doing this kind of thing. We're talking non-consulting, confused, kids here. How can you even compare this with being homosexual?

Just, how?

[Nullifidian]

Re: My older step-cousin just got sentenced

None of those sexual preferences are "abnormal" really. These attractions occur far more often than you'd imagine. What's important is consent however. If you're sexually attracted to animals, tough luck cause an animal can't actively consent to your advances. If someone is unable to consent properly (children, animals, mentally ill etc. etc.), they need protection. It's the people that have trouble controlling themselves, can't tell what consent is or decide to ignore consent (resort to rape, sexual harassment and what not) that absolutely need psychiatric help/incarceration because they are a danger to others. Even if someone is a pedophile, zoophile or whatever other sexual attraction, it doesn't mean they lack any kind of empathy or reason. You don't go around raping women either just because you have an attraction to women, do you?