Poll: Do you think Pedphilia/Ephebophilia (Sexual Attraction to Minors) is Genetic?

[Deleted]

preface: I'm not trying to defend these guys. This thread could also be about bestiality since it is another 'well known' sexuality. Personally I think full-out bestiality is completely wrong, and pedophilia is completely wrong too. But 'mild' versions (furries and lolis) are okay as long as it doesn't hurt anyone.
preface2: When I say Pedo in this thread I mean someone who is into kids from 12-16, anything younger is on a whole 'nother level to me. There's a difference between kiddy-diddler and jailbait-lover. The proper term for this type of attraction is ephebophilia. ut society just calls them all pedophiles so I will too.

Also I'm not trying to bash any sort of sexual preference, I just want to know what you think? With homosexuality, I hear gay people saying its a choice, and gay people saying its a genetic. We may never know, BUT if it was genetic they wouldn't be able to 'help it'. Right? Could this be the case with pedophilia? Or is that sexual preference somehow 'different'?

In this society, pedophilia is probably the worst thing you could be into, because there are pedos who act out on their urges. If it was publicly known that it was 'genetic' I think it would just make people hate pedos more. People would cite the bible saying its a disease, and they'd consider these pedos 'tainted forever'.

To me, the only difference between homosexuality and pedophilia (I don't think pedosexuality is a word) is that sexual relation with a minor on principle is rape. Because they don't have the intelligence or experience to make that decision, even if they're physically 'ready' for it. because of this, it has been outlawed (Which I don't disagree with).

I'm just curious as to whether or not you've taought about this and do you think finding out the answer (genetic or choice) will change the way we see pedophiles?

Ugh. It's late, and I don't feel like editing any grammar mistakes. It was in the wrong forum but now I fixed it.

 

[NeutralDrow]

preface2: When I say Pedo in this thread I mean someone who is into kids from 12-16, anything younger is on a whole 'nother level to me. There's a difference between kiddy-diddler and jailbait-lover.

Then you've got your definitions mixed up. Pedophilia is attraction to prepubescent children. Attraction to 12-16 year olds (in other words, pubescent minors) is ephebophilia.

Also I'm not trying to bash any sort of sexual preference, I just want to know what you think? With homosexuality, I hear gay people saying its a choice, and gay people saying its a genetic. We may never know, BUT if it was genetic they wouldn't be able to 'help it'. Right? Could this be the case with pedophilia? Or is that sexual preference somehow 'different'?

In this society, pedophilia is probably the worst thing you could be into, because there are pedos who act out on their urges. If it was publicly known that it was 'genetic' I think it would just make people hate pedos more. People would cite the bible saying its a disease, and they'd consider these pedos 'tainted forever'.

To me, the only difference between homosexuality and pedophilia (I don't think pedosexuality is a word) is that sexual relation with a minor on principle is rape. Because they don't have the intelligence or experience to make that decision, even if they're physically 'ready' for it. because of this, it has been outlawed (Which I don't disagree with).

I'm just curious as to whether or not you've taought about this and do you think finding out the answer (genetic or choice) will change the way we see pedophiles?

Ugh. It's late, and I don't feel like editing any grammar mistakes.

Because I'm not a psychologist, psychiatrist, biologist, pharmacologist, sociologist, or statistician, I don't see how you expect me to form an educated answer.

And if you're looking for uneducated answers, I'm afraid I have to ask why.

 

[Deleted]

Then you've got your definitions mixed up. Pedophilia is attraction prepubescent children. Attraction to 12-16 year olds (in other words, pubescent minors) is ephebophilia.

I didn't know the word for attraction to pubescent minors, but that's what I wanted to go for. That's the main type of 'pedo' you see on TV though. With shows like to catch a predator and whatnot. I'll edit my OP with the proper word.

Because I'm not a psychologist, psychiatrist, biologist, pharmacologist, sociologist, or statistician, I don't see how you expect me to form an educated answer.

And if you're looking for uneducated answers, I'm afraid I have to ask why.

Because I care about the escapist's opinions. Isn't that what the off topic forum really is for? I was just curious as to how nobody has brought it up yet. I'm sure many people on the escapist has thought about whether or not homosexuality could be a choice or genetic, its the same thought process that goes into this question too.

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

Gonna quote what I wrote in the other thread...

I don't think it's either. If sexual preference was genetic that would suggest that it's inheritable, which as far as I know isn't true. It's not a conscious choice either because there are plenty of people with 'abnormal' sexual preferences who don't want to be abnormal. Some pedophiles seek professional help because they don't want to have sex with children but they still get that urge. Some homosexuals spend their entire lives trying to be straight, but they're still gay. That tells me that they simply are what they are and that they can't help it. Of course if those urges tell them to do something illegal (like in the case of pedophilia) and they act on those urges they deserve to be punished, but just having those urges is not something I think they can do anything about.

I personally think it's more akin to a mental affliction. It doesn't sound very PC to say that, and I don't mean to say that any sexual preference that's different from the norm is automatically a Bad Thing, but I do think it has more to do with the person's mind than any kind of genetic aberration or personal choice.

 

[grimsprice]

Because I'm not a psychologist, psychiatrist, biologist, pharmacologist, sociologist, or statistician, I don't see how you expect me to form an educated answer.

And if you're looking for uneducated answers, I'm afraid I have to ask why.

Fucking. YES.

This man deserves a cloak of purple velvet, and a hat that says "i am the prophet of reason". I can't agree more. If you want a real answer, and not internet speculation, ask an expert. If the experts don't know, don't speculate and call it a legitimate answer.

However. If you're after "internet speculation", i'd say its a mixture of both. As it usually comes out that neither extreme is the answer.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Then you've got your definitions mixed up. Pedophilia is attraction prepubescent children. Attraction to 12-16 year olds (in other words, pubescent minors) is ephebophilia.

I didn't know the word for attraction to pubescent minors, but that's what I wanted to go for. That's the main type of 'pedo' you see on TV though. With shows like to catch a predator and whatnot. I'll edit my OP with the proper word.


[=quote"NeutralDrow" post="9.183643.5500171"]
Because I'm not a psychologist, psychiatrist, biologist, pharmacologist, sociologist, or statistician, I don't see how you expect me to form an educated answer.

And if you're looking for uneducated answers, I'm afraid I have to ask why.

Because I care about the escapist's opinions. Isn't that what the off topic forum really is for? I was just curious as to how nobody has brought it up yet. I'm sure many people on the escapist has thought about whether or not homosexuality could be a choice or genetic, its the same thought process that goes into this question too.

I guess I can understand that, then, even if I still can't countenance it. Asking for opinions on something that is very much a factual question from people overwhelmingly with little or no background qualification...it strikes me as bizarre.

I mean, I guess it'd be a good way to trick people into answering the question "what do you feel about people attracted to jailbait," when they might not respond to that question with any truthfulness, but it seems kind of roundabout.

 

[mad825]

I mean someone who is into kids from 12-16, anything younger is on a whole 'nother level to me. There's a difference between kiddy-diddler and jailbait-lover.[/i]

I fail to understand your understating of peodfillia.

it is possible to mistake any one at that age for an 17-18 year old, some females can look very developed at those ages and not every one bothers to check their official ID to make sure that they are the "right age"

 

[Nerf Ninja]

I've always said that given time paedophiles will eventually become organised to the point they start being able to claim "victim" status saying they are genetically predisposed towards this "affliction" I personally find it abhorrent but I can honestly see it coming.

 

[fenrizz]

I personally think it's more akin to a mental affliction. It doesn't sound very PC to say that, and I don't mean to say that any sexual preference that's different from the norm is automatically a Bad Thing, but I do think it has more to do with the person's mind than any kind of genetic aberration or personal choice.

I think this sounds about right.

At least I can't imagine it being a choice.
You cannot choose who or what you are attracted too.

 

[Hurr Durr Derp]

Because I'm not a psychologist, psychiatrist, biologist, pharmacologist, sociologist, or statistician, I don't see how you expect me to form an educated answer.

And if you're looking for uneducated answers, I'm afraid I have to ask why.

If you want a real answer, and not internet speculation, ask an expert. If the experts don't know, don't speculate and call it a legitimate answer.

Don't be boring. If people were only allowed to discuss matters in which they have absolute authority then this would be a very quiet place.

 

[Wounded Melody]

I think that it is genetic, since psychiatrists say that pedophiles can never be "cured", but I also think that these people choose to act on their instincts.

 

[InsanityRequiem]

Having taken courses into psychological studies, I can say that pedophilia is neither fully a genetic thing nor is a choice (I'm talking both the 5-11 and 12-15 age types that are victimized). Sometimes it 'may' be one or the other, but usually it's a forced thing. Most of the time, both men and women that are aroused by underage partners (That's what I'm calling the victims of pedophiles) are doing these acts because they too were victims to pedophiliac victims. Basically one large never-ending circle of pedophilia. The perpetrators, having been victimized either by molestation and/or sex at such a young age, went under such a drastic and traumatic experience that their brains re-wire their neural networks from what a normal* person would perceive as disgusting and vile to arousing and pleasurable. While it is a wrong and horrible act, these people were once and still are victims to what has happened to them to create into the pedophiles of today.

If these people that were victimized as a child were given the proper treatment and help before the act they repeat on a child, then things would be different. This also would work with the child of abusive parents and such, as they too could become a pedophile when they reach adult age.

*Normal as in pertaining to consensual sex with someone your age, plus/minus about 3-4 years when you are 22 year old.

 

[Deleted]

I mean someone who is into kids from 12-16, anything younger is on a whole 'nother level to me. There's a difference between kiddy-diddler and jailbait-lover.[/i]

I fail to understand your understating of peodfillia.

it is possible to mistake any one at that age for an 17-18 year old, some females can look very developed at those ages and not every one bothers to check their official ID to make sure that they are the "right age"

But once you're in your 30's its not socially acceptable to be with 18 year olds. The idea of pedophilia is that you're into the younger girls your whole life, instead of your taste changing as you get older.

We're talking about the 30 year old creeper who watches the kids in middle school walk home from school, not a 20 year old who like high school girls.

 

[Craftybonds]

No. Not even a chance.

The reason why homosexuality has been speculated as a genetic inheritance is because homosexuality frequently occurs in nature, amongst other species. Another reason is that homosexuality is usually something that is realized at a young age. I realized that i was a bi-sexual around the age of 12, around the time puberty started hitting. i had a natural attraction to men, and women alike, it never felt weird to me, and i never questioned it. There is the question of nature vs. nuture, of course, but this is something that has yet to be determined.

As far as my knowledge tells me, i cannot name you a single species other than human beings who have been known to have sex with prepubescent specimens within the species. Also, almost every case of pedophilia that i've heard of, the subjects experienced sexual abuse at younger states in their life. Along with that, most pedophiles are in their 30's and 40's, it's not like any of them decided that they wanted to have sex with other people between the ages of 5 and 15 at a younger stage in their life.

 

[NeutralDrow]

Because I'm not a psychologist, psychiatrist, biologist, pharmacologist, sociologist, or statistician, I don't see how you expect me to form an educated answer.

And if you're looking for uneducated answers, I'm afraid I have to ask why.

If you want a real answer, and not internet speculation, ask an expert. If the experts don't know, don't speculate and call it a legitimate answer.

Don't be boring. If people were only allowed to discuss matters in which they have absolute authority then this would be a very quiet place.

You don't need authority to talk about what food you like, or what the latest current event might indicate for the world, or the observed behavioral patterns of budgies, or whether or not Halo has a worthwhile story, or the like.

There's a word for people who form strong opinions on things they know nothing about. Several words, even.

 

[Deleted]

GRRR People stealing my threads (that I would get around to in another 6-12 months <.<, actually I was going to make one kinda similar but did not think it would go over well.)
Anyway. I do not hold it against these people. Everyone has their own fetishes or preferences and none of us can help them. I am sure they can no more control their desire for children than I can mine for latinas or redheads.
And hell, its only within what, the last 100 years or so that sex with anyone under 16-18 has been considered "wrong".
I honestly do not even care if people have CP on their computers because I would rather them get these urges out in their own homes than have them snap after bottling it up and actually acting on them. And any gamer on here who claims that violent video games give us a safe way of venting without harming anyone has no choice but to agree with me.

So I do not know if it is genetic or just a desire for the taboo. However considering the risks involved if people even find out they have these urges I am gonna say that no, its not a choice so is something they can not control.

Well the thing about CP is that someone is taking the pictures, which means some poor kid is being scarred for life. Try to imagine porn of you as a kid being wank-material for some weirdo o_o. However drawn CP (i.e loli or jailbait) is fine by me, I like it a lot...

Erm, other than that I agree with your post.

 

[grimsprice]

Because I'm not a psychologist, psychiatrist, biologist, pharmacologist, sociologist, or statistician, I don't see how you expect me to form an educated answer.

And if you're looking for uneducated answers, I'm afraid I have to ask why.

If you want a real answer, and not internet speculation, ask an expert. If the experts don't know, don't speculate and call it a legitimate answer.

Don't be boring. If people were only allowed to discuss matters in which they have absolute authority then this would be a very quiet place.

1st: There is a big difference between "someone with legitimate knowledge", and "absolute authority".

2nd: Its quite easy to ask a different question, instead of "what is the factual answer to this question, people who don't know.", it might be better to ask "what is your opinion on this question? And why do you think that."

Which, incidentally, the OP actually asked. I although i still agree with Neutral Drow. And i thought i'd express that agreement. Rather emotionally in hindsight.

 

[NeutralDrow]

As far as my knowledge tells me, i cannot name you a single species other than human beings who have been known to have sex with prepubescent specimens within the species. Also, almost every case of pedophilia that i've heard of, the subjects experienced sexual abuse at younger states in their life. Along with that, most pedophiles are in their 30's and 40's, it's not like any of them decided that they wanted to have sex with other people between the ages of 5 and 15 at a younger stage in their life.

Um...I think I've heard something similar, but aren't you mixing up "pedophilia" with "child molestation?"