When does paedophilia become paedophilia?

[Springsteen]

I was listening to the radio this morning whilst in a bookshop (I never caught the name) and I happened to catch a debate about paedophila. One of the main arguments was when it becomes such.

I mean...let's say for example a 17 year old guy has sex with a 15 year old girl (Note to Americans, 16 is the minimum age in the UK) and the girl consented to it, would he be classed as a paedophile?

I mean obviously that isn't the only form, there are online ones.

In other words, where is the line drawn between two people having sex and it becoming wrong?

 

[Thornless]

I think if the two(or more) parties involved (16+) in the act are in their right state of mind and understand and consent to what they are doing should be aloud without parents getting involved... even if they have custody of the 'child(in parents eyes anyway)/teen/young adult' until they are 18 legally.

That's the line for me, while I wouldn't be thrilled if my daughter had sex under 18, I at least know I would educate her enough for her to be able to make the decision whether or not she's ready... compared to my mother just saying "wait until your married", not causing me to loose my virginity at 14 but if she had been able to talk to me more on the subject at length rather than going biblical, I likely made a better choice.

JMO

 

[Meirionnydd]

I was listening to the radio this morning whilst in a bookshop (I never caught the name) and I happened to catch a debate about paedophila. One of the main arguments was when it becomes such.

I mean...let's say for example a 17 year old guy has sex with a 15 year old girl (Note to Americans, 16 is the minimum age in the UK) and the girl consented to it, would he be classed as a paedophile?

I mean obviously that isn't the only form, there are online ones.

In other words, where is the line drawn between two people having sex and it becoming wrong?

Legally speaking, paedophilia is an adult having sex with a child under 12 years of age.

I wouldn't consider a 17 year old having sex with a 15 year old wrong either, that kind of stuff is pretty common, at least where I live anyway.

 

[skyblue]

the problem here is that a teenagers maturity cant be estimated across the board,so a minimum age has to be set

 

[Staci]

the legal age of consent in the state of texas is 17

 

[Tangerine]

I think - from a criminal standpoint - you'd almost certainly have to show a pattern and a proclivity for that certain type of behavior. In other words, just having sex with a 15 year old by itself does not equate to pedophelia. However, if a search of that person's computer revealed porn images of other underage girls, or if there was a history of incidents of a similar nature - then you may be looking at pedophilia as a cause.

Just because I get drunk once, I am not an alcoholic.

 

[Codrus]

i would say that paedophila is the lusting after a child for the purpose of sexual or deviate self gratification, even if it is never acted upon the mental imagery, fantasy or"lust" as it were of a child would still make somone a paedophile

 

[Tangerine]

i would say that paedophila is the lusting after a child for the purpose of sexual or deviate self gratification, even if it is never acted upon the mental imagery, fantasy or"lust" as it were of a child would still make somone a paedophile

Out of curiosity, do you still believe it to be a crime if it is never acted upon?

 

[Codrus]

lust is considered a sin or crime against gods law, but i dont believe in god.

if its never acted upon in the form of physical/mental harm to another than by law it is not a crime, still sick....but by law not a crime.

yes, possesing/distrubuting pictures of children of a sexual nature is a crime/illegal

 

[itsmeJonB]

 

[Codrus]

lol.......

 

[All Else Failed]

pedophilia is simply an attraction to prepubescent children. So a 20 year old that is attracted to say, a 15 year old girl would not be considered a pedophile.

 

[Minor Axis]

I was told recently that at some point in the last 20 years, a 14 year old girl could get married in Utah, you know land of the religious pedophile movement. But way back when, say 1700-1800s, weren't 12 year olds getting married off somewhere?

 

[All Else Failed]

A 14 year old is not prepubescent. That is not pedophilia.

 

[sophie]

From my point of view (admittedly a bit biased) I think the minute you take a sideways look at my daughter, you're a paedophile. Children are NOT objects of sexual desire, they are children for crying out loud! There is NOTHING sexy about a child.

I'm not 100% certain where to draw the line, but there comes a point when a person goes from looking like a child to looking like an adult. You can tell by looking at Soleil that she is 7 years old. There's no one on earth could say "But she told me she was 21!!!" and have it be believable. While I find sexual attraction to obvious children the most disgusting thing on earth, it's a grayer area when it comes to children who LOOK like adults (and are indeed very close to being adults). I think it's a whole different ball of wax the man who wants to sleep with a 16 year old cheerleader and the man who trolls preschools looking for a date.

Ultimately, being unable to definitively say anything other than GET THE FUCK AWAY FROM MY DAUGHTER, I leave that decision to the authorities, and default to saying that anything under the age of consent is legally paedophilia.

 

[sophie]

A 14 year old is not prepubescent. That is not pedophilia.

Some are. Soleil's dad didn't hit puberty until he was almost 16.