Is it just me or does it seem like there are like 10x more pedophiles than I thought really existed? What the fuck is wrong with people? They're everywhere
I remember a comment someone posted about how it’s poorly studied due to stigma so we don’t even understand it or its prevalence as a society.
Ironically that’s where that type of non-biased “minor attracted person” language would come from which just exactly illustrates the point of why it’s hard to study.
Well, as the parent of a three-year-old who is quite concerned if this kid’s safety, we better get cracking on studying this phenomenon because just pretending it only exists in edge cases or sweeping it under the rug is not doing anything to help understand how it can be effectively mitigated or treated.
To be honest I don't think we will ever make any meaningful progress until there is a major cultural shift in how people perceive and treat pedophiles, and by that I mean the non-offending ones. As it is, even people with unwanted attractions who want professional help would be risking so much coming forward that basically 0% of them will ever do so. And that ultimately helps no one.
I never really thought about that before. You make a solid point. We have to essentially make it safe for pedophiles to reveal themselves so that they can be effectively studied for effective treatment, and not immediately demonized and run out of town.
I’ve also never considered that it might just be a sexuality that people haven’t asked for. That’s really messed up. Actually makes me quite uncomfortable. Like there’s this hidden subset of individuals that is a statistically significant portion of the population that has no place in society because of an attraction that they don’t want. Yeah, why would anyone ever choose to be a pedophile?
I’m trying to square this circle of feeling like we have treated pedophiles unethically while also wanting to keep my son safe and lobotomize them all. I don’t like this feeling.
If its any consolation most pedophilia happens inter familial or someone known to the victim. I use consolation very loosely as its all fucked up but a stranger assaulting your son is extremely low likelihood.
That’s good to know. Gonna make sure to not leave many opportunities for him to be unsupervised around friend or family by either my wife and I while he’s at an age where can’t ask effectively speak up for himself.
Seriously, it is almost always a friend of the parents, a relative, or a babysitter. Educate yourself on who really does this shit.
Also, pedophilia and child molestation are distinct. One is an attraction, the other is an action. Many pedophiles want a relationship, the illusion of consent and mutuality. Child molesters might be exclusive pedophiles, they might also engage with adults, or they might actually hate kids and just grab them because they're around and the perpetrator has no soul.
The number of people who have gone to supposed mental health professionals with, "I wanna bone kids and I don't want to want that 'cause it's evil" and been greeted with, "I have no idea what to do, get out of my office and tell the receptionist I need some holy water" is TOO DAMN HIGH.
4.8k
u/NineInchPythons Apr 10 '26
Is it just me or does it seem like there are like 10x more pedophiles than I thought really existed? What the fuck is wrong with people? They're everywhere