What does the word paedophile mean to you?

Question

I accept that the original meaning of the word; a person who loves children, has been changed.

But the way the word is being used, I am confused as to its exact meaning nowadays. A dictionary definition, states a paedophile is someone who has sexual desire for children. Does this include children with that desire? And if it is only 'desire' how can we have a 'committed paedophile' a common expression on the bbc news?
It is like saying a man who desires women, is a rapist, even if he never has sex.

Answer 1

paedophile means child abuser (they have sexual desire for children) children dont have that desire at such a tender age coz there still innocent, a man is only a rapist if he forces himself on to someone that is why its called rape.

Answer 2

an adult who has sexual desire for children. why the difference? because i don't think it's considered natural (and therefore not acceptable) to have a sexual desire for anyone who has not reached sexual maturity. and i'm talking physically as well as mentally. that might be the fault of society as it stands, but so be it and that's why we have the law. there don't need to be 13 year olds with 28 year olds. (like there used to be) and....rape has more to do with violence than sex. i wouldn't say a man is guilty of rape if he merely desires women. if a man desires to commit violence against women in the form of sex then, yes, i would consider him a rapist even if he's never committed the act. he's apparently at great risk for doing so and anyone who's disturbed enough to desire such a thing, just might be disturbed enough to commit such a thing. of course, you never know if someone will until after they do it. but, that's why we lock up people that do this. (or try, some of the time, at least) so they can't do it anymore.

Answer 3

A sexaul bully who targets children in the same way a rapist targets women then can control.


It does not applay to teenagers over and under the age of concent as too close and age or somone in 20s with a 15 year old.

Those callsify as boarderline and you take them on merit.


Ie if older mature guy and very immature girl then bad,

But if older guy is just immature and the two genuinely like each other and know what they are doing and all open about it fine


But peadophiles aint borderline they really target kids and usually well below the age on concent and not teenagers. They are seductive and manipulating and hurtful

Answer 4

now that would depend on the age of the person dating the 17 year old, however I belive at 17 you have the right to make your own choices. Now if they were like 14-16, and the person dating them was 20-25 they are so pedifiles. I understand that yes there are worse pedifile out there such as the ones who pray on younger childre, but a pedofile is a pedofile all the same!

Answer 5

I wouldn't know about absolute definititions, but as far as I'm concerned a paedophile is someone who seeks and has sexual contact with children. And I suppose that could mean other children.

People who fantasise about such things could be said to have paedophilic fantasies, but it is only a problem for society, and a crime, if they act on them.

No, men who desire women are not rapists - it would only be that particular act of aggression that would make them one.

I occassionally fantasise about helping myself to the contents of a bank vault - should I be called a bank robber even though I've never acted on it? No. That's not to say I think it's OK for men to fantasise about children, but as a society, we can't control what goes on in other people's heads.

Answer 6

I dont know about other people but to me paedophile's are older men or women about 25+ attracted or turned on my young children aged 15 and below.

I dont believe anyone has "commited paedophilia" unless there has been some sort of action or "move" made. such as pictures, stalking, touching and so on.

Interesting question...? Good luck xoxoxo

Answer 7

Being a pedophile is a psychological disorder. It has to do with an adult who gets sexual pleasure from children...the idea of them, the sight of them...I won't go any further. They don't ever have to be physical. It's a mental thing. They can't control their thoughts, but most certainly can control their actions. It's wrong and unnatural. It's falls under the same category as a necrophiliac. A man who desires women is heterosexual.

Answer 8

I would say that a paedophile is an adult with sexual desire for children, and a 'committed paedophile' is an adult who has acted on their sexual desire for children. It is a grey area, but I think that most people don't realise that there are paedophiles who do not act on their desires.

Answer 9

It means an adult who has sexual feelings for children, which they put into practice and sexually abuse children, usually small children but minors in general. A committed paedophile means someone with a police record for abusing children.
They are the one group about whom I regularly reconsider my stance against the death penalty. I hate them, root and branch, because sexual abuse destroys a child's innocence and marks them for life.

Answer 10

I dont like the word paedophile and do think its very sick for people who are adults and they lust after children for sex. But i also think the goverment have got it all wrong aswel they spend more time on little petty crimes instead of bigger things