What's to blame for all the pedophiles?

Question

Has the internet brought out the worst in people who would have been pedophiles either way, or are all these news stories glamorizing child pornography and turning otherwise decent people into pedophiles? Thoughts please!

Answer 1

I don't think its the number of pedophiles but the fear of them. I remember as a child being out by myself or my friends well away from home without fear or even knowing about such a thing. I also believe that the news stories that make us fearful encourage other pedophiles because they "advertise" the low success rate of catching them. The publicizing of "how to" catch a child sites on the Internet by the media also allow pedophiles to learn how to do it successfully.

Like many other areas our free speech can makes us less safe. I also grew up when Playboy was only sold in liquor and tobacco store, and it was kept under the counter. TV did not even have married couples sleeping in the same bed, and the station would be closed if it showed naked people with their privates fuzzed out that I recently saw on a non-adult TV channel. A scandal was a movie star sleeping with someone other than their husband or wife. So our current focus on sex I think emphases it even if it is depraved.

Just like gays were required to hide their true selves or be demonized by the community, Pedophiles and those with depraved urgings restrained themselves. I think it is good that consenting adults are allowed to be free to be themselves but it requires that we be more vigilant and harsh on those who take advantage of the Innocent and weak.

Answer 2

No. I don't care how "glamorous" some news report makes pedophilia out to be, I am not sexually attracted to children. (although I have never seen anything glamorizing this activity, since it victimizes one who has not got the capacity to consent). The internet is just a tool. Just like you can use a hamme to put nail in a board or to smash someone's skull, the internet is only as good as the user.

Edit to Wise One: if the depravity of American society is to blame, why is it that some parts of Eastern Europe and Asia have "sex tourism" where people from all over the world go to victimize children without fear of prosecution? America is not to blame, my friend.

Answer 3

they should be blamed for not controlling their urges. And yes, i some cases sentenced to the death penalty. What they do to a child is worse than death and least that can only happen once and then its done. When a child innocence is taken away and they are violated, they are left to live with and deal with that for the rest of their life, which can be extremely damaging Side Note to Loyd... - You should probably do your research about the issues and the nominees track record before you go just jumping on the McCain bandwagon. Obama did not support the Live Birth Abortion bill because there are already laws on the books that require that a hospital/doctor do everything medically possible to save that life, so no he is not saying kill the baby if it survived the abortion. Do your research!

Answer 4

I don't think that there's been an increase in pedophiles, only an increase in reported cases of abuse. People have been molesting children for ages.

I don't know what's to blame though. Perhaps it's that our culture equates young faces and slender figures with beauty. Also, it's probably a form of mental illness. I can't imagine a healthy, sane person being sexually attracted to a child.

Answer 5

i dont think the internet has anything to do with it. Im not sure there has been given a reason for that yet. It could be from having been sexually abused as a child themselves, and i believe most sex offender have been but to find a child attractive, they have to be sick, so there might be some mental illness, something in the brain that triggers the attraction. I dont think much research has been done to prove either way.

Answer 6

I haven't seen a news story glamorizing pedophiles. They have always been with us, since before the Internet. It is simply that people are becoming more aware of the problem. These creatures are reviled.

Answer 7

Pedophiles have something wrong in their wiring and make-up to begin with, then you can blame the easy access on the Internet and the glamorization on the media.

Answer 8

We have always had pedophiles and we probably always will. Now days we have more means to catch pedophiles and yes the internet does help to bait them. Also victims are not ashamed to say what has happened to them and more reporting is going on now. No one has the right to violate another and we need to keep strong and work to keep them off our streets, airwaves and where ever else they go.

Answer 9

Pedophilia?
You realise, of course, that pedophilia in royal families alone was quite widespread during various periods of the last millenium, right? People have this notion that we are less moral today than we were in the past. If you actually took a good look at our collective past, you'll realise that this could not be farther from the truth.

Answer 10

well, not to make justifications, but it is important to note that for the majority of human history both marriage and sex has commonly occurred between what would currently be considered "minors".

18 is an arbitrary #, and many of the problems regarding pedophilia are modern day problems that were not such in centuries past.

maybe its the fact that western societies are oversexed and repressed; maybe its that, due to global media, children are trying to act like grown-ups at a younger and younger age...who knows?