Are pedophiles or hebephiles who don’t act on their desires still just as bad?

[Anonymous]

For example if a teacher who’s like 27 has a crush on her student who’s 14, and she feels attracted but doesn’t act on it is she still horrible? Or a guy who’s like 25 and has a thing for a girl who’s 15 is he still sick? These are two examples of hebephilia.

[HSalenko]

Just as bad? It really depends. From a practical standpoint: no. You can't control people's thoughts no matter how grotesque. Abusing minors is the big reason it's taboo, so after the fact we have a pathology instead. From a philosophical standpoint, you could argue yes because much of the time it's that same pathology that drives people to abuse children and teens to begin.

It's not that clear cut though, a lot of cases of sexual abuse don't have anything to do with a sexual paraphilia. Sometimes people molest children to torture them or force them into submission, not because they're attracted to them.

The key thing to remember is these are sexual disorders, very dangerous ones that we presently have no cure for. That means a pattern of symptoms and problems in the brain. That's hardly an excuse, but it puts things into context that it's not a simple topic.

Research into it has been mixed and controversial due to the sensitive nature of it and complexities of the brain and genes. If science proves you can rehabilitate and prevent pedophiles, then there's no reason not to. In the meantime, we're left with people among us we can never be 100% sure of, making the world a truly scary place.

[abc3643]

No. Because we all have dark illegal thoughts but we don't act on them. That's what the inhibition center of the brain prevents us from doing. Whether the reason is ethics or morals or competing instincts or simply the fear of prison, the person doesn't act on the illegal behavior.

Acts are criminalized.
Thoughts are not.

[Hot_Mess_Express]

Personally if you aren't hurting anyone than I don't see the problem. I'm not a fan of gimp bondage or scat play. But if they keep it to themselves and don't break any laws I don't feel the need to demonize them. We can't control what we desire. So I don't think we should be blamed for it.

[Apple1996]

Yess they are still messed up in the head for having those thoughts even if they don't act on them

[Agape93]

And admins called me offensive for saying exactly that. At least someone here has some fucking sense.

[Apple1996]

@Agape93 this site is crawling with pedos and they literally don't care 🙄 it's ridiculous tbh. If people with these type of thoughts were given the chance to act on them without anyone finding out they would. The only thing stopping them is getting in trouble with the law. When it should be their own morals that are stopping them from thinking or acting on these thoughts

[Agape93]

Exactly. Personally I'd rather just kill them. I even wrote to my senators and governor saying I'd do it pro bono if they kept the law off my ass. No reply.

[Destiel_24]

I'm not saying it's right but it's obviously not as bad as someone who "acts on their desire"

[PBandJ_Nerd]

If they never act on them then it's better they seek help for it.

[Anemone978]

It is creepy.. but if they aren't acting on it, it defo is not as bad as an actual pedophile lol

[Agape93]

Yeap.
Line them all against a wall and give them a dose of permanent sleep.

[Dargil]

How is either of them "bad" of they don't act on their appetites?

[Wonderingguyy]

No they are not just as bad. They can’t help what they are attracted to. Just as long as they don’t act on it!

[exitseven]

We all supposedly have free will. If you are tempted to steal a car but do not do it because it is against the law does that still make you a criminal?

[Jazzy54]

Adults should only desire adults. Period.

[_piotr]

No. People cannot control their temptations. But they can control their actions. If one does not fall and act on the temptation they cannot be classified as evil.

[KostasKouvalis]

The fuck is a hebephile?

[Averageguy69420]

A comedian made a joke saying there are different definitions for people attracted to minors, like child, those right before puberty, and minors after puberty, but knowing the difference tends to make you look like a pedo. Based on the askers question I'm assuming it's the minor after puberty one.

[Juxtapose]

@Averageguy69420 pedophilia is literally attraction to prepubescent children.

[Averageguy69420]

@Juxtapose Yea and hebephile is being attracted to teens, just noone usually separate the terms, do the person was asking what it was.

[KostasKouvalis]

That's honestly more accurate than lumping them all together

[Lokiion]

I wouldn’t say they just as bad they not good but they have restraint and they not physically or verbally doing anything sexual to the kid

[LiamJHayden]

Of course not. Any person can have an inclination to some type of evil. Acting upon it is what makes it evil. Or, more simply, you cannot control and are not responsible for your feelings but you can control and are responsible for your actions.

[Juxtapose]

People think about torturing and killing other people all the time, I would say that's worse than wanting to bang some 14-year-old.

I don't care what people think, I care what people do.

[AngryCarl2]

If there's no crime there's no criminal.

[Shamalien]

Obviously not anywhere near as bad as the child or young adult is not affected by another’s unrealized thoughts.

[jeffend888]

With all of the obsession around pedophilia, especially on social media, it won't be hard to get opinions on this.

[Twalli]

If you can't be attracted to people closer to your age it's more of an issue. Part of it being illegal is action.

[OddBeMe]

Obviously not. The act is bad. Thoughtcrime isn’t.

Interesting documentary about a man in the UK who came out pedo. And has been studied by experts etc. Looked like he’d commit suicide any day, just from his face. He was so ashamed. But you could say it’s not his fault. Wires in the brain get crossed. People start having sex with trees.

[riverrat3]

No, if the do not do anything they are not guilty

[Anonymous]

Nope

[Anonymous]

Your forgetting the 30 year old women teacher wanting her 16 year old male student...

[Opinion Owner]

What was that second word?

[Anonymous]

Why does the kid have to be 15 though? Plenty of girls in their 20s have smooth skin and flat chests paired with a immature attitude. You could find youthful characteristics on an older person that takes care of themselves.

[Asker]

It’s just an example but it does occur often in real life too. Men in their 20s only desiring teen girls and not someone who’s older but takes care of themselves to stay youthful