I think that’s a little ableist and a lot reductionist, ignoring the people creating these ideas and institutions and enforcing them (including by historically and still in different forms today actually institutionalising people that speak against them), because they didn’t come out of thin air, and the money and power those people have definitely isn’t imaginary.

Don’t blame people grasping at straws for comfort in this shitty shitty world, blame those manipulating and exploiting them for profit and power.

You should give “Praying for Armageddon” a watch.

The TL;DW is that evangelical Christians are outspoken supporters of war in Israel, because they believe it will bring forth the second coming of Jesus.

At the end of the day therapists are just people, and some of them are really terrible (as therapists and or people), also therapy in itself can be outdated and ill-equipped to deal with many issues they as professionals don’t yet understand and or we as a society brush under the rug. Which is one more reason why I think it’s important to recognise that it’s much more complicated than “just don’t do it, I don’t”, otherwise there will never be enough understanding of the influencing factors to enable actual, effective help to become more available (E: my concern isn’t with coddling the paedophiles, but with reducing their numbers to protect as many kids as possible).

Your reply implies that because you struggle with anxiety (as do I, it is not comparable to paedophilia) but are still able to avoid harming others, and are able to reach out for help, that there is no reason why paedophiles can’t just do the same (so basically making the same claim OP on this thread made - if I can do it they should be able to do it too), ignoring that disclosing and getting help for anxiety and disclosing and getting help for paedophilia are two very different ball games for many different reasons, a few of which you even pointed out with your asterisk at the end. So you can clearly understand, to a point anyway, that some people may not have as good an access as you have, but it isn’t only due to money or location, but also lack of professionals willing to, or who are even educated in helping paedophiles, and that some people simply have a more serious condition than you do. So again, and hopefully for the last time - Are you a paedophile? No? Then that’s why you find it easier.

Your reply also implies that I have sympathy for paedophiles and or that I don’t think they should be held responsible for their actions, or that I’m “letting off the hook”, which I’ve already made clear isn’t the case.

🙄

And just to reiterate, this isn’t a defence, and those who do harm others should absolutely suffer the consequences, but you’re never going to stop that kind of harm from happening again and again if you pretend the problem that causes it doesn’t exist.

And to add: acknowledging the source/s of a problem ≠ sympathising with someone who has it.

True, sadly it’s only one of so many contributing/possible factors, and that’s the point - we can only ever try to tackle the problem if we look at the whole (admittedly very large and gruesome) picture, not just the focused anger at the individual that we feel when we first hear such things happen. Which is justified, don’t get me wrong, but punishing one paedophile won’t stop other paedophiles - if it was going to it would have already. Only addressing all of the factors that lead to them feeling the way they do (personally within themselves but also societally, as you point out), so that suitable places for them to turn to for help and treatment can exist, will.

I’ve made it through my entire adulthood without molesting any children…. WITHOUT EVEN TRYING. It’s real easy, the only thing you have to do is not fuck any kids

This is what I am replying to.

None of what you said contradicts anything I’ve said, the only somewhat relevant point you touched on is

it is also the responsibility of pedophiles to not put themselves in positions where they have access to children. They might not be able to help their urges, but they can choose not to work around children or share a home with children.

Which only brings me back to my original reply - are you a paedophile? No? Then that’s why you think it’s that easy.

and

to try and compare how easy it is for you not to do, to how easy it should be for those who have urges you and I can’t even imagine not to do, isn’t really productive - it completely ignores the core of the issue - for some people it isn’t that easy, and they need serious help, before they cause harm, not for their struggles to be brushed off as something that isn’t real because the rest of us don’t experience it.

Are you a paedophile? No? Then that’s why you find it easy.

Not defending this guy or anyone who harms kids, but to try and compare how easy it is for you not to do, to how easy it should be for those who have urges you and I can’t even imagine not to do, isn’t really productive - it completely ignores the core of the issue - for some people it isn’t that easy, and they need serious help, before they cause harm, not for their struggles to be brushed off as something that isn’t real because the rest of us don’t experience it.

And just to reiterate, this isn’t a defence, and those who do harm others should absolutely suffer the consequences, but you’re never going to stop that kind of harm from happening again and again if you pretend the problem that causes it doesn’t exist.

Imagine being so privileged and out of touch that you think going to the same school makes your experience there identical to everyone else’s, as if it is the only influence (it isn’t, that’s why I listed others which you have conveniently ignored) or that they outright teach fascism and you were spared, instead of what they really do which is teach white-washed history and civics, and discourage critical thinking, which has clearly worked perfectly well on you too. Never mind acting as if socioeconomics, religion, ability, race, gender, and so on, and the biases against them that exist in the educational system (and society at large), or the pipelines that rely on those biases and designed (by those in power who need the support) to pick up on those who are most susceptible to it and send them directly in to white supremacy, don’t exist and aren’t fundamental to shaping a person’s experience, understanding of the world and even ability to understand the world (despite there being ample evidence of all of this happening, you just have to be willing to look, and no, I’m not wasting my time doing your research for you because I don’t think you really want to know).

Guess what? Your experience isn’t universal and being less susceptible to one kind of propaganda doesn’t mean you aren’t susceptible to others, or more aware than they are that you too have been manipulated - you’re literally doing the manipulators dirty work for them by blaming their victims instead of them. and the systems they maintain to manipulate and oppress the rest of society for their own gain (I wonder where you learned to do that… 🤔).

As for your ending this discussion - if you actually knew anything about the Nazis, you’d know just how crucial a part propaganda and manipulation played in making them popular enough to gain power. Acting as if Nazis and other bigots are “just born that way” and that you’re simply better than them, is almost as dangerous as they are, and will never lead to any change (which is fine by you, because just like them, you’d rather have someone to punch down at, than aim your anger at those actually responsible and punch up).

TL;DR:

(E: actually, it isn’t quite you, since as we established, you clearly have been influenced by propaganda, just like every other person on the planet because you’re not special, and you certainly do lack those critical thinking skills)

Edit again because I know some people are dedicated to misunderstand things that make them uncomfortable - none of this is a defence of bigots, you’re just never going to address, never mind end bigotry if you insist on ignoring its source, like anyone who blames individuals for systemic issues is doing.

You’ve got it the wrong way around - those making all the money also control the education system and the media and bot farms and very deliberately create an ignorant population and sow mis and dis information to encourage movements like anti-vaxxers. You shifting blame to the people being manipulated absolves the manipulators of their responsibility.

Governments and pharmas don’t intentionally create new diseases

No, but that doesn’t stop them profiteering off them when they happen, at the expense of public health

(E: though lets not act as if H5N1 isn’t spreading entirely due to corporate greed and the lack of regulations and enforcement it buys from the government)

Now apply it to the super rich, before their accountants get their “creative” hands on it.

It perfectly describes what this person is doing - not caring to solve the problem, just to move it along so it’s not in their own back yard.

How NIMBY of you…

hopefully there will be less controversy and more human moments in sports.

Just no trans moments, since they’re all being excluded, but sure, what’s important is that there is no “hoopla” to distract you from your entertainment… 🙄

I had assumed, but didn’t know it was a documented thing that we know happened. Thanks for sharing, and thanks OP, too.

Not that it matters, transphobes will make up whatever excuse they need to dismiss this like they do all other well documented science and facts, they just need so deeply to beat down on someone they see as inferior.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/voices/stop-using-phony-science-to-justify-transphobia/

What if…

Maybe cross that made up bridge when you get to it? So far this hasn’t happened and is only being imagined as a strawman to argue in favour of this transphobic discrimination.

“Separate but equal” where have I heard that before… 🤔