Is it only a matter of time before we see a sympathetic pedophile?

Sounds like HH from Lolita.

Sounds like someone is a little too sensitive? It’s a show…..And even if such a show existed, you wouldn’t have to watch it lol.

I very much doubt it, as I think that would be viewed as a step too far. Can you imagine the outrage of people who had been affected by that, and the raw emotion that they feel, there would be complaints galore.

Pedophilia wouldn’t really work… in Dexter.. he is killing people who have killed other people… there is at least a hint of righteous order and judgment in that.. even if done with the improper channels… I think it would be a little difficult to put a righteous spin on pedophilia…

No chance. The key to Dexter is that he follows a code – to only kill bad guys. It’s that bending of morality that allows us to sympathize with him, albeit in an imaginary, fictitious context. I can think of no redeeming qualities that a pedophile would possess, or a code he would follow, that would even approach sympathy.

I don’t know about a TV show, but don’t we already see “sympathetic pedophiles” from time to time? I’m thinking particularly about some of the youngish women (mid-20s female teachers, for example: intelligent, personable and photogenic) who seduce minor males in their spheres of influence. Some of them are demonstrably evil, such as when they induce their young men to kill the teacher’s husband, for example. But many times we think that “she’s really giving him the time of his life”. If that’s not “sympathetic”, then I guess I don’t know what is.

I don’t think it would ever be a main character, but a sympathetic child molester on television wouldn’t be entirely a bad thing. People need to be aware that child molesters can be people who are trusted and respected in the community. As long as the media tells us to watch out for creepy guys in vans instead of perfectly ordinary pillars of the community, it will be hard for victims to speak out and children will not be adequately protected.

Based on this and your other question, you’re in a bit of a Negative Nancy mood today, aren’t you?~

I do think that there are already sympathetic pedophiles. Just because someone is attracted to younger people, doesn’t mean that they don’t feel sympathy and other emotions for others. Just that they have what society feels is a sick attraction when it comes to who they would like their sex with.

(This showed up in my Questions for You. Wtf?)

There have been plenty of sympathetic pedophiles in film and literature and reality. Humbert Humbert is a little more disgusting than Gustav von Aschenbach. Aschenbach is a little less disgusting than Arnold Friedman, etc. (And their disgusting-ness is character-based, mostly unrelated to the pedophilia.)

I would urge you, however, to make a distinction between pedophilia and child molestation, just as you would make the distinction between heterosexuality and, say, date-rape.

But, no, it’s not “only a matter of time”, because it’s already happened.

@CyanoticWasp You’re right. Another double standard: Pedophilia is ok as long as it’s a cougar pouncing on a young man lol.

I’m one of those people who always thought the idea of this show was “too much”. Hey I’m not saying that it isn’t good entertainment because I am guessing it is based on the amount of people who love the show, just that personally I think it is a bit much.

@absalom Any pedophile who acts on his pedophilia is a child molester.

@Snarp

Everyone replies with that, as though every pedophile practices his sexuality. (As though every woman or man practices her or his sexuality…?)

Edit: I’d rather not get into it again. Cf. the latter half of this question.

@absalom The link between pedophilia and child molestation is very different from that between heterosexuality and date rape. Heterosexuals can practice their desires without victimizing anyone, pedophiles can not. Do you have some actual argument with the statement that any pedophile who acts on his pedophilia is a child molester? Because I haven’t heard one.

@Snarp: No, of course I don’t. Cf., again, the thread I linked for my views on this stuff.

perhaps, if you took it from a perspective where the central character was tortured by it or was not active you might get a bite. It would be a tough sell though not only would that be a stretch for the average TV viewer to identify with the character but the network that took it on would likely face a dramatic wave of protest.

with dexter you have more than just his killing dynamic at work, people can identify with it substituting their own “addictions” for his and understand what he’s going through. it also helps that murder is a daily consumable on TV and so people are trained to accept/expect it. a pedo would likely be too jarring for most and would be questionably received if you said you identified with the character.

@snarp wouldn’t like someone in their 20’s who is attracted to say a 16 yr old in a lot of people’s eyes be considered a pedophilia because 16 is technically considered child ?

@dutchbrossis No, that’s not the definition of pedophilia.

@dutchbrossis: More accurately, an ephebophile.

@absalom what is that ?

pe⋅do⋅phil⋅i⋅a
  /ˌpidəˈfɪliə/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [pee-duh-fil-ee-uh] Show IPA
Use Pedophilia in a Sentence
See web results for Pedophilia
See images of Pedophilia
–noun Psychiatry.
sexual desire in an adult for a child.

That is what the definition says, that is why I asked about someone like 20 something with like a 16 year old who is technically a child

@dutchbrossis As it is a psychological term, it isn’t concerned with the legal definition of a child, but with one based on physiology. A pedophile is an adult who is sexually attracted to pre-pubescent children. So your hypothetical 20 year old is not a pedophile, but the 16 year old might be if attracted to 10 year olds.

@dutchbrossis: For the sake of sexual purposes/discussion, a 16-year-old is not a child because a 16-year-old is sexually (read: physically) mature.

Pedophiles as I understand them are attracted to pre-pubescent children, so a 16-year-old would not qualify.

An ephebophile, meanwhile, is someone attracted to adolescent/post-pubescent people (like 15–19, according to Wikipedia).

Ok I understand. Thx guys. I was just curious

@peedub Humbert Humbert was NOT sympathetic. He was uncious and whining and never killed anyone who deserved killing.

@Blackberry Project much? I watch Dexter, and don’t think it encourages others to become serial killers. A show about a pedophile might be watchable. Half the characters on Law and Order are miserable SOBs and I watch that!

@absalom Yes! You’re right, a prime time show about a pedophile who doesn’t engage in molestation. (One offs like movies and novels aren’t really the same thing as a series protaganist, IMO). Is David Hasselhoff available?

This might help Category:Fictional pedophiles.