re: #355 Obdicut

I think it’s a really, really important distinction. The victimization of a pre-pubescent child is far less likely to be detected— it’s much easier to convince them to keep the ‘secret’— than an older child. In addition, being sexually attracted to a 17 year old really isn’t pathological. Being ‘romantically’ attracted certainly is (if you’re much older), and points to unsavory things about wanting to take advantage of someone unworldly, but it’s not at all the same as someone who likes to rape 8 year olds.

Everything from how to support the victims to how we recognize and deal with the people doing it differs between ephebophila and pedophilia.

Fair enough.

I have an exceedingly negative reaction to the word, and I’ve said why. I agree that being attracted to a 17 year old isn’t pathological, although in Nugent’s case, what he did to get around her age is exceedingly creepy.