Current Events > Professor sparks outrage for rebranding pedophiles as minor-attracted people.

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/education/old-dominion-professor-pedophilia-comments/291-6a3e6436-6c62-4096-85a8-29876534d627

An Old Dominion University (ODU) professor is taking heat after saying that the word pedophile shouldnt be used to refer to people who are attracted to children. The controversy centers around their argument that not everyone who is attracted to children will abuse children. In an interview with the Prostasia Foundation, professor Dr. Allyn Walker argues for the use of the term minor-attracted people" -- or MAPs -- to describe people attracted to children. Walker explained that people can be attracted to children without acting on it. "Its less stigmatizing than other terms like pedophile," Walker said. "A lot of people when they hear the term pedophile, they automatically assume that it means a sex offender. And that isnt true. And it leads to a lot of misconceptions about attractions toward minors. But not everyone sees it that way, including people on campus like Andrew Lambakis, the president of the ODU College Republicans.

I was very surprised and shocked. I actually didnt believe it until I saw it on Twitter," Lambakis said. "Im actually thinking about planning a peaceful protest against Allyn Walker. In the interview, Walker stressed that child sexual abuse is never okay. They explained there is a difference between attraction and behavior. Walker said there is no morality attached to attraction because thats something we cant help. They said its the response to that attraction thats either good or bad. The Prostasia Foundations Executive Director Jeremy Malcolm agrees. The foundation works to prevent child abuse. The problem is, it isnt actually a choice. People are just born with this condition, according to what science says," Malcolm said. The problem that were faced with is, given some people are going to be born this way, how can we prevent those people from actually going on to abuse children? What experts like Dr. Walker are saying is that telling these people that theyre inherently bad and doomed to offend is counterproductive. Criticism about Walkers comments prompted ODU and Walker to release statements over the weekend. The statement from the university read: An academic community plays a valuable role in the quest for knowledge. A vital part of this is being willing to consider scientific and other empirical data that may involve controversial issues and perspectives..." The university added it does not endorse or promote crime. For their part, Walker said: "I want to be clear: child sexual abuse is morally wrong and an inexcusable crime. As an assistant professor of sociology and criminal justice, the goal of my research is to prevent crime. My work is informed by my past experience and advocacy as a social worker counseling victims. I embarked on this research in hopes of gaining understanding of a group that, previously, has not been studied in order to identify ways to protect children."

https://twitter.com/libsoftiktok/status/1458985538334068740



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the word pedophile shouldnt be used to refer to people who are attracted to children. The controversy centers around their argument that not everyone who is attracted to children will abuse children.

Which is why we use "pedophile" and not "sexual predator" for those people....

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$5 says you'd find illegal material if you searched this professor's hard drive and browsing history.

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Idk what being non-binary has to do with anything but I'm assuming they're a NAMBLA member.

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Typical liberal.

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This topic seems off to a good start.

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s0nicfan posted...

Which is why we use "pedophile" and not "sexual predator" for those people....

then why do people react so negatively whenever "pedophiles" are mentioned?

I get the idea, but this feels like a step towards saying it's ok to be a pedo.

I don't know what the answer to the problem is. It's a fucked situation

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I get the idea that if we as a society are more willing to destigmatize and treat pedophiles, then that can lead to less child abuse and sex crimes. So that's definitely a good thing for everybody.

But I also think we would then need to ere on the side of caution. Destigmatizing is not the same as accepting, and language can be one way in which acceptance of a group changes over time.

I believe that increasing access and affordability to mental health services and securing basic needs for all citizens is one way society can improve for everyone, and especially be a means for pedophiles to seek the help they need to overcome their struggles.

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Fam_Fam posted...

then why do people react so negatively whenever "pedophiles" are mentioned?

Because they know the definition of that word

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Ew.

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UltraDeku posted...

Because they know the definition of that word

i suspect they don't, because people call people pedophiles for all sorts of situations that

a.) don't involve actual pedophiles
b.) relate more specifically to child molesters/sexual predators, and are used to attack pedophiles more generally in ways that are not really fair, particularly when the person involved isn't actually a pedophile themselves

Lebronwon posted...

Walker explained that people can be attracted to children without acting on it. "Its less stigmatizing than other terms like pedophile," Walker said. "A lot of people when they hear the term pedophile, they automatically assume that it means a sex offender. And that isnt true. And it leads to a lot of misconceptions about attractions toward minors.

I completely understand this guy's sentiments, where I've found people on this board and IRL think being attracted to kids == will molest kids. But I think the conservative method of shutting down any open and explicit interest in children is the safest route for society. I do not want to live in a world where I have kids and am playing in the park with them and some dude or woman comes up to me and says "your kids look absolutely delicious! ;p". I want to have peace of mind when I drop them off at the day care and not have any thoughts or worries gnawing at me if one of the daycare staff is openly attracted to toddlers.

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I'm generally in favor of referring to people as they prefer to be called but I'm drawing the line on this one. There's no rebranding of 'pedophile' that's going to make it seem better.


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Fam_Fam posted...

then why do people react so negatively whenever "pedophiles" are mentioned?

?????

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I see the MAP movement is trying to get some foothold in academia.

Dreepapult posted...

I get the idea, but this feels like a step towards saying it's ok to be a pedo.

I don't know what the answer to the problem is. It's a fucked situation

Because it is a step toward saying its okay to be a pedophile. The reason pedophiles want to spread MAP into the lexicon is because it doesn't carry the sharper sting of "pedophile" or "child molestor". Social acceptance doesn't happen all at once, it happens gradually. Step by step. And popularizing less loaded language is one of those steps.

Esrac posted...

Because it is a step toward saying its okay to be a pedophile. The reason pedophiles want to spread MAP into the lexicon is because it doesn't carry the sharper sting of "pedophile" or "child molestor". Social acceptance doesn't happen all at once, it happens gradually. Step by step. And popularizing less loaded language is one of those steps.

You hit the nail on the head.

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The professor has been put on administrative leave
https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/odu-puts-assistant-professor-on-leave-after-controversial-research-on-pedophilia-prompts-safety-concerns/

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Yeah, no. We're not normalising MAP as a PC term.

Whether it's a shitty hand in life that you desperately wish to be rid of, or if you're an unrepentant child molester - if you're attracted to children, you're a pedophile. Those are the breaks.

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s0nicfan posted...

Which is why we use "pedophile" and not "sexual predator" for those people....

tbh people use pedofile even for non pre-pubescent minors.

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Got modded a few years ago when I pointed out that the next frontier for this group was MAP(minor attracted persons) and normmalizing being attracted to children? Next the "stigma" will be fought against and their right to work in elementary schools will be the hot issue, their right to work at day cares and live by playgrounds, etc.

And I'm sure that CE's resident group of MAP's and MAP sympathizers will now mark this post. Come one, move those goal posts. Define pedophile, try and justify it not being that bad because thechnically it doesn't apply to infants.

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Dang...minor attracted persons. This is just trying to normalize pedophiles. Not a good precedent.

We're already trying to make some moral difference between an adult male sex offender harrassing an "adolescent" girl and harassing a pre-pubescent one as if there's a difference(the girl in question was 14).

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Lebronwon posted...

Itd be neat if you actually posted something worthwhile instead of regurgitating news articles.

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Destigmatizing always leads to acceptance, which leads to oversaturated representing, which leads to normalcy.

We've seen it before.

And people say the slippery slope doesn't exist.

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This bullshit needs to stop, yes they do need to be stigmatized and yes they are terrible people who need to be outcasts. The day you normalize a pedo is the day all children know adults are NOT looking out for them.

Pedophiles are a minority and need to stay that way, they HARM children which is not acceptable and never should be.

MAPS is only a way for pedos to fly under the radar and that shit needs to be stopped to, we need to know who they are so we can keep children safe.

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_Krave_ posted...

Destigmatizing always leads to acceptance, which leads to oversaturated representing, which leads to normalcy.

We've seen it before.

And people say the slippery slope doesn't exist.

Yup. what exactly can a pedo scum not do now in society? They can get help if they choose to. They can do anything besides live consquence-free lives after commiting the crime. They can do anything besides be allowed unchecked access to children.

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Revnir posted...

How would you even know if someone is attracted to children unless they act on it in the first place?

this is what i am wondering.

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Everything else aside, even if these academics get their way in changing the terminology, MAP will quickly be just as stigmatized as pedophile.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

n i would mail kyle rittenhouse my panties." ~ledbowman
"Out of those two? Racist for me... easily." ~Vicious_Dios

RiKuToTheMiGhtY posted...

This bullshit needs to stop, yes they do need to be stigmatized and yes they are terrible people who need to be outcasts. The day you normalize a pedo is the day all children know adults are NOT looking out for them.

Pedophiles are a minority and need to stay that way, they HARM children which is not acceptable and never should be.

MAPS is only a way for pedos to fly under the radar and that shit needs to be stopped to, we need to know who they are so we can keep children safe.

Desmond is Amazing.

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CRON posted...

This is completely fucked up. Regardless of your sociopolitical alignment, pedophiles and would-be child abusers should not be seen in any remotely sympathetic or empathetic light.

The fact that the professor willingly did an interview and calmly talked about it makes me angry.

People like that usually have suspect shit on their computer or are a pedo themselves. Never trust anyone defending child predators as a normal person as that is just a ruse for some sinister shit most if not all the time.

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Fony posted...

Got modded a few years ago when I pointed out that the next frontier for this group was MAP(minor attracted persons) and normmalizing being attracted to children? Next the "stigma" will be fought against and their right to work in elementary schools will be the hot issue, their right to work at day cares and live by playgrounds, etc.

And I'm sure that CE's resident group of MAP's and MAP sympathizers will now mark this post. Come one, move those goal posts. Define pedophile, try and justify it not being that bad because thechnically it doesn't apply to infants.

What do you mean by "this group?"

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Fony posted...

Got modded a few years ago when I pointed out that the next frontier for this group was MAP(minor attracted persons) and normmalizing being attracted to children? Next the "stigma" will be fought against and their right to work in elementary schools will be the hot issue, their right to work at day cares and live by playgrounds, etc.

And I'm sure that CE's resident group of MAP's and MAP sympathizers will now mark this post. Come one, move those goal posts. Define pedophile, try and justify it not being that bad because thechnically it doesn't apply to infants.

there was a user of the ps4 board, during the 'sony is censoring anime games' hullabaloo, who constantly linked the Protasia group.

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Esrac posted...

I see the MAP movement is trying to get some foothold in academia.

Honestly if the result is people stop having dumb as fuck arguments like "NOOOO IT'S ACTUALLY HEBEPHILIA / EPHEBOPHILIA!!!!" then I'm in favor.

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Lebronwon posted...

The professor has been put on administrative leave
https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/odu-puts-assistant-professor-on-leave-after-controversial-research-on-pedophilia-prompts-safety-concerns/

Good. Fuck that garbage that spews out of his mouth.
I get that society needs to progress. But pedophilia will never be ok. Fuck pedophiles.

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RiKuToTheMiGhtY posted...

People like that usually have suspect shit on their computer or are a pedo themselves. Never trust anyone defending child predators as a normal person as that is just a ruse for some sinister shit most if not all the time.

Agreed! Could not have said it better myself!

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Amongst medical and psychiatric professionals I dont see any particular reason this shouldn't be done, as its use in relation to patients is going to be good for maintaining those relationships so that they stick with it.

Trying to encourage the public to do this is just naive and ultimately self-defeating when most pedophiles are not necessarily going to have ready access to treatment, and even fewer are going to recognize they need to be treated.

But thats also the greater problem itself; self-recognizance that no, pedophilia is not normal and is an illness that requires treatment. Weve learned in recent years that theres a large, possibly global apparatus that reinforces the opposite message.

That isnt going to be combatted by this.

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MAP makes more sense when you consider the way people use the term pedophile as broader than the actual definition. Maybe best case scenario people go to their therapist or whatever and say they are a MAP so they feel better about opening up about it and getting help.

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Fam_Fam posted...

i suspect they don't, because people call people pedophiles for all sorts of situations that

a.) don't involve actual pedophiles
b.) relate more specifically to child molesters/sexual predators, and are used to attack pedophiles more generally in ways that are not really fair, particularly when the person involved isn't actually a pedophile themselves

Yeah, I know nobody on Twitter is an actual person, but you have a loud subset of users there acting like "23-year-old dating an 18-year-old" or "(character that isn't even human) is <18 years old" (see: that cat from Animal Crossing or that robot from Squid Game) is pedophilia, so it's already become just another buzzword meant to shut down people they disagree with, along the lines of Nazi, fascist, incel, etc.

There's also plenty of:
-"I'm literally a minor" --> *interacts with 18+ NSFW spaces and harass people into what they can and cannot draw*
-"drawn CP is still CP!" --> *shares/retweets art to all followers*

And other similar examples, but this topic seems to be strictly related to IRL.

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Revnir posted...

Why do you keep saying that there's pedophiles on CE? That's like the 3rd time I see you post something like this

Have you paid like, any attention to the things some users post?

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I dont understand exactly what is going on but im not as smart as a professor

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UltraDeku posted...

Because they know the definition of that word

isnt the actual definition someone thats attracted to kids?

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