u/GONAGGEN

Just for context, a "NOMAP" is a non-offending minor-attracted person, and a "MAP" is a minor-attracted person. I just wanted to get some people's opinions, and I thought this is a good subreddit to go to. Fairly recently, I posted on a no-rule subreddit asking about the psychology of why a pedo becomes, well, a pedo. Some quotes are:

"This is an odd opinion..."

"... but I do because it is a compulsive disorder just like killing is for serial killers."

"I’m one such person who has the attractions but had an uneventful carefree childhood. I can only assume I was born pre-programmed with the attractions."

I don't think I've ever been encouraged to stop my negative feelings about pedophiles until now. I still find it hard to support or even accept them. What do you guys think?

If I said anything that doesn't make sense or sounds offensive, I assure you I don't mean it like that, so please let me know so I can correct it.

Hiii there. Okay so this is gonna be a long post, so I'll do all the prefacing here. I do not support pedophilia in any way, shape, or form. I do not support MAPs nor do I support NOMAPs. I am not going to respond to comments that are asking/saying that I'm a pedophile because of this post. I will not assume that people who reply are pedophiles, I will assume that they have had experience with one or that they have actually studied psychology. Another thing, I identify with the lgbtq+ community which will come up in one of the questions. I am not affiliating this community with pedophilia! The lgbtq+ community should never be in the same category of pedophilia in the first place. My comparison is tragically inappropriate, so please understand that I don't mean harm and I'm just curious. This topic has been nagging at my brain and slightly causing me a moral issue.

1. Why do pedophiles even like children?

It's a dumb question, but, honestly, what gives them that feeling? I can't really comprehend it, and I'm sure most people can't either. Also, what makes someone who likes another immature adult not a pedophile vs. a pedophile who likes children (other than the age).

2. Can pedophiles be reformed?

If it's embedded into someone's mind since childhood, is it even possible to help someone who 'struggles' with pedophilia. The thing that is causing me distress is that people in the past (and still do) call people who aren't straight "mentally ill" or "struggling" and stuff like that. Again, other than the obvious disgusting factor that is being attracted to a child, what makes the general idea different? Is reform actually complete reform, or is it making a person hide their thought processes (which is concerning because these people can really just never be trusted)

3. Is it their fate?

Slightly similar to the last question, but do pedophiles have a choice? I can't imagine anyone would choose to be attracted to a minor, so is there actually choice involved? If there isn't a choice, I can't help but feel bad for people who have emotions, even though disgusting, for someone they shouldn't. There is a song by Ethel Cain (please do not affiliate her with pedophilia, that's not what I'm saying) called "Punish". This experimental song is written in the perspective of Jeffrey Doucet, a pedophile (effectively in purgatory or somehting, don't quote me on that) who was shot by the father of the child Doucet molested. It's such an emotionally deep song (I didn't know it was about a pedophile until recently) that almost makes Doucet seem pitiful. Here are the lyrics:

"Whatever's wrong with me
I will take to bed
I give in so easy
Nature chews on me
Little death like lead
Poisonous and heavy
It has always been this way
It has always been this way

I am punished by love
I am punished by love

In the morning
I will mar myself again
He was a natural plauché
Saying "you won't forget this"
Shame is sharp
And my skin gives so easy
Only god knows
Only god would believe
That i was an angel
But they made me leave

I am punished by love
I am punished by love
I am punished by love
I am punished by love"

----

Just reading these lyrics gives me chills, and I encourage you to listen to the song because the vocals just add to this tragic vibe. Anyway, I think that's all at the moment. Please do not hesitate to ask further questions, I'd be happy to try and clarify. If something sounds offensive, I do not mean it that way, I'm just trying to word things that are hard to word. Please be serious in the comments, it really isn't a funny topic.

Well thank you for reading and I hope that was somewhat comprehensible