Mr Ludwig,

It's not me who is 'singling out' pedophiles as you put it. It's the
laws of the society in which we live. The Crimes Act describes
age categories - where sexual activity with a young person is
unlawful, and attaches different consequences to each one.

And, yes, I do find pedophilia - repugnant. And no, I do not think that each case should be look at individually. The sexual penetration of a child is inexcusable.

I feel that way because I have spent my entire life within a certain culture - into which I was born. I see my own norms and values as inevitable rather than optional and I judge behaviour by the standards of my culture (including my religious beliefs)

Foxy

"And, yes, I do find paedophilia repugnant."

Agreed.

"The sexual penetration of a child is inexcusable."

Agreed.

"And no, I do not think that each case should be looked at dindividually."

What are you suggesting here? That we lock every child molester away for the rest of their lives, no questions asked? On current trends, it will become impractical not to mention enormously costly. Are you prepared to have a gaol built in your neighbourhood? Because we're going to need an awful lot of them. Law and order solutions in themselves will do nothing to control the problem.

Our limited funding and human resources should be directed toward research into the root causes. We need to determine the contributing factors and then set about mitigating their effect. They might include things like:

A lack of community services

An increase in the availability of pornography

The increased sexualisation of children's images in the modelling and advertising industries

The fact that parents work longer hours and children spend more time unsupervised

The lack of impulse control brought about through drugs and alcohol

The obsession of our media more generally in promoting the sexualised image

The fact that our advertising industry seems to be predicated on the theme that sex sells

The influence of childhood abuse in creating future perpetrators

And I'm sure there are many other factors that could be added to such a list. It's a complex problem requiring multifaceted solutions. Locking an offender away might save some children from that particular person, which in itself is a worthwhile goal, but it will do nothing to prevent the spawning of many more such offenders.

Bronwyn,

I'm not suggesting anything. I'm simply being side-tracked into discussing a subject that I really don't want to discuss any further.
The thread was -"Who would you like to live next door to you ..."

I studied Sociology at Uni. and I could argue this case - ad nauseaum - but I don't want to. And as far as I'm concerned - that's that.

Bye!

It's not a topic I enjoy discussing either Foxy, but if someone had taken the time to respond to a statement I'd made, I would at least have the courtesy to attempt some sort of reply. Or at the very least I wouldn't have made a reply at all. Your petulant little dummy spit sent me the message that you've got the answers but that I'm not worth responding to. Most un-christian like I would have thought for someone who's always very keen to proclaim their christian status.

Dear Bronwyn,

I'm usually quite polite. But I feel so passionately about this subject that rather than go into a tirade, I decided to go for the
'say nothing' approach and apparently I offended you.

Seeing as you persisted, I've decided to reply. Firstly I apologise for any discourtesy that you felt I heaped on you - it was your reference to values that got to me, rather than your reference to Christianity. If you read some of my earlier posts - you would realize that although I am a Christian, I do have doubts.

As far as the topic of pedophiles is concerned - I am entirely on the side of the victim. In our society, pedophiles have broken the law.
And they should be punished. The reasons for their behaviour are many and varied - as you point out.
But I feel it's like a bottomless pit - for every answer - there will always be another question ...I prefer help be given to the victims.

Bronwyn,

I want to add that studies and research into causes - is all very well, but it takes decades and a multitude of studies to reach conclusions and for government bodies to act. In the meantime - what do we say to the victims. Their abuse continues.

The only weapon that we currently have is the law. By making this an illegal offense and punishable under the law - is the only deterent that at least in part works.