NYT Op-Ed: Pedophilia A Disorder, Not a Crime

[DonCoquixote]

2. This article is reckless and stupid, and here is why

This author is using the argument "treat it like a disease" that has been used against many other addictions. The GOP will probably quote this as an example of "slippery slope" "See, ya treated drugs like a disease, not the kiddie porn types are next" Slipper slope slippery slope, next are people marrying kids!"

However, it would not fit because drug addiction does not directly target someone other than the user. Yes, there is crime, but it could be argued that a lot of that crime is due to the policy around addiction. We make drugs a crime, and addicts become criminals which feeds the gangs and the prison companies. The act of using drugs in itself need not be a crime.

However, paedophiles are predatory. They need to prey on someone, who is unable to defend themselves. A sex addict may cause a lot of pain (be you Bill Clinton or Charlie Sheen), but it is possible for someone to be a sex addict and still be functional, even if they are never "cured" of it, provided they keep it to consenting adults. Kids cannot consent, and it does not matter much soft porn a teen popstar does in the rock videos, they cannot consent.

Now, that treatment in general can improve things, yes. However, since paedophiles target the truly vulnerable, we cannot treat it like just another disorder.