[mwhuang2]

Interesting perspective. I've always thought of pedophilia as being just another orientation, not necessarily tied to sexual abuse. That'd be like assuming a straight male has perverted tendencies towards all women. Homosexuality was perhaps also treated with these kinds of unfair assumptions before becoming accepted by mainstream society. People have a narrow range of perceived normalcy, anything beyond which is seen as deviant, but that range is evolving constantly.

[x1798DE]

I always feel really bad for pedophiles, but one issue with comparing attitudes towards homosexuality and attitudes towards pedophilia is that the solution to the homosexuality issue was to stop trying to "cure" it and let homosexuals indulge their desires. I find it highly unlikely that that will ever be the desirable solution to the pedophilia problem.

Consider how difficult it would be for a homosexual person to just act straight for their entire life, even if they can openly acknowledge their true selves.

[mwhuang2]

Right, the key difference is that children are below the age of consent. I was just comparing how both were given unfair negative stereotypes for having an orientation different from the norm.