[arnmac]

As I tell my children it doesn't matter what you actually do or intended your action to be. It is all in what is perceived and interpreted by the other person. This is the problem that everyone's perception and interpretation can be entirely different from each others.

[_bxg1]

That seems terribly misguided. Intent may not be the biggest factor in terms of outcomes, but it's certainly the most important factor in terms of morality and personal development. Maybe I'm misunderstanding what you meant by "it doesn't matter", but it's a horrible idea to teach the literal interpretation of that message.

[zelon88]

I don't think he means "your intentions don't matter at all." What he's saying is that yout intentions don't matter to the person you affected. They don't care if you were just tying your shoe or taking an upskirt picture. They feel violated and you caused it. Your intention is entirely irrelevant to that persons recollection of events.

[_bxg1]

Nevertheless it also matters when it comes to feelings of guilt. It's easy to feel guilty for things you didn't intend (or cause via negligence). Being self-aware enough to not put yourself through that emotional burden is important too.