Earlier last week, a video of a Ted Talk concerning paedophilia that was given last year found its way back to the top of our Twitter timelines and caused quite a stir.
From the short clip, it seemed the speaker was making a case for paedophiles and likening their condition to sexual orientation, and arguing that they should be allowed to fully express their sexuality.
Summary of this video:
1. Pedophilia is an unchangeable SEXUAL ORIENTATION
2. Leaving out pedophilia as a sexual orientation will lead to a disaster.
3. Treat Pedophiles with the same respect you treat other people
TedX in today's world. I am all for it!! The future is 🌈 pic.twitter.com/L7YReiNKEZ
— Kelvin Odanz (@MrOdanz) June 24, 2019
The point of that entire talk was to highlight the fact that there were people who couldn’t help being paedophiles and that if this was recognised and wasn’t treated as a taboo subject, a lot more could be done to prevent these people from acting on their urges.
She repeatedly argued that paedophiles being allowed to live out their urges would end in a disaster and that sexual relationship with minors was child sexual abuse.
Unsurprisingly, this video got a lot of people talking on Twitter.
The truth about this is the actual validish point is a very very thin edge case one that argues the best way to combat child abuse (pedophilia) is to treat those most likely to do it in a way that allows them to seek treatment rather than hiding from society and abusing children. https://t.co/EKzE2z3EQn
— Ariel🌺 • 🤖 (@Sai_Pher) June 24, 2019
it cannot be considered a sexuality if one person cannot consent. for example: heterosexuality and homosexuality, an adult man or woman can consent to having a relationship with another adult man or woman. children, however, cannot consent. therefor in order for any sexual+
— magical mister mistoffelees (@gcftay) June 26, 2019
/ the point of the publication was how best do we protect children? What intervention & humane treatment options are available given that paedophilic tendencies are unlikely to go away? How do we structure the conversation so that paedophiles can come forward for treatment?
— fatima (@JustDerby) June 24, 2019
Others also vehemently disagreed with the position of the speaker…
She should bring her kids for experiment. Why are people moving mad like this?
— Ugly Naked Girl😍 (@SandraAdaeze4) June 24, 2019
Pedophilia is evil and a sin, I oppose it but the political calculation and agenda with a touch of rights will get it accepted and y’all can’t do anything about it. The same fundamentals.
— Fresh (@_freshB) June 24, 2019
The video in question was subsequently removed from the TedX’s YouTube channel, as it was noted that her statements could easily be misinterpreted.
The speaker and TED, in an article dated 19th June, 2018 stated that they were not in support of or advocating for paedophilia.
The video was accompanied by a 2010 Harvard Health article; “Pessimism about paedophilia” which was reposted several times with misleading captions.
This article, again, is not an argument for the legalisation of paedophilia, or it’s inclusion in the LGBT community, but basically raised the same case the TED video did; that children would be much safer from child sexual abuse if paedophiles were able to get psychological help without any fear of ridicule or scorn.
The argument is that paedophilia must be treated just like any other mental condition.
Albeit, one with far more disastrous outcomes if left unchecked.
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