1 of 3. This series of Surprise posts is of a few key things I've learned since then that I did not know before.

This item is part of a special series of posts. I first started communicating with other pedophiles online in a major way when Virtuous Pedophiles went online in June of 2012. This series of 'Surprise' posts is of a few key things I've learned since then that I did not know before.

Ethan Edwards is the co-founder of Virtuous Pedophiles. Blog posts reflect his personal views, and are not statements from the organization.

I first started communicating with other pedophiles online in a major way when Virtuous Pedophiles went online in June of 2012. This series of "Surprise" posts is of a few key things I've learned since then that I did not know before:

It's really, really hard for a lot of pedophiles to refrain from looking at CP. Many feel very guilty about it. But when you have a sexual attraction you can never express directly, and you know that you aren't actually, directly harming anyone from viewing, it's hard to avoid looking at all times. When feeling desperate or depressed it is especially difficult, especially as the CP is available 24 hours a day in the privacy of your own bedroom with a few clicks of a mouse. Based on a study finding that only 35% of men think looking at adult porn is morally OK, and a guess that 75% of men do look at porn, it implies that at least <40% of ordinary men view adult porn though they think it is immoral to do so> (See my post "Porn: Desire overcomes morality for 40% of men"). They suffer no legal consequences for that moral failing, but pedophiles in the same position face stiff criminal penalties.

I've always felt that CP viewing should not be a criminal offense based on civil liberties considerations alone. I have come to feel it's also just a victimless crime that is tempting to an awful lot of good people. Some of what is portrayed is morally horrible, but so are videos of people being beheaded or tortured. You would never go to prison for just having those videos.

Restrictions should remain in place on those who produce and actively distribute CP as we classically think of it. But this should not include virtual CP, cartoons, drawings, teen selfies, or child modeling pictures in suggestive poses.

I'm fortunate for avoiding the CP temptation in that I am non-exclusive and had passionate relationships with young adult women, CP was not at all easy to get when I was young and impulsive, and I have excellent self-control.

About the author: Ethan Edwards is a pseudonym. I am a pedophile, always celibate, and I have never seen child pornography. My attraction is strongest to girls around 4 years old, but I am also attracted to girls and women up through their 30s or beyond. Now in my late 60s, I'm divorced and living alone. I was married for over 10 years and was heavily involved with raising my 3 daughters. For most of my career I was a successful software engineer. I am very unusual for a pedophile in that I didn't realize that I was one until I was in my 50s—but it was there all along. I am angry that we all must remain silent or risk losing everything. That was my mindset when I co-founded Virtuous Pedophiles in 2012. I soon learned of the the terror of the typical pedophile who realizes as a teenager that his attraction isn't going to go away, who has nowhere to turn for help. The injustice I am most passionate about is the harsh legal penalties imposed on pedophiles who passively view illegal images of children. I stepped down from my role as a director of Virtuous Pedophiles early in 2024 and am delighted to pass the mantle on to a younger generation. This content was taken from Ethan's longstanding blog, Celibate Pedophiles. Some of the titles and taglines have been edited for their inclusion at thepword.

You can see an earlier version of the blog at the wayback machine.

This content was removed from blogspot in 2020 because the platform banned the author's account, giving only a vague reason.

the p word is a collection of 321 articles, blogs, podcasts and threads in the voices of pedophiles and others who oppose adult child sexual contact and sexual exploitation of children. Despite our mainstream views, this content is frequently removed from social media or blog sites because openly discussing pedophile attractions or avowing them are not tolerated. Our side of the conversation continues here.

editor at the p word net | Except where stated, all images are AI and do not depict real people. | Download the whole site.

surprise: lots of good pedophiles look at cp

surprise: what of two 13-year-olds having sex?

surprise: why no adult relationships? it's stigma, not lack of desire

ethan edwards

1 of 3. This series of Surprise posts is of a few key things I've learned since then that I did not know before.

ethan edwards

3. of 3. I'm in favor of letting teleiophiles (ordinary folks) figure out the right age of consent. They don't have a vested interest in the outcome.

ethan edwards

2 of 3. Pedophilia is so highly stigmatized that it is a very rare dating partner who would learn of your attraction and continue dating you.

1 of 3. This series of Surprise posts is of a few key things I've learned since then that I did not know before.

3. of 3. I'm in favor of letting teleiophiles (ordinary folks) figure out the right age of consent. They don't have a vested interest in the outcome.

2 of 3. Pedophilia is so highly stigmatized that it is a very rare dating partner who would learn of your attraction and continue dating you.