Representation for us is very difficult in film or using our own identities. Could theatre have a solution?

For some of us, it's a big risk to appear in audio using our own voices (which is why though I was desperate to appear on @Preventionintvn's podcast, I had to rely on the voice and generously given time of an advocate.

Other people use voice >

> modification instead but this is (a) potentially vulnerable to reverse engineering and (b) makes our voices sound weird and distorted, like we're not quite human.

The problem: It's really hard for people to recognise our humanity when we have to dehumanise ourselves >

> and I wonder if there could be another way.

Some people are enormously brave, like Todd Nickerson, appearing as himself on camera with @LAHWF
https://youtube.com/watch?v=GOb493ued-g
- but I doubt too many of us are going to follow suit...

There is one other approach, though, >

> (which has been around quite a while) called #verbatimtheatre in which actors read out the words, exactly as spoken, of someone interviewed beforehand. It's used for all kinds of purposes, but one of the most effective is in giving a human physical presence and a voice to >

> people whose voice cannot easily be heard, and who might otherwise be invisible.

This is exactly the situation of most MAPs. There are some of us, maybe, who have offended and thereby lost their employability and safety who perhaps (perhaps!) have less reason to care >

> about the world being able to link their real identity with their MAPness.

But non-offending MAPs have that thing of being able to remain anonymous in the world. It's obviously helpful in some ways to be invisible, but in other ways it's a deep well of loneliness. >

> I am hoping that some verbatim theatre makers with a platform might take a look at our situation, consider whether they can do anything with our voices, and whether there's a human story there that they would consider representing, in whatever way they think is balanced. ::

About the author: I have been writing and talking about the experience of being a pedophile since 2017. Once on twitter until my account was banned in 2020, I co-led Virtuous Pedophiles from 2021 to 2025. I now continue to look for ways to improve the lives of pedophiles, but never at the expense of harming children. I have never viewed illegal material, and never sought or engaged in sexual activity with any child. The rest of my life is countryside walking, friends, Radio 3 and feeling doleful about ageing.

This content was removed from Twitter in 2020 because the author's account was suspended.

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.

poem: oven

keeping children safe

the suffering of the non-pedophilic non-offender

brandon goletzski

the summer is at its full weight / i stand in the air-conditioned kitchen looking out from the window (why / is it that so much happens at kitchen windows?)

ethan edwards

I'm sure many in society would be very uncomfortable that I continue to engage with people who seem at risk of offending.

ethan edwards

Help free ordinary men from undeserved shame and self-loathing.

the summer is at its full weight / i stand in the air-conditioned kitchen looking out from the window (why / is it that so much happens at kitchen windows?)

I'm sure many in society would be very uncomfortable that I continue to engage with people who seem at risk of offending.

Help free ordinary men from undeserved shame and self-loathing.