Does the distinction matter? Yes, so much that it could be the difference between child abuse and no crime.

People think of pedophiles as being "at risk of committing sexual crimes against children".

But pedophilia is just a risk *factor* for sexual crime (just as heterosexuality is also a risk factor for committing other kinds of sexual crimes).

Not only that but we also know >

> that [...] many [...] of those who commit sexual crimes against children are *not* pedophiles (surprising but true).

To me this means that sexual abuse prevention programmes shpuld be targeted at pedophiles *with multiple risk factors* AS WELL AS others at risk of offending. >

> This is separate from support efforts for those disclosing pedophile attraction only.

Those programmes are not predicated on crime prevention but on supporting people impacted by unfair stigma around presumed criminal intent. If policymakers could see >

> how these things are, and need to be different then there can be hope of a comprehensive and humane solution for situations like the current Menlo Church scandal and others like it. #MAPsAgainstAbuse

This thread has been edited to remove a factual claim (that more sexual offenders against children are non-pedophilic than are pedophilic). This claim, which has some support in the evidence base, nonetheless depends on a specific taxonomy of non-pedophiles and pedophiles. Other valid taxonomies could show a different picture.

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thread: autopedophilia and pedophilia

thread: a new pedophile was just born

child sex abuse — recorded or not

bly

Is there a difference between being attracted to a child and wanting to be a child? Yes. But there is also overlap.

bly

A future pedophile is born every 45 seconds. What do we do when they come of age?

ethan edwards

We care a lot more about what we see than what we don't.

Is there a difference between being attracted to a child and wanting to be a child? Yes. But there is also overlap.

A future pedophile is born every 45 seconds. What do we do when they come of age?

We care a lot more about what we see than what we don't.