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the notion that the hysteria/persecution is motivated by concern for "kid's feelings" is almost perfectly backwards. The hysteria has at its core the removal of agency from "children." If the hysteria and persecution had concern for "children's feelings" as its object, the"children" would be consulted on their "feelings" which they never are. This idea that adults seek to suppress the agency of children puzzles me. Their highest priority is what they think is best for the child in the long run, but except for that they go to enormous lengths to do what their kids want (I'm thinking mostly of middle-class and above US parents). Parents invest enormous resources in children. Adults propose what they sincerely believe is best for their children in the long run. And just as one might say "Gee, I'm glad my parents kept me from running out into the street at age 2, even though that's what I really, really wanted to do" they might say, "Gee, I'm glad my parents tried to keep me from having sex when I was 12, even if they failed, but I'll try with my kids and hope I succeed". They might say that about daughters at age 17 or at any age if they aren't in a stable relationship and might get pregnant. Parents might make bad choices, but I don't see much reason to question their motives. When parents remember injustices they suffered as children that they still view as injustices, they will try hard to remedy them -- as in avoiding harsh corporal punishments or "toughen 'em up" parenting. while it is true that pederasty (a term I prefer for at least this part of the discussion to "boylove") has often had an exploitative element to it, that is equally true of all other forms of human sexuality. And society is engaged with equal fervor in eliminating the exploitative aspects of all those forms of sexuality too. See things like "affirmative consent". |