thread: normalization? hardly

## thread: normalization? hardly

#### 13 May 2019
from twitter and bluesky threads

### bly

| People both overestimate our influence and underestimate our humanity. NORMALISATION / NORMALIZATION This is the big word of the "MAPs are on Twitter!" debate. Normalisation *is* a thing (and a dangerous thing in the hands of the powerful). But to assume online MAPs can 'normalise' pedophilia for everyone massively overestimates our power. > > (1) People's fear that MAPs online might 'normalise' the notion that 'pedophilia is acceptable' is (a) incoherent, as we're mainly pointing out that pedophilia itself (the attraction) is a condition, not a moral position. (b) a 'slippery slope' argument that ignores that > > people reading our tweets have their *own* moral judgement and their *own* ability to react to facts. The idea that we will appear on twitter, tell our stories and then parents, professionals and the public will reverse their stance on child abuse like iron filings following > > a magnet is just silly. (2) When normalisation is used by people in power (such as authoritarians) its success is not just down to them saying a terrible idea out loud and everyone falling behind it. Authoritarians normalise counterintuitive or morally dubious ideas by > > putting some kind of threat - implicit or otherwise - behind not falling into line. Like the threat of social exclusion, gossip, career-stalling or violence. That's how they shut down critical thought and honest assessment of arguments. Online MAPs don't have even a > > fraction of that power. In fact we are on the opposite end of the scale, almost buried under a giant counterweight of prejudice and excoriation that overwhelms rational thought for most people. Our presence on twitter, arguing for rationality, and understanding of what > > minor attraction actually *is*, is not a threat to reason, nor is it a threat to children. Even if we were trying to 'normalise pedophilia', we couldn't. Pedophilia is something you either have or you don't. A surprising number of people do. The majority are very afraid > > to talk about it. But if you have it, whether you talk about it or not, online or offline, it's ALREADY part of your normality. It cannot be 'normalised'. It can only be better understood. If you don't have it, it CAN'T be normalised for you. It's just something, like many > > other things that humans do, you may never 'get', but which you may come to know exists. Yes, people do move from a fearful disgust to greater and subtler understanding of MAPs, but this does not 'normalise' either pedophilia or child abuse. It ACKNOWLEDGES them. And it > > acknowledges facts about them, facts that may help us one day be able to prevent abuse - prevention that cannot happen without facts. I believe there is nothing to fear from increased knowledge, and that if someone is telling the truth about their experience, there is > > nothing to fear from simply hearing it. That's why I believe we need our voices here on social media. And that, despite the hate, is why I still show up. |:: 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. |

tags for this item

tags for this item

censorship36
public perception40
social media37

other relevant items

other relevant items

where pedophilia and hebephilia overlap |  | review of erotic innocence by james kincaid |  | the therapy whirlpool
brett daywalker Just felt I needed to clarify a couple things regarding pedophilia vs hebephilia and point out that, while they can be two distinct and different things, there is a bit of overlap between the two. |  | ethan edwards Kincaid thinks we should go back to hugging kids and playing with them without worrying obsessively. But he then adds, curiously, "if you find yourself getting too excited, going too far, wanting to incite or not to stop — then stop." |  | pavvn I'd like a therapist who can help me, and be aware of my pedophilia, one I can be honest with without evoking hurtful reactions. But I feel like I'm trying to swim out of a whirlpool.

where pedophilia and hebephilia overlap brett daywalker Just felt I needed to clarify a couple things regarding pedophilia vs hebephilia and point out that, while they can be two distinct and different things, there is a bit of overlap between the two.
review of erotic innocence by james kincaid ethan edwards Kincaid thinks we should go back to hugging kids and playing with them without worrying obsessively. But he then adds, curiously, "if you find yourself getting too excited, going too far, wanting to incite or not to stop — then stop."
the therapy whirlpool pavvn I'd like a therapist who can help me, and be aware of my pedophilia, one I can be honest with without evoking hurtful reactions. But I feel like I'm trying to swim out of a whirlpool.