chemdude1232
Active Member
Well, Chem, let me play devil's advocate here (I won't be able to do it well, but I'll try) and try to argue as a NAMBLA member might (recall that NAMBLA had the support of gay rights groups until they were faced with the loss of a lot of cash and prestige if they didn't disassociate themselves from NAMBLA):
Your use of the term "rape" is merely indicative of a bigoted, persecutorial attitude that is a "construct" of a sexually repressive society. Ancient greeks, and many other historical cultures, did not impose prejudical restraints on adult/child sexual activity, precisely because they were not narrow-minded bigots. We are NOT advocating "rape" of children. All of our interactions with children are strictly consensual. They don't object. In fact, as is natural and to be expected, they like, or more accurately, LOVE receiving our attentions and affections.
Hopper, I get what you're trying to say, and that's a good Devil's Advocate case you made. The only real solid answer I can put forth now is that, arbitrary as it is, current modern law/societal paradigms in the US (as opposed to law/paradigms from a country 6,000 miles away and 2,000+ years ago) draw a line in the sand marking "adult" and "child," (i.e. 18 years old). If you happen to fall under the purview of "child" then your decisions aren't informed.
Changing either law or social paradigm, as the preceding 26 pages of this thread can attest to, is not easy to accomplish (but obviously it can be done). Until either paradigm is shifted, then we have to consider adult/child relations to be rape, regardless of how consensual the contract is between the boy/old man. If changing the paradigm wrt NAMBLA is accomplished, then we will have to live with our decisions and subsequent consequences (existential moment of the day, brought to you by chemdude1232
It used to be that homosexuality was illegal and considered immoral - we've altered our perception in both cases (to a more limited extent in the "immoral" portion, but still), so now we can do nothing but sit back and let it unfold.