yeah

often the suggestion that we shld just go out and make friends with kids is met with much wailing and gnashing of teeth and every reason why its impossible.

Well, I sympathize with it insofar as society truly has been hindered by the paranoia the corporate media has so craftily mind-fucked them with, and the effect has been to place all kids in a protective bubble and deny them the right to form bonds of their own in their communities. It is definitely more difficult today to spend time with kids as an adult than it was through history and even just 20 years ago. However, I do only sympathize with it to an extent. Many of the people who complain so much don't even have any "criminal" records. And so you have to wonder what's actually driving their negativity. I think there's often social difficulties or anxiety issues, and they choose to let it rule their life because they prefer the comfort and safety of being lonely than taking risks. I'm no stranger to these things myself, and yet I've found ways to remove myself from my own comfort zone and find some rewarding experiences with kids, so I think I'm speaking from a good POV.

That's not to say I don't understand it. I think standup comedy provides some good insights into society's conscience at any given time. Recently there's a few major comedians out there, all male, who feel the need to mention their own fear of being viewed as a pedophile if they interact with kids. The message is, the paranoia has gone far too far, and if the audience's howling laughter at these jokes is any indication, many many people can relate to what they are saying. Many adults who don't personally know a child are today deathly afraid to interact with them, talk to them, or even go near them. I still don't think it's legit to be that way, or to give in to it.

I guess what I'm saying is that yes, people try to shelter kids from society too much and I think the kids suffer socially because of it, but don't use it as an excuse to not leave your own limited social comfort zones. It will only leave you miserable.

but really its bullshit.

Oh I totally agree with you there, even though I'm what Dissident would call pro-choice. I'm very unapologetic about that too, and yet I also find all manner of nonsexual interaction incredibly inspiring, life affirming, and food for the soul. An hour of play with a LG who just thinks I am special carries its energy through my daily life for the next week or two, so I completely relate:)

And yes, we may all know self-acceptance is the first step to self-imposed control, which is a major part of not truly bringing harm to a child. However, I think you're right that we also need to get on with building a life in between our protests. Otherwise, your life doesn't change. And there are indeed plenty of ways to have LG's in your life and to take pleasure and benefits from time spent with them. As I've told people in the past, you really won't have any girls enter your life by never leaving home, by never socializing, by never building a life in spite of what society tries to deny you.

I sympathize with you, kea, although I think there's an explanation why people focus so much on the erotic or sexual aspects. It's not because most of them are sex fiends. It's because that's the part that's illegal and oppressive, so naturally people are going to obsess about it more than the stuff they can do with a girl without much worry. If you take any group of adults, especially a group of grown men, and deny them all sex, they're going to develop some negative issues in their lives because of it, and I guarantee you the topic of conversation will focus around sex, more often than not;)