Re: Opening the floodgates?

I'm not gonna hunt down an emancipated child just so I can have sex with her, legally.

What is at least as important as children getting their proper rights is an end to discrimination for those of us pedophiles who are not creeps or rapists (which are as much represented in the teleiophile population as ours). I'm interested in being able to be open about my attraction, to form friendships naturally with girls in my life that I am attracted to, who also demonstrate a reciprocal affection for me. I think it would be much more practical to befriend a young girl and then, if she's interested, mentor her to a point at which she could pass her proficiency test (and how is that any different than befriending a girl and teaching her, at a rate she's comfortable with, about such things, other than that there's some diplomacy involved to prevent people from taking advantage of that situation?).

But I think your question had as much to do with what the children will be "bombarded" with as it did with how we would proceed in such a world. Today, children are "protected" from perverts lusting after them. Even so, it still happens. But look at what women "have to deal with". That sort of attention from men. I suppose in a more liberated world, children will also be subject to that.

Now the important question isn't how can we modify the landscape of sexual desire, to make sex safer for kids than it is for adults. Kids who are ready for sex will pass the test, proving they are capable of dealing with the issues adults have to deal with. The kids who don't will still be legally "protected" from that. The main issue, I think, then, is to teach ourselves - children and adults alike - how to navigate the landscape of sexual desire as it already is, while placing an emphasis on proper behavior. Men who are creeps will be treated like creeps. On the other hand, I think women and children alike should understand that a male's sexual interest is a benign aspect of life, even if in some cases it is displayed rudely (but not to the point of being assault or harassment).

The goal, and maybe it won't be easy, is a world where people can express their sexual interests and desires politely and feel empowered, while not allowing those who express their interests and desires in ways that are criminally abusive to go about harming others.

But children are not some magical exception to this rule. You think they don't already get exposed to inappropriate comments, and sometimes even sexual advances? What's needed is education - pervasive education that is accurate and not biased to a particular ideology. So that people - children and adult alike - can understand what the world is like, what people are like - their motivations and desires - and how to navigate that in a way that helps them get what they want out of life while avoiding the things they don't.