Second Thoughts

The latest controversy has raised a lot more issues than just the central one.

Madpenguin mentioned his initial reticence in joining GC due to prurient posts. And Humboldt talked about us becoming cultlike in out attempt to create a public pedo image.

This got me thinking about the dithering I did before I joined.

I think that the thing which will always block our acceptance, are our core values. The notion that minors can consent to sexual activity has become anathema to the general public. And as long as we stand up for their rights, we will get knocked by the antis.

Is there any groupthink going on here? Perhaps. GC initially seemed rather militant to me in its stance. Those who don't allow for any age-based distinctions, except where their AOAs are concerned, seem to have the upper hand; and are always swift to frame the debate so that any dissent makes you a non-choice anti.

But a closer inspection reveals us to be a more diverse lot than that.

Those who hate us will hate is for the substance of our struggle. And when they wish to tarnish us they will quote us out of context, or barring that, link us to whatever expression will be most misunderstood.

Lux was slammed much harder than anyone in the current controversy. And he stuck mostly to the ethics and politics end of the debate. The argument that he should be banned for giving the antis ammo has a very familiar ring to it. But the antis will always have ammo so long as we stand for something they fear and deny.

Methinks that even if GC were to deny its pedoness, and focus on kid's rights, it would still have detractors. But how far are we willing to go to mollify them?

Dante