Hiya Pepsifreak01!

I'm glad you've posted back here - you seemed a bit depressed on your last post. Hope you're feeling better...

From what you say, it would seem that you're a hebephile. But that's just one label out of many that anyone picks up in life. - I think a better label for you would be "human being".

By all means be friends with the girl that you're attracted to, just don't go doing anything with her before the magical age of consent, though. Wouldn't want to see you getting into trouble.

For what it's worth, though, there's nothing too unusual with your feelings. For a start, the APA doesn't list hebephilia as a mental disorder, purely because they acknowledge that to do so would mean that a huge amount of the adult population would then officially have a mental disorder (which would make the label of 'mental disorder' null and void, in this case).

Not only that, but I have a friend who's father met his mother when he was 25, and she was 15 years old. They got married, had two kids, and lived happily ever after (excluding the row about which color to paint the garage doors).

Also, my cousin married someone in their late 30s when she was 17 years old (and been seeing him since she was 14). And she's now been happily married to him for the past 34 years.

So, I wouldn't worry too much about your situation! :o)

Don't take too much notice of what the naysayers might say.

As for the definition of pedophilia, well, the precise definition would be, I suppose, someone attracted to pre-pubescent children.

The media (and the polititians, LEAs, anti's, etc) usually totally ignores this proper definition through their ignorance, and quite cheerfully apply the definition to anyone attracted to anyone else under the magical 'Age of Consent', being the irresponsible people that they are.

So that's how your news article is about a 'pedophile' rather than a 'hebephile' (or, as it should be known, 'perfectly normal person'). No-one can be prosecuted for 'pedophilia', by the way, as this in itself is not illegal, but they can be prosecuted for sexual activity with a minor.

But don't get anxious, Pepsifreak01. You have nothing to be afraid of. Just keep your nose clean, and don't do anything to break the law. If you're really attracted to this girl, then be friends with her, and if the attraction is mutual, wait until she's reached the age of consent in your country before having a sexual relationship with her.

I hope this has helped you. Please feel free to post here again if you have any questions, or if you just wanna shoot the breeze - you're always welcome!

Best of luck!

T.