Re: responding to lee lette

Part of me is inclined to respond nearly automatically that's cultural to any some children are sexually-minded whilst the majority see these cases as very much in the minority. But that's not really, to me, the central issue. Oh, that cross-cultural comparison is a very interesting issue in understanding humanity from both sociological and biological standpoints. It also should inform our understanding of both pedophilia and phoeyphilia. But I think it's beside the point in regards to law.

I am reminded of what I said in a recent thread (I don't remember about what, originally) when someone mentioned the drug prohibition and Trucker replied it didn't matter because it was ineffective.

Well, no. It matters because it is worse than ineffective. It does not reduce the consumption of illegal drugs (its official and stated goal) - that's where it's ineffective, but the costs don't end there. It also does not increase the certainty of drug consumers over the substance; does not reduce their dependency on criminals petty or organized; does not reduce drug associated violence and non-drug crime; distracts state, city, federal and international budgets and police resources with crimes created by the existence of laws; and corrupts police and the legal and political systems.

That's a lot worse than just being ineffective. That's a human cost well above the cost of having potheads on the loose.

Same here.

The prohibition of child sex, and associated acts or institutions such as child pornography, prostitution, marriage and non-sexual forms of "corruption of a minor" is worse than ineffective.

It is ineffective in that it does not reduce the chance of any of these from taking place. It's worse than ineffective because it does not reduce the chance that youth will engage in risky sexual behaviors; does not reduce their exposure to abuse from con artists or people in positions of power; does not decrease their exposure to forced sexual acts from either peers or adults; does not decrease their exposure to criminal networks (in the cases of pornography and prostitution always, and of marriage or work when outside their place of origin); distracts government and police resources; corrupts police and the legal and political systems; corrupts the mental health professions further; diffuses societal paranoia about all things sexual (or just "mature") in connection to minors; further stigmatizes sexually active minors and especially pregnant or married minors; and heavily incentives adults to be rude and isolating towards minors instead of friendly and integrating because of the dangers of accusations.

That's a lot worse than ineffective.

That's a lot greater cost than having me hit on ten girls a day would be.

And notice I don't even have to defend pedophilia ethically, same as I don't have to defend drugs.