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A pedophile is a pedophile ... they come in all shapes and disguises ... from Catholic priests to boy scout leaders ... some so bold ... like NAMBLA don't even attempt to disguise themselves. They are organized ... and have a website that goes so far as to offer instructions on how to "gain a child's trust" (lure their victims), and also how to avoid Law Enforcement!
Your argument would seem more valid if you didn't clutch for the scare tactic mention of NAMBLA an organization now all but defunct.
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Media reports from 2006 have suggested that for practical purposes the group [NAMBLA] no longer exists and that it consists only of a web site maintained by a few enthusiasts.
Anyone can set up a website that looks intimidating or has controversial subjects on it, and any of those websites will gather some followers, that does not mean they are either a force to be reckoned with or anything but a laughing stock.
Their position is appalling, but their right to state it is very clear. Having them ridiculed in the open is probably better than the much larger pedophile networks that remain hidden.
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Originally Posted by GuyNTexas
Although vague, it seems you agree with this by suggesting we follow Europe's lead.
I've got news for you ... you don't need to follow someone else's lead ... not Europe, nor any individual country ... you need only common sense, and a rational mind to decide to defend children.
That the fashion industry and many other sources of this sick sexualization of children exists doesn't constitute a need to assist the process in the public school system. The efforts should be to shut down the other sources of this assault.
And one other point .... statistics mean NOTHING .... statistics can be manipulated to support whatever conclusion is desired from the outset. The age old adage ... "there are lies, damned lies, and then statistics" applies to the idea that Europe has a better record than the US. It could be true, and it could just as easily be totally false.
What is important is the children ... not statistics.
So what is common sense regarding teen sexuality?
There is a puritan following who has much more impact here in the US compared to Europe for instance. Teaching or promoting abstinence is not going to keep teens from having sex, and why is it that what appears to be right or common sense to so many in this country, appear to be to teach teens that their completely natural sexual feelings are wrong, and something that needs to be subdued?
At the same time, the grown ups have sex, and when the teens try it, it feels great, and not wrong, like they're lead to believe, however, when they do try it, they won't wear condoms, because they haven't been taught the importance of it.
The biggest difference between Europe and the US is how openly one talks about sex, where (especially teen) sexuality here in the US as seen as something wrong, sometimes morally wrong, and something that needs to be avoided, there's a different approach in Europe, where teaching teens the appropriate way to conduct oneself, talking to them about the real positives as well as dangers of sex, teaching them that they should say no, be it a boy or a girl, if they don't feel ready yet, but also that if they are ready, and their partner is consenting, it's not wrong of them to explore it, if they go by it in a safe manner.
The statistics are not wrong btw, having experience growing up in one place and having now an inside view of the other, it is shocking how big the difference is.
Teen pregnancy in the Scandinavian countries, but also Germany and several others are nigh on a non issue, if it happens it's an extremely rare occasion, where as it's close to normal for one or more teenage girls in high school to get pregnant and carry a child.
Sex is not wrong, it's not unnatural or morally deviant, it's what we're hardwired to do, to enjoy and to explore. And if a sexualized society alone was at fault, pushing sex onto minds too young, we wouldn't see teen sexuality in countries that doesn't have that form of media, yet we do, so it's clearly something that happens regardless.
So given the fact that teen do want sex, and there's little one can do to stop that, what is the common sense solution to sex ed?
Anyone can set up a website that looks intimidating or has controversial subjects on it, and any of those websites will gather some followers, that does not mean they are either a force to be reckoned with or anything but a laughing stock.
Their position is appalling, but their right to state it is very clear. Having them ridiculed in the open is probably better than the much larger pedophile networks that remain hidden.
So what is common sense regarding teen sexuality?
There is a puritan following who has much more impact here in the US compared to Europe for instance. Teaching or promoting abstinence is not going to keep teens from having sex, and why is it that what appears to be right or common sense to so many in this country, appear to be to teach teens that their completely natural sexual feelings are wrong, and something that needs to be subdued?
At the same time, the grown ups have sex, and when the teens try it, it feels great, and not wrong, like they're lead to believe, however, when they do try it, they won't wear condoms, because they haven't been taught the importance of it.
The biggest difference between Europe and the US is how openly one talks about sex, where (especially teen) sexuality here in the US as seen as something wrong, sometimes morally wrong, and something that needs to be avoided, there's a different approach in Europe, where teaching teens the appropriate way to conduct oneself, talking to them about the real positives as well as dangers of sex, teaching them that they should say no, be it a boy or a girl, if they don't feel ready yet, but also that if they are ready, and their partner is consenting, it's not wrong of them to explore it, if they go by it in a safe manner.
The statistics are not wrong btw, having experience growing up in one place and having now an inside view of the other, it is shocking how big the difference is.
Teen pregnancy in the Scandinavian countries, but also Germany and several others are nigh on a non issue, if it happens it's an extremely rare occasion, where as it's close to normal for one or more teenage girls in high school to get pregnant and carry a child.
Sex is not wrong, it's not unnatural or morally deviant, it's what we're hardwired to do, to enjoy and to explore. And if a sexualized society alone was at fault, pushing sex onto minds too young, we wouldn't see teen sexuality in countries that doesn't have that form of media, yet we do, so it's clearly something that happens regardless.
So given the fact that teen do want sex, and there's little one can do to stop that, what is the common sense solution to sex ed?
Teen pregnancy in the Scandinavian countries, but also Germany and several others are nigh on a non issue, if it happens it's an extremely rare occasion, where as it's close to normal for one or more teenage girls in high school to get pregnant and carry a child.
Connecting teen pregnancy to sex education is a stretch and I suspect there is little evidence of causation.
Demographics, on the other hand, would be much more likely to be connected to teen pregnancy.
Who said anything about pleasuring schoolmates?
And back in Thomas Jeffersons time, people were considered adults at a far younger age, and subsequently had sex and got married at a much younger age.
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Originally Posted by Roadking2003
Connecting teen pregnancy to sex education is a stretch and I suspect there is little evidence of causation.
Demographics, on the other hand, would be much more likely to be connected to teen pregnancy.
I don't think so, it's cause and effect. It's also looking at the different data and then looking at what is different between the countries.
Situation A: Kids are taught that sex is bad, abstinence is good, and waiting until you're married is the right way to go about it, they manipulate and force kids through peer pressure, with abstinence ring gatherings and alike. Situation A obviously doesn't work, seeing as the US has more Teen pregnancies than any comparable (industrialized) nation.
Situation B: You tell teens the truth about sex, you tell them it's a good thing, it feels good and if you have it with the right person at the right time, it's pretty darn special. You then teach them about the possible outcomes of sex, including STD's and pregnancy. You make a point of telling them the truth, that although condoms don't feel as good, it's the only way to protect both partners from STD's as well as pregnancies, and even if the girl is on birth control, it makes sense to use one for this reason. Situation B arguably works better, when you look at the resulting teen pregnancy rate.
It's important to note that European teens do not have their sexual debut noticeably later than US teens and they do not have less sex.
They do however, more often use condoms in the correct manner, which we all know is the most effective way to prevent any unfortunate outcome of their activity.
Lying or misguiding has never yielded very good results, especially if you want people to make responsible choices. Telling people the truth and urging them to act upon that knowledge is far more effective.
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