# On an "Ask the Pedophile" thread **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [February 6, 2010, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906 "2010-02-06T04:34:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 10
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/181 "2010-02-07T06:25:53Z")
> [@tacoloco](#): > > By allowing Cesario to have a thread as suggested in the OP, is that not defacto sanctioning by TPTB? OK so we’ve established that you think the operators of this board sanction threads they allow. Presumably you must agree that this board sanctions tight gun control and absolute gun freedom? Abortion and anti-abortion? Theism and atheism? I am curious about what conclusion you are able to draw from this. I’m curious also about your post in which you appear to imply that topics should for preference be raised as hijacks or in a PM. Is that what you believe the usual practice to be? ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/182 "2010-02-07T06:27:35Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > Clowns. Especially the jack-in-the-box ones. Ah, so not everyone has lost sight of the big picture. At least somebody is keeping his or her eye on the ball. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/183 "2010-02-07T06:33:08Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > You also can’t talk about illegal downloading… > [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > NO NO’s > … > Talking about Illegal Drugs > … …and yet we have talked about illegal downloading and illegal drugs any number of times without sanction. Do you genuinely not know this? If you do know this, I am curious about why you feel the need to state a blatant falsity. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/184 "2010-02-07T06:34:18Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Ah, so not everyone has lost sight of the big picture. At least somebody is keeping his or her eye on the ball. The big picture is that in half a billion years the sun will go nova and everyone will die. The small picture is that I should either be writing an essay on calvinism, arminianism and outsider religions’ views on God and family or going to bed. Somewhere between the two is a weirdo in a basement laughing to himself as he watches people work themselves into histrionics over pedophilia. If the thread is made, it will most likely devolve into mockery, derision, or jokes and get locked within a day of being created. And the secrets of the deviant mind will be forever lost to Argent Towers. Sad day. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/185 "2010-02-07T06:38:59Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > …and yet we have talked about illegal downloading and illegal drugs any number of times without sanction. Do you genuinely not know this? If you do know this, I am curious about why you feel the need to state a blatant falsity. Ok, one of us needs a humor tune-up and I’m pretty sure mine’s not **that** faulty. Incidentally, I found [this thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=11724575). So we can add faking an accent to the list of no-nos. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/186 "2010-02-07T06:42:17Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > …and yet we have talked about illegal downloading and illegal drugs any number of times without sanction. Do you genuinely not know this? If you do know this, I am curious about why you feel the need to state a blatant falsity. Perhaps we mis-spoke; as far as I know, promoting illegal downloading and the use of illegal drugs are not allowed here. Why don’t you give it a go if you think it’s kosher? I don’t think it is. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/187 "2010-02-07T06:44:02Z")
And neither is promoting the violation of US rape law allowed. Which **Cesario** doesn’t do. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/188 "2010-02-07T06:44:23Z")
So you didn’t mean what you said to have any rhetorical impact at all? I see. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/189 "2010-02-07T06:45:13Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I don’t really give a damn if this thread goes ahead or not, but seeing the limits upon people’s belief in free discussion (you don’t support it till you support people saying things you disagree with, etc) is interesting. One knows that such beliefs are generally only paper thin when put to the test, but seeing it in action is always an eye opener. He can say whatever he wants, but no one is obliged to give him a venue or an audience. He may have to say it to the mirror in his bathroom. Oh well. > [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > There are several existential questions I would be interested in asking him, […] Guin beat me to it. You can easily extrapolate answers to all those questions by what he’s already said. > [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Somebody, anybody, please tell me, what’s the harm? Well, I already brought up the potential legal/liability complications; that’s not enough? I mean, there’s potential for even greater problems (real world ones, not just “someone is wrong on the internet!”), but I’d think the potential for putting Creative Loafing’s ass in a legal swing would be plenty reason to steer clear. It doesn’t really matter if we think it’s a reasonable legal response or not; just what the authorities in question might think. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/190 "2010-02-07T06:48:37Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > So you didn’t mean what you said to have any rhetorical impact at all? I see. You’re serious enough for the both of us. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/191 "2010-02-07T06:48:50Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > Well, I already brought up the potential legal/liability complications; that’s not enough? > > I mean, there’s potential for even greater problems (real world ones, not just “someone is wrong on the internet!”), but I’d think the potential for putting Creative Loafing’s ass in a legal swing would be plenty reason to steer clear. It doesn’t really matter if we think it’s a reasonable legal response or not; just what the authorities in question might think. And what those authorities in question would think is that some guy may or may not be having certain thoughts, which doesn’t even put him in any legal difficulty much less the board. It’s a non-issue. And anyway, the board itself will decide that for itself, as always. Potential legal hassle can’t possibly explain this reaction from board members. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/192 "2010-02-07T06:50:22Z")
> [@Cat\_Whisperer](#): > > Perhaps we mis-spoke; as far as I know, promoting illegal downloading and the use of illegal drugs are not allowed here. Why don’t you give it a go if you think it’s kosher? I don’t think it is. Oh so you genuinely don’t know that advocating legalisation of downloading and smoking dope (or harder) are commonplace here? You’ve been here for about ten years and have not quite 23000 posts and you’ve never seen that? I guess that’s possible. I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Kaio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c68b51/32.png) [@Kaio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaio)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/193 "2010-02-07T06:50:57Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > And what those authorities in question would think is that some guy may or may not be having certain thoughts, which doesn’t even put him in any legal difficulty much less the board. It’s a non-issue. > > And anyway, the board itself will decide that for itself, as always. Potential legal hassle can’t possibly explain this reaction from board members. You didn’t read my post about the comic book guy, did you? ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/194 "2010-02-07T06:51:03Z")
When it’s pedophilia, you don’t need a reason. ---
**Author:** ![VarlosZ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d78d45/32.png) [@VarlosZ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VarlosZ)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/195 "2010-02-07T06:55:52Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Put another way, what redeeming value would such a thread have, and does that value outweigh any additional burdens it may impose? The value to be had is the same value that always exists in the airing of unpopular opinions. [Summary](http://www.elliotcross.com/essays/mill1.html). [From the horse’s mouth](http://afterall.net/quotes/491233): > [@J.S. Mill](#): > > Why is it, then, that there is on the whole a preponderance among mankind of rational opinions and rational conduct? If there really is this preponderance — which there must be, unless human affairs are, and have always been, in an almost desperate state — it is owing to a quality of the human mind, the source of everything respectable in man either as an intellectual or as a moral being, namely, that his errors are corrigible. He is capable of rectifying his mistakes, by discussion and experience. Not by experience alone. There must be discussion, to show how experience is to be interpreted. Wrong opinions and practices gradually yield to fact and argument: but facts and arguments, to produce any effect on the mind, must be brought before it. Very few facts are able to tell their own story, without comments to bring out their meaning. The whole strength and value, then, of human judgment, depending on the one property, that it can be set right when, it is wrong, reliance can be placed on it only when the means of setting it right are kept constantly at hand. > > **In the case of any person whose judgment is really deserving of confidence, how has it become so? Because he has kept his mind open to criticism of his opinions and conduct. Because it has been his practice to listen to all that could be said against him; to profit by as much of it as was just, and expound to himself, and upon occasion to others, the fallacy of what was fallacious. Because he has felt, that the only way in which a human being can make some approach to knowing the whole of a subject, is by hearing what can be said about it by persons of every variety of opinion, and studying all modes in which it can be looked at by every character of mind. No wise man ever acquired his wisdom in any mode but this; nor is it in the nature of human intellect to become wise in any other manner.** The steady habit of correcting and completing his own opinion by collating it with those of others, so far from causing doubt and hesitation in carrying it into practice, is the only stable foundation for a just reliance on it: for, being cognizant of all that can, at least obviously, be said against him, and having taken up his position against all gainsayers — knowing that he has sought for objections and difficulties, instead of avoiding them, and has shut out no light which can be thrown upon the subject from any quarter — he has a right to think his judgment better than that of any person, or any multitude, who have not gone through a similar process. [emphasis added] Note that Mill isn’t talking about human rights, but rather about the practical benefits of free speech; his arguments apply just as much to a community such as ours as to society in general. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/196 "2010-02-07T06:56:35Z")
> [@Kaio](#): > > You didn’t read my post about the comic book guy, did you? Yes, I did. It’s an entirely different matter. The guy was in possession of material that actually violated child pornography laws. That has very little in common with advocating a change in the pedophilia-relevant statutory provisions. ---
**Author:** ![Omegaman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e480ec/32.png) [@Omegaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omegaman)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/197 "2010-02-07T06:58:10Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Thanks, Rorshach! Is this a Welcome back kotter thing? Does your insulting me change the fact that a peaodphile posts here? You da man. I’d rather cut off a finger than watch the life cycle of a child that has seen it first hand bear it. I have personal experiance in that. That shit never goes away. Why do you think there’s so many fucked up people in this world? It never goes away . ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/198 "2010-02-07T07:06:15Z")
I posted this in the other ATMB thread on this topic, but it’s relevant here, too - regarding free speech, obscenity is not necessarily covered under free speech. Whether Cesario is/has been obscene is a judgement for other people other than me to make - by some definitions, he is indeed obscene (“a term that is most often used in a legal context to describe expressions (words, images, actions) that offend the prevalent sexual morality of the time.”). ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 7:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/199 "2010-02-07T07:10:35Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Oh so you genuinely don’t know that advocating legalisation of downloading and smoking dope (or harder) are commonplace here? You’ve been here for about ten years and have not quite 23000 posts and you’ve never seen that? I guess that’s possible. I guess. From the registration agreement - “You agree not to post material that in our opinion encourages activity that is illegal in the U.S.” I rest my case, and my carcass. 🙂 Night, all. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [February 7, 2010, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906/200 "2010-02-07T07:12:32Z")
This is going to sound harsher than I really want it to, but that really doesn’t have anything to do with anything going on on this board. It’s not a constitutional issue. If it was, nothing he has said would come close to passing the test for obscenity, but it isn’t. Nobody is saying **Cesario** ’s thread is constitutionally guaranteed. Regarding your most recent post, note, not for the first, second, or eighth time, the difference between advocating the legality of and advocating the actual engagement in behavior that is currently illegal. Different animals. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906.md?page=9) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/on-an-ask-the-pedophile-thread/527906.md?page=11)