Paedophile helpline may help cut risk of offence

[emmelinemay]

WHERE does a man go who thinks he is in danger of abusing a child? Where does he turn if he starts having sexual thoughts about youngsters or is tempted to seek out images on the internet?

Surprisingly, given the efforts of both the authorities and charities to tackle child abuse, services to help to prevent potential abusers from offending are virtually non-existent.

I'd never thought about this before. I, like I imagine a large number of the population, have a knee-jerk CUT THEIR BALLS OFF¹ reaction when it comes to kiddy-fiddlers.

But where *do* you go if you realise you are having 'thoughts', and you know it's wrong? Who can you tell? There's such a MASSIVE stigma over admitting these sorts of things. I am guilty of the same assumptions, if a close friend came to me and admitted they'd been having these 'thoughts' I honestly don't know how I'd take it. Would I recognise their cry for help and try to help them through it? Or would I instantly see them as 'sick' and avoid them? I rally can't answer that question.

I wonder how many people are out there who need help and can't ask for it, because the very act of asking for help could ruin your life? How many people end up actually committing a criminal act because there is no 'safe' way to ask for help?

Interesting indeed. What do you think? It's such a taboo subject, isn't it? And one that inspires such a strong immediate reaction, it's one that it's hard to be rational about, especially if someone in your family was a victim.


1 - or clit, i know woman can be peados too...

Comments

[redshira.livejournal.com]

I believe that some people genuinely can't help the fact that they only find children sexually attractive. It must be an incredibly difficult life for people who have those urges and avoid acting on them, and any help which can be given to such people definitely should be given. Those who do choose to act on their desires, well, that's when my cut-it-off instinct comes in, but there are probably some who are horrified by having done it and want help to ensure they never do it again.

I was sexually abused weekly from the ages of seven to nine (and in fact quite a few other times but they were all after I was 12 and looked like a grown woman).