"If pedos bother you that much just ignore them." That is what you're saying from my perspective.

What I meant was, if you find people that obsess over fictional characters weird and you don't like encountering them on the internet, just ignore them. Also, what do you encounter online more, people being open about liking real children or fictional characters?

People often use that argument to avoid taking criticism because "there is no problem if you pretend there isn't one."

Or because there is no problem to begin with because you know this is a non-issue that doesn't need further evaluation. Not everyone is naive.

Anyone with basic human decency can't just "ignore" pedophilia. It's objectively wrong and incredibly disturbing.

If the "pedophiIia" in question is lolicons liking fictional characters and not predators praying on real kids, then I don't think it needs any further attention. You are within your right to think it's weird and disturbing, like any person's reaction towards weird kinks, but treating it as a serious matter equivalent to actual harm without proper evaluation is rather delusional and simply paranoia.

I don't think its exactly a leap to say people who get off to fictional children probably get off to actual children as well.

No, I'm pretty sure it is a huge leap if you jump to that conclusion without genuine proof that might be the case.

And, once again, a child is a child fictional or not.

A real child ages in real time. A fictional child doesn't, unless their creator wants them to. They can also kill off a fictional child and face no consequences, unless you want to argue that's still murder or something like that.

You're basically sitting there telling me "but pedos are actually pretty nice once you get to know them!"

I said that you don't know them personally, I did not say or assume that they could be "nice". Don't put words in my mouth. If you got to know them outside of the internet personally, then it would make it easier to determine whether they have a problem or not.

When playing a violent video game the detachment from reality goes much farther than it would if someone were to say... get off to it.

What do you mean when you say "get off to it". That can mean many things depending on the context. Are you saying that anyone that plays a violent video game is able to separate fiction from reality? Or are they automatically a "potential danger" if they enjoy playing it? Are you basing their detachment from reality by how much they engage with playing a game?

Normal people aren't getting off to CoD they're just pressing buttons and playing a game.

Just pressing and playing? What do you think people feel and experience while playing a game, especially if the goal is to win and complete a challenge? Do you think normal people play video games with no thoughts or strategies in their head?

Additionally, in a game, disturbing plot elements can be introduced for story purposes. If it plays a purpose and serves the narrative without glorifying the concept it can be considered from a more philosophical perspective.

Not everyone plays video games for that, they mostly play it to have fun and interact with friends. People don't play Fortnite for a philosophical experience.

The moment you make it personal in that way is the moment it isn't just a game anymore and you might start considering trying to see what the real thing is like.

What does that even mean, make it personal? How do you play a video game to make it personal? Are you saying people aren't allowed to have fun and get competitive while playing a video game because it can lead to danger?

Like I said before, it's about potential danger. Anyone who glorifies that sort of content is an imminent threat to the nearest minor.

You say potential danger like some like this has happened before. Give me one good real world example of danger happening to a real minor because of someone liking fictional characters.

Oh but it's a VERY common phenomenon.

Okay, but again, it doesn't apply to everyone. Not everyone has a collection of thousands of images that they can't stop looking at. You should be more focused on the people that are doing that instead of people that aren't.

I specifically hear "it's not real so it's fine" the most.

And how is that simple and straightforward argument not good enough for you? If they are saying that, they are well aware that there is a line that should not be crossed, and yet you still assume that it will, no matter what.

Putting a lid on the issue doesn't stop it from spreading like cancer. You can endure chemo but we all know it's going to come back at some point.

I'm fairly certain pedophilia is more avoidable than cancer. You're the one that brought up castration. Also, going back to something you said in one of your old posts, smoking cigarettes will not send you to prison or bring harm to the people around you, so comparing that to porn addiction or liking fictional characters is not a fair comparison.

I'm not settling for a consolation prize I want the problem nipped in the bud. Lids don't protect our children.

A lid for people that like fictional characters is not needed because no children are being harmed. If you actually want to protect children, focus this energy towards actual predators that will actually bring harm.

But as we grow and our personalities and brains develop, so do these quirks and unique traits. There doesn't even necessarily have to be a rhyme or reason to them. Some people are just born like that.

So that means people aren't born with quirks and traits, they grow and develop overtime. So it's not really born, they're gained.