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EthanEdwards  ·  4490 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: Creepshots, Pedophilia, and a Crusade that isn't mine

I like the basic assumptions of your analysis and think this is basically a good idea. I'm an ever-celibate pedophile myself. But I think in this climate it's a big step to think potential sex offenders will both "out" themselves and turn themselves in to some coercive program. However, online anonymous support groups have potential (I'm cofounder of [Virtuous Pedophiles](virped.org), which has a peer support group for pedophiles where any talk of glorifying the attraction is prohibited). The German Dunkelfeld project tries to do what you suggest but is only possible because Germany values patient confidentiality above mandatory reporting duties in all but the most unavoidable cases. US mandated reporter laws sometimes serve a positive function, but their unintended downsides are perhaps worse: For instance, parents of a teen pedophile who abuses kids can't seek help for him without ruining his life.