pedophile

An adult who is sexually attracted to children. Pedophiles are the most hated minority on Earth. Simply being a pedophile is enough to land you in jail, even if you didn't do anything--the law will usually use the excuse that you *might* do something to put you behind bars. It's actually very unfair, because pedophiles did not *choose* to be pedophiles (honestly, who would CHOOSE to be part of the most hated minority on the planet?). In addition, the terms 'child molester' and 'pedophile' are used interchangeably, despite the fact that most child molesters *are not* pedophiles. Pedophiles love children too much to put them through society's torments, and are also very mindful of the law. Therefore, a pedophile will not harm a child in that manner. Child molesters are almost never primarily attracted to children and molest them out of a) control, b) unavailability of a preferred partner (surrogacy), or c) a DESIRE to harm them. Pedophiles, as they are, don't deserve the treatment they get most of the time, because they haven't done anything. People treat an attraction to children like a disease that can be cured--but it isn't. It's a sexuality, despite what most people believe, just like homosexuality. It is something they cannot control and thus should not be labeled a sickness. Acting on those urges is wrong, I agree, but the treatment they get just for HAVING them is also wrong and very undeserved.