The innocence of a child is supposed to be protected until a child is old enough and capable of protecting and looking after themselves. Unfortunately, some adults remain stuck in partial child-like states of mind. Their attraction for others never mature, leaving them still attracted to children as they grow. This mindset of adults, places children at risk when these adults cannot control their impulses. These people have been labeled as pedophiles. Some pedophiles emerge and may act sexually inappropriately towards children, because they may have been abused during their childhood, while for others pedophilia is a realization that may or may not be controlled. Child pornography is an act that has emerged from pedophiles who have trouble controlling their impulses leaving federal and state laws to “make it a crime to produce, possess, distribute, or sell pornographic materials that exploit or portray a minor (under the age of 18), (Reuters, 2017).” Using child pornography may be a tool used to help some pedophiles control their urges so that they won’t have to, touch children physically, because some are just turned on by the sight of children, while others don’t want to go out and do anything with real live children. When pedophiles’ use of child pornography got shut down they developed another another way, to loop hole themselves through the law, to still be able to produce and distribute child porn. This way, however, does not involve real live children, but computer-generated images of children. This phenomenon is known as virtual child pornography. Because this doesn’t involve real children the U.S. Supreme Court declared the ban of this unconstitutional. How ethical is this type of pornography?
Ethics is the systematic and reasoned study of morality. Morality has to do with what all rational persons, simply because they are persons, should be like and how they ought to act toward others (Burnor & Raley, 5). As being adults, how accountable are pedophiles’ actions when it comes to virtual child pornography? How much actual damage are they producing when engaging in watching of virtual child pornography? Does it help them to get better and stray away from the act of being turned on by a child, leaves them relieved enough to not touch a child, or is it causing more damage, leading them to be susceptible to wanting to go out and experience the real thing, leaving children at risk? The consequences of virtual child pornography are what matters most. “Consequentialism: a general approach to ethics that maintains that consequences—and only consequences—are what make something morally good or bad, right or wrong (Burnor & Raley, 95).” Is virtual pornography considered good according to pedophiles and bad according to those who dislike pedophiles? There must be some common ground that should be reached outside of emotions. “Everything we do has consequences. Consequentialism defines what is morally good or right in terms of effects or consequences (Burnor & Raley, 95).” If the consequences of virtual child pornography keep pedophiles away from real children then it should be considered as having good and desirable consequences, if not, then its consequences should be considered bad and undesirable. “Utility is known as that which makes a consequence desirable. Disutility: the opposite of utility; is that which makes a consequence undesirable (Burnor & Raley, 95).” It may be undesirable for most, that some adults are attracted to and turned on by children, but the desirable actions that everyone wants, is for children to be protected and not abused at the hands of pedophiles. What rights do pedophiles have, when trying to cope with their mental issues?
“A self-confessed ‘non-offending pedophile’, who admits being attracted to children but has never abused anyone, is on a mission to encourage others in his situation to come forward. He claims pedophilia is better understood as a sexual orientation – although one he believes it is unethical to act on. Nickerson describes himself as a non-offending minor attracted person (MAP) and says pedophiles are capable of living a happy, productive, law-abiding life (Robinson, 2016).” What gives pedophiles the right to not live a happy life if their pedophilia does not involve harming children. In the text John Locke explains that, we as humans has four basic natural rights; life, health, liberty, and property. Should those labeled pedophiles life be taken away because of a mental defect if they cause no harm or undesirable consequences? When people are labeled pedophiles, many aspects of their lives gets taken away whether they abuse a child or not. For pedophiles this is considered disutility. Nickerson states “I would like to see some protections for people like me, protections against being fired from their job and being protected from violence, (Robinson, 2016).” When it comes to utility; “this feeling express what has been termed a generalized benevolence, an attitude that everyone’s happiness is equal and one’s own happiness should not be pursued at others’ expense (Ruggiero, 152).” According to Nickerson not all pedophiles are child molesters not all child molesters are pedophiles. Since his acceptance of his pedophilia, allows for him to be happy, and his happiness isn’t at the expense of harming children, his happiness should be allowed to be equal to everyone else’s, no matter what mental issues he’s dealing with. The rationality of Nickerson deeming pedophilia unethical to act on allows for his actions to be morally sound. Virtual pornography may be some people way of controlling their urge, but Nickerson has created another virtual way to help cope with his illness, which he encourages others to engage in.
To suggest a few resolutions to virtual child pornography should mean offering ways that help pedophiles stray away from their attraction to children altogether. Although Nickerson claims to have never touched a child, he did admit of an urge he had while watching a child. “He said: ‘After that I moved out of town for a couple of months, anything that was going to present me with a temptation, I just cut it out of my life, (Robinson, 2016).” That is a resolution right there. If a pedophile is presented with a situation that causes an urge, then that should be something that should be omitted from their lives, especially if it can interfere with their happiness, forcing them to hide away from society. Another aim Nickerson has “is to bring people who are struggling with this attraction to his forum that can help them by providing pedophiles a circle of support (Robinson, 2016).” This alternative must be working because he has support in doing so. Jenny Coleman is the director of Stop It Now!, a Massachusetts-based organization. She stated, “we recognize this online community as a resource and possible support for adults committed to the safety of children. (Robinson, 2016).” However, Nickerson has a point of view from one who has not had any sexual experiences, what about those who has? I suggest an alternative for those people. There are adults that look young and like to remain and act in a child-like state. Then, you have adults who are attracted to younger beings. Create a community where these two people can co-exist, and they can have relations with one another that isn’t breaking any laws, but satisfying both sides of the desired act, chosen by these adults. Virtual porn is a way for pedophiles to relieve their urge without breaking any laws, which some have no intentions on doing, according to the article, however it may not help with coping with attractions to children. When people have sexual urges, they need alternatives that work. Even though I presented a way for desires to be relieved by adults that would make pedophiles stray away from children, the only downfall to my alternative would be that it may not work because these child-like adults simply are not child-like enough for the pedophiles to be aroused. If these couple of alternatives does not work, what will?
References
Burnor, Richard, Yvonne Raley. Ethical Choices: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy with Cases. Oxford University Press, USA, 2010. [MBS Direct].
Ruggiero, Vincent. Thinking Critically About Ethical Issues, 9th Edition. McGraw-Hill Higher Education, 01/2015. [MBS Direct].
Reuters, Thomson. 2017. Child Pornography. Retrieved from: http://criminal.findlaw.com/criminal-charges/child-pornography.html
Robinson, Julian. November 17, 2016. ‘Virtuous pedophile’ who admits being attracted to children but has never abused anyone is trying to encourage others in his situation to come forward. Retrieved from : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3945648/Virtuous-pedophile-admits-attracted-children-never-abused-trying-encourage-situation-come-forward.html
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