I believe when he finaly snuffs it he want's his ashes putting in an Etch-a-Sketch - So th ekids can still play with him...

Seriously though, to SJ's post about not feeling sorry for them. I agree wholeheartedly with the points made about sympathy for the victims and keeping children safe. I thought originaly perhaps there was a reason to feel sorry for the paedophile. However as I was writing that very thought it came to me that perhaps there shouldn't be?

My thoughts were originaly that the paedophile has no choice in the matter. His (or her - lets not forget those!) liking for children cannot be helped any more than my liking for women or Reggie Dwights liking for men. Then the flaw in my reason hit me like a ton of bricks. No - they cannot help their liking for children. For that they should be pitied. They do not however need to do children any harm. Using their unusial sexuality as a defence for paedophilic attacks is like using hetrosexuality as a defense for rape.

Perhaps education is a way forward to help both the attackers and the attacked? Could a paedophile, while never being 'cured' of his illness, ever be educated to keep his urges in check - like most other human beings? Or is it too late by the time they are adult. Perhaps we need to educate children, from an early age, that ANY type of unwanted attention is wrong?

Can we differentiate between paedophilia as an illness and the acting out of the urges caused by it? Can we explain that difference to our children? Tough one. Don't know if I could but I would like to try. Surely there is something between the 'send them on rehabilition courses' and 'cut their balls off'. Is there?

Gives me something to mull over on a rainy day in Salford anyway!

Cheers

DtG