I think it appropriate to remark that I constantly thank whomever-there-might-be-to-thank, that such minor deviances from the norm as I happen to experience* have only ever involved relationships with fully consenting adults of like inclinations. I regard myself as exceptionally fortunate not to suffer from any condition which involves urges towards organisms [children below age of ability to give informed consent, animals, &c] unable to engage in fully consensual activity. Pædophiles are not so fortunate. I am not trying here, in any way, to condone their activities: they must control their inclinations, keep them in check, refrain from indulging them in any way. I admire, and have sympathy, for those many of them that do. But I must admit to a certain amount of pity, as well as a great amount of obloquy and contempt, for those who can't & don't.

Does anyone agree with me that those of us fortunate enough not to find ourselves in this situation should count our blessings. I would urge recollection that one demographic who are nowadays pretty well a protected species, victims sometimes of a despised -ism nowadays rightly hated and rejected by the right-thinking, found themselves until very recently (1960s)°°, in similar predicament.

~M~

*MYOB. Surely everyone has something they'd rather keep to themselves in the department of their lives!

°° At the end of 1954, in England and Wales, there were 1,069 men in prison for homosexual acts. Wikipedia