Would you censor fictional sexual content that depict minors?

[vivster]

Johnw1104 said:

The age groups I listed are the ones specifically listed to separate it from Hebephilia, which are generally kids between the ages of 11-14. The number, as you say, is not what matters. For the former group, it's those underage kids who have largely developed the bodies of adults, and people attracted to them are mostly also attracted to adults. For the latter group, it's the attraction to kids who have only just reached puberty, and it is distinct in that it has been found that men who are attracted to this group are more likely than not to focus on this age group, holding no attraction for adults.

For this reason it's a distinction that's only been made recently as, while the ephebophilia group are fairly common and are attracted to these minors because they look like fairly well developed adults (i.e. it's the adult in them that they like), the latter like the childlike qualities of the younger group. Hebephilia isn't pedophilia, then, but as it is a preference for kids who still retain many childlike attributes and those of this group frequently have no interest for anyone older, it was decided to make the distinction between them and ephebophilia as, in most countries, their interests are considered an illness and to act on them is often a serious crime.

As I mentioned, which attractions constitute an illness or crime vary greatly; heck, here in the U.S. they vary by state. I believe here in Florida I heard a 14 year old can date and sleep with anyone up to 24 years old, whereas I know a man from Alabama who was charged with statutory rape back in the 70's for having consensual sex with his 17 year old girlfriend while being 18 himself.

That said, with the Hebephiliac's preference for kids generally between the age of 11 and 15, and their more-frequent-than-not inability to feel attraction for other fellow adults, theirs is a dangerous focus to have and, in my opinion, they really ought to seek out therapy if it develops into an obsession. Relationships with kids that age (with a full grown adult) are not infrequently tremendously scarring psychologically for the kids, and there's few countries where this isn't a serious crime. That's why I'm not a fan of the sexualizing of kids in games and art, and why I specifically mentioned ephebophilia as opposed to Hebephilia.

Also, I won't speak much into this but I do find many of these portrayals to be cheating the system by simply stating the character is some higher age while drawing them as if they were far, far younger. I've noticed many characters in games and anime are given signs of adulthood like large breasts, but then they're given the size and face of a young child and dressed in outfits that would make your average Brazilian blush. I'm not sure what to make of those, but they very much walk that line I mentioned between ephebophilia and Hebephilia. Simply saying an obvious kid is "15" or older doesn't seem right.

The number doesn't matter at all. As long as there are 13 yo that look like 20 and 30yo that look like 12 I think it's ridiculous to put a fixed number on anything.

And that brings us to the current topic. This is FICTION! You can put any number on anything and make it true. There are weirder things going on but for some reason people like to focus on the trivial things. Nevermind a child with a giant gun running around killing monsters, but oh my god a pubescent girl with breasts and a particular fashion style suddenly crosses the line and has to be compared to reality. Which is funny, since 13yo in skympy clothing is probably the closest thing to reality the game has to offer.

What is wrong with a girl dressing sexy? What is wrong with a girl wanting to look and be treated as an adult? Last time I checked that's pretty much the modus operandi of every teenage girl. And what is wrong with other people ogling said sexy lady that is presenting her secondary sexual features, thus triggering a completely normal biological response in most males? And to bring this further, what is wrong if said people are also imagining a fun time in their head?

People might not like it but there is nothing they can and nothing they should do against it. The moment we're judging and acting upon other people's mere thoughts or fantasies, is the moment society breaks.

I thought especially here in a gaming forum, the concept of fiction not causing illegal activites is an accepted fact. But no, since it's morally acceptable to gang up on certain hobbies and fetishes, the outrages are allowed to happen.

So my stance is: The fantasy depiction of any morally ambiguous matter or criminal activity does not cause said matters. So I'm ok with any depiction of it in any form. That includes violence, murder, rape, torture, racism, sexism, pornography and any cross section of that with any gender, age or life form. I might not actively support or even like all of it but you can be damn sure that I will fight for a person's right to transform their fantasies into visual arts.

I do not support crime but if our thoughts aren't free, then nothing is.