Post
by AnimeGuru0 » Thu Jun 08, 2006 8:53 pm
While I see your point about saying no, I disagree with your other points.
Again, to reiterate, I'm not saying that this guy was right or wrong. Hell, for all I know, he was a pedophile and a bad person. But at the same time, for all I know he could have been innocent. (although the spanking thing does raise red flags)
However, like I said, in context maybe things weren't so bad.
Hell, I have a 7 year old cousin who, whenever she comes over, immediately grabs a book, plants herself in my lap and wants me to read her a story. Just because of postioning, yes, my hand does touch her leg and sometimes I'll pat her on the leg or rub it depending on context (like if something funny happens in the story to make her laugh). Yes, I'm touching her leg, but I'm by no means "carressing" it. (also to note, she's always wearing jeans, touching a 7 year old's leg when she's wearing jeans as opposed to say, a skirt, are two totally different concepts). She also likes to snuggle when she watches a movie. I've been known to play with her hair as she's watching the movie (particularly if she starts nodding off). But I'll be damned if anyone calls me a pedophile, or tells me what I'm doing is inappropriate. If she wants to be a cute affectionate little 6/7 year old, that's fine.
I just have a serious problem with society somewhat dictating nowadays that we can't touch children, show them that we love them, and be affectionate with them. From what I've seen, lack of affection to a child can really eff them up in adulthood.
I understand as adults we need to be careful handling children. Obviously it's stupid to run up to a 5 year old you've just met and hug them and kiss them and put them on your lap. That's idiotic and could get you in trouble (no matter how innocent your intentions might be). What I have a problem with is (hypothetically) Neighbor F who lives down the street stops by my house, sees my 7 year old cousin snuggled up next to me watching a movie, and then going around telling everyone that I'm a pedophile. That's what I have a problem with. While yeah, she can go around and say "That little girl was in his lap, he had his hand on her leg, and he was playing with her hair" and yeah it'll sound bad the way she's putting it, but in context (They're cousins, they see each other every weekend, it's almost her bed time and she's nodding off, it's in the very public living room, and there are many other people around) makes it a totally different story.
That was the point I was trying to make originally. Forgive me if I didn't elaborate enough.
TBA
) so feel free to ask questions if you want detail.
