(05-24-2023, 12:53 PM)Lucky2Last Wrote: NYC, I think your argument is sound if people are hardwired, but I don't think that's the case. We are an extremely adaptable species, as evidenced by our disparate cultures and histories. We can do terrible things. We can do great things. Societies will largely conform

Let's look at something that is completely outside the pale: Pedophilia.

I believe that many pedophiles are hardwired to like kids. I think they are broken, and they don't have a choice in who they find attractive (to some degree). Let's say that our whole society accepted that narrative as a fact. Does that mean they should be allowed to diddle kids? No. Of course not. Does that mean it should be accepted in such a way that children are encouraged to spend time around them to make them feel more valued as humans? Should we encourage pedophile story hour at our school libraries, even though there's nothing sexual in nature about it? Understanding human dignity does not have to mean that we hold all lifestyles in the same regard. Yet even though we can reasonably conclude this, there is a very small segment of our society that would not have a problem normalizing pedophilia.

If we followed the same track as everything else, we would see a rise in isolated incidents of "normal" people abusing a pedophile. Then we'd be told that we shouldn't treat people differently just because they have a preference. Then we'd be told that we should accept these people for who they are. Then we would see examples of this group being celebrated for their courage in being honest about their preferences. Then we'd get Pedophile story hour in libraries and start calling people who oppose these types of interactions bigots. All the while, there would be a slowly increasing show of support among well-meaning, but naive people who take up the mantle of the pedophile because they elevate the morality of acceptance over morality of protection. These are the same people who would mistakenly believe it's ok for a 9 year old to consent to an adult. Do you genuinely think pedophilia wouldn't increase under these circumstances?

Do you know there's a whole group on the left that already believes children are sexual beings and that we "repress" them in the name of innocence? I said this way back in the day. If sex is wholly good, why shouldn't children do it? If trans is good, why shouldn't children do it? We can take this principle as far as we dare. It's a completely disingenuous tactic that is abused by people who are interested in creating a world that better suits their needs.