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Better the Devil You Know


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Pedophiles are self-identifying online more and more; most in an attempt to change the stigma surrounding pedophilia. Foremost on the minds of these "out" activists is lowering and abolishing age of consent laws. An "out" man shares his views on the topic.
FridaKahloLives

20 responses
Better the Devil You Know

  • FridaKahloLives: i really like your piece.
    i felt like the slates were a little distracting though...
    i had a hard time reading them because i was so focused on what "Dylan" was saying...

    what a fascinating subject...
    edonelan
  • I think that this is a really interesting topic but I think the way that it was created is really hurtful to this guy. I mean, the music you provide on the second part is really ominous and billowing, as if Dylan is going to jump out of the computer and start flirting with your kids. That, and all of the quick cuts sort of put the viewer on edge, which makes me feel like I can't trust what he's saying. He's a normal enough guy, or so it seems, and he really wants to let us know how he feels, but the video works conversely to that.

    Interesting topic, though.
    MonsoonSeason
  • MonsoonSeason: thank you and you're right. ;) I'd planned to download some new music and fix that little bit of unfairness. Thanks for getting me off my buns.
    FridaKahloLives
  • FridaKahloLives: I'd love to see the updated piece! It's really got my attention because it seemed like something that wouldn't have a lot of public supporters. Thanks for bringing it up!
    MonsoonSeason
  • pretty amazing piece.
    saskia
  • This is a superbly brave piece to make and I'm reallly glad this subject has been tackled- it is actually a subject I've been looking at for a couple for years and think it would make for a great full-length doc -- it's interesting to note that the pro-peadophile movement was aligned with the Stonewall movement in the 70's.

    Dylan's voice is an interesting one becasue it is one gaining momentum across the web and it is also interesting to hear about paedophilia from a source that isn't a fear-peddling tabloid - the UK's (and I presume America's) unhealthy (and perhaps unwittingly revealing) obsession with paedophilia has always fascinated me -- why are we so obsessed with this bogeyman in comparison to other countries?
    Lina1980
  • Interesting topic. The piece makes some good points with comparison to other minorities. I think the phobia of pedophilia is that children are involved and society, no matter what country, protects children. I wish there was more video for b roll or throw some ken burns effect on those stills. Great, great idea.
    SamuraiNinja
  • Lina1980: Funny you should mention... I thought the topic would make a good doc too... <mind whirring and sputtering as it slowly rolls into long-underused thinking mode>
    FridaKahloLives
  • this is a great pod. i'd like to see it hit the air...
    HenryG
  • Pardon Me
    I am bringing this up because it was mentioned in the first version of this pod. Somehow, I was shocked that this even existed, or rather, I do not want to believe that it exists. Boychat is a global web community that represents a "portion of the population ranging in age from teenagers to older people who share the single bond of having a particular affinity for pubescent and/or prepubescent boys. In most cases this encompasses a clearly sexual attraction, plus an ability to relate to boys in an almost magical way. Many choose not to act upon their sexual attraction, while others strongly advocate boys' freedom to choose."

    http://www.boychat.org/
    Aaaaaaaah
  • This guy is raising two young adopted boys of his own. I wonder what is going to happen when they hit 9 years of age, the age this man says is about the age he prefers. I think this man adopted these boys so he could grow his own victims right at home.

    ***SPOILER TO THE FILM "HAPPINESS***
    Did anyone see this film? The scene where the father confesses to his son that he'd want to have sex with him? That's what I'm afraid is going to happen here.
    hollyg
  • I also find it sick and depressing that the pro-pedophilia activists are trying to align themselves with feminism and civil rights. The latter two have to do with basic human dignity, equality, and rights. Pedophilia involves children who simply do not have the mental facilities to decide what kind of relationship is ok to have. Especially a relationship with an adult, who by simply being much older holds an authority over that child. I align pedophiles with people who practice bestiality (in the sense that there is a clear victim who cannot voice their dissent OR their consent) and with men who think a relationship with a sex doll is the same as with a real woman. The inability to have a real intimate relationship with peers is the connection.
    hollyg
  • ditto Hollyg - well put. Im going to my Halo game and forget all this for a while....sigh..
    terrafirma66
  • North American Man/Boy Love Association
    This piece is of course deep with interesting material, though I think the information could be presented less with slates and more with people familiar with the subject. Basically, it could use some additional reporting, but this is a great subject to tackle. The history of man/boy love as a movement actually has quite a bit of history. Here's a Wikipedia entry for the North American Man/Boy Love Association.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NAMBLA
    khsing
  • Very good piece.
    But this Dylan is sick and the whole idea
    of legalizing phedophilia is even sicker.
    stardate
  • I appreciated the chance to hear a (startlingly) different perspective on an issue that already enjoys a broad social consensus.

    I agree with edonelan that the slates are very hard to focus on. I think the slates are a great opportunity to provide context for what Dylan is saying; perhaps you could wait for pauses in his speech, continue the music, and put up the slates with no voiceover.

    As I watched it, I kept thinking what HollyG says above... that the inability of a child to meaningfully consent and the potential for that child to be emotionally damaged by the relationship pretty much negates any defense Dylan can muster. It might be that the text cards address this point, but in this version, much of that context was lost for me. As such, I think the film still lacks a credible-seeming viewpoint.

    Is this really something you want to present in a neutral, supposedly objective fashion?

    I think it's quite an interesting piece, however, well worth refining. Thanks for sharing it. I look forward to seeing future cuts.

    mshen
  • I found the end shot of the lonely school bus and empty schoolyard to be a clear indicator of where the producer stands. It's a great shot, but I'd be hard-pressed to find a shot more evocative of scary child predators and disappearing children. I could see "To Catch a Predator" using it as a lead-in.

    And as someone else noted, the ominous music also makes a clear judgement as well.
    hollyg
  • Thanks Holly. That's a good point. There are ways to say "pedophilia bad" without actually saying it, and I didn't mean to imply fkl wasn't making use of them... I think I was reacting to the discussion thread as much as I was to the piece.

    But fkl says "I'd planned to download some new music and fix that little bit of unfairness." Which implies a desire to be objective and not pass judgment.

    So what's the viewpoint? Or is the piece better served by lacking a viewpoint?
    mshen
  • I think it would be best to not have a viewpoint, because the subject of the piece is to say that there are people trying to make this a non-issue. Most people feel a strong repugnance toward the idea, so it would be easy to color it in a negative way.

    I don't know...honestly I cannot be objective when it comes to this subject. But regardless of how people will read it, it is a powerful piece.
    hollyg
  • I had no idea before seeing this that there were really people who were actually "out" about being a pedophile! Definitely better to know than to not know. Pretty brave of you to even interact with this guy to get the interview - I would have probably lost it.
    MaggieAthena

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