I’m usually a fan of precise language, but this is one I’ll just let go. Every time. I’ve only ever heard “ephebephile” used by people angrily seeing an insult where none was intended, and it leaves me questioning what they do in their free time.
There’s always at least one person who refuses to read the room, though, and decides that this is a hill worth dying on. It isn’t.
People use pedophile to mean people attracted to minors, not just “children”, so it’s not even more precise, it’s just prescriptivism over descriptivism.
My only complaint is it kind dilutes the term “pedofile” in a way that sort of shelters the real pedofiles by being grouped in with people who are still pretty bad, but way better than them. Not really a battle worth fighting though as you say.
there’s a joke that goes “technically there’s 3-4 words for what the layman calls pedophilia, but the only people who know them are psychiatrists and pedophiles”
I’m usually a fan of precise language, but this is one I’ll just let go. Every time. I’ve only ever heard “ephebephile” used by people angrily seeing an insult where none was intended, and it leaves me questioning what they do in their free time.
There’s always at least one person who refuses to read the room, though, and decides that this is a hill worth dying on. It isn’t.
the only ones who care about the distinction want to fuck kids.
teenager kids, perhaps, but still minors and it’s fucking gross.
People use pedophile to mean people attracted to minors, not just “children”, so it’s not even more precise, it’s just prescriptivism over descriptivism.
My only complaint is it kind dilutes the term “pedofile” in a way that sort of shelters the real pedofiles by being grouped in with people who are still pretty bad, but way better than them. Not really a battle worth fighting though as you say.
This is the reason why I used to try and get people to use the correct words.
People just don’t get it. And then they call you a pedo.
I’m… Very done with humanity. I don’t care anymore. Fuck everyone.
And do you let it go because you’re afraid if you are your normal pedantic self you’ll get accused of being a paedo on this one issue?
there’s a joke that goes “technically there’s 3-4 words for what the layman calls pedophilia, but the only people who know them are psychiatrists and pedophiles”