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Posted by vesperae 1) Homosexuality is not psychologically aberrant; denying the reality of being homosexual, however, is psychologically aberrant, and often leads to all manner of maladaptive and self-destructive behavior. 2) Pedophilia, like necrophilia and "snuff" fantasies, are extreme fetishes that have deeply destructive social implications which extend far beyond the boundaries of the individual and her/his adult partners. While one might successfully argue that the developmental mechanisms and persistence of influence are similar for all Fetishes, there is a profound difference between Unusual Desires that we can actually live with in civilized society, and those that we cannot. Fortunately, a Smoking Fetish falls in the former category, and the negative implications are limited to those who smoke as a function of their Fetish, and to those whom their Fetish might influence to smoke (or to not quit). But since we are talking about adults with free will, the ethics of living with a SF are much less complicated than the ethics of taking advantage of minors, or of engaging in violence towards non-consenting others to experience pleasure. I believe that the main ethical concerns for those with a SF have to do with being honest with themselves and with their partners about it. Barring this full disclosure, there is no basis on which free will decisions can be made by adults, and all manner of ethical concerns present themselves. By the way, I have no interest in dwelling on "moral" discussions here. Morals are social constructs. Ethics are individual value judgments that are relevant to context, and I am much more interested in individual thought processes and decisions than in what a social group decrees we should think or decide.
on July 29, 2007, 4:23 pm, in reply to "Following one's true sexual nature"
Hi Freelance,
* * * * *vesperae
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