Exactly - they need treatment and help so they don't act on it - but with the demonizing that's happening I'd guess that most of them are too scared to open up and try to fight their urge on their own.

I'd guess that pretty much no-one wants to normalise pedophilia in a way that makes acting that attraction out normal but making it more normal to talk about if and seek help similar to how depressions aren't nearly as stigmatized as 50 years ago

Well, you'd be wrong. Pedophilia is well studied. It's attraction to children, and there's a huge amount of variation in how that is expressed and how the psychology around it develops through a person's life. Baselessly claiming that all people with pedophilia are just rapists who want easy prey is unhelpful nonsense.

That is absolutely a worthwhile argument. I definitely agree with you about treatment, medication, and counseling. Total separation from children is probably for the best, as well. If these people can be helped, they should be - not just for their own benefit, but for the improvement of society as a whole.

Yes, they need treatment – and threatening them with torture and death will discourage them from seeking treatment.

Controlling your sexual desires should be trivial

Maybe it should be, but is it actually trivial? Addiction in general is a real thing, isn't it? For someone with say an eating disorder, maintaining a healthy diet isn't trivial at all. Paraphilias are different morally where they involve harming others and not just yourself and so it's more important to not act on them, but I'm not sure that means it's easier for a person with a paraphilia than it is for other sorts of people struggling with controlling their behavior.

IMO what it comes down to isn't whether these people deserve sympathy though, the more important consideration is preventing abuse. To me what the OP image shows is that the "just kill 'em all" attitude is unhelpful bullshit leading to pedophiles and abusers hiding in plain sight. What would be better is a conditionally supportive community that knows what they are and keeps tabs on them well enough to make sure they stay away from kids.

I get what you are saying but I think it's probably easier in general for people in normal relationships because even if they get rejected, they have an opportunity to form a relationship with someone else. Someone attracted to minors never gets that chance. They aren't allowed (for good reason) to even try.

Obviously pedophilia isnt a great thing and pedophiles who abuse children should be punished severely, but I don't think it's a choice to be born attracted to minors. So it's unfortunate for them. Definitely not an easy topic.

Yeah, I almost didn’t post it. We’ll see!

Your point is valid, but my assumption when reading this comment is that Nugent is not someone that falls into op’s sphere of empathy.

Completely agree that Ted definitely does not appear to have exercised any restraint on his urges.

Not defending or attacking op’s comment, just trying to read it correctly.