I’m not trying to witch hunt on anyone nor will I use this to inform witch-hunts in the future, it’s just something I am wondering about.

Also forgive the use of “ephebophile,” I’m not using it in an apologist sense but because - when formulating my question - I was more thinking about people attracted to teenagers.

  • FavouriteShapes@sh.itjust.worksOP
    51·
    2 days ago

    Yes, a fair point. That is part of what I was wondering actually - is someone who exhibits that behaviour doing so because a young adult is adjacent to a teenager, in their eyes?

    Your observations bring us onto some natural follow-up questions.

    • Is Leonardo DiCaprio, for instance, someone suffering from ephebophilia and toeing the line legally? Most of the internet seems to think so and seems disgusted by his dating habits.
    • If a young adult is non-minor, should we tolerate much-older adults only dating young adults? If not, do you think it should it be solved with a sliding scale of “acceptable dating ages” based on your own age, or merely with social punishment (e.g “cancelling”) - or is it a non-policeable issue?
    • Skullgrid@lemmy.world
      3·
      2 days ago

      It’s difficult to discern between the people praying on young adults because they want to exploit young adults or they themselves are immature (or other legal but distasteful paradigm) and those praying on young adults because they are settling on the nearest legal target.

      I think the current views are sufficient. These relationships are frowned on but legal. It’s not impossible for these relationships to be mutually beneficial for both parties but it is unlikely. Having them be legal but frowned upon helps raise caution when it might be abusive or call attention to that to the parties involved.

      I have no comments on the love life of Mr Di Caprio.

    • Tollana1234567@lemmy.today
      11·
      1 day ago

      leanardo is walking a fine line though, alot of memes about him is dating people younger than 25, he probably knows if he dates anyone younger than 18 it would be questionable, there hasnt been indication he has done it yet.