I'm gonna talk seriously about this for a minute so please read this whole comment if you're gonna read this at all. Initial disclaimer cause people are gonna raise their eyebrows: I'm not supporting pedophiles. Can't stress that enough.

Pedophilia is much more of a mental illness than it is an intentional desire. People can't help what they're attracted to, and understanding that truth doesn't make it right but it should atleast open the possibility for people who are pedophiles, perhaps reaching a point where they may abuse someone, to reach out for mental help that they legitimately need.

If they AREN'T going to see a doctor, then I'd MUCH prefer they handle these urges by looking at cartoons rather than CP, and I'd prefer it even greater over them actually abusing a real child, as should you. I'm not saying we have to like it or like them, or respect them, or any of that. I just think understanding all of the angles here is the most important thing we can do. That's essentially my overall point. Better lolicon than the alternative, but that's only because the alternative is absolutely awful.

I don't usually like talking about this because people jump to me supporting pedophiles, and if you understood what I was saying you'd see that's clearly not the case. But the situation is stickier than people make it out to be. The people who have these urges are in need of mental help and the (admittedly deserved) stigma of pedophilia often prevents people from getting that help, which then continues the cycle of abuse and pedophilia. It's a disease, it's contagious in the sense that one abuser can create another abuser, and it needs to be treated like a disease that needs to be cured.