Delusions are not lies?
It is not surprising that many of us humans find it comforting to adopt delusional beliefs. As is true with the use of alcohol, drugs, food, sex and shopping there a temporary relief in adopting delusional beliefs. Yet all knows that temporary relief is not the same as a cure. We are well aware that one has a chronic illness, treating the symptoms provides some relief but does not cure the base issue.
One of the chronic conditions of we humans (as well as other animals) is our sexual desire. Unlike many animals humans do not have a brief period in which they are in heat; capable to being sexually aroused. If otherwise healthy, humans are not only capable but actively sexual from the time of puberty until into their 80ies or 90ies. Some conditions may affect the ability of males to get an erection or females to become lubricated. The are some whose sexual drive is very low or non- existent. For the most part, however, humans are able and desirous of enjoying sexual play for many decades of one’s life. One may be happy to let of the condition of perpetual horniness in one’s teenage years, but it is obvious that human are capable of procreating for many decades. We are also capable of sexual desire and activity much more often than is needed at this point in evolution for precreation. In other words humans engage in sexual activity for pleasure. With some exceptions or variations humans seem to have an innate need for physical and sexual connection.
We are also capable of using people sexually as an attempt to prove they have power over someone. We can use people in many other ways to show we are more powerful physically even if one knows that one is emotionally weaker. We can use sexual behavior and even conquest as a means for attempting to fill an internal void. This never works long term.
As is true for many animals, humans are capable of a wide range of sexual desires and preferences. One may be only attracted sexually to those of the opposite sex, those of the same sex, both sexes or one may be very fluid in one’s desires. One may also have preferences for individuals based on size, age, appearance, eye color, hair color, muscles, breast size, penis size, skin pigment, emotional age, chronological age, religion, body hair or a variety of other factors. One may have preference for certainly types of sexual play including sado masochistism, water sports, role play, costumes or other “flavors”.
The age of consent for marrying or being betrothed to a person continues to vary in different cultures. I think the youngest current age is 12. In the States it is different in different states and may also depend on the difference in number of years.
In the United States and at least 8 other countries a registry of sexual offender is maintained. It may be public or private. People may be on it for life or specified periods of time. There may be distinctions between tiers or levels of offenses. In the United States each state determines the parameters.
There are no studies the results of which indicate that such registries decrease the number of repeat offenses. There are some studies with proport to show that being placed on such a registry increases the chances of repeat offenses.
In the United States one does not have to have sexual contact with another person to be placed on the registry. One can be placed on the registry for downloading what is determined to be child pornography. One can also be imprisoned and placed on the registry for: consensual sex with someone who is legally underage (15 in some states); with someone who is legally underage and has a specified number of years of age difference; for having sex with an underage prostitute who lied about their age.
Often in the United states the name and address of the person on the sexual offender list is public and results in a person being harassed and even threatened.
One does not have to be proven to be a danger in the past or the future to be placed on the registry which is tantamount to branding a person as an undesirable.
If some segments of the populations do not approve or like a sexual behavior it is criminalized. Until fairly recently in the united States homosexual behavior was criminalized. This is still true in many countries.
An emotionally immature 19 year old having consensual sex with a 15 year old does not ruin the person for life. There is no studies I can locate which indicate that downloading pornographic videos of “younger looking individuals” who may be under the legal age leads to having consensual or non-consensual sex with underage individuals.
I am not herein addressing the issue of forcing underage children or adults to engage in sex for any purpose. Oppression of others – legally or illegally – is not, at any level, acceptable. Whether that oppression involves sexual activity or is the equivalent of being an indentured servant in any capacity is wrong. We need to determine the motivation for such behavior and explore effective treatment options.
Delusions are lies. When we lie to ourselves by acting as if symptoms are root causes and treat them as such we are deluding ourselves. When we tell ourselves that placing people on the sexual offenders list and mistreating them creates a safer community we are being delusional and hurting a lot of people in the process.
Written October 19, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
It is not surprising that many of us humans find it comforting to adopt delusional beliefs. As is true with the use of alcohol, drugs, food, sex and shopping there a temporary relief in adopting delusional beliefs. Yet all knows that temporary relief is not the same as a cure. We are well aware that one has a chronic illness, treating the symptoms provides some relief but does not cure the base issue.
One of the chronic conditions of we humans (as well as other animals) is our sexual desire. Unlike many animals humans do not have a brief period in which they are in heat; capable to being sexually aroused. If otherwise healthy, humans are not only capable but actively sexual from the time of puberty until into their 80ies or 90ies. Some conditions may affect the ability of males to get an erection or females to become lubricated. The are some whose sexual drive is very low or non- existent. For the most part, however, humans are able and desirous of enjoying sexual play for many decades of one’s life. One may be happy to let of the condition of perpetual horniness in one’s teenage years, but it is obvious that human are capable of procreating for many decades. We are also capable of sexual desire and activity much more often than is needed at this point in evolution for precreation. In other words humans engage in sexual activity for pleasure. With some exceptions or variations humans seem to have an innate need for physical and sexual connection.
We are also capable of using people sexually as an attempt to prove they have power over someone. We can use people in many other ways to show we are more powerful physically even if one knows that one is emotionally weaker. We can use sexual behavior and even conquest as a means for attempting to fill an internal void. This never works long term.
As is true for many animals, humans are capable of a wide range of sexual desires and preferences. One may be only attracted sexually to those of the opposite sex, those of the same sex, both sexes or one may be very fluid in one’s desires. One may also have preferences for individuals based on size, age, appearance, eye color, hair color, muscles, breast size, penis size, skin pigment, emotional age, chronological age, religion, body hair or a variety of other factors. One may have preference for certainly types of sexual play including sado masochistism, water sports, role play, costumes or other “flavors”.
The age of consent for marrying or being betrothed to a person continues to vary in different cultures. I think the youngest current age is 12. In the States it is different in different states and may also depend on the difference in number of years.
In the United States and at least 8 other countries a registry of sexual offender is maintained. It may be public or private. People may be on it for life or specified periods of time. There may be distinctions between tiers or levels of offenses. In the United States each state determines the parameters.
There are no studies the results of which indicate that such registries decrease the number of repeat offenses. There are some studies with proport to show that being placed on such a registry increases the chances of repeat offenses.
In the United States one does not have to have sexual contact with another person to be placed on the registry. One can be placed on the registry for downloading what is determined to be child pornography. One can also be imprisoned and placed on the registry for: consensual sex with someone who is legally underage (15 in some states); with someone who is legally underage and has a specified number of years of age difference; for having sex with an underage prostitute who lied about their age.
Often in the United states the name and address of the person on the sexual offender list is public and results in a person being harassed and even threatened.
One does not have to be proven to be a danger in the past or the future to be placed on the registry which is tantamount to branding a person as an undesirable.
If some segments of the populations do not approve or like a sexual behavior it is criminalized. Until fairly recently in the united States homosexual behavior was criminalized. This is still true in many countries.
An emotionally immature 19 year old having consensual sex with a 15 year old does not ruin the person for life. There is no studies I can locate which indicate that downloading pornographic videos of “younger looking individuals” who may be under the legal age leads to having consensual or non-consensual sex with underage individuals.
I am not herein addressing the issue of forcing underage children or adults to engage in sex for any purpose. Oppression of others – legally or illegally – is not, at any level, acceptable. Whether that oppression involves sexual activity or is the equivalent of being an indentured servant in any capacity is wrong. We need to determine the motivation for such behavior and explore effective treatment options.
Delusions are lies. When we lie to ourselves by acting as if symptoms are root causes and treat them as such we are deluding ourselves. When we tell ourselves that placing people on the sexual offenders list and mistreating them creates a safer community we are being delusional and hurting a lot of people in the process.
Written October 19, 2019
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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