Scott Ritter: A Tipping Point Toward Chaos

[Jackpine Radical]

67. I'm concerned about the process, not about Ritter.

I have no special knowledge to bring, and no judgment to render.

I would submit, though, that the fact that one is a confirmed pedophile, terrible as that is, does not necessarily him unreliable in other aspects of his life. In psychodynamic terms, many pedophiles tend to live otherwise respectable and prosocial lives. They tend to be on the opposite pole from psychopaths on most dimensions of personality (introverted, shy, problems with social connections, often overly conscientious in certain areas, etc.). I'm talking extrafamilial pedophiles here, not incest perpetrators or those who prey upon post-pubescent children. Both of these groups are typically psychologically quite distinct from pedophiles.

I also need to make clear that I am in no way excusing or minimizing pedophilia; child molestation (which can, BTW, occur for many reasons other than pedophilia; only about half of those who molest pre-pubescent children meet diagnostic criteria for pedophilia) is absolutely the most destructive and harmful form of sexual abuse. People who do this deserve long prison sentences.