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Jedi Guy

(3,360 posts)

72. Technically speaking, neither Trump nor Epstein could rightly be called pedophiles.

Fri Jul 25, 2025, 06:34 PM

Jul 25

Strictly speaking, pedophilia is sexual attraction to pre-pubescent children.

Trump and Epstein's tastes, by all accounts, were for girls in their mid-teens. The technical term for this is ephebophilia. The dividing line between the two is the onset of puberty.

I'm honestly kind of surprised that the media doesn't use the latter term to cover for him. Everyone knows what pedophilia means whereas I'd bet relatively few have ever heard of ephebophilia.

Using the latter term would make him sound a hell of a lot less creepy than he is and make people more likely to tune it out. When people hear a word they don't understand, they tend to ignore it, in my experience.

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niyad

110 replies

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Highlight:

"UNDERAGE WOMEN" is an oxymoron. "UNDERAGE GIRL" is redundant. [View all] niyad Jul 25 OP

Agreed! SheltieLover Jul 25 #1

Thank you! niyad Jul 25 #2

Ty for posting the OP! SheltieLover Jul 25 #8

Protect the elite and enable them too. Passages Jul 25 #3

In terms the magaverse might understand (NSFW: language) CincyDem Jul 25 #4

I just cut to the chase. Mr. Evil Jul 25 #14

Going to use that terminology moving forward. Anyone in iluvtennis Jul 25 #28

Absolutely! Mr. Evil Jul 25 #30

Ya know, in our world you're 100% right...big the metaverse... CincyDem Jul 25 #45

Rape is not a "negotiable term" under the law whathehell Jul 25 #79

Someday That type of thinking will be So Diminished it will rarely, if ever affect a victim... electric_blue68 Jul 25 #86

Technically speaking, neither Trump nor Epstein could rightly be called pedophiles. Jedi Guy Jul 25 #72

A very interesting point. Thank you. niyad Jul 26 #106

It could apply because some of his victims were 12 Farmer-Rick Jul 26 #107

True Jilly_in_VA Jul 26 #108

"Minors" has the versatility and specificity you're looking for. nt greyl Jul 25 #5

If identifying sex is necessary, can use "underage female" Bernardo de La Paz Jul 25 #6

Thank you for that most important point. niyad Jul 25 #18

+1 leftstreet Jul 25 #21

But "female" should be used only as an adjective, not as a noun, when spooky3 Jul 25 #26

Thank you for those informative links. niyad Jul 25 #73

Ex city councilman calls cops on 9 year old black woman cbabe Jul 25 #7

I remember that disgusting incident being posted here. niyad Jul 25 #19

I remember that, too. Disgusting neighbor! electric_blue68 Jul 25 #88

Children. (n/t) Iggo Jul 25 #9

Exactly! Using the word "woman" in this context suggests there was no crime. Martin68 Jul 25 #10

K&R nt berniesandersmittens Jul 25 #11

Drives me effing insane. Pacifist Patriot Jul 25 #12

Exactly. It's NOT sex. It's assault/abuse/rape. 3catwoman3 Jul 25 #32

I have a suspicion the next state of the union will include a variation on Torchlight Jul 25 #13

Hear, hear!!! LoisB Jul 25 #15

17 year olds are not children. speak easy Jul 25 #16

Major crimes against minors. BattleRow Jul 25 #23

Definition of the word Child Wiz Imp Jul 25 #64

You can quote a definition but speak easy Jul 25 #70

Nice try, but NOWHERE did I say an 18 year old is a child, since 18 is the niyad Jul 25 #74

You said :- speak easy Jul 25 #75

Responding to the correct poster is always helpful. niyad Jul 25 #77

Sorry. My bad. speak easy Jul 25 #82

Makes you wonder COL Mustard Jul 26 #99

Yes, indeed. niyad Jul 26 #104

For sure! SheltieLover Jul 26 #105

You're entitled to your opinion but that doesn't mean most people agree with you. IMO most people absolutely consider Wiz Imp Jul 25 #89

"Underage girl" may be redundant but it is accurate, speak easy Jul 25 #90

Crimes against children. yardwork Jul 25 #17

Hasnt Lindsay Graham MIA these days? BattleRow Jul 25 #24

People say that he prefers boys Bluestocking Jul 25 #56

Truth is stranger than fiction.. BattleRow Jul 25 #66

Thank you very much, niyad. debm55 Jul 25 #20

They use that language to excuse the inexcusable IronLionZion Jul 25 #22

It's not just popsdenver Jul 25 #27

Minor or Child. MineralMan Jul 25 #25

Bingo. I've cringed every time I've heard some TV talking head Ocelot II Jul 25 #29

Interesting. I'm not sure if reactions would have been different-- spooky3 Jul 25 #31

The Ohio State wrestling case was a little different (not that it was less serious) Ocelot II Jul 25 #36

I pointed out differences in my post. But in any event spooky3 Jul 25 #38

But a 48YO wealthy white male is " just a kid engaged in youthful indiscretions" Orrex Jul 25 #33

Or the menendez brothers were just "boys". niyad Jul 25 #41

Precisely! SheltieLover Jul 25 #55

There's also the issue of the GIRL not knowing her rights when she's violated ... FakeNoose Jul 25 #34

As a senior male, an UNDERAGE woman is a 20 year old woman with an 70 year old man LiberalArkie Jul 25 #35

Pedophilia is INCURABLE -- the only place the belong is on a deserted island or in a prison cell. OMGWTF Jul 25 #37

Sorry, but, I disagree. Here is why: Oneironaut Jul 25 #39

Well said. Xavier Breath Jul 25 #60

This message was self-deleted by its author niyad Jul 25 #40

It bothers me when media folks say "underage woman" mcar Jul 25 #42

This is exactly the problem, IMO MorbidButterflyTat Jul 25 #91

It's not quite that black and white. I think simply calling the victims "girls" is worse. thesquanderer Jul 25 #43

I agree. This is really important and thank you! Oneironaut Jul 25 #44

It's not ForgedCrank Jul 25 #46

So you say, but others clearly disagree. Do keep trying. niyad Jul 25 #47

I'm not ForgedCrank Jul 25 #48

Distraction and dictionary definitions do not negate what the intent niyad Jul 25 #49

Most women I know take offense at being referred to as "girls," SheltieLover Jul 25 #50

Ok, I ForgedCrank Jul 25 #51

It is so helpful when people self-identify. niyad Jul 25 #53

Is this ForgedCrank Jul 25 #57

Why not try to understand what is being said MorbidButterflyTat Jul 25 #92

I do ForgedCrank Jul 25 #94

Very telling that they ignore the #1 definition of the word girl Wiz Imp Jul 26 #109

Thank you so very much. niyad Jul 26 #110

. Scrivener7 Jul 25 #81

Excellent ForgedCrank Jul 25 #84

Damn. I was going for revulsion and non-engagement. Scrivener7 Jul 26 #98

Amen, Sister Hekate Jul 25 #52

Thank you! niyad Jul 25 #54

I frequently use girl for females of whatever age when I talk about people who are not men. aeromanKC Jul 25 #58

sighhhhhhh niyad Jul 25 #59

"Underage female" is actually the correct terminology. valleyrogue Jul 25 #61

Are you sure about that? Think about an appallingly large segment of the niyad Jul 25 #68

With you on this one, Niyad. Timeflyer Jul 25 #62

Thank you. niyad Jul 25 #67

Does "child" have a... Mike Nelson Jul 25 #63

"Daughter of", "son of", "offspring of", or, in the case of orange, etc., "spawn of". niyad Jul 25 #71

You are correct. The Definition of the word "child" is Wiz Imp Jul 25 #65

Thank you. niyad Jul 25 #69

TRUTH ZDU Jul 25 #76

Thank you. niyad Jul 25 #78

"Underage women" makes me want to stomp on a face. Scrivener7 Jul 25 #80

Exactly. And I share your feeling (and I wear heels!!!) niyad Jul 25 #85

Spot on, Scrivnet! SheltieLover Jul 26 #101

Correct malaise Jul 25 #83

Thank you. niyad Jul 25 #87

The media post from yesterday MorbidButterflyTat Jul 25 #93

Thank you. That media post from yesterday pissed me off. niyad Jul 25 #95

Thought I replied to this but I must of messed up. 100% agree. BlueSpot Jul 25 #96

It is all of a piece, as an old saying goes. niyad Jul 26 #97

K&R! Torchlight Jul 26 #100

Thank you. niyad Jul 26 #103

They are children. Once again, children get that end of the stick with shit on it. twodogsbarking Jul 26 #102