I find it interesting that so many people are so utterly disgusted by pedophiles and believe that even the mere thought of sex with children should be banned. The only reason sex with children IS banned is because children cannot consent. So as long as there aren't children involved with the process, then I see no issue with it. In fact, having a vent to release one's fantasies might help alleviate the desire to experience them in real life.
Saying that pedophilia is gross and therefore this site should be banned is so completely hypocritical it makes me want to tear my eyes out. Hardcore Christians could use the EXACT SAME argument to close down this site; "gay sex is gross and they shouldn't be allowed to talk about it!"
On a more actually comparable note, stories regarding rape are totally acceptable around here. Obviously it's not okay to rape someone in reality, but there's plenty of rape stories here on JUB and no one bats an eye.
Also, on a similar note, "under 18" and "child" are not the same thing. In most countries throughout the world, the age of consent is 16. So a story about having sex with a 17 year old man is very different than a story about having sex with a 7 year old child.
Yes, such fantasies can help some pedophiles not act out. himeros is correct in having some sympathy for at least some of them, because they're stuck with an attraction they didn't ask for yet can't turn off. Because I know a probation/parole officer here (thanks to trying to help a kid who has real gifts but who grew up with ex-cons as role models), I'm aware of two pedophiles in the community that have been helped by new drugs that totally turn off their sex drive: they absolutely love it, because between that and some cognitive therapy, they have almost no thoughts about sex with kids any longer, and the ones they do, according to one, are like someone else is thinking in in his head, and he can just brush it away.
[rant] he tried to get help through the county health department, but they have no funding for such counseling -- so he deliberately downloaded and printed some underage porn and made sure he got caught, as the only way he could find to get help [/rant]
OTOH, such fantasies also help a portion of pedophiles act out -- and that's why none should be on the internet, or in libraries, or bookstores, or anywhere else.
WRT the definition of "child", it varies. The National Safety Council in the U.S. has used 14 as the diving line for many years, but other agencies use different definitions -- and wingnuts like the Brady Campaign (or whatever the call themselves now) include up to 20 years old if it helps their statistical argument.
But the strict definition of pedophile means attraction to prepubescents (someone on JUB pointed out the technical term for attraction to those going through puberty ... hebaphile, or something?). I believe in being strict and correct with such terms in such conversations as this, so I stick to that.