[Stone Mountain]

Note that "demolition of arguments" requires you first to engage yourself in what amounts to a reasoned debate with pedophiles.

There's nothing wrong with that. If someone is so afraid that their reasoning can't stand up to arguments from pedophiles, perhaps it would be enlightening to think about their reasoning some more. It is only through reasoned debate with those you disagree with that you can expose the fallacy of their arguments to the world.

But once again, we both know it's wrong

I used to have a problem when my parents told me something was wrong or forbidden without telling me why, and I still feel this way today. There's no lack of intelligent arguments against the actions of pedophiles. I know it is wrong AND I have good reasons for believing so.

If some judge ruled solely on the basis of the arguments, you'd lose the general argument on the grounds of "informed consent,"

Why would this be? Consent is an issue that has been ruled upon many times. Informed consent is a well-defined legal concept.

[r9etb]

Why would this be? Consent is an issue that has been ruled upon many times. Informed consent is a well-defined legal concept.

Let's cut to the chase here.

Let's suppose I bring forth an 8-year old girl who meets the standard of competence required to give "informed consent." (There are undoubtedly some who might qualify.)

Are you telling me that it would be OK for me to begin a sexual relationship with her?

Probably not -- in which case your reasoning would have to involve something other than informed consent.

But this simply points out the difficulty of reasoning with people like pedophiles. Any other objections you can make revolve around some version of "doing no harm." The problem is that for to each plausible objection you can make, somebody can make a plausible counter-argument. We see them being made -- it causes no physical or mental harm, enhances sexual performance, etc.

Eventually you're either going to have to accept pedophilia, or you're going to have to say "it's wrong because it's wrong."