In article <slrne3uunm.7r6.chris@ccserver.keris.net>,
Chris Croughton <chris@keristor.net> wrote:
> On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 20:09:17 -0500, David Sachs
> <sachs@fnal.gov> wrote:
>
> > Since the obvious combination, "pedophile", has a very different meaning,
> > what is the proper word for a person who likes children?
>
> A pedophile is a foot-fetishist (see pedologist, pedometer)! A
> paedophile is one who "loves children" (Greek paid, child, and philos,
> "love of siblings"). The correct term for a person who has sexual
> desire towards children should be something like paedoeroticist (eros
> being sexual love), but we are stuck with the incorrect meaning now.
> The ending '-phile' now almost exclusively implies a sexual love or
> desire, rather than the original "brotherly love".
>
> In today's society, to admit to a "love of children" at all (in any
> language) is regarded as suspicious and implying some sort of unhealthy
> sexual interest in them, particularly if it is about children in general
> (loving your own offspring is still marginally acceptable). And since
> the words are often confused[1] by people, 'liking' children is often
> seem as the same and is there fore dangerous[2].
>
> [1] "I love [like] peanut butter!"; "Do you think he likes [has a sexual
> or romantic interest in] me?" The words are used interchangeably by
> large parts of society, and many people seem to actually not know that
> there is even supposed to be a difference.
>
> [2] Dangerous to the point where people have been arrested for having
> pictures of their own child naked in a pool...
>
> Of course, it's not the only word which doesn't mean what it ought to.
> Which of 'vegetarian' and 'humanitarian' is correct? One who cares for
> the welfare of vegetables, or one who eats humans?
>
> Chris C
I always thought "-phile" meant "enjoys and/or has an interest in",
except in the silly case of pedophile (the American spelling of the word
that means "unnatural sexual love for children." See also pediatrician,
a children's doctor.) So, for example, you have francophiles -- those
who enjoy and are interested in all things French, (and I don't just
mean kissing! ;), etc.
No?
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