But to the general population, it's unnecessary hair splitting.

He's a predatory creep no matter the clinical definitions.

But you're absolutely correct as it stands!

What does the word "crazy" conjure in your mind? Words influence the way people think. One of the reasons that the word "liberal" became so toxic that liberal politicians in America were running from it, was that it was associated, on purpose, to negative connotations.

Moore is certainly deviant in his pursuit of adolescent girls and young women and there may certainly be some underlying psychological or even psychiatric processes that drive his behavior. What the authors are saying though, is that appropriating and misusing words can have unintended consequences.

Another example of the problems with the "hair splitting" argument: Moron, Imbecile, Idiot, and Retarded. All of these words were clinical terms used as diagnoses for people with intellectual disabilities (the new clinical term). All were co-opted by popular culture to denigrate people who make decisions or engage in actions that people consider unintelligent. The term "Mentally Retarded" was in use for decades but became so toxic that the individuals with disabilities and their supporters fought to have it changed...again. Unfortunately, I suspect that soon we will see the new clinical term being used as an insult toward people who make poor decisions and the cycle will continue.

The point is that Moore is disgusting. He used his power to harass, stock, proposition, and likely abuse young adolescents and very young women. It is deviant and should be socially unacceptable, but it is not pedophilia. If we cannot come up with sufficient terminology to describe our thoughts and feelings toward him and his actions without corrupting other words, then we expose a weakness in our culture.

...and just in this case, I disagree. This isn't court and its not a psych conference
The words, in this case, are irrelevant details

I think that how we, and not just related to Roy Moore only, use words is important. It isn't about an explanation of his psychology or a legal matter, but about how society changes and erodes the meaning and effect of words.

I just think this a bad example of that concern! Cheers!

It is only used for effect. Don't get me started about people who call teenage girls 'little girls'.

because that's what he is (not a pedophile which has a specific definition). Just because the age of consent is 16 in AL, in the US, until you are 18, you cannot vote. That makes you a child, and not an adult as far as I'm concerned.

He should be in jail.

for Moore's case is ephebphilia.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10029829149

I find it incredibly frustrating that the wrong word is used because accuracy matters.

The article's technically correct, but it's pointless nitpicking.

. . .creepy. Really though, we can parse the condition or proclivity all we want, and it doesn't change the actions or the consequences of an adult man acting this way.

took out our electric, phone, and internet this weekend. Hence, I am only now consuming coffee, which I hope will be accepted -- though not endorsed -- as my failure to add the "o."

familiar with the term before today.

I always remember one of our psychologists speaking about this when we reviewed new cases in staff meetings.

as an aside. This dude is one creepy ass gross motherfucker. The story about pulling the one girl out of class is disgusting in so many levels. Half this country has lost its damn mind!

Just go back and edit it if you want!

My ability to spell correctly is pretty poor on a good day.

There are plenty of Roy Moore's out there. Moore may have been hanging around younger women because he was a creep. Once he got married, his behavior seems to have stopped. There is one allegation after he was married, but it seems it doesn't seem quite the same as the rest of the allegations.

I think he was looking for someone that he could control....to me that is the creepy part.

Just as "assault" is used by layman when the legal term is "battery."

Pedophile in the literal sense works just fine for me ... Greek for child lover, and child lover in our society is child molester or pedophile.

Technicalities are for criminal charges and sentencing. For social censure, pedophile works just fine. ... unless you feel that there is no legitimate social censure unless the behavior is criminal. Pretty low bar if that is the case.

Which reminds me of Roy Moore's love for the 10 commandments. I was raised in a Christian home. We considered the 10 Commandments a good start. Sermon on the Mount the gold standard.

Assault is the attempt, battery is when you make contact. If I swing at you with my fists, that is assault. If I hit you then it is assault and battery.

That is someone attracted to adolescents. It is not considered a mental illness like pedophilia. Of course, unwanted touching and kissing of any person is, at the very least, sexual abuse or misconduct under Alabama law.

It is, without question, in the spectrum of (mental) sexual dysfunctions that frequently causes courts to refer some offenders to mental health treatment, and others to jail.

Let Roy Moore explain or excuse his actions; I decline to get into some kind of academic discussion over le mot juste for his sickness.

molesting 14 year old children is a damn pedophile!

Why does Roy Moore get a special pass???

Quibbling about the precise DSM definition of pedophilia will accomplish two things and two things only:

1. It will make Democrats look like idiots.
2. It will exonerate Moore, because society considers pedophilia the worst of all possible crimes. Demanding that we use a different term will allow Moore's apologists to say "I told you he wasn't a pedophile, and that's why he deserves my vote."

During the Lewinsky scandal I saw Bill Clinton condemned as a pedophile because, even though Lewinsky was a consenting adult, the drastic age difference made the situation "qualify" as pedophilia.

The same breed of Republican fuckhead who was happy to embrace that kind of bullshit is even happier to defend Moore now.


Let us undertake this academic bean-counting exercise after Moore loses the election.

doesn't matter, the dirty deed does for crap sake.

And every ad we run against republican senators up for re-election in 18 should have them on the screen together. Tie him around their neck like a rotting chicken.

And peel off independents and suburban female republicans.

Not every state with a republican Senator is as red as Alabama. Actually, none except perhaps Mississippi.

And I have not given up on Doug Jones. Just being realistic.