MAP Forum

This is an idea I have played with via Newgon in the past, but never completed:

https://wiki.yesmap.net/wiki/Tricky_Questions

https://wiki.yesmap.net/wiki/RoadMAP_Debate_Script

Sex Offender activists have devised their own system:

https://www.narsol.org/registryfacts/

I'm thinking we could list a series of 8-10 lowbrow media barbs, and memorize our evidence in response each. We can exclude the pro-c stuff for this purpose, and try our best not to make the responses sound defensive. End point will be having media-literate MAP activists who are prepared to quickfire respond to common misconceptions.

Yeah, this sounds like a good idea. Our FAQ goes some way to achieving this role and should serve as the foundation. But it's not quite the same thing, either.

While reading through the "Debate Guide" from yesmap a while ago, I thought something more concise and straight to the point would be a great idea. So I endorse this for sure.

The distinction is this will only approach questions a journalist would ask, or accusations they would make. It would only go so far in answering them as a 5 minute interview format would permit.

It could thus be memorized by the average person.

For me, there are a few common complaints we deal with. I'll wait for others to add to them:

1. Harm.

You might think what you are doing is a worthy cause, but isn't it causing irredeemable harm to children?

Response 1. Suicide rates, sourced.

2. Control and relapse.

You try to present an acceptable face to Minor Attracted People. But it's widely understood these people are uncontrollable in their hunt for young children, and the thirst just can't be satiated.

Response 1: Number of non offending pedophiles or MAPs is high (sourced).
Response 2: Recidivism among CSOs (not pedophiles per se) is low (sourced).

3. LGBT infiltration.

Is this just an attempt to pass pedophilia off as another identity under the LGBTQI+ umbrella? You will never be accepted, or normal.

Response 1: No, ask any MAP or LGBTQI+ person. The MAP identity only came into existence a decade or so after an "ILGA Controversy" in which pedophile and hebephile groups were kicked out from the G, L + B community's activist umbrella. It exists because MAPs are no longer accepted as part of that group.

Response 2: Attraction to minors his historically ubiquitous (e.g. Greece, Rome, Turks, Japan), but the idea that normality is necessary for acceptance nowadays is outdated and reactionary. Other minority groups including trans* have already disproven that idea. The idea that MAPs need to prove they are human, or that there is anything to "humanize" is deeply offensive, and one reason why a MAP movement exists.

4. Mental illness.

The MAP Movement is an attempt to legitimize a mental illness. MAPs are deranged.

Response 1: Sourced rebuttal of assertion.

Response 2: But the social stigma is already known to be highly harmful to the mental health of MAPs (source), and is occasionally causing them and others to act in irrational and dangerous ways beyond even suicide. Ref "The Push", give highly publicized examples of massacres. This is one major reason why abuse prevention professionals support reducing the stigma, alongside MAP activists.

5. Emotional appeal.

X is a survivor of childhood sexual abuse. Try explaining to them, what you are doing is a worthy and just cause!

Response 1. Numerous MAPs are survivors of CSA, just like numerous members of society are. Others I am aware of have indifferent or positive memories of AMSC. These issues should not be of any importance to why we are increasing awareness of MAPs, since attraction to minors is not an action. In fact, the assumptions underlying your challenge represent perfectly the stigma on people who are attracted to minors.

Response 2. The belief that we must be responsible for CSA, or apologise for it is central to why we are conducting an awareness campaign about people with this attraction. See, e.g. suicide rates, sourced, for why we do it.

6. Minority.

You represent just a tiny proportion of society, so will never be a mass movement.

7. Porn encourages abuse.

8. Abusers are by definition pedophiles.

Once a person as offended against a child, this is a de-facto admission of pedophilia.

Response 1. This belief is the cause of the stigma we are actually fighting. Example: Suicide rates, sourced.
Response 2. More non-pedophilic individuals than pedophiles commit sex crimes against children, especially violent sex crimes. Source - Dutch Rapporteur.

As we can see above, I've started work on a media primer that is small enough to be memorized by a vol, along with its sources. Please submit further ideas based on how you imagine media will question us.

What is a palm card?
Something you pull from your pocket to help script the best things to say in case you forget?
I'm not sure if it's useful to me or not but I think it's great what you've designed so far.
I think I am very simple minded compared to a lot of you, I'm no kind of activist like that, but I think I would prove useful dealing with other simple minded people like myself. Many I imagine are intimidated by sophisticated intellectual stuff.
Just saying, does Mu need a palm card? I don't know, maybe, but I don't think I do.

Here I would post an image of a palm card which reads:
How to make a friend.

1. Tell them your name, and you can ask theirs.
(Hi! I'm Becky, what's your name?)
2. Tell them something about yourself.
(I like to jump rope and climb on the jungle gym.)
3. Find out if they'd like to spend time with you as a friend.
(At recess, would you like to jump rope with me?)