Richard Dawkins Pedophilia Remarks Provoke Outrage

[afleitch]

Meh. He pretty much explains what he means in the bit after the segment you highlighted. Inappropriate touching was not considered along the same standards as say child rape as an act that falls under the umbrella of ‘paedophilia’ about fifty years ago. We wouldn’t think that now of course but that was the case then. Dawkins was at boarding school. It was simply seen as ‘part of the experience’ to be fondled by other boys or even masters which Stephen Fry openly addresses in this autobiography. It wasn’t thought of as wrong, or the same ‘family of wrong’ as vaginal or anal child sexual abuse. It may be an uncomfortable fact, but that’s how it was. Of course, he needn’t be flippant about saying that ‘it did none of us any harm’ as he can only, truly speak for himself.