Debate Guide: Cyclical paternalism: Difference between revisions

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This argument is in effect the reverse of the [[Debate Guide: Liberty-empowerment|liberty empowerment]] theory and is used to describe how paternalist/protectionist/parentalist/ageist practises in society will sometimes fulfil their supporters' prophecies that such measures will be required.  
__NOTOC__Paternalist/adultist practises in society create "dumb" infantilized minors, who in turn must be treated as vulnerables. This argument (in relation to the concept of [[consent]]) is summed up by [http://www.mhamic.org/sources/li1.htm Chin-Keung Li]:


This argument (in relation to the concept of [[consent]]) is summed up by [http://www.mhamic.org/sources/li1.htm Chin-Keung Li] on the MHAMic website:
[[Image:Li.gif]]
 
Cyclical paternalism works in tandem with the [[Debate Guide: Liberty-empowerment|liberty empowerment]] argument - as they are both essentially different ways of describing the same phenomenon.
 
==Drug analogy==
 
Anti-drugs laws' purported aim is to protect people from intrinsically harmful substances, however it is widely accepted that prohibitions have encouraged drug contamination and poor control of dosing. Within the prohibitionist scheme, drugs education is also incredibly poor, as it is underpinned by the same social-legal misconception of all "drugs" as "bad" (a la Mr. Mackey). "Addiction" is wrongly presented as a drug-induced phenomenon, while no attention is given to ''identifying'' the underlying mental imbalances that must exist for a person to become drug dependent. So, because:
 
: '''a)''' "Drugs" are taboo.
: '''b)''' Young people are rarely informed enough to understand mental imbalances that expose them to a risk of dependency.
 
...young people are then more likely to turn to drugs when they are most depressed and vulnerable. A dependency relationship ensues in later youth or adulthood.
 
One might conclude that younger people should be allowed to experiment with drug-highs in a supportive and emotionally stable environment, as has taken place in some mid-late 20th century communal settings. Similarly, guilt-free exploration of body-pleasure (a far less mind-altering event) should be encouraged from an early age, assuming it is on the young person's terms.
 
==Adultism==
 
The idea of "sexual maturity" (in social terms, at least) is an ''adultist'' concept, imposed on the worlds of minors.
 
What constitutes sexual maturity is defined by the very adults who profess it, and have the power to determine what it actually means. This kind of elitism can be seen in the kink-snobbery of people like [[Prostasia]]'s Meagan Ingerman.<ref>https://prostasia.org/blog/ageplay-is-for-adults/</ref> Professing a personal interest in "kink and ageplay", she constructs a highly convoluted "adults only" world of deviance for herself and other adults. On the basis of this subjective outlook, she then bars minors from seeking sexual pleasure of any kind - assuming the role of gatekeeper.


[[Image:Li.gif]]
The unsuitability of an over-complicated form of "adult sexuality" for "young minds" has been seen as a [[self-fulfilling prophecy]].
 
==See also==


Some anti-drugs laws that aim to protect people from harmful substances have made the use of virtually harmless substances potentially deadly through poor production standards and lack of appropriate education. Similarly, attempting to protect a class of people from natural, human sexuality leads to inadequate education and hands control of these practises to a hidden, criminal element. Therefore, protectionist actions may be excused by the unthinking because they allegedly "prevent" and "bring closure to" the problems they are in part responsible for causing.
*[[Research: Cognitive ability]]
*[[Research: Sexual repression]]
*[[Research: Youth sexuality]]
*[[Research: Secondary Harm]]


To resolve this issue, young people should be handed back control of their bodies and taught not to feel guilty about their sexuality.
==References==


[[Category:Debate]][[Category:Debating Points: Child/Minor]]
[[Category:Debate]][[Category:Debating Points: Child/Minor]]


[[fr:Guide de débat: Paternalisme cyclique]]
[[fr:Guide de débat: Paternalisme cyclique]]

Latest revision as of 12:04, 15 January 2023

Paternalist/adultist practises in society create "dumb" infantilized minors, who in turn must be treated as vulnerables. This argument (in relation to the concept of consent) is summed up by Chin-Keung Li:

Cyclical paternalism works in tandem with the liberty empowerment argument - as they are both essentially different ways of describing the same phenomenon.

Drug analogy

Anti-drugs laws' purported aim is to protect people from intrinsically harmful substances, however it is widely accepted that prohibitions have encouraged drug contamination and poor control of dosing. Within the prohibitionist scheme, drugs education is also incredibly poor, as it is underpinned by the same social-legal misconception of all "drugs" as "bad" (a la Mr. Mackey). "Addiction" is wrongly presented as a drug-induced phenomenon, while no attention is given to identifying the underlying mental imbalances that must exist for a person to become drug dependent. So, because:

a) "Drugs" are taboo.
b) Young people are rarely informed enough to understand mental imbalances that expose them to a risk of dependency.

...young people are then more likely to turn to drugs when they are most depressed and vulnerable. A dependency relationship ensues in later youth or adulthood.

One might conclude that younger people should be allowed to experiment with drug-highs in a supportive and emotionally stable environment, as has taken place in some mid-late 20th century communal settings. Similarly, guilt-free exploration of body-pleasure (a far less mind-altering event) should be encouraged from an early age, assuming it is on the young person's terms.

Adultism

The idea of "sexual maturity" (in social terms, at least) is an adultist concept, imposed on the worlds of minors.

What constitutes sexual maturity is defined by the very adults who profess it, and have the power to determine what it actually means. This kind of elitism can be seen in the kink-snobbery of people like Prostasia's Meagan Ingerman.[1] Professing a personal interest in "kink and ageplay", she constructs a highly convoluted "adults only" world of deviance for herself and other adults. On the basis of this subjective outlook, she then bars minors from seeking sexual pleasure of any kind - assuming the role of gatekeeper.

The unsuitability of an over-complicated form of "adult sexuality" for "young minds" has been seen as a self-fulfilling prophecy.

See also

References