This decision really really saddens me. I understand some of the rationale behind it but not all of it. One conversation in my life that sticks in my mind and will forever is interviewing someone in a similar position to lostson when I was doing my thesis. He wasn't a paedophile, his offence (yes, he did act upon it) was with a 16 year old girl, who he abducted, raped and sodomised. He has been abused by his father since he was 11 years old. He spent a very long time battling his demons and in the end, found it impossible.

Without going into details I had been privy to his prison file / psyc assessment, et al. His past was pretty horrific. It translated into playing out forced sex role plays with his wife (some were not quite 'role plays' :/) He tried a lot of substances to deal with his impulses. I don't know. I just couldn't feel anything but overwhelming sorrow for his situation. It was not an easy life, and where did he get the chance to develop a normal conception of sex? He damn well didn't.

A couple of weeks later I was given some art and a letter he had written me. There was nothing inappropriately sexual in it, before you ask. It was a thank you for listening without judging and having the chance to tell someone else his story. They don't get an easy time in jail.

I had my own experience a few years later travelling south america. But if the timelines were reversed I still think I would have felt the same about that interview.

I think using something like that as an excuse is wrong, but as an explanation, well that's a different story.

I hope that the person concerned here has the very best of luck in somehow finding some relief, and I am sad that there is no support for him here. I applaud the people who in the thread who welcomed him, and those who said okay but i don't want anything to do with you - that is very strong.

You can ignore a member. I don't see how that is not enough.

Just my few cents.