I would have thought that the beauty of a place like this would have indeed been that people could choose where they wanted to hang out and share, and see whether they liked or identified with a particular forum etc.

When one makes forums with restricted membership (e.g., males only, females only, over 21 only, under 21 only - one limits choices. One says 'this is the basis of the in-group identity and there are a whole bunch of other people who simply aren't welcome here'.

I don't see anything wrong with attempting to foster certain things. E.g., 'this board is for supporting guys with issues guys bring up'. When it amounts to 'we have judged that you aren't a guy so %#@&#! off' then I do find it hard to see how this is being accepting of others - or giving others more choices.

> I would feel uncomfortable trying to second guess what their emotional or psychological or other needs are and throwing them all together in one big forum and say, "Here you go, good luck!"

I don't see how the absence of closed forums would be doing any of those things. Isn't the creation of closed forums trying to second guess what peoples emotional or psychological or other needs are more than their absence? The presence of moderation means and you aren't simply 'throwing people all together'. The different boards with their different posters (this happens even when anyone except the pedophiles are able to join) are diverse environments and people have choices already as to their niche. Except for the people that are excluded altogether, of course.

Like having thoughts / urges / desires to abuse others...

Even though that counts as a mental disorder. Pedophilia: The new schizophrenia. Society simply has to hate / fear some group, I suppose... Sigh.