Can a 4 year old molest another 4 year old? (moral, sexuality)

[Enigmata]

Thats right! Turk has come out of RF retirement to ask this burning question. Let me set up the scenario for you.

So I am sitting here, watching E.R. when there is a break in the show to promote the 10 P.M. news. This is what I heard. "A 4 year old molests another 4 year old at a day care center." and "this is a bigger problem than was once thought."

So I am sitting there wondering if something with no feelings or knowledge of sexuality can molest something else with no feelings or knowledge of sexuality.

The nature of what they called "abuse" was described in detail but basically it all comes down to the fondling of a little girls private parts by a little boy.

So what do you all think?

[Djamila]

Send the boy to jail for 10 years. Seems to be the going sentence.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by turk179

The nature of what they called "abuse" was described in detail but basically it all comes down to the fondling of a little girls private parts by a little boy.

So what do you all think?

We used to call that "playing doctor" and it was seen for what it is -- a natural curiousity about the body differences between boys and girls. And parents explained that it was inappropriate to do that sort of thing and that was the end of it. Honestly!

This reminds me of the celebrated case of the six year old boy accused of "sexual harassment" because he kissed a classmate. When I was a kid, that would've been called "cute."

[Booko]

Originally Posted by Djamila

Send the boy to jail for 10 years. Seems to be the going sentence.

*sigh* Yeah, and try him as an adult while we're at it. I mean, we try 9 year olds as adults, so why not?

[Mike182]

i don't want to say "the kid must have learnt it from somewhere", but, i'm sure that's not normal 4 yr. old behaviour...

i don't know if i'd use the word abuse, because other than teaching the kid that such things are wrong to do, i don't think the kid is responsible.

and welcome back turk! how is Draka doing?

[xexon]

No. To molest is defined by intent.

4 year olds have no intent other than curiosity. They just want to learn about what they see around them. They haven't attached a moral value to things yet.


x

[Guitar's Cry]

Originally Posted by Booko

We used to call that "playing doctor" and it was seen for what it is -- a natural curiousity about the body differences between boys and girls.

I agree.

A four-year-old's morality is barely beginning to develop. Actions are not based on "right" or "wrong," but on growth - which includes curiosity. It should be seen as a learning moment, not a "bigger problem than we thought."

[lilithu]

Me thinks that 4 year olds DO naturally do these kinds of things out of curiosity. They're trying to figure out what makes a boy a boy and a girl a girl (physically anyway). And it is in no way driven by sexual desire.

Me also thinks that labeling this incident "molestation" and making a big deal about it is going to cause the little girl far more trauma than the physical touching itself.

Jeeze louise, the things that we do to our kids in the name of protecting them.

[Djamila]

I can't stop thinking about that scene from Eurotrip.

"Our early, American pioneers were all prudes, man. They were puritans. They only came here to get away from all that crazy, European sex. I want crazy, European sex!"

I want to phone everyone who thinks this is child mollestation and call them prudes.