'''Mapmedicalism''' is an ideological stance in MAP discourse. It denotes the belief that being a [[MAP|MAP]] is a mental disorder.
[[File:Newgon2007.png|thumb|right|alt=Newgon logo from 2007|Newgon logo from 2007]]
'''Newgon''' is a [[pro-contact]] MAP organization that calls itself an information center for the MAP Movement. Its website is a MediaWiki-based site archiving talking points and arguments for pro-contact MAPs.
== History ==
== History ==
The first documented usage of the term or something adjacent was by the medicalist MAP Lo on [[Online_map_communities#cite_note-11|nnia.space]] in February 2021. The conversation went as follows:
Newgon was co-founded in 2007 by the pro-contact MAP activists Daniel Lièvre and Jillium after Google started censorship of small blogging sites<ref name="J">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Newgon Newgon], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. In 2014 the site was disabled, with the ISP requesting the administrator for contact. Soon, the site's domain expired and the site went fully offline.
<blockquote>Lo<ref>Lo [@Lo]. (2021, Feb. 5). <em>I’m a MAPmed</em> [Toot]. NNIA. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://nnia.space/@Lo/105676064913603435 https://nnia.space/@Lo/105676064913603435]</ref>: I’m a MAPmed
Lecter<ref>Lecter [@comrade_lecter]. (2021, Feb. 5). <em>does it mean you believe being a map is a medical condition, or..?</em> [Toot]. NNIA. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://nnia.space/@comrade_lecter/105676115989584066 https://nnia.space/@comrade_lecter/105676115989584066]</ref>: does it mean you believe being a map is a medical condition, or..?
Lo<ref>Lo [@Lo]. (2021, February 5). <em>I see it as a disordered sexual orientation</em>. [Toot]. NNIA. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://nnia.space/@Lo/105676174998855717 https://nnia.space/@Lo/105676174998855717]</ref>: I see it as a disordered sexual orientation.
Lecter<ref>Lecter [@comrade_lecter]. (2021, Feb. 5). <em>why disordered?</em> [Toot]. NNIA. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://nnia.space/@comrade_lecter/105676185926528294 https://nnia.space/@comrade_lecter/105676185926528294]</ref>: why disordered?
Lo<ref>Lo [@Lo]. (2021, Feb. 5). <em>if acted on its inherently damaging. If not acted on</em> [Toot]. NNIA. [https://nnia.space/@Lo/105676250664497983 https://nnia.space/@Lo/105676250664497983]</ref>: if acted on its inherently damaging. If not acted on it leaves the person with a lifetime of never truly being sexually or romantically satisfied. You can get laid elsewhere if course, and you can still find love (obvs I mean I’m married), but there will always be that lacking.
Lecter<ref>Lecter [@comrade_lecter]. (2021, Feb. 5). <em>an unfortunate life situation is not inherently a medical issue</em>. [Toot]. NNIA. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://nnia.space/@comrade_lecter/105676298823214661 https://nnia.space/@comrade_lecter/105676298823214661]</ref>: an unfortunate life situation is not inherently a medical issue.</blockquote>
A few other NNIA users have occasionally used the term in discussions about the medicalization of mapness as well. Unfortunately, records of these posts cannot be retrieved at this time. MAP blogger Ethan Edwards has expressed being favorable to classifying pedophilia as a mental disorder<ref>Edwards, E. (2019, May 22). <em>Disorder? Orientation? That depends on why you’re asking</em>. Celibate Pedophiles. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://celibatepedos.virped.org/archives/139-Disorder-Orientation-That-depends-on-why-youre-asking.html#:~:text=reasonable https://celibatepedos.virped.org/archives/139-Disorder-Orientation-That-depends-on-why-youre-asking.html]</ref>.
Other people have attempted to define mapness as a mental disorder both to justify stigmatizing MAPs<ref>Rovner, S. (1987, May 27). <em>In Defense of the Children</em>. The Washington Post. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1987/05/27/in-defense-of-the-children/f73cfd23-ea4c-45ad-ad2d-0259bb9cd85c/#:~:text=sickness https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1987/05/27/in-defense-of-the-children/f73cfd23-ea4c-45ad-ad2d-0259bb9cd85c/] </ref><ref>Johnson, C. [Cheryl-Johnson-103]. (2019, Jan. 25). <em>Wanting to have sex with children is a mental illness. having sex with children is a crime.</em> [Answer to online question <em>If pedophilia is a mental disorder, why is it treated as a crime and not an illness needing treatment?</em>]. Quora. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.quora.com/If-pedophilia-is-a-mental-disorder-why-is-it-treated-as-a-crime-and-not-an-illness-needing-treatment/answer/Cheryl-Johnson-103 https://www.quora.com/If-pedophilia-is-a-mental-disorder-why-is-it-treated-as-a-crime-and-not-an-illness-needing-treatment/answer/Cheryl-Johnson-103]</ref><ref>Mello, J. B. [@jasonbmello]. (2022, May 1). <em>Mental Illness is on the rise and #Democrats are ok with making it mainstream... specifically pedophilia</em>. [Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://twitter.com/jasonbmello/status/1520770743704993792 https://twitter.com/jasonbmello/status/1520770743704993792]</ref><ref>K., S. M. [@SarahKisCute]. (2022, May 7). <em>Maps believe pedophilia is a valid sexuality instead of a mental illness</em>. [Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://twitter.com/SarahKisCute/status/1523011161532559361 https://twitter.com/SarahKisCute/status/1523011161532559361]</ref> as well as to justify destigmatizing MAPs<ref>Kaplan, M. (2014, Oct. 5). <em>Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime</em>. The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/opinion/pedophilia-a-disorder-not-a-crime.html https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/06/opinion/pedophilia-a-disorder-not-a-crime.html]</ref><ref>Schwartz, C. (2017, Jul. 13). <em>What Science Reveals About Pedophilia</em>. The Daily Beast. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.thedailybeast.com/what-science-reveals-about-pedophilia https://www.thedailybeast.com/what-science-reveals-about-pedophilia]</ref><ref><em>Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not A Crime</em>. (2018, Jan. 15). NDTV Doctor. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [http://doctor.ndtv.com/living-healthy/pedophilia-a-disorder-not-a-crime-1800175 http://doctor.ndtv.com/living-healthy/pedophilia-a-disorder-not-a-crime-1800175]</ref><ref>Klower, K. (2018, Dec. 5). <em>Should The Knowledge That Pedophilia Is A Mental Illness Change How We View Pedophiles?</em> YourTango. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.yourtango.com/2018319519/what-does-pedophilia-mean-differences-between-pedophiles-sex-offenders-who-commit-child-sexual-abuse https://www.yourtango.com/2018319519/what-does-pedophilia-mean-differences-between-pedophiles-sex-offenders-who-commit-child-sexual-abuse]</ref><ref>Newsy. (2018, Oct. 12). <em>Should pedophilia be treated as mental illness?</em> [Video]. Youtube. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8rR2wxD_J0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k8rR2wxD_J0]</ref><ref>Gupta, M. (2020, Jun. 27). <em>Pedophilia: A mental disorder, not a crime per se</em>. Lawyersclubindia. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.lawyersclubindia.com/articles/pedophilia-a-mental-disorder-not-a-crime-per-se-11600.asp https://www.lawyersclubindia.com/articles/pedophilia-a-mental-disorder-not-a-crime-per-se-11600.asp]</ref><ref>Love, S. (2020, Aug. 24). <em>Pedophilia Is a Mental Health Issue. It’s Still Not Treated as One</em>. Vice News. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3zk55/pedophilia-is-a-mental-health-issue-its-still-not-treated-as-one https://www.vice.com/en/article/y3zk55/pedophilia-is-a-mental-health-issue-its-still-not-treated-as-one]</ref>.
== Roots ==
Presumably, the terms “mapmed,” “mapmedicalist,” and “mapmedicalism” were inspired by their parallels to transmedicalism<ref>Kravitz, M. (2021, Aug. 24). <em>Why Do Some Transgender People Still Pathologize Themselves?</em> An Injustice! Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://aninjusticemag.com/why-do-some-transgender-people-still-pathologize-themselves-ce7e176e392b https://aninjusticemag.com/why-do-some-transgender-people-still-pathologize-themselves-ce7e176e392b]</ref>, an ideology denoting the belief that being transgender<ref>National Center for Transgender Equality. (2016, Jul. 9). <em>Frequently Asked Questions about Transgender People</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://transequality.org/issues/resources/frequently-asked-questions-about-transgender-people https://transequality.org/issues/resources/frequently-asked-questions-about-transgender-people]</ref> inherently constitutes a mental disorder (and thus a medical issue condition) because one must have a specific mental “disorder”<ref>Iris. (2022, May 1). <em>Is transgenderism a mental disorder? Is gender dysphoria a mental disorder?</em> aronarchy. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://aronarchy.dreamwidth.org/1106.html https://aronarchy.dreamwidth.org/1106.html]</ref> (gender dysphoria)<ref>Turban, J. (2020, Nov.). <em>What is Gender Dysphoria?</em> American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria https://psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria]</ref> to be “actually trans.” The suffix -medicalism has been used to name other ideologies since then, such as system medicalism or “sysmedicalism”<ref>System Exclusionists. (n.d.). In <em>Multiplicity and Plurality Wiki</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://multiplicity.fandom.com/wiki/System_Exclusionists https://multiplicity.fandom.com/wiki/System_Exclusionists]</ref>, an ideology in part centered around the belief that being a system<ref>System. (n.d.). In <em>Multiplicity and Plurality Wiki</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://multiplicity.fandom.com/wiki/System https://multiplicity.fandom.com/wiki/System]</ref> inherently constitutes a mental disorder because one must have a specific mental disorder (Dissociative Identity Disorder<ref><em>DID in the DSM-5-TR</em>. (n.d.). Dissociative Identity Disorder Research. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://did-research.org/did/basics/dsm-5/ https://did-research.org/did/basics/dsm-5]</ref>, Other Specified Dissociative Disorder subtype 1<ref><em>DID Versus OSDD-1</em>. (n.d.). Dissociative Identity Disorder Research. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://did-research.org/comorbid/dd/osdd_udd/did_osdd https://did-research.org/comorbid/dd/osdd_udd/did_osdd]</ref>, or Unspecified Dissociative Disorder<ref><em>Unspecified Dissociative Disorder</em>. (n.d.). Dissociative Identity Disorder Research. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://did-research.org/comorbid/dd/osdd_udd/#:~:text=Unspecified https://did-research.org/comorbid/dd/osdd_udd]</ref>) to be “actually a system.”
== Academic precedents ==
The World Health Organization<ref>World Health Organization. (n.d.). [World Health Organization official website]. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.who.int/ https://www.who.int]</ref>’s International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems<ref>World Health Organization. (n.d.). <em>International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD)</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/classification-of-diseases]</ref>, Tenth Revision (ICD-10)<ref>ICD-10. (n.d.). In <em>Wikipedia</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICD-10 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICD-10]</ref> classified “paedophilia” (“a sexual preference for children, boys or girls or both, usually of prepubertal or early pubertal age“) as a “disorder of sexual preference”<ref>World Health Organization. (2019). F65.4 Paedophilia. In <em>International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems</em> (10th ed.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://icd.who.int/browse10/2019/en#/F65.4 https://icd.who.int/browse10/2019/en#/F65.4]</ref>. The ICD-11<ref>ICD-11. (n.d.). In <em>Wikipedia</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICD-11 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICD-11]</ref> changed the category to “paraphilic disorders”<ref>World Health Organization. (2022 Feb.). Paraphilic disorders. In <em>International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems</em> (11th ed.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://icd.who.int/browse11/l-m/en#/http%3a%2f%2fid.who.int%2ficd%2fentity%2f2110604642 https://icd.who.int/browse11/l-m/en#/http%3a%2f%2fid.who.int%2ficd%2fentity%2f2110604642]</ref>.
<blockquote><em>Paraphilic Disorders</em> are characterized by persistent and intense patterns of atypical sexual arousal, manifested by sexual thoughts, fantasies, urges, or behaviours, in which the focus of the arousal pattern involves others whose age or status renders them unwilling or unable to consent (e.g., pre-pubertal children, an unsuspecting individual being viewed through a window, an animal). Paraphilic Disorders may also involve other atypical sexual arousal patterns if they cause marked distress to the individual or involve significant risk of injury or death.
Paraphilic Disorders include the following:
6D30 Exhibitionistic Disorder<br>6D31 Voyeuristic Disorder<br>6D32 Pedophilic Disorder<br>6D33 Coercive Sexual Sadism Disorder<br>6D34 Frotteuristic Disorder<br>6D35 Other Paraphilic Disorder Involving Non-Consenting Individuals
In order for the above Paraphilic Disorders to be diagnosed, the individual must have acted on the arousal pattern or be markedly distressed by it.
In addition, the following diagnosis may be assigned to describe persistent and intense patterns of atypical sexual arousal—manifested by sexual thoughts, fantasies, urges, or behaviours—that involve consenting adults or solitary behaviours, as long as either: 1) the person is markedly distressed by the nature of the arousal pattern and the distress is not simply a consequence of rejection or feared rejection of the arousal pattern by others; or 2) the nature of the paraphilic behaviour involves significant risk of injury or death (e.g., asphyxophilia or achieving sexual arousal by restriction of breathing).
6D36 Other Paraphilic Disorder Involving Solitary Behaviour or Consenting Individuals
Atypical patterns of sexual arousal that do not involve actions towards others whose age or status renders them unwilling or unable to consent or that are not associated with marked distress or significant risk of injury or death are not considered to be Paraphilic Disorders.
Many sexual crimes involve actions or behaviours that are not associated with a sustained underlying paraphilic arousal pattern. Rather, these behaviours may be transient and occur impulsively or opportunistically, or in relation to substance use or intoxication. A diagnosis of a Paraphilic Disorder should not be assigned in such cases.</blockquote>
Its entry on “Pedophilic disorder”<ref>World Health Organization. (2022 Feb.). 6D32 Pedophilic disorder. In <em>International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems</em> (11th ed.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://icd.who.int/browse11/l-m/en#/http://id.who.int/icd/entity/517058174 https://icd.who.int/browse11/l-m/en#/http://id.who.int/icd/entity/517058174]</ref>:
<blockquote>Pedophilic disorder is characterised by a sustained, focused, and intense pattern of sexual arousal—as manifested by persistent sexual thoughts, fantasies, urges, or behaviours—involving pre-pubertal children. In addition, in order for Pedophilic Disorder to be diagnosed, the individual must have acted on these thoughts, fantasies or urges or be markedly distressed by them. This diagnosis does not apply to sexual behaviours among pre- or post-pubertal children with peers who are close in age.
Diagnostic Requirements
Essential (Required) Features:
A sustained, focused, and intense pattern of sexual arousal—as manifested by persistent sexual thoughts, fantasies, urges, or behaviours—involving pre-pubertal children.
The individual must have acted on these thoughts, fantasies or urges or be markedly distressed by them.
The diagnosis does not apply to sexual arousal and accompanying behaviour between pre- or post-pubertal children who are close in age.</blockquote>
The <em>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders</em><ref><em>Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders</em>. (n.d.). In <em>Wikipedia</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diagnostic_and_Statistical_Manual_of_Mental_Disorders]</ref> (DSM), a publication by the American Psychiatric Association<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). In <em>Wikipedia</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Psychiatric_Association https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Psychiatric_Association]</ref> (APA) for the classification of mental disorders, made similar changes which depathologized pedophilia and other paraphilias in recent versions. Malon (2012) gives a brief organized overview of the how the DSM’s diagnosis of pedophilia has evolved<ref name="A">Malon, A. (2012). Pedophilia: A Diagnosis in Search of a Disorder. <em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em>, <em>41</em>(5), 1083–1097. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://sci-hub.se/10.1007/s10508-012-9919-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-9919-5]</ref>.
The first version of the DSM to discuss paraphilias was the DSM-III (1980)<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (1980). PARAPHILIAS. In <em>Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders</em> (3rd ed.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://aditpsiquiatriaypsicologia.es/images/CLASIFICACION%20DE%20ENFERMEDADES/DSM-III.pdf#page=280 https://aditpsiquiatriaypsicologia.es/images/CLASIFICACION%20DE%20ENFERMEDADES/DSM-III.pdf#page=280]</ref>.
<blockquote>PARAPHILIAS
The essential feature of disorders in this subclass is that unusual or bizarre imagery or acts are necessary for sexual excitement. Such imagery or acts tend to be insistently and involuntarily repetitive and generally involve either: (1) preference for use of a nonhuman object for sexual arousal, (2) repetitive sexual activity with humans involving real or simulated suffering or humiliation, or (3) repetitive sexual activity with nonconsenting partners. In other classifications these disorders are referred to as Sexual Deviations. The term Paraphilia is preferable because it correctly emphasizes that the deviation (para) is in that to which the individual is attracted (philia).
The imagery in a Paraphilia, such as simulated bondage, may be playful and harmless and acted out with a mutually consenting partner. More likely it is not reciprocated by the partner, who consequently feels erotically excluded or superfluous to some degree. In more extreme form, paraphiliac imagery is acted out with a nonconsenting partner, and is noxious and injurious to the partner (as in severe Sexual Sadism) or to the self (as in Sexual Masochism).
Since paraphiliac imagery is necessary for erotic arousal, it must be included in masturbatory or coital fantasies, if not actually acted out alone or with a partner and supporting cast or paraphernalia. In the absence of paraphiliac imagery there is no relief from nonerotic tension, and sexual excitement or orgasm is not attained. The imagery in a paraphiliac fantasy or the object of sexual excitement in a Paraphilia is frequently the stimulus for sexual excitement in individuals without a Psychosexual Disorder. For example, women’s undergarments and imagery of sexual coercion are sexually exciting for many men; they are paraphiliac only when they become necessary for sexual excitement.
The Paraphilias included here are, by and large, conditions that traditionally have been specifically identified by previous classifications. Some of them are extremely rare; others are relatively common. Because some of these disorders are associated with nonconsenting partners, they are of legal and social significance. Individuals with these disorders tend not to regard themselves as ill, and usually come to the attention of mental health professionals only when their behavior has brought them into conflict with society. The specific Paraphilias described here are: (1) Fetishism, (2) Transvestism, (3) Zoophilia, (4) Pedophilia, (5) Exhibitionism, (6) Voyeurism, (7) Sexual Masochism, and (8) Sexual Sadism. Finally, there is a residual category, Atypical Paraphilia, for noting the many other Paraphilias that exist but that have not been sufficiently described to date to warrant inclusion as specific categories.</blockquote>
The DSM-III labeled attraction to children alone as sufficient to constitute a disorder, even without any additional specifiers of distress<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (1980). 302.20 Pedophilia. In <em>Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders</em> (3rd ed.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://aditpsiquiatriaypsicologia.es/images/CLASIFICACION%20DE%20ENFERMEDADES/DSM-III.pdf#page=284 https://aditpsiquiatriaypsicologia.es/images/CLASIFICACION%20DE%20ENFERMEDADES/DSM-III.pdf#page=284]</ref>.
<blockquote>302.20 Pedophilia
The essential feature is the act or fantasy of engaging in sexual activity with prepubertal children as a repeatedly preferred or exclusive method of achieving sexual excitement. The difference in age between the adult with this disorder and the prepubertal child is arbitrarily set at ten years or more. For late adolescents with the disorder, no precise age difference is specified; and clinical judgment must be used, the sexual maturity of the child as well as the age difference being taken into account.
Isolated sexual acts with children do not warrant the diagnosis of Pedophilia. Such acts may be precipitated by marital discord, recent loss, or intense loneliness. In such instances the desire for sex with a child may be understood as a substitute for a preferred but unavailable adult.
Diagnostic criteria for Pedophilia<ol><ol type = A><li>The act or fantasy of engaging in sexual activity with prepuhertal children is a repeatedly preferred or exclusive method of achieving sexual excitement.</li>
<li>If the individual is an adult, the prepubertal children are at least ten years younger than the individual. If the individual is a late adolescent, no precise age difference is required, and clinical judgment must take into account the age difference as well as the sexual maturity of the child.</li></blockquote></ol>
The DSM-III-R (1987) added to the criteria distress and/or offending<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (1987). 302.20 Pedophilia. In <em>Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders</em> (3rd ed., rev.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://archive.org/details/diagnosticstatis00amer_1/page/284/mode/2up?view=theater https://archive.org/details/diagnosticstatis00amer_1/page/284/]</ref>.
<blockquote>302.20 Pedophilia
The essential feature of this disorder is recurrent, intense, sexual urges and sexually arousing fantasies, of at least six months’ duration, involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child. The person has acted on these urges, or is markedly distressed by them.
Diagnostic criteria for 302.20 Pedophilia<ol><ol type = A><li>Over a period of at least six months, recurrent intense sexual urges and sexually arousing fantasies involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 or younger).</li>
<li>The person has acted on these urges, or is markedly distressed by them.</li>
<li>The person is at least 16 years old and at least 5 years older than the child or children in A.</li></ol></blockquote>
The DSM-IV (1994) labeled “pedophilia” as a disorder, but its criteria technically excluded non-distressed pedophiles who had never offended<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (1994). Paraphilias. In <em>Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders</em> (4th ed.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.academia.edu/16891363/DSM_IV https://www.academia.edu/16891363/DSM_IV]</ref>.
<blockquote>Paraphilias
Diagnostic Features
The essential features of a Paraphilia are recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors generally involving 1) nonhuman objects, 2) the suffering or humiliation of oneself or one’s partner, or 3) children or other nonconsenting persons, that occur over a period of at least 6 months (Criterion A). For some individuals, paraphiliac fantasies or stimuli are obligatory for erotic arousal and are always included in sexual activity. In other cases, the paraphiliac preferences occur only episodically (e.g., perhaps during periods of stress), whereas at other times the person is able to function sexually without paraphiliac fantasies or stimuli. The behavior, sexual urges, or fantasies cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning (Criterion B).
Differential Diagnosis
A Paraphilia must be distinguished from the nonpathological use of sexual fantasies, behaviors, or objects as a stimulus for sexual excitement in individuals without a Paraphilia. Fantasies, behaviors, or objects are paraphiliac only when they lead to clinically significant distress or impairment (e.g., are obligatory, result in sexual dysfunction, require participation of nonconsenting individuals, lead to legal complications, interfere with social relationships).</blockquote>
<blockquote>Diagnostic criteria for 302.2 Pedophilia<ol><ol type = A><li>Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger).</li>
<li>The fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.</li>
<li>The person is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A.</li></ol></blockquote>
Some slight changes in the DSM-IV-TR (2000)<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (2000). Diagnostic criteria for 302.20 Pedophilia. In <em>Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders</em> (4th ed., text rev.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://zero.sci-hub.se/3912/404775c07c710207b1ad7acedf987ad2/[email protected]#page=610 https://zero.sci-hub.se/3912/404775c07c710207b1ad7acedf987ad2/[email protected]#page=610]</ref>:
<blockquote>Diagnostic criteria for 302.2 Pedophilia<ol><ol type = A><li>Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger).</li>
<li>The person has acted on these sexual urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.</li>
<li>The person is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A.</li></ol></blockquote>
The DSM-V, however, distinguished between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Paraphilic Disorders. In <em>Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders</em> (5th ed.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.docdroid.net/qSmIApN/dsm20v-pdf#page=717 https://www.docdroid.net/qSmIApN/dsm20v-pdf#page=717]</ref>, and pedophilia and pedophilic disorder<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Paraphilic Disorders. In <em>Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders</em> (5th ed.). Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.docdroid.net/qSmIApN/dsm20v-pdf#page=730 https://www.docdroid.net/qSmIApN/dsm20v-pdf#page=730]</ref>.<blockquote>Paraphilic disorders included in this manual are voyeuristic disorder (spying on others in private activities), exhibitionistic disorder (exposing the genitals), frotteuristic disorder (touching or rubbing against a nonconsenting individual), sexual masochism disorder (undergoing humiliation, bondage, or suffering), sexual sadism disorder (inflicting humiliation, bondage, or suffering), pedophilic disorder (sexual focus on children), fetishistic disorder (using nonliving objects or having a highly specific focus on nongenital body parts), and transvestic disorder (engaging in sexually arousing cross-dressing). These disorders have traditionally been selected for specific listing and assignment of explicit diagnostic criteria in DSM for two main reasons: they are relatively common, in relation to other paraphilic disorders, and some of them entail actions for their satisfaction that, because of their noxiousness or potential harm to others, are classed as criminal offenses. The eight listed disorders do not exhaust the list of possible paraphilic disorders. Many dozens of distinct paraphilias have been identified and named, and almost any of them could, by virtue of its negative consequences for the individual or for others, rise to the level of a paraphilic disorder. The diagnoses of the other specified and unspecified paraphilic disorders are therefore indispensable and will be required in many cases.
In this chapter, the order of presentation of the listed paraphilic disorders generally corresponds to common classification schemes for these conditions. The first group of disorders is based on <em>anomalous activity preferences</em>. These disorders are subdivided into <em>courtship disorders</em>, which resemble distorted components of human courtship behavior (voyeuristic disorder, exhibitionistic disorder, and frotteuristic disorder), and <em>algolagnic disorders</em>, which involve pain and suffering (sexual masochism disorder and sexual sadism disorder). The second group of disorders is based on <em>anomalous target preferences</em>. These disorders include one directed at other humans (pedophilic disorder) and two directed elsewhere (fetishistic disorder and transvestic disorder).
The term <em>paraphilia</em> denotes any intense and persistent sexual interest other than sexual interest in genital stimulation or preparatory fondling with phenotypically normal, physically mature, consenting human partners. In some circumstances, the criteria “intense and persistent” may be difficult to apply, such as in the assessment of persons who are very old or medically ill and who may not have “intense” sexual interests of any kind. In such circumstances, the term <em>paraphilia</em> may be defined as any sexual interest greater than or equal to normophilic sexual interests. There are also specific paraphilias that are generally better described as <em>preferential</em> sexual interests than as intense sexual interests.
Some paraphilias primarily concern the individual’s erotic activities, and others primarily concern the individual’s erotic targets. Examples of the former would include intense and persistent interests in spanking, whipping, cutting, binding, or strangulating another person, or an interest in these activities that equals or exceeds the individual’s interest in copulation or equivalent interaction with another person. Examples of the latter would include intense or preferential sexual interest in children, corpses, or amputees (as a class), as well as intense or preferential interest in nonhuman animals, such as horses or dogs, or in inanimate objects, such as shoes or articles made of rubber.
A <em>paraphilic disorder</em> is a paraphilia that is currently causing distress or impairment to the individual or a paraphilia whose satisfaction has entailed personal harm, or risk of harm, to others. A paraphilia is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for having a paraphilic disorder, and a paraphilia by itself does not necessarily justify or require clinical intervention.
In the diagnostic criteria set for each of the listed paraphilic disorders. Criterion A specifies the qualitative nature of the paraphilia (e.g., an erotic focus on children or on exposing the genitals to strangers), and Criterion B specifies the negative consequences of the paraphilia (i.e., distress, impairment, or harm to others). In keeping with the distinction between paraphilias and paraphilic disorders, the term <em>diagnosis</em> should be reserved for individuals who meet both Criteria A and B (i.e., individuals who have a paraphilic disorder). If an individual meets Criterion A but not Criterion B for a particular paraphilia—a circumstance that might arise when a benign paraphilia is discovered during the clinical investigation of some other condition—then the individual may be said to have that paraphilia but not a paraphilic disorder.
It is not rare for an individual to manifest two or more paraphilias. In some cases, the paraphilic foci are closely related and the connection between the paraphilias is intuitively comprehensible (e.g., foot fetishism and shoe fetishism). In other cases, the connection between the paraphilias is not obvious, and the presence of multiple paraphilias may be coincidental or else related to some generalized vulnerability to anomalies of psychosexual development. In any event, comorbid diagnoses of separate paraphilic disorders may be warranted if more than one paraphilia is causing suffering to the individual or harm to others.
Because of the two-pronged nature of diagnosing paraphilic disorders, clinician-rated or self-rated measures and severity assessments could address either the strength of the paraphilia itself or the seriousness of its consequences. Although the distress and impairment stipulated in the Criterion B are special in being the immediate or ultimate result of the paraphilia and not primarily the result of some other factor, the phenomena of reactive depression, anxiety, guilt, poor work history, impaired social relations, and so on are not unique in themselves and may be quantified with multipurpose measures of psychosocial functioning or quality of life.
The most widely applicable framework for assessing the strength of a paraphilia itself is one in which examines paraphilic sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors are evaluated in relation to their normophilic sexual interests and behaviors. In a clinical interview or on self-administered questionnaires, examinees can be asked whether their paraphilic sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors are weaker than, approximately equal to, or stronger than their normophilic sexual interests and behaviors. This same type of comparison can be, and usually is, employed in psychophysiological measures of sexual interest, such as penile plethysmography in males or viewing time in males and females.</blockquote><blockquote>Pedophilic Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria<ol><ol type = A><li>Over a period of at least 6 months, recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years or younger).</li><li>The individual has acted on these sexual urges, or the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty.</li><li>The individual is at least age 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A.</li></ol></blockquote><blockquote>Diagnostic Features
The diagnostic criteria for pedophilic disorder are intended to apply both to individuals who freely disclose this paraphilia and to individuals who deny any sexual attraction to prepubertal children (generally age 13 years or younger), despite substantial objective evidence to the contrary. Examples of disclosing this paraphilia include candidly acknowledging an intense sexual interest in children and indicating that sexual interest in children is greater than or equal to sexual interest in physically mature individuals. If individuals also complain that their sexual attractions or preferences for children are causing psychosocial difficulties, they may be diagnosed with pedophilic disorder. However, if they report an absence of feelings of guilt, shame, or anxiety about these impulses and are not functionally limited by their paraphilic impulses (according to self-report, objective assessment, or both), and their self-reported and legally recorded histories indicate that they have never acted on their impulses, then these individuals have a pedophilic sexual orientation but not pedophilic disorder.
Examples of individuals who deny attraction to children include individuals who are known to have sexually approached multiple children on separate occasions but who deny any urges or fantasies about sexual behavior involving children, and who may further claim that the known episodes of physical contact were all unintentional and nonsexual. Other individuals may acknowledge past episodes of sexual behavior involving children but deny any significant or sustained sexual interest in children. Since these individuals may deny experiences, impulses or fantasies involving children, they may also deny feeling subjectively distressed. Such individuals may still be diagnosed with pedophilic disorder despite the absence of self-reported distress, provided that there is evidence of recurrent behaviors persisting for 6 months (Criterion A) and evidence that the individual has acted on sexual urges or experienced interpersonal difficulties as a consequence of the disorder (Criterion B).
Presence of multiple victims, as discussed above, is sufficient but not necessary for diagnosis; that is, the individual can still meet Criterion A by merely acknowledging intense or preferential sexual interest in children.
The Criterion A clause, indicating that the signs or symptoms of pedophilia have persisted for 6 months or longer, is intended to ensure that the sexual attraction to children is not merely transient. However, the diagnosis may be made if there is clinical evidence of sustained persistence of the sexual attraction to children even if the 6-month duration can not be precisely determined.
Associated Features Supporting Diagnosis
The extensive use of pornography depicting prepubescent children is a useful diagnostic indicator of pedophilic disorder. This is a specific instance of the general case that individuals are likely to choose the kind of pornography that corresponds to their sexual interests.
Prevalence
The population prevalence of pedophilic disorder is unknown. The highest possible prevalence for pedophilic disorder in the male population is approximately 3%-5%. The population prevalence of pedophilic disorder in females is even more uncertain, but it is likely a small fraction of the prevalence in males.
Development and Course
Adult males with pedophilic disorder may indicate that they become aware of strong or preferential sexual interest in children around the time of puberty—the same time frame in which males who later prefer physically mature partners became aware of their sexual interest in women or men. Attempting to diagnose pedophilic disorder at the age at which it first manifests is problematic because of the difficulty during adolescent development in differentiating it from age-appropriate sexual interest in peers or from sexual curiosity. Hence, Criterion C requires for diagnosis a minimum age of 16 years and at least 5 years older than the child or children in Criterion A.
Pedophilia per se appears to be a lifelong condition. Pedophilic disorder, however, necessarily includes other elements that may change over time with or without treatment: subjective distress (e.g., guilt, shame, intense sexual frustration, or feelings of isolation) or psychosocial impairment, or the propensity to act out sexually with children, or both. Therefore, the course of pedophilic disorder may fluctuate, increase, or decrease with age. Adults with pedophilic disorder may report an awareness of sexual interest in children that preceded engaging in sexual behavior involving children or self-identification as a pedophile. Advanced age is as likely to similarly diminish the frequency of sexual behavior involving children as it does other paraphilically motivated and normophilic sexual behavior.
Risk and Prognostic Factors
Temperamental. There appears to be an interaction between pedophilia and antisociality, such that males with both traits are more likely to act out sexually with children. Thus, antisocial personality disorder may be considered a risk factor for pedophilic disorder in males with pedophilia.
Environmental. Adult males with pedophilia often report that they were sexually abused as children. It is unclear, however, whether this correlation reflects a causal influence of childhood sexual abuse on adult pedophilia.
Genetic and physiological. Since pedophilia is a necessary condition for pedophilic disorder, any factor that increases the probability of pedophilia also increases the risk of pedophilic disorder. There is some evidence that neurodevelopmental perturbation in utero increases the probability of development of a pedophilic orientation.
Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues
Psychophysiological laboratory measures of sexual interest, which are sometimes useful in diagnosing pedophilic disorder in males, are not necessarily useful in diagnosing this disorder in females, even when an identical procedure (e.g., viewing time) or analogous procedures (e.g., penile plethysmography and vaginal photoplethysmography) are available.
Diagnostic Markers
Psychophysiological measures of sexual interest may sometimes be useful when an individual’s history suggests the possible presence of pedophilic disorder but the individual denies strong or preferential attraction to children. The most thoroughly researched and longest used of such measures is penile plethysmography, although the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis may vary from one site to another. Viewing time, using photographs of nude or minimally clothed persons as visual stimuli, is also used to diagnose pedophilic disorder, especially in combination with self-report measures. Mental health professionals in the United States, however, should be aware that possession of such visual stimuli, even for diagnostic purposes, may violate American law regarding possession of child pornography and leave the mental health professional susceptible to criminal prosecution.
Differential Diagnosis
Many of the conditions that could be differential diagnoses for pedophilic disorder also sometimes occur as comorbid diagnoses. It is therefore generally necessary to evaluate the evidence for pedophilic disorder and other possible conditions as separate questions.
Antisocial personality disorder. This disorder increases the likelihood that a person who is primarily attracted to the mature physique will approach a child, on one or a few occasions, on the basis of relative availability. The individual often shows other signs of this personality disorder, such as recurrent law-breaking.
Alcohol and substance use disorders. The disinhibiting effects of intoxication may also increase the likelihood that a person who is primarily attracted to the mature physique will sexually approach a child.
Obsessive-compulsive disorder. There are occasional individuals who complain about ego-dystonic thoughts and worries about possible attraction to children. Clinical interviewing usually reveals an absence of sexual thoughts about children during high states of sexual arousal (e.g., approaching orgasm during masturbation) and sometimes additional ego-dystonic, intrusive sexual ideas (e.g., concerns about homosexuality).
Comorbidity
Psychiatric comorbidity of pedophilic disorder includes substance use disorders; depressive, bipolar, and anxiety disorders; antisocial personality disorder; and other paraphilic disorders. However, findings on comorbid disorders are largely among individuals convicted for sexual offenses involving children (almost all males) and may not be generalizable to other individuals with pedophilic disorder (e.g., individuals who have never approached a child sexually but who qualify for the diagnosis of pedophilic disorder on the basis of subjective distress).</blockquote>Several months later, the APA recanted their words after pressure from public outrage<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (2013 Oct. 31). <em>APA Statement on DSM-5 Text Error</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://web.archive.org/web/20140414123833/http://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Advocacy%20and%20Newsroom/Press%20Releases/2013%20Releases/13-67--DSM-Correction-103113.pdf https://web.archive.org/web/20140414123833/http://www.psychiatry.org/File%20Library/Advocacy%20and%20Newsroom/Press%20Releases/2013%20Releases/13-67--DSM-Correction-103113.pdf]</ref>.
<blockquote>APA Statement on DSM-5 Text Error
<em>Pedophilic disorder text error to be corrected</em>
The American Psychiatric Association’s (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) has recently been published after a comprehensive multi-year research and review of all of its diagnostic categories. In the case of pedophilic disorder, the diagnostic criteria essentially remained the same as in DSM-IV-TR. Only the disorder name was changed from “pedophilia” to “pedophilic disorder” to maintain consistency with the chapter’s other disorder listings.
“Sexual orientation” is not a term used in the diagnostic criteria for pedophilic disorder and its use in the DSM-5 text discussion is an error and should read “sexual interest.” In fact, APA considers pedophilic disorder a “paraphilia,” not a “sexual orientation.” This error will be corrected in the electronic version of DSM-5 and the next printing of the manual.
APA stands firmly behind efforts to criminally prosecute those who sexually abuse and exploit children and adolescents. We also support continued efforts to develop treatments for those with pedophilic disorder with the goal of preventing future acts of abuse.</blockquote>
A revised version of the statement remains on their website<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (2013 Oct.). <em>Statement of the American Psychological Association Regarding Pedophilia and the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2013/10/pedophilia-mental https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2013/10/pedophilia-mental]</ref>.
<blockquote>A news release sent Oct. 30 on behalf of the American Family Association mischaracterized the position of the American Psychological Association with respect to pedophilia. The American Psychological Association does not classify mental disorders or publish the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, as the release incorrectly stated.
The American Psychological Association maintains that pedophilia is a mental disorder; that sex between adults and children is always wrong; and that acting on pedophilic impulses is and should be a criminal act. The American Psychological Association has worked for many years to prevent child sexual abuse and will continue to do so.</blockquote>
The decision was criticized by Berlin (2014)<ref name="B">Berlin, F. S. (2014, Dec.). Pedophilia and DSM-5: The Importance of Clearly Defining the Nature of a Pedophilic Disorder. <em>Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law</em>, <em>42</em>(4), 404-407. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [http://jaapl.org/content/42/4/404 http://jaapl.org/content/42/4/404]</ref>.
<blockquote>In the face of significant criticism of its inclusion in the DSM-5, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) has stated its intention to remove the term Pedophilic Sexual Orientation from the diagnostic manual. Removing that term in response to public criticism would be a mistake. Experiencing ongoing sexual attractions to prepubescent children is, in essence, a form of sexual orientation, and acknowledging that reality can help to distinguish the mental makeup that is inherent to Pedophilia, from acts of child sexual abuse.</blockquote>
Changes in the DSM-V-TR<ref>American Psychiatric Association. (2022, Mar. 18). Paraphilic disorders. In <em>Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders</em> (5th ed., text rev.). Retrieved May 10, 2022, from [https://drive.protonmail.com/urls/K0EDFY56X8#EsTHpnFvqEBp https://drive.protonmail.com/urls/K0EDFY56X8#EsTHpnFvqEBp]</ref> from the DSM-V in the paraphilic disorders category:
paragraph 1:<blockquote>The eight listed disorders do not exhaust the list of possible paraphilic disorders. Many dozens of distinct paraphilias have been identified and named, and almost any of them could, by virtue of its negative consequences for the individual or for others, rise to the level of a paraphilic disorder. <strike>The diagnoses of the other specified and unspecified
paraphilic disorders are therefore indispensable and will be required in many cases.</strike></blockquote>paragraph 3:<blockquote>In such circumstances, the term <em>paraphilia</em> may be defined as any sexual interest greater than or equal to <b>normophilic</b> sexual interests.</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote>In such circumstances, the term <em>paraphilia</em> may be defined as any sexual interest greater than or equal to <b>nonparaphilic</b> sexual interests.</blockquote>paragraph 3:<blockquote>Examples of the latter would include intense or preferential sexual interest in children, corpses, or amputees (as a class), as well as intense or preferential interest in nonhuman animals, such as horses or dogs, or in inanimate objects, such as shoes or articles made of rubber.</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote>Examples of the latter would include intense or preferential sexual interest in children, corpses, or amputees (as a class), as well as intense or preferential interest in nonhuman animals, such as horses or dogs, or in inanimate objects, such as shoes or articles made of rubber. <b>An individual’s pattern of paraphilic interests is often reflected in his or her choice of pornography.</b></blockquote>paragraph 6:<blockquote>If an individual meets</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote>If an individual<b>’s paraphilic interests or behaviors</b> meet</blockquote>paragraph 9:<blockquote><strike>The most widely applicable framework for assessing the strength of a paraphilia itself is one in which examinees’ paraphilic sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors are evaluated in relation to their normophilic sexual interests and behaviors. In a clinical interview or on self-administered questionnaires, examinees can be asked whether their paraphilic sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors are weaker than, approximately equal to, or stronger than their normophilic sexual interests and behaviors. This same type of comparison can be, and usually is, employed in psychophysiological measures of sexual interest, such as penile plethysmography in males or viewing time in males and females.
</strike></blockquote>
Changes to the entry on pedophilic disorder:
In 2021 Newgon returned, relaunching by "previous associates of Newgon.com and its network of activists"<ref name="J" />. In May 2022, an official Newgon Twitter account appeared<ref name="J" />.
Diagnostic Features<blockquote>... (generally age 13 years or younger), despite substantial objective evidence to the contrary. Examples of disclosing...</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote>... (generally age 13 years or younger), despite substantial objective evidence to the contrary. <b>The age guideline of 13 or younger is approximate only, because the onset of puberty varies from person to person, and there is good evidence the average age at onset of puberty has been declining over time and differs across ethnicities and cultures.</b> Examples of disclosing...</blockquote>——————————————————————————————<blockquote>greater than or equal to sexual interest in physically mature <b>individuals</b>.</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote>greater than or equal to sexual interest in physically mature <b>persons</b>.</blockquote>——————————————————————————————<blockquote>pedophilic sexual <b>orientation</b> but not pedophilic disorder.
Many Newgon activists have made social media sockpuppet accounts using various disingenuous tactics such as fabricating credentials or other significant information, targeted harassment, impersonating antis, impersonating anti-contact MAP activists (especially those who were visible opponents of Newgon) to attack or delegitimize them, spreading "ironic" bigoted rhetoric, arguing for stances they did not actually believe in, claiming certain opinions or events were far more common than they actually were, widely circulating dubious memes<ref name="A" />, lying, recycling pre-written lines<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Debate_Guide Debate Guide], via NewgonWiki.</ref> while passing them off as organic and spontaneous, and pretending to be engaged in entirely independent activism efforts rather than encouraged and backed by and working for an entire organization. Several made Twitter accounts posing as researchers of sexuality. These efforts were geared toward generating as many clicks and mainstream outrage pieces as possible, supposedly with the goal of gaining visibility and thus recognition for the pro-contact MAP movement<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/MAP_visibility_on_Twitter#2021_and_onward:_The_pro-c_renaissance MAP visibility on Twitter: 2021 and onward: The pro-c renaissance], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon members mainly targeted Twitter for its "visibility campaigns," but some also tried to do such activism (which Newgon believes constituted "tactical operations"<ref name="K">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/PCMA PCMA], via NewgonWiki.</ref>) on other sites<ref name="L">[https://archive.is/AVKMS "Recruitment Drive for PCMA MAP Activist Team" on FreeSpeechTube], via archive.is, 11 August 2022.</ref>.
Examples of...</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote>pedophilic sexual <b>interest</b> but not pedophilic disorder. <b>When trying to differentiate child offenders with pedophilic disorder from child offenders without pedophilic disorder, factors that suggest a diagnosis of pedophilic disorder in the offender include self-reported interest in children, use of child pornography, a history of multiple child victims, boy victims, and unrelated child victims (Seto 2018; Seto et al. 2016).</b>
The "Yesmap" Matrix server and its "Pro-c MAP Activist" ("PCMA") workgroup have been used to share choices of targets and coordinate such activity, along with distributing anonymous, cryptocurrency-bought Twitter accounts to members. The server is also used to coordinate attacks on and harassment campaigns of anti-contact MAPs on the fediverse. Newgon claims that "In 2023, PCMA and the Yesmap server, having achieved most of its publicity goals via the prior strategy, each moved independently towards a model of increasing visibility via community-building efforts such as expansion of the Fediverse"<ref name="K" />.
Examples of...</blockquote>——————————————————————————————<blockquote><b>Since</b> these individuals may deny...</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote><b>Because</b> these individuals may deny...</blockquote>——————————————————————————————<blockquote>... interpersonal difficulties as a consequence of the disorder (Criterion B).
According to Newgon, "PCMA (and some of its predecessors) have been criticized, mainly by anarcho-communist MAPs, for tolerating lively debate (eventually this was moved to a separate space) and controversial opinions. Some members have also sought to mobilize chan culture"<ref name="K" />. This article uses euphemistic terminology to relativize PCMA's common usage of bigotry, harassment, and alt-right tactics, and reasonable criticisms of it—throughout 2021 and 2022, Newgon and its associated projects did indeed begin to be heavily criticized by many leftist-aligned MAP activists, mainly anti-contacts but also some pro-contacts, for their persistently problematic behavior.
Presence of multiple victims...</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote>... interpersonal difficulties as a consequence of the disorder (Criterion B).
=== Art theft and content exploitation ===
Newgon is known for dubious behavior with regards to other people's art and content. Newgon prominently linked a blog post by the MAP Quinn in its article "Proship"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Proship#External_links Proship: External links], via NewgonWiki.</ref>, causing them to "keep getting unwanted traffic from it"<ref>[https://nnia.space/@quinn/110311257338697945 Fediverse reply by @quinn], via nnia.space, 4 May 2023.</ref>. In quote-posts and threads discussing this, Newgon seemed remarkably unfazed by the distress individuals were experiencing.
<b>Behaviors include sexual interactions with children, whether or not they involve physical contact (e.g., some pedophilic individuals expose themselves to children).
Newgon used the art of NNIA user Maki for its Twitter account NewgonOrg2007<ref>[https://nnia.space/@comrade_lecter/109463447538430730 Fediverse reply by @comrade_lecter], via nnia.space, 5 December 2022.</ref><ref name="F" /> without asking or even crediting him<ref>[https://nnia.space/@MarshmallowMakkun/110665003982691554 Fediverse reply by @MarshmallowMakkun], via nnia.space, 8 July 2023.</ref>. His art is now the full-screen background of yesmap.net, again without any consent or acknowledgment<ref>[https://yesmap.net/ yesmap.net].</ref>. In its Memes and Graphics page, Newgon displays the image and simply labels it "Background/desktop"<ref name="A">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Memes_and_Graphics Memes and Graphics], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
Although the use of sexually explicit content depicting prepubescent children is typical of individuals with pedophilic sexual interests and thus might contribute important information relevant to the evaluation of Criterion A, such behavior in the absence of the individual’s sexual interactions with children (i.e., acting on these sexual urges in person) is insufficient to conclude that Criterion B is met.</b>
<gallery>
File:Discussion on Newgon content misuse.png|Discussion on Newgon's misuse of art/blog posts<ref>[https://nnia.space/@Pappy/110290381926488910 Fediverse thread by @Pappy], via nnia.space, 1 May 2023.</ref>
File:Newgon art theft.png|Newgon found stealing art
File:Yesmap art theft.png|Yesmap.net welcome page
</gallery>
Presence of multiple victims...</blockquote>——————————————————————————————<blockquote>... acknowledging intense or preferential sexual interest in children.
== Political stances ==
<strike>The Criterion A clause, indicating that the signs or symptoms of pedophilia have persisted for 6 months or longer, is intended to ensure that the sexual attraction to children is not merely transient. However, the diagnosis may be made if there is clinical evidence of sustained persistence of the sexual attraction to children even if the 6-month duration can not be precisely determined.</strike>
Newgon is known for its extreme and often conspiratorial viewpoints, suggesting that anti-contact people, among others, are "sex fascists"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Trickery.png Word Trickery], via NewgonWiki.</ref><ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:GroomingReworked.png Grooming Reworked], via NewgonWiki.</ref><ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Sexbingo.png Sex Fascist Bingo], via NewgonWiki.</ref><ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Slut2.png Sex Fascists through the ages], via NewgonWiki.</ref><ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:WaterGlassSF.png Glass of Water with optimist, pessimist and Sex Fascists], via NewgonWiki.</ref>, controlling the contact stances of major governments<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/List_of_CSA/anti-pedophile_proponents#Global List of CSA/anti-pedophile proponents: Global], via NewgonWiki.</ref>, and part of a "child abuse industry" or "CSA-industrial complex"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Debate_Guide:_Child_abuse_industry Debate Guide: Child abuse industry], via NewgonWiki.</ref><ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:The_CSA-Industry.png The CSA-Industry], via NewgonWiki.</ref><ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:The_CSA-Industrial_Complex.png The CSA-Industrial Complex], via NewgonWiki.</ref><ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Groomingncmec.png "Grooming" - according to America's insane CSA-Industrial-Complex], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
=== Misogyny ===
Newgon resorts to "triggered feminist" memes to present anti-contacts as "Social Justice Warriors"/"SJWs"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Wrong.png Wrong], via NewgonWiki.</ref>, promoting sexism<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Fhritp.png A 15 year old is a child, period], via NewgonWiki.</ref> and body-shaming<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Femgirl.png Fembot vs Teen Girl], via NewgonWiki.</ref> to score points against imagined opponents. It devalues older or infertile women to present young girls as more desirable<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Yessss.png "Yes" to chud with infertile wife.], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Two of its "Memes and Graphics" are tagged with "feminazi" or "feminazis"<ref name="A" />. Newgon says that it is "open" to "worldviews such as Men's Rights" and "Inceldom," and that individuals "politically engaged" in the New Right and Men's Rights are permitted as members for its "Yesmap" Matrix server<ref name="B">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Debate_Guide:_Newgon%27s_History Debate Guide: Newgon's History], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon promotes the MRA blogger "Angry Harry"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Repressed_memory Repressed memory], via NewgonWiki.</ref><ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/NSPCC#Angry_Harry_Articles NSPCC: Angry Harry Articles], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon writes favorably on the incel movement and is dismissive of feminist critiques of toxic male entitlement<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Incelosphere Incelosphere], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
Associated Features <strike>Supporting Diagnosis</strike>
=== Transphobia ===
Newgon promotes the transmisogynistic belief that the LGBT community forces cis gay youth to transition into girls<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Lgbgender.png Lgbgender] via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon uses the transmisogynistic phrasing "women and transwomen"<ref name="C">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Ethos_of_Newgon Ethos of Newgon], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
Newgon referred to Allyn Walker as a "trans academic who was attacked for 'misappropriating queer experiences' by activists in his own University's trans umbrella organization," misgendering them with incorrect pronouns<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=SJWs_Always_Lie&oldid=21560 SJWs Always Lie], NewgonWiki as of 12:07, 24 June 2023.</ref>. After receiving backlash, Newgon corrected the pronoun to "their"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=SJWs_Always_Lie&oldid=22993 SJWs Always Lie], NewgonWiki as of 15:50, 28 August 2023.</ref>.
<strike>The extensive use of pornography depicting prepubescent children is a useful diagnostic indicator of pedophilic disorder. This is a specific instance of the general case that individuals are likely to choose the kind of pornography that corresponds to their sexual interests.</strike></blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote>... acknowledging intense or preferential sexual interest in children.
Newgon referred to the transfeminine activist ZeebDemon as "trans (female-identifying)" instead of simply "trans female"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=Youth_Attracted_Person&oldid=22659 Youth Attracted Person], NewgonWiki as of 22:24, 9 August 2023.</ref>, implicitly delegitimizing trans female identity as mere subjective "identification" which can be challenged by outsiders with superior interpretations of a transfem's gender experience, rather than a statement of fact which she herself is the foremost expert on. (Newgon does not refer to cis women or girls as "female-identifying," just "female.") After receiving backlash, Newgon changed the section to say "trans-woman" instead<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=Youth_Attracted_Person&oldid=23004 Youth Attracted Person], NewgonWiki as of 02:45, 30 August 2023.</ref>.
Newgon refers to ZeebDemon as "they"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Youth_Attracted_Person Youth Attracted Person], via NewgonWiki.</ref>, although her most recently archived Twitter<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230425231826/twitter.com/ZeebDemon Twitter account ZeebDemon], via the Wayback Machine, 25 April 2023.</ref> and Tumblr<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230426195810/https://potluckpony.tumblr.com/ Tumblr blog potluckpony], via the Wayback Machine, 26 April 2023.</ref> bios did not state which pronouns she uses, and neither does her Freak.University profile<ref>Fediverse profile [https://freak.university/@LittleDemonLoli @[email protected]].</ref>. Her most recent public statements about her pronouns, including her NNIA.space profile<ref>Fediverse profile [https://nnia.space/@LittleDemonLoli @[email protected]].</ref> and a past Twitter bio<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210513233001/twitter.com/ZeebDemon Twitter account ZeebDemon], via the Wayback Machine, 13 May 2021.</ref>, say that she uses "she/her," with no mention of "they." Many transfem activists have discussed how referring to a transfem as "they" without explicitly knowing that she uses "they" pronouns is a form of transmisogynistic degendering, and that it is disrespectful, invalidating, and often a bigoted dogwhistle to not default to "she" for someone known to be transfem with no other information given. Although ZeebDemon has confirmed in a recent private communication that she now uses she/they pronouns interchangeably, Newgon could not have known this beforehand, and this concurred with a broader pattern of transphobic behavior and biases.
Associated Features
In its article "Transgender youth and attraction to minors," Newgon refers to transgender people as "trans-identified" people instead of just "trans"<ref name="Q">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Transgender_youth_and_attraction_to_minors Transgender youth and attraction to minors], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. For two and a half months from 1:53, 26 October 2022<ref name="N">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=Transgender_youth_and_attraction_to_minors&oldid=15288 Transgender youth and attraction to minors], NewgonWiki as of 1:53, 26 October 2022.</ref> to 23:32, 10 January 2023<ref name="O">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=Transgender_youth_and_attraction_to_minors&oldid=16202 Transgender youth and attraction to minors], NewgonWiki as of 23:32, 10 January 2023.</ref>, the article's section "Dissent among MAPs and Trans people" contained the (unsourced) sentence, "Some heterosexual male MAPs oppose medical transition on the basis that it 'mutilates' the bodies of girls, and should never be put ahead of other forms of less invasive and permanent bodily autonomy." Since 21:23, 26 October 2022<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=Transgender_youth_and_attraction_to_minors&oldid=15310 Transgender youth and attraction to minors], NewgonWiki as of 21:23, 26 October 2022.</ref>, the section has also said,
<blockquote>
Other MAPs have varying reservations about the philosophical compatibility of trans ideology as a whole, with liberation of boylove and minor attraction:
<b>Individuals with pedophilic disorder may experience an emotional and cognitive affinity with children, sometimes referred to as emotional congruence with children. Emotional congruence with children can manifest in different ways, including preferring social interactions with children over adults, feeling like one has more in common with children than with adults, and choosing occupations or volunteer roles in order to be around children more often</b> (Seto 2019)<b>. Studies show that emotional congruence with children is related to both pedophilic sexual interest and the likelihood of sexually reoffending among individuals who have sexually offended</b> (Hermann et al. 2017; McPhail et al. 2013).</blockquote>Prevalence<blockquote>The population prevalence of pedophilic disorder is unknown<b>. The highest possible prevalence for pedophilic disorder in the male population is approximately</b> 3%<b>-5%</b>. The population prevalence of pedophilic disorder in <b>females</b> is even more uncertain, but it is likely a small fraction of the prevalence in <b>males</b>.</blockquote>→<blockquote>The population prevalence of <b>individuals whose presentations meet the full criteria for</b> pedophilic disorder is unknown (Cohen and Galynker 2002; Hall and Hall 2007)<b> but is likely less than</b> 3%<b> among men in international studies</b> (Seto 2018). The population prevalence of pedophilic disorder in <b>women</b> is even more uncertain, but it is likely a small fraction of the prevalence in <b>men</b> (Cohen and Galynker 2002; Hall and Hall 2007; Seto 2009).</blockquote>Development and Course<blockquote>Adult <b>males</b> with pedophilic disorder may indicate...</blockquote>→<blockquote>Adult <b>men</b> with pedophilic disorder may indicate...</blockquote>——————————————————————————————<blockquote>Therefore, the course of pedophilic disorder may fluctuate, <b>increase,</b> or decrease with age. Adults with pedophilic disorder may report an awareness of sexual interest in children that preceded engaging in sexual behavior involving children or self-identification as <b>a pedophile</b>. Advanced age is as likely to similarly diminish the frequency of sexual behavior involving children as it does other paraphilically motivated and <b>normophilic</b> sexual behavior.</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote>Therefore, the course of pedophilic disorder may fluctuate, <b>or the intensity might increase</b> or decrease with age. Adults with pedophilic disorder may report an awareness of sexual interest in children that preceded engaging in sexual behavior involving children or self-identification as <b>an individual with pedophilia</b> (Seto 2018). Advanced age is as likely to similarly diminish the frequency of sexual behavior involving children as it does other paraphilically motivated and <b>nonparaphilic</b> sexual behavior (Barbaree and Blanchard 2008).</blockquote>Risk and Prognostic Factors
* They may see ''trans ideology'' as an extension of the war on masculine eros/the appeal of boys to men. For a more general perspective on male extinction, see Andriette, 2002.
<br>
* They may see gender-transitioning children, not as a prelude to increasing agency, but as part of the "bourgeois and desexualized" protectionist gaze of western orthodoxy, and thus entirely compatible with CSA norms.
Temperamental<blockquote>There appears to be an interaction between pedophilia and antisocial<b>ity, such that males with both</b> traits are more likely to act out sexually with children.</blockquote>→<blockquote>There appears to be an interaction between pedophilia and antisocial <b>personality traits such as callousness, impulsivity, and a willingness to take risks without adequate regard for the consequences. Men with pedophilic interest and antisocial personality</b> traits are more likely to act out sexually with children (Seto 2017) <b>and thus qualify for a diagnosis of pedophilic disorder</b>.</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Environmental<blockquote>Adult <b>males</b> with pedophilia <b>often</b> report that...</blockquote>→<blockquote>Adult <b>men</b> with pedophilia <b>sometimes</b> report that...</blockquote>Genetic and physiological<blockquote>... increases the probability of development of a pedophilic <b>orientation</b>.</blockquote>→<blockquote>... increases the probability of development of a pedophilic <b>interest</b>.</blockquote><blockquote><br><br>Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues
These statements were all added by the Newgon Wiki account "The Admins"<ref name="P">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=Transgender_youth_and_attraction_to_minors&action=history Transgender youth and attraction to minors: Revision history], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. It could maybe, at a stretch, be argued that these were only presentations of other people's arguments which the writers did not at all endorse themselves. However, the tone of the presentations has noticeable positive slant. This is congruent with Newgon's known habit<ref name="M" /> of presenting bigotry or abuse apologia in a way clearly intended as appreciative and to influence readers to become more in favor of it while still maintaining barely enough plausible deniability to be able to deflect accusations and further interrogation into their views and motives.
<strike>Psychophysiological</strike> laboratory measures of sexual interest, which are sometimes useful in diagnosing pedophilic disorder in <b>males</b>, are not necessarily useful in diagnosing this disorder in <b>females, even when an identical procedure (e.g., viewing time) or analogous procedures (e.g., penile plethysmography and vaginal photoplethysmography) are available</b>.</blockquote>→<blockquote><b>Sex- and</b> Gender-Related Diagnostic Issues<br><br>Laboratory measures of sexual interest,<b> in terms of psychophysiological responses to sexual stimuli depicting children,</b> which are sometimes useful in diagnosing pedophilic disorder in <b>men</b>, are not necessarily useful in diagnosing this disorder in <b>women because there has been very limited research on the assessment of pedophilic sexual interest in women</b> (Seto 2018).</blockquote>Diagnostic Markers<blockquote>... although the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis may vary <b>from one site to another</b>. Viewing time, using photographs of nude or minimally clothed persons as visual stimuli, is also used to diagnose pedophilic disorder, especially in combination with self-report measures. <b>Mental health professionals in the United States</b>, however, should be aware that possession of <strike>such</strike> visual stimuli, even for diagnostic purposes, may violate American law regarding possession of child pornography and leave the <b>mental health professional</b> susceptible to criminal prosecution.</blockquote>→<blockquote>... although the sensitivity and specificity of diagnosis may vary <b>across sites, which frequently use different stimuli, procedures, and scoring</b> (Lalumière and Harris 1998; McPhail et al. 2019). Viewing time, using photographs of nude or minimally clothed persons as visual stimuli, is also used to diagnose pedophilic disorder, especially in combination with self-report measures (Camilleri and Quinsey 2008). <b>U.S. clinicians</b>, however, should be aware that possession of visual <b>sexual</b> stimuli<b> depicting children</b>, even for diagnostic purposes, may violate American law regarding possession of child pornography and leave the <b>clinician</b> susceptible to criminal prosecution. <b>The option exists to use audio stimuli describing sexual interactions in penile plethysmography</b> (Lalumière and Harris 1998; McPhail et al. 2019)<b>. Across psychophysiological methods, the diagnostic marker is relative sexual response to stimuli depicting children compared with stimuli depicting adults, rather than absolute response to child stimuli.</b></blockquote>Differential Diagnosis<blockquote><strike>Many of the conditions that could be differential diagnoses for pedophilic disorder also sometimes occur as comorbid diagnoses. It is therefore generally necessary to evaluate the evidence for pedophilic disorder and other possible conditions as separate questions.</strike></blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote><b>Pedophilia
Furthermore, after these statements were found and harshly criticized by several NNIA users for their transphobia and adultism, a different editor, "Loli," removed all mentions of heterosexuals and girls<ref name="N" /><ref name="O" />, stating that their change "modified towards a more neutral/objective viewpoint regarding MAP community"<ref name="P" />, belying the view that all discussion of bigotry by the wiki which does not entirely, explicitly state it is endorsing it is automatically neutral. They seemed to realize that the content of the article was especially indefensible even by their own standards, or at least by the standards of much of Newgon's support base. However, the parts about "mutilation," labeling transition "invasive," wanting to restrict bodily autonomy, and other "reservations" were left alone, not deleted<ref name="Q" />.
Individuals with pedophilia experience recurrent, intense, sexually arousing fantasies or sexual urges involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child or children. Unless the individual has acted on these sexual urges with a prepubescent child or unless the sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty, a diagnosis of pedophilic disorder is not warranted.
The article's references for the latter (recommended for "perspective") include two BoyChat posts (by users "Sick Rose"<ref>[https://secure.boychat.org/messages/1599986.htm How the 'left' checkmates the right.] by Sick Rose, via BoyChat, 26 October 2022.</ref> and "Errant"<ref>[https://secure.boychat.org/messages/1599996.htm Re: Transgender youth and attraction to minors.] by Errant, via BoyChat, 26 October 2022.</ref>) and one article by NAMBLA activist Bill Andriette<ref>[https://www.ipce.info/library_3/files/andr_church.htm Castrating the Church: At root, the priest sex hysteria is about extinguishing the male] by Bill Andriette, ''The Guide'', via Ipce.</ref>, all three of which contain transphobic screeds. Both BoyChat posts are in fact replies to a post made by Newgon activist/editor JohnHolt himself, soliciting feedback on the article and asking for suggested sources<ref>[https://secure.boychat.org/messages/1599973.htm Transgender youth and attraction to minors.] by JohnHolt, via BoyChat, 25 October 2022.</ref>. The recommendation for Andriette's article, "Castrating the Church," originated from Sick Rose's reply post.
After reading these expressions of severe bigotry and oppressive sexual entitlement, JohnHolt simply replied ''"Thanks,"'' expressed agreement with their views, and added them to the wiki, clearly viewing such statements as within the realm of the acceptable for Newgon<ref>[https://secure.boychat.org/messages/1600018.htm Thanks + SR.] by JohnHolt, via BoyChat, 26 October 2022.</ref>. They become examples for "MAP" views, with the relevant passage in the article implying a dubious, [[Mapmisia|mapmisic]] automatic association between MAP liberation and not believing that [[child sexual abuse]] is a real, serious issue<ref name="Q" />. Confusingly, Sick Rose is used as one such example of a "MAP," although he does not identify as one and in fact strongly rejects the term as problematic<ref>[https://www.boychat.org/messages/1620065.htm Miserable Old Fucker!], by Sick Rose, via BoyChat, 2 December 2023.</ref>.
Other paraphilic disorders
<gallery>
File:Dissent Among MAPs and Trans People 26-10-2022.png|The article as of October 26, 2022
File:Dissent Among MAPs and Trans People 7-12-2023.png|The article as of December 7, 2023
File:Newgon on trans youth - edits.png|Edits made since 12:03, 27 October 2022
File:BoyChat on trans youth.png|JohnHolt's BoyChat thread
File:Sick Rose on trans youth.png|Sick Rose's reply
File:Errant on trans youth.png|Errant's reply
File:JohnHolt replies to BoyChat thread on trans youth.png|JohnHolt thanking Errant and Sick Rose
</gallery>
Sometimes individuals present with a different paraphilic disorder but are referred for an evaluation regarding possible pedophilic disorder (e.g., when an individual with a diagnosis of exhibitionistic disorder exposes himself to children as well as adults). In some cases, both diagnoses may apply, whereas in others, it may be the case that one paraphilic disorder diagnosis is sufficient. For example, an individual who exposes himself exclusively to prepubescent children may have both exhibitionistic disorder and pedophilic disorder, whereas another individual who exposes himself to victims, irrespective of the victims’ age, may be considered to have only exhibitionistic disorder.</b></blockquote>Antisocial personality disorder<blockquote><b>This disorder</b> increases the likelihood that <b>a person</b> who is primarily attracted to <strike>the</strike> mature <b>physique</b> will approach a child<b>, on one or a few occasions, on the basis of relative availability. The individual often shows other signs of this personality disorder, such as recurrent law-breaking</b>.</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote><b>Some individuals with antisocial personality disorder sexually abuse children, reflecting the fact that the presence of antisocial personality disorder</b> increases the likelihood that <b>an individual</b> who is primarily attracted to mature <b>persons</b> will approach a child<b> sexually, on the basis of relative access to the child</b> (Seto 2018). <b>An additional diagnosis of pedophilic disorder should only be considered if there is evidence that over a period of at least 6 months, the individual has also had recurrent, intense, sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors involving sexual activity with a prepubescent child</b>.</blockquote>——————————————————————————————<blockquote>Alcohol and substance use disorders
=== Antisemitism ===
Newgon uses antisemitic caricatures<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:9iFrFC2.png Rabbi: Tradition, Priest: Abuse], via NewgonWiki.</ref> in attempt to prove its points. One of its "Memes and Graphics" is tagged with the antisemitic dogwhistle<ref>[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reptilian_conspiracy_theory Reptilian conspiracy theory], via Wikipedia.</ref> "lizard people"<ref name="A">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Memes_and_Graphics Memes and Graphics], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
The disinhibiting effects of intoxication may also increase the likelihood that <b>a person</b> who is primarily attracted to <strike>the</strike> mature <b>physique</b> will sexually approach a child.</blockquote><b>→</b><blockquote>Substance intoxication
In attempt to deflect from accusations of having a "New-Right/Alt-Lite Philosophy," Newgon says that it has metaphorically "'holocausted' antisemites and a whole variety of race-obsessed people, including some left-wing racists immediately," comparing violent mass genocide to (supposedly) banning someone from a chatroom<ref name="B">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Debate_Guide:_Newgon%27s_History Debate Guide: Newgon's History], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
The disinhibiting effects of <b>substance</b> intoxication may also increase the likelihood that <b>an individual</b> who is primarily attracted to mature <b>persons</b> will sexually approach a child.</blockquote>Obsessive-compulsive disorder.<blockquote>Clinical interviewing usually reveals an absence of <b>sexual thoughts about children during high states of sexual arousal (e.g., approaching orgasm during masturbation)</b> and sometimes additional ego-dystonic, intrusive sexual ideas (e.g., concerns about homosexuality).</blockquote>→<blockquote>Clinical interviewing usually reveals an absence of <b>positive feelings about these thoughts, no connection between these thoughts and sexual behavior (e.g., masturbating to these thoughts),</b> and sometimes additional ego-dystonic, intrusive sexual ideas (e.g., concerns about homosexuality) (Vella-Zarb et al. 2017).</blockquote>Other academics have also argued in favor of classifying pedophilia and/or hebephilia as mental disorders<ref>Blanchard, R. (2008, Oct. 16). Reply to Letters Regarding Pedophilia, Hebephilia, and the DSM-V. <em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em>, <em>38</em>, 331–334. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
In its "Archive" page of material it believes "has value," Newgon recommends the defunct Wordpress blog "Holocaust21" to read for the "Antifeminist perspective"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Archive Archive: Unusual appeal/personal sites], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. The version of the blog saved on the Wayback Machine proclaims that it was about "resisting the coming 21st century holocaust – Men's Rights, Youth Rights, Sexual Rights" and "promoting the idea that teenagers are adults and feminist inspired anti-sex & anti-children's rights legislation cloaked in the warped rhetoric of 'paedophile hysteria', 'rape hysteria' & 'child protection' is leading to a holocaust of men, kids & ironically even women. Why are there so few other blogs like this? Because men are scared of being murdered by feminist political predators, that's why." One article visible on the page begins, "As the UK descends further into a level of insanity that even those who lived through a Nazi concentration camp could not have predicted, the feminists have committed their first direct political assassination. The current wave of sexual harassment allegations…" This page, promoted by Newgon, appropriates the history of the Holocaust and Nazi concentration camps in its crusade against "feminist bitches," "the feminist disease," and "feminist oppression" of "incels"<ref>[http://web.archive.org/web/20171116233454/https://holocaust21.wordpress.com/ WordPress blog holocaust21], via the Wayback Machine, 16 November 2017.</ref>.
[https://www.academia.edu/47523969/Reply_to_Letters_Regarding_Pedophilia_Hebephilia_and_the_DSM_V https://www.academia.edu/47523969]</ref><ref>Kaplan, M. (2015, Jan. 1). Taking Pedophilia Seriously. <em>Washington and Lee Law Review</em>, <em>72</em>, 75. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/wlulr/vol72/iss1/4/ https://scholarlycommons.law.wlu.edu/wlulr/vol72/iss1/4]</ref><ref>Fedoroff, J. P. (2020, Jun.). The Pedophilia and Orientation Debate and Its Implications for Forensic Psychiatry. <em>Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law</em>, <em>48</em>(2), 146-150. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [http://jaapl.org/content/48/2/146 http://jaapl.org/content/48/2/146]</ref>.
== Implications ==
Through the Newgon Wiki, the moderators of PCMA released an "official statement on the 2023 conflict between Israel and Palestine" packed with numerous antisemitic tropes, dogwhistles, factual inaccuracies, and problematic arguments, exploiting the current Palestinian genocide to spread antisemitism. Among these include the wildly revisionist claim that <em>"It should be noted that all scholars of the Holocaust acknowledge that the decision to annihilate European Jews and the planning to carry it out was kept top secret by the Nazi state. No statement from Hitler, public or otherwise, exists where he admits his intention to exterminate the Jewish people entirely. At this late date, we can say with firm confidence that such a statement will never be found; one also struggles with great difficulty to find openly genocidal public statements from other top Nazis</em>,<em>"</em> and suddenly inserting the claim that the French president Emmanuel Macron is "a former Rothschild banker." They attempt to exceptionalize genocide perpetrated by Israelis as uniquely and incomparably horrific among all other genocides and Israeli settler-colonialism as uniquely protected and powerful out of a false, antisemitic belief that Jewishness would lend special, unmatchable, overwhelmingly stifling strength to a state because Jews are somehow disproportionately powerful in society and have control over Western governments<ref name="R">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Essay:The_Zionists_Are_Our_Enemies Essay:The Zionists Are Our Enemies], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
The diagnosis of pedophilia, paraphilias, or other associated disorders is used to justify involuntarily committing sex offenders to psychiatric facilities after their prison sentences have been served<ref>Frances, A., & First, M. B. (2011, Feb.). Hebephilia Is Not a Mental Disorder in DSM-IV-TR and Should Not Become One in DSM-5. <em>Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online February 2011, 39</em>(1), 78-85. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [http://jaapl.org/content/39/1/78 http://jaapl.org/content/39/1/78]</ref>. The belief that paraphilias such as biastophilia, pedophilia, or hebephilia constitute mental disorders leads to a belief that they can or should be “cured,” or that we should attempt to devise “cures” for them. The belief that paraphilias can be removed through conditioning has led to attempts at conversion therapy<ref>Blackwell, T. (2017, Aug. 16). <em>Man says he was cured of pedophilia at Ottawa clinic: ‘It’s like a weight that’s been lifted’</em>. National Post. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ottawa-clinic-says-it-can-cure-pedophilia-but-critics-argue-the-claim-is-unproven-and-dangerous https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/ottawa-clinic-says-it-can-cure-pedophilia-but-critics-argue-the-claim-is-unproven-and-dangerous]</ref>, physical assault and abusive psychotherapy<ref>Kramer, R. (2003 Feb. 5). <em>Aversion therapy</em>. Male Homosexual Attraction to Minors Information Center. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.mhamic.org/treatment/aversion.htm https://www.mhamic.org/treatment/aversion.htm]</ref>, encouraging chemical castration as a necessity<ref>Sivasubramanian, S. (2016, Apr. 8). <em>Non-offending paedophiles volunteer for potentially harmful drug trial out of desperation</em>. SBS. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/science/humans/article/2016/04/08/non-offending-paedophiles-volunteer-potentially-harmful-drug-trial-out https://www.sbs.com.au/topics/science/humans/article/2016/04/08/non-offending-paedophiles-volunteer-potentially-harmful-drug-trial-out]</ref>, sexual assault of adult sex offenders who are paraphilic<ref>Marshall, W. L. (2014, Oct. 8.). Changing Deviant Sexual Interests: Masturbatory Reconditioning with a Child Molester. In Wilcox et al. (Eds.), <em>Sex Offender Treatment: A Case Study Approach to Issues and Interventions</em> (327–341). John Wiley, & Sons. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781118674352.ch18 https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118674352.ch18]</ref><ref>VanDeventer, A. D., & Laws, D. R. (1978 Nov.). Orgasmic reconditioning to redirect sexual arousal in pedophiles. <em>Behavior Therapy</em>, <em>9</em>(5), 748-765. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://sci-hub.se/10.1016/S0005-7894(78)80006-9 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0005-7894(78)80006-9]</ref> or perceived to be paraphilic<ref>Maletzky, B. M. (2003, Apr. 1). A Serial Rapist Treated With Behavioral and Cognitive Techniques and Followed for 12 Years. <em>Clinical Case Studies</em>, <em>2</em>(2), 127–153. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
One of the signatories of the statement, "AnonymousLover," has made it more clear in social media posts that he believes anti-Israeli speech is censored and Western nations enact repression in support of Israel's violence because ''"Jewish billionaires and voters across the West largely support Israel.… Israeli intelligence is effective because Israel has Jewish sympathizers throughout the world it can draw on"'' and that Israel's backers in the American establishment are "super rich Jews." He dismisses the notion of critiquing antisemitic conspiracy theories and argues that posts claiming "anti-zionism isn't antisemitism" are merely "cope posts" (i.e., false), but indicates that he considers himself anti-Zionist, which implies he is admitting that he is antisemitic<ref name="S">[https://nnia.space/@aronarchy/111574313761320867 Fediverse reply by @aronarchy], via nnia.space, 13 December 2023.</ref>.
[https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.824.6229&rep=rep1&type=pdf https://doi.org/10.1177/1534650102250779]</ref>, and sexual assault of minors who are paraphilic or perceived to be paraphilic at psychiatric facilities<ref>Ethical Treatment for All Youth. (n.d.). <em>Arousal Reconditioning</em>. [http://www.ethicaltreatment.org/reconditioning.htm http://www.ethicaltreatment.org/reconditioning.htm]</ref> by medical professionals.
== Criticism in academia ==
=== Racism ===
Newgon refers to Indigenous peoples as "primitive"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Nepiophilia Nepiophilia], via NewgonWiki.</ref><ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Debate_Guide:_Nonhuman_relatives Debate Guide: Nonhuman relatives], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon takes issue with the fact that "most online MAPs, particularly of the younger generation, strongly reject ethnonationalist ideology and wish not to be associated with it in any way, nor even to share a space with it," arguing that "ethnonationalist ideology" is insufficiently harmful to warrant such ostracism. Newgon claims that "non-violent" "white identitarianism" should be considered a valid "freedom of conscience"<ref name="G">[https://heretictoc.com/2023/10/21/paraphiles-and-the-far-right/ Paraphiles and the Far Right], via Heretic TOC, 21 October 2023.</ref><ref name="H">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Essay:MAPs,_Paraphiles_and_Fascists Essay:MAPs, Paraphiles and Fascists], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
Various academics have asserted that pedophilia, hebephilia, and/or paraphilias in general, should not be considered mental disorders<ref>Green, R. (2002, Dec.). Is Pedophilia a Mental Disorder? <em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em>, <em>31</em>, 467–471. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://sci-hub.se/10.1023/a:1020699013309 https://doi.org/10.1023/a:1020699013309]</ref><ref>Vogt, H. (2006). <em>Pädophilie: Leipzicher Studie zur gesellschaftlichen und psychischen Situation pädophiler Männer</em> [Pedophilia: The Leipziger Study of the Social and Psychical Situation of Pedophilic Men]. Pabst Science Publishers. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.ipce.info/host/vogt/vogt_content.htm https://www.ipce.info/host/vogt/vogt_content.htm]</ref><ref>Tromovitch, P. (2008, Oct. 16). Manufacturing Mental Disorder by Pathologizing Erotic Age Orientation: A Comment on Blanchard et al. (2008). <em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em>, <em>38</em>, 328. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://sci-hub.se/10.1007/s10508-008-9426-x https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9426-x]</ref><ref>Moser, C. (2008 Oct. 23). When Is an Unusual Sexual Interest a Mental Disorder? <em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em>, <em>38</em>, 323–325. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.academia.edu/47097977/When_Is_an_Unusual_Sexual_Interest_a_Mental_Disorder https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-008-9436-8]</ref>, or otherwise criticized the DSM’s conceptualization of “pedophilic disorder”<ref>Studer, L. H., & Aylwin, A. S. (2006). Pedophilia: The problem with diagnosis and limitations of CBT in treatment. <em>Medical Hypotheses</em>, <em>67</em>(4), 774-781. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://sci-hub.se/10.1016/j.mehy.2006.04.030 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mehy.2006.04.030]</ref><ref>Berlin, F. S. (2011). Commentary on pedophilia diagnostic criteria in DSM-5. <em>Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law</em>, <em>39</em>(2), 242-244. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [http://jaapl.org/content/39/2/242 http://jaapl.org/content/39/2/242]</ref><ref name="B">Berlin, F. S. (2014, Dec.). Pedophilia and DSM-5: The Importance of Clearly Defining the Nature of a Pedophilic Disorder. <em>Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law</em>, <em>42</em>(4), 404-407. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [http://jaapl.org/content/42/4/404 http://jaapl.org/content/42/4/404]</ref>.
In a conversation in the PCMA server, multiple individuals, including one of its moderators ("HinamizawaShokogun22"), positively discussed a fediverse user with the username "AryanBoyLover1488." One user ("broken_lightbulb") said, "aryanboylover1488 sounds like a cool guy I wonder what their takes on race are." HinamizawaShokogun22 replied, "he did support israel," posted a screenshot of a report on one of AryanBoyLover1488's posts, and said, "this isn't what got him banned, it was hilarious af." The screenshot shows AryanBoyLover1488 saying,
Münch et al (2020) argue for alterations to be made to the DSM-V criteria of Pedophilic Disorder<ref>Münch et al. (2020 Sep. 15). Should Behavior Harmful to Others Be a Sufficient Criterion of Mental Disorders? Conceptual Problems of the Diagnoses of Antisocial Personality Disorder and Pedophilic Disorder. <em>Frontiers in psychiatry</em>, <em>11</em>, 558655. [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7523554/ 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.558655]</ref>.
<blockquote>
<em>"I stand with Israel because they are white. It's that simple. If I see a video of a white person being killed by a non-white person, my complete and full support is toward the white person. Leftists and libtards constantly call Israelis white colonizers and call for the end to Israel because of it."</em>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>Abstract
The post contained a meme image with one individual accusing, "Y..y...you are anti white!" and another responding with a Hebrew approximation of the letters "TND"<ref>[https://nnia.space/@aronarchy/111569415855113772 Fediverse reply by @aronarchy], via nnia.space, 12 December 2023.</ref>, a far-right antiblack acronym standing for "Total ''[n-slur]'' Death"<ref>[https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Alt-right_glossary#Total_Death_.28T_D.29 Alt-right glossary: "Total _____ Death (T_D)"], via RationalWiki.</ref>.
In light of this, it appears additionally insidious and hypocritical that Newgon chose to host a reactionary statement feigning genuine concern for the plight of the Palestinian people, when elsewhere its members are perfectly willing and permitted to endorse violent racism against them as well as other non-white people.
Generally, diseases are primarily harmful to the individual herself; harm to others may or may not be a secondary effect of diseases (e.g., in case of infectious diseases). This is also true for mental disorders. However, both ICD-10 and DSM-5 contain two diagnoses which are primarily defined by behavior harmful to others, namely Pedophilic Disorder and Antisocial (or Dissocial) Personality Disorder (ASPD or DPD). Both diagnoses have severe conceptual problems in the light of general definitions of mental disorder, like the definition in DSM-5 or Wakefield’s “harmful dysfunction” model. We argue that in the diagnoses of Pedophilic Disorder and ASPD the criterion of harm to the individual is substituted by the criterion of harm to others. Furthermore, the application of the criterion of dysfunction to these two diagnoses is problematic because both heavily depend on cultural and social norms. Therefore, these two diagnoses fall outside the general disease concept and even outside the general concept of mental disorders. We discuss whether diagnoses which primarily or exclusively ground on morally wrong, socially inacceptable, or criminal behavior should be eliminated from ICD and DSM. On the one side, if harming others is a sufficient criterion of a mental disorder, the “evil” is pathologized. On the other side, there are practical reasons for keeping these diagnoses: first for having an official research frame, second for organizing and financing treatment and prevention. We argue that the criteria set of Pedophilic Disorder should be reformulated in order to make it consistent with the general definition of mental disorder in DSM-5. This diagnosis should only be applicable to individuals that are distressed or impaired by it, but not solely based on behavior harmful to others.
The statement also encourages harmful and racist views toward the Palestinian struggle by denying the crucial role of Western geopolitical interests in motivating state support for the Israeli occupation, instead implying that Israel is only supported by the West because it is a Jewish state and that meaningful oppression is only enacted based on supposed Jewish interests. It claims that "Israel is not an asset to the US or the EU even from the perspective of their own strategic resource-based interests, but a massive strategic liability. And real discussion of that point is not only systemically kept out of the media, but gate-kept out of even pro-Palestinian leftist spaces by politically-correct leftists"<ref name="R" />. AnonymousLover/GothboyAL makes this sentiment even more clear in a childlove.space post which completely denies Israel's importance to U.S. foreign policy and that "Israel is a White Supremacist State," calling these "politically correct room temperature leftist takes"<ref name="S" />. These comments utilize the right-wing trope of complaining about leftist "political correctness," a line strongly associated in the current political climate with racists who believe that a "cancel culture" unfairly stifles racist speech and portray racial minorities as the ones who ultimately control society and discourse (or a Jewish cabal which promotes the interests of racial minorities). By trying to shift pro-Palestinian activism further to the right, trying to graft an ultimately white supremacist framework onto a struggle against white supremacist oppression, as individuals notorious for a history of other racist behavior themselves, the writers and signatories of the Newgon statement take efforts which would divert and weaken pro-Palestinian activism if they took hold, discouraging people from correctly identifying the causes of Palestinian oppression and thus effectively fighting against it. Their denial of the white supremacy in play in Israel's genocidal campaign and Western endorsement of it when white supremacy is in fact present amounts to apologia for white supremacy and Western imperialism.
The statement says, ''"It appears that the European elite cares more for the state of Israel than it does about Democracy, Free Speech, or even their own countries! Citizens and residents of Britain, France, and Germany appear to be free to denounce their countries as racist colonialist oppressors with no redeeming qualities that should be burned to the ground but when it comes to Israel? Now that's a different story!"''<ref name="R" />, showing a dismissive attitude toward the struggles of other racialized peoples, portraying them as much more safe and privileged than they actually are, and downplaying the tremendous oppression which the European colonial powers have enacted and continue to enact upon them.
Introduction
Further callous exploitation of Palestinian trauma can be observed as the statement veers from criticizing U.S. President Joe Biden's backing of the genocide to attacking the Democrats for introducing a bill "that ends the statute of limitations at the national scale for real and perceived victims of CSA." The statement subtly invalidates CSA survivors by claiming that accusers falsely "perceive" abuse where there was none. It tries to portray accused child sexual abusers as widely disadvantaged, threatened, and oppressed and assumes an automatic, necessary connection between child sexual abuse perpetrators (or individuals who would be accused of CSA) and "real or perceived MAPs" (and refuses to allow the possibility that it could be anyone else). The authors weaponize genuine Palestinian grievances to shoehorn in a reactionary, fearmongering agenda against an imagined threat of widespread false CSA accusations and unjust legal ruin, using language which promotes bigotry against both CSA survivors and MAPs. They clumsily attempt to appeal to an audience of "MAPs" (whom they seem to conflate with CSA perpetrators, aspiring perpetrators, apologists, and/or a group functionally indistinguishable from actual perpetrators) and portray themselves as heroic representatives of a heroic, homogenous demographic of "MAPs" because <em>"That the decision to release a statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict met unanimous assent from our moderation team is a solid indication of where MAPs stand</em>,<em>"</em> with a contrived argument that their posturing about Israel is specifically relevant to MAP issues (which they conflate with preservation of CSA's hegemonic status, along with several things that are actually ''children's'' issues, although interpreted through a narrow and ultimately anti-child lens) because ''"MAPs and all caring people should note that Gaza's population is extremely young, with 44% of the population being 14 or below. The planned expulsion and even extermination of at least a million children should provoke outrage and hatred in every child lover.… MAPs should refuse to fight wars for a system that hates them, especially wars on behalf of Israel. MAPs should speak out against child killers, including the child killers of the Netanyahu government"'' and that "MAPs residing in Western countries" apparently will likely be "propagandized or drafted to fight in this escalating conflict" so they apparently needed to share a dissuading "statement"—all while doing nearly as much as they can to back policies which would actually harm children, and especially Palestinian children<ref name="R" />.
=== Fatphobia/body-shaming ===
Newgon also frequently uses fatphobia and other body-shaming<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Averagepedophobe.jpg Average pedophobe], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Some examples also involve insulting an opponent's lifestyle as "unhealthy" and "unnatural"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Pedonoblememe.jpg Pedo noble], via NewgonWiki.</ref>, or even using fascist terminology such as "degenerate," "mental defective," and "inferior physiognomy"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Anti.png Anti], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
Generally, diseases are primarily harmful to the diseased individual herself either by being directly life-threatening or at least life-shortening, or by causing pain or suffering, or by impairing her ability to live in human symbiotic communities. Harm to others, however, may or may not be a secondary effect of diseases. A typical example are infectious diseases which harm the infected individual and possibly others as well. A mere infection, however, is not called a disease as long as it is not and will not be harmful to the infected individual herself, even if it poses a risk to others as a secondary effect. This is evident from the example of asymptomatic carriers of pathogens. Although they may transmit the pathogen to others and harm particularly vulnerable, e.g. immunosuppressed people, medicine does not regard them as ill. Therefore, such persons should be described as being ’disease-causing’ for others, rather than as being ’diseased’ themselves.
=== Ableism ===
Newgon has taken part in spreading incorrect information about [[Child abuse obsessive-compulsive disorder|a subtype of obsessive-compulsive disorder that causes intrusive sexual thoughts about children]] and claimed it can be equated to finding children attractive.
If this is true for diseases in general, that they are primarily harmful to the individual herself, it should also be true for mental disorders as long as they are viewed as a subset of diseases. This is reflected in frequently cited attempts to formulate a general definition of mental disorder, like the definition in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) or the “harmful dysfunction” model by Wakefield. Both definitions characterize a mental disorder by, broadly speaking, a dysfunction in mental processes that is associated with harm to the affected individual.
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File:POCD.png|thumb|left|A Newgon graphic
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For some psychiatric diagnoses, however, it is questionable whether the presupposition of harm to the individual really applies. We will show that several diagnoses essentially rely on behavior that is harmful to others, but not necessarily to the individual herself. This is especially true for the diagnoses “Antisocial Personality Disorder” (ASPD) in DSM-5 (or “Dissocial Personality Disorder” in ICD-10) and “Pedophilic Disorder” in DSM-5 and ICD-11. Instead, as we will show, another disease criterion comes in here: the criterion of “harm to others.”
Newgon claims that Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a "fanciful idea" "formerly or presently promoted to aid in categorizing 'ideal' victims and perpetrators"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/CSA_Accommodation_Syndrome#See_also CSA Accommodation Syndrome: See also], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. While labeling the (mapmisic) anti-CSA psychologist Joyanna Silberg as a "hostile" "pseudoscientist"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Category:People:_Pseudoscientists Category:People: Pseudoscientists], via NewgonWiki.</ref> and "unsympathetic activist"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Category:People:_Unsympathetic_Activists Category:People: Unsympathetic Activists], via NewgonWiki.</ref> in its page of people who have "spread misinformation about pedophiles or promoted the ideology of Child Sexual Abuse in public," Newgon cites as its reasoning that she is an "advocate of Dissociative identity Disorder"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/List_of_CSA/anti-pedophile_proponents List of CSA/anti-pedophile proponents], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon recommends Bruce Rind's analysis that the Leadership Council, a (mapmisic) organization Silberg is a member of, provides inaccurate information about mental health issues because its members "advocate for the validity of repressed memories and multiple personality disorder (MPD)," labeling these as "alleged" problems<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/The_Leadership_Council#Rind_on_LC_composition The Leadership Council: Rind on LC composition], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon states that it has a "skeptical treatment of DID, a highly controversial and lucrative diagnosis whose purported existence is likely a function of personality types and sociogenic factors, rather than the traumas said to underpin it"<ref name="D">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Template:NNMisinfo Template:NNMisinfo], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
In the case of Pedophilic Disorder, harm to others is a sufficient criterion. In the case of ASPD, it is a necessary one and, as we will argue, practically also a sufficient one. In addition to the harm criterion, getting another meaning, we will argue that the criterion of a mental dysfunction is unclear in these diagnoses. Thus, the diagnoses of ASPD and Pedophilic Disorder fall out of the general concept of diseases and even out of the general concept of mental disorders. Are they accordingly rather “moral disorders” than clinical disorders? If this is true, psychiatry contributes to a “medicalization” of morally wrong behavior. The conceptual problems of ASPD and Pedophilic Disorder lead to the fundamental question which criteria define a mental disorder.
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File:Strategist on DID.png|Strategist elaborating on his DID-denialist views<ref>[https://youjo.love/notice/AZ4h9PfWJjMP9A1my0 Fediverse reply by @Strategist], via youjo.love, 25 August 2023.</ref>
</gallery>
The aim of this paper is to discuss whether behavior harmful to others should be a sufficient criterion of mental disorder as it is the case in the diagnoses of ASPD and Pedophilic Disorder. If we come to the conclusion that this should not be the case, the question arises whether ASPD and Pedophilic Disorder should be eliminated from the diagnostic manuals.
Newgon uses the term "mentally retarded"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Statutory_rape Statutory rape], via NewgonWiki.</ref> to refer to cognitively disabled people. Newgon hosts an image file "Retards.png," titled "Retarded or perturbed pedophile myth," and titled in the graphic itself as "The ''Retarded'' and ''Perturbed''… 'Pedophile Degenerate.'" The text of the graphic seems to be trying to prove that pedophiles are more acceptable and less "degenerate" because they have relatively "normal" or greater intellectual capacities and executive functioning<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Research:_Offender_characteristics#/media/File:Retards.png Retarded or perturbed pedophile myth], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. In a guide to "Social Media and Trolling," Newgon recommends that users insult an opponent as "mid-witted, with an IQ between 80 and 110" and "retarded"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Debate_Guide:_Social_Media_and_Trolling Debate Guide: Social Media and Trolling], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon says of two antis, "Achievement 'retard' unlocked"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/List_of_anti-MAP_quotes#/media/File:Epstein.png Epsteins everywhere.], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
Newgon insults its critics for supposedly having "OCD character traits"<ref name="B">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Debate_Guide:_Newgon%27s_History Debate Guide: Newgon's History], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. It attempts to denigrate and discredit MAP Wiki editor Iris for describing themself as mentally ill<ref name="D">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Template:NNMisinfo Template:NNMisinfo], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
Dysfunction in Pedophilic Disorder
The Newgon activist JohnHolt insults "woke ASPD antisocial activists off Fedi"<ref>[https://www.boychat.org/messages/1620050.htm It's an undeniable fact.], via BoyChat, 2 December 2023.</ref>. He tries to denigrate and discredit various left-leaning MAP activists for being so-called "psychopaths"<ref name="G" /><ref name="H" /> and attacks them for identifying as mentally ill<ref>[https://www.boychat.org/messages/1622969.htm The argument was used against MAPs.], via BoyChat, 31 January 2024.</ref>.
One of the "Informational memes" on the "Memes and Graphics" page, titled "Minors Beware" and tagged with "antis," "warning," "minors," "consent," "advice," "youth," and "guide"<ref name="A" />, says,
With regard to pedophilia, one could argue under an evolutionary account of dysfunction, that it is a form of a sexual dysfunction, assuming that the biologically defined function of sexual arousal (i.e. the reason the mechanism of sexual arousal was selected for) lies in its contribution to (potential) reproduction, which is clearly not the case in pedophilic sexual behavior. This, however, is an insufficient model of the function of human sexuality. Human sexuality has important functions beyond reproduction, particularly promoting pair bonding and fulfilling emotional needs. Many forms of sexuality that do not pursue reproduction are broadly accepted, e.g. sexual intercourse of infertile people, under birth control, or homosexuality. Furthermore, there is no reason not to use a certain function for other, possibly purely hedonistic purposes that have nothing to do with its evolutionary function. The fact that a function is used for other than the alleged evolutionary purposes does not mean that this is dysfunctional.
<blockquote>
MINORS - BEWARE THESE RED FLAGS! 🚩
Some pedophilic men actually state that they are not only interested in sexual contact with children but also look for romantic relationships with them. The dysfunction in Pedophilic Disorder thus cannot simply stem from the fact that the sexual arousal is not associated with (potential) reproduction. The concept of a dysfunction in an evolutionary sense falls too short here.
Please memorize these red flags for sex-phobic, ageist hysteria. They will help you avoid mentally disturbed and manipulative personalities online."
According to DSM-5 and ICD-11, a pedophilic sexual interest is only deemed a mental disorder when it leads to subjective distress or impairment, or has been acted upon.
🚩1: Those who refer to your or someone else's relationship as "grooming" or "harmful".
To assume that having certain sexual fantasies or urges is not pathological but acting according to them is, seems inconsistent. It might be explained by the implicit assumption that there is another dysfunction involved, namely an impaired ability to control one’s behavior. To illustrate this point: if a heterosexual teleiophilic man (i.e. a man sexually attracted to physically mature individuals) sexually assaults a woman, it is not generally supposed that he must be mentally disordered because he couldn’t control his sexual urges. For it is just as possible that he thought the assault was justified, e.g. because the woman dressed “lewdly“. There is no reason to regard the case of the heterosexual teleiophilic sexual offender differently from the case of a pedophilic sexual offender who is convinced that his behavior is morally justified, or who just does not respect the rights of children.
Their goal is to invalidate your freedom of choice and lived experiences. In other words, "gaslighting".
</blockquote>
Newgon claims that "mentally disturbed" people are inherently to be avoided, conflating mental illness or pathology with being "manipulative" or problematic, and scapegoating them for perceived harms caused by anti-contact ideology along with various talking points popularly associated with anti-contact ideology.
Conclusions<br>“Vice-Laden Disorders” in Psychiatry
It is also notable that Newgon claims ''any'' instance of someone else telling a minor a relationship is grooming or harmful is "mentally disturbed," "manipulative," engaging in "sex-phobic" "ageist hysteria," displaying a red flag, and dangerous, as if abusive, coerced, or forced relationships do not exist, as if no one at all would be helped instead of harmed by ever being told their or someone else's relationship is grooming or harmful. This implies that Newgon believes grooming and harmful relationships simply do not exist, and that any attempt at criticizing a relationship (even one clearly constraining a person's freedom of choice and causing suppression or erasure of their own subjectivity and lived experiences) would actually constitute an attack on freedom. It seems to be implying that victims of abusive relationships and gaslighting should simply be left to struggle on their own with indifferent bystanders instead of having access to help, any attempts at which would instead be an excuse to diagnose the critical individual as hysterical or insane.
The fifth "red flag" listed on the meme is "Those who group voluntary relationships and abusive relationships together": "They are not the same. If they attempted this with adult relationships, they would be accused of trivializing abuse." Yet, hypocritically, Newgon in fact does this itself in its first line, with no regard for any minors encountering the infographic who may be experiencing abusive relationships, who would suffer less harm if they were able to escape but might discard this option after being discouraged from heeding any critiques of their relationship.
Diagnoses that primarily rely on behavior harmful to others, like Pedophilic Disorder and ASPD, fall out of the general disease concept. They even do not meet the general criteria of mental disorders as defined by DSM-5 or the “harmful dysfunction” model by Wakefield. Neither the criterion of harm to the individual himself, nor the criterion of a dysfunction are met in these two diagnoses. Instead, they rely on another disease criterion: the criterion of harm to others. Psychiatry brings itself into great conceptual difficulties by making behavior harmful to others/criminal behavior a central part of the definition of some mental disorders, while at the same time lacking a clear concept of dysfunction in these cases. When diagnoses are formulated in a way that makes it possible to apply them to mere antisocial and criminal behavior, psychiatry is at risk of confounding the medical and the moral.
According to a BoyChat post by JohnHolt, also the uploader of this meme on the wiki<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Minorsbeware.png Minors Beware], via NewgonWiki.</ref>, he apparently believes this is a serious behavioral "guide for minors" providing meaningful and insightful advice<ref>[https://www.boychat.org/messages/1594016.htm And what about a guide for Minors?] by JohnHolt, via BoyChat, 22 June 2022.</ref>.
=== Ageism ===
Newgon promotes anti-minor sentiments<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Minorcard.png "minor" card], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon pejoratively refers to MAP Wiki editor Iris as "a mentally ill teenager" in an attempt to discredit them<ref name="I" />. Newgon extends this line of criticism to young adults and younger activists in general as well<ref name="B" /><ref name="G" /><ref name="H" />. (Newgon never highlights an adult's adulthood, or the fact of someone having an older age, when trying to portray an opponent in a negative light.)
The Disorder-Status of Pedophilic Disorder
JohnHolt insults "naive young idiots who [rail against the norm] on Fediverse" in a BoyChat post<ref>[https://www.boychat.org/messages/1620068.htm Railing against the norm.] by JohnHolt, via BoyChat, 2 December 2023.</ref>:
<blockquote>
Those of us who are accustomed to BC will know that you are most certainly coming from an egosyntonic place, but you might do well to recognize that impotently "railing against the norm" is one of the first stages of grievance/coping in egodystonia.
In the case of Pedophilic Disorder, we think that the diagnosis should be kept but reformulated in accordance with the general definition of mental disorder in DSM-5 in order to make it consistent with a medical model of mental disorder. This means it should only be applicable to individuals that are distressed or impaired by it so that they can get treatment within the health system. It should not be possible to make the diagnosis solely based on behavior harmful to others. Therefore, we suggest reformulating Criterion B of Pedophilic Disorder as follows: “The sexual urges or fantasies cause marked distress or interpersonal difficulty (e.g. in the context of occupation, family life, friendships, intimate life).” That means, the criterion “The individual has acted on these sexual urges” is cancelled.
One thing I'll give you over the naive young idiots who do this on Fediverse, is that your analysis is couched in some experience and thus some historical literacy.
Our suggested reformulation of Criterion B is indeed consistent with the form it already had in DSM-IV. As De Block et al. note, the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria were “by far the most consistent vis-à-vis the DSM’s own definition of mental disorder.” It was, however, criticized that this criteria set leads to the situation that someone acting on his pedophilic interests without feeling distressed would not be considered mentally ill. O’Donohoe et al. argue that rather the lack of experiencing subjective distress when being sexually attracted to children than the experience of distress is a sign of psychological problems. They do not accept that, according to DSM-IV, a “contended pedophile” does not meet the criteria of a mental disorder. They argue that a person sexually interested in children must be considered in some way socially impaired “because societal norms dictate that it is abnormal for a person to be sexually interested in children.” They clearly want to classify pedophilia as a mental disorder for social and forensic rather than for medical reasons. Their postulation that “a single instance of sexual behavior with a child should be sufficient to label someone as having a disorder” confounds criminal behavior with mental disorder.
So we do not see, for instance the absurdity of a 19 year old MAP who rails against the demonization of paedophiles while praising victimologcal <em>[sic]</em> constructs such as satanic abuse and DID that contributed to that popular demonology.
If pedophilia by itself is not a mental disorder according to DSM-5, then acting according to it cannot be a mental disorder unless there is clear evidence of a dysfunction of volitional control. Impairment of volitional control, however, is not implied in the diagnosis of a paraphilic disorder. If we assume that sometimes such impairment is given, then it probably stems from another disease (like e.g. dementia, a brain tumor or mental retardation). If there is no such impairment, we have to assume that this person acted deliberately, and it is not clear why this should be a sign of a mental disorder rather than simply a criminal act.
But the similarity is eery.
</blockquote>
The DSM-5 warns of the dangers of using a diagnostic manual developed for clinical purposes in the forensic context. For assigning mental disorder in the legal sense “additional information is usually required beyond that contained in the DSM-5 diagnosis, which might include information about the individual’s functional impairments and how these impairments affect the particular abilities in question.”
Newgon trivializes abuse of children in school and the home, claiming that assaultive interactions "are never seen to cause mental torture, nor to have lifelong consequences." According to Newgon, the belief that "non-consensual play," "beatings," "bullying," "discipline," and other abuses of power over children will harm them is "totally unwarranted," "moral hysteria," and "reactionism." Newgon claims people should be happy about this and should "encourage" it by "erasing societal stigmas," but is vague about what exactly is being "stigmatized"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Debate_Guide:_Power_disparity Debate Guide: Power disparity], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
It is important to note that there is a difference between a mental disorder and the US-American legal concept of “mental abnormality.”
=== Paramisia ===
Newgon is dismissive of paraphilic identity labels it perceives as "new," "fringe," or based on "social justice theory"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Nnia.png Nnia], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
We suggest that it should be possible to diagnose a “mental abnormality” in the forensic sense for a person with pedophilia who is neither distressed nor impaired by his pedophilic condition (<em>i.e.</em>, who fulfills criterion A but not B according to our suggestion). Even though this person does not meet the criteria of a mental disorder as suggested by us, he might still meet the concept of “mental abnormality” if there is evidence of a high risk of reoffending. We thus suggest that this difference in clinical and forensic use is clearly annotated in the diagnostic criteria of Pedophilic Disorder in DSM. This suggestion is important with regard to other countries than the USA. The DSM is used worldwide for research, and therefore its diagnostic criteria should not be distorted in order to adapt them to the US legal system. In Germany, for example, no diagnosis of a mental disorder is required to order preventive detention after imprisonment; rather the assessment of danger and the prognosis of the probability of recidivism is decisive.
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File:Nnia.png.png|Newgon invalidating zoosadism pride and a newly-coined chronophilia label
</gallery>
Our intention is not to protect the “contented pedophile,” as long as he is dangerous, from preventive detention or to downplay the harm that child molesters do to their victims in any sense. On the other hand, our suggestion is not meant to preclude the detained child molester from getting treatment if at some point he starts to show insight into his problems and wants to get treated. Rather, we want to separate the medical aspects of Pedophilic Disorder from the societal and forensic implications.
JohnHolt takes issue with NNIA for "celebrating" various paraphilic identities, including "erotophonophilia," "biastophilia," "biastomaps," "aptomaps" (MAPs attracted to the concept of "grooming"), and "zoosadism"<ref>[https://www.boychat.org/messages/1616466.htm You could say that. However.] by JohnHolt, via BoyChat, 25 August 2023.</ref>.
To summarize, our suggestion is as follows. We agree with the differentiation between Pedophilia and Pedophilic Disorder in DSM-5 and suggest adding a category “Pedophilia with mental abnormality” for forensic purposes. Thus, we suggest defining Pedophilia as pedophilic preference without distress/impairment; Pedophilic Disorder as pedophilic preference with distress/impairment; and Pedophilia with mental abnormality as pedophilic preference with sexual offending and high risk of re-offending with or without distress/impairment.</blockquote>
Malon (2012) calls to depathologize pedophilia entirely<ref name="A">Malon, A. (2012). Pedophilia: A Diagnosis in Search of a Disorder. <em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em>, <em>41</em>(5), 1083–1097. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://sci-hub.se/10.1007/s10508-012-9919-5 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-012-9919-5]</ref>.
After seeing JohnHolt's post, the NNIA user who had coined "aptophilia" and "aptomap" discussed Newgon's paramisia<ref>[https://nnia.space/@scramblecore/110953132370021235 Fediverse thread by @scramblecore], via nnia.space, 25 August 2023.</ref>. @[email protected], a fediverse account used by JohnHolt, quoted the thread with derogatory commentary<ref>[https://youjo.love/objects/7755bc3d-9838-422b-a9ed-450e4de8728a Fediverse quote post by @Strategist], via youjo.love, 26 August 2023.</ref>. Newgon also hosts an image file with a caption accusing fediverse users who discuss aptophilia positively of being "disruptors"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Apto.png Apto], via NewgonWiki.</ref><ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Minor_attracted_community#Gallery Minor attracted community: Gallery], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
<blockquote>The past <em>depathologization</em> of homosexuality is the strongest argument available to those who take the position that pedophilia and other paraphilias should not be treated as mental disorders (Culver, & Gert, 2006; Moser, 2001). Culver and Gert and Moser both claim that the subject’s personal suffering is a necessary condition to define a mental disorder and their main argument is that paraphilias, including pedophilia, do not cause any particular distress in the majority of those who experience them. Where such distress is present, they add, it is better explained by the presence of a conflict with society (stigmatization, condemnation, persecution, etc.) than by the condition itself (Vogt, 2006). Indeed, some people are quite capable of integrating it into their lives and personalities with reasonably satisfactory results (Moser, 2001; Suppe, 1987; Wilson, & Cox, 1983).
<gallery>
File:Aptophilia.png|on aptophilia
File:Aptomap.png|Newgon members misrepresenting aptophilia
File:Disruptors.png|Newgon commentary on aptophilia
</gallery>
Moser (2001) asserted that homosexuality was not deleted from the DSM for scientific reasons but on political and social grounds, and other paraphilias should also have been eliminated. Bieber, an advocate of treating homosexuality as a pathology, once raised this question regarding the elimination of other paraphilias from the DSM with Spitzer. According to Bieber (1987), Spitzer replied to him that “...these conditions should perhaps also be removed from DSM-II, and that if the group so affected were to organize as did the gay activists, they, too, might find that their conditions would be removed as a diagnostic entity” (p. 433). This point was also made by others (e.g., Silverstein, 2009; Suppe, 1987), but it did not win much support. Any attempt to question the legitimacy of the psychiatric apparatus, including the DSM as a whole, was rejected as a political strategy by homosexual activists (see Silverstein, 2009, Footnote 3), because it would have jeopardized the goal of excluding homosexuality from the DSM.</blockquote>
Newgon attempts to denigrate and discredit MAP Wiki editor Iris for being a "self-describing biastophile (rape fetishist), and sadist - including in relation to animals"<ref name="D">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Template:NNMisinfo Template:NNMisinfo], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon continues to promote conspiratorial "suspicion" about the coining of and creation of a flag for aptophilia, as well as the zoosadist identity<ref name="I">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Pediverse Pediverse], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. Newgon claims that rape fetishist or biastophilic MAPs are even more problematic than Nazis/fascist MAPs<ref name="G" /><ref name="H" />.
Moser, & Kleinpatz (2005) argue for the removal of the DSM-IV-TR’s “paraphilias” category<ref>Moser, C., & Kleinpatz, P. J. (2008, Oct. 22). DSM-IV-TR and the Paraphilias. <em>Journal of Psychology, & Human Sexuality</em>, <em>17</em>(3-4), 91-109. [https://sci-hub.se/10.1300/J056v17n03_05 https://doi.org/10.1300/J056v17n03_05]</ref>.
In the "Debate Guide on Newgon's History," JohnHolt claims that [[Boylove|boylovers]] "are not persecuted as a group" and "are rarely persecuted as individuals," and is dismissive of "online groups of people with shared trauma" from mapmisic abuse who believe this statement does not reflect reality. To elaborate on this, the article references<ref name="B">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Debate_Guide:_Newgon%27s_History Debate Guide: Newgon's History], via NewgonWiki.</ref> a BoyChat post titled "BL 'persecution' clown complex" where JohnHolt says that "Boy Lovers are not being 'persecuted', and never have been. If you believe this shit, calm down, and realize that you are part of a culture war and not a real war." He claims antis "want [boylovers] to survive and prosper" and that boylovers "will probably go through life with nothing worse than a lonely boner." He accuses boylovers who reject "working with people they hate," "don't understand" that positive change "will necessarily be gradual," and do not "support gradualist initiatives" of "refusing to reconcile radical philosophy with moderate demands" and "not behaving rationally"<ref>[https://www.boychat.org/messages/1595443.htm BL 'persecution' clown complex.] by JohnHolt, via BoyChat, 16 July 2022.</ref>. Newgon's "Ethos" page also describes its organizational approach as "radical philosophy, moderate demands"<ref name="C">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Ethos_of_Newgon Ethos of Newgon], via NewgonWiki.</ref>.
<blockquote>Although a radical solution, we now favor removal of the entire category from the DSM as the most appropriate remedy for the problems outlined. There are individuals now diagnosed with a paraphilia who seek psychotherapy. We believe that other psychological characteristics describe these individuals and their concerns more accurately than their sexual interests do. It is not their sexual interests, but the manner in which they are manifest that can be problematic at times and is a more appropriate focus for therapy.
== Disinformation campaigns ==
=== Exaggerating own importance ===
Newgon has recently attempted to join the modern MAP community and MAP activism. In this, they made false claims about the MAP community and their own role in its history.
A guiding principle in medicine is the dictum “First, do no harm.” The confusion of variant sexual interests with psychopathology has led to discrimination against all “paraphiliacs.” Individuals have lost jobs, custody of their children, security clearances, become victims of assault, etc., at least partially due to the association of their sexual behavior with psychopathology. This is not a new problem for psychiatry. Within the last 100 years, the labeling of other sexual behaviors as pathological (e.g., masturbation, “nymphomania,” homosexuality) has caused untold misery. Judgments should be made on the basis of science, rather than the morality that is popular at the time of a given edition. It is time to reevaluate rigorously the Paraphilia section of the DSM.</blockquote>
<blockquote>We have introduced new writers to NewgonWiki – founded in 2007 – the birthplace of the modern MAP Movement</blockquote>
== Criticism from anti-MAPs ==
- Newgon's Strategist on FreeSpeechTube<ref name="L" />
The position that mapness is a mental illness and thus worthy of stigmatization is popular among anti-MAPs who are more openly ableist<ref>Witkowski, K. [kara.witkowski]. (2022, Apr. 20). <em>What really bothers me is that my supposed mental illness which</em> [Status update]. Facebook. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.facebook.com/kara.witkowski/posts/10228223268232577 https://www.facebook.com/kara.witkowski/posts/10228223268232577]</ref>. Antis who claim to be supportive of destigmatizing mental illness, however, face a conundrum: either they betray their principles of all disorders being supposedly worthy of destigmatization, or they decide that mapness is in fact not an actual disorder. The latter proclaim that calling mapness a mental disorder is offensive to actually disordered individuals<ref>TheRealSessrinnersII [therealsessrinnersii]. (2021, Aug. 5). <em>Pedophilia/Ableism/R-slur Warning: Here’s another moment from the s*ssrin podcast, where the main admin defends pedophilia with their ableist rhetoric. It’s insulting listening to them equate pedophilia with being bipolar, especially when their shipper friends did nothing to correct their ignorance.</em> [Reblog of post]. Tumblr. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
<blockquote>Founded in 2007, as the information center for the MAP Movement (coining the term and originating a flag concept);</blockquote>
[https://mob-sama.tumblr.com/post/658711933015425024/they-just https://mob-sama.tumblr.com/post/658711933015425024]</ref><ref>[_sweetbabybear_]. (2021, Feb. 26). <em>Pedophilia is NOT a mental illness #stopprotectingthem #fyp #iftheshoefits</em> [Video]. TikTok. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.tiktok.com/@_sweetbabybear_/video/6933376698536840453 https://www.tiktok.com/@_sweetbabybear_/video/6933376698536840453]</ref>. Some other antis, not necessarily mental illness activists, also loudly proclaim that mapness is not a mental illness and that saying it is one is deeply offensive<ref>Frances, A. (2011, Dec. 16). <em>Hebephilia is a Crime, Not a Mental Disorder</em>. Psychiatric Times. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
- NewgonWiki as of 4 August 2022<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page&oldid=13667 Main Page], NewgonWiki as of 09:26, 4 August 2022.</ref>
[https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/hebephilia-crime-not-mental-disorder https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/hebephilia-crime-not-mental-disorder]</ref><ref>Blackman J., & Dring K. (2016, Jan. 29). <em>Sexual Aggression Against Children: Pedophiles’ and Abusers’ Development, Dynamics, Treatability, and the Law</em>. Routledge/Taylor, & Francis Group. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://books.google.com/books?id=BDp-CwAAQBAJ&pg=PT141&lpg=PT141&dq=%22pedophilia+is+not+a+mental+illness%22&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=%22pedophilia%20is%20not%20a%20mental%20illness%22&f=false https://books.google.com/books?id=BDp-CwAAQBAJ]</ref><ref>sostella. (n.d.). <em>Do you care about the well being of children at all? Studies show the effects of pedophilia on children. None of them are positive. Pedophilia is not a mental illness. Pedophiles are a threat to children, Which, May I remind you, Are innocent and undeserving of harm. Pedophiles harm children. What more do you need?</em> [Comment on the online forum post <em>Should pedophilia be legal?</em>]. Debate.org. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.debate.org/opinions/should-pedophilia-be-legal#:~:text=illness https://www.debate.org/opinions/should-pedophilia-be-legal]</ref><ref>Luberg, A. (n.d.). <em>Pedophilia is NOT okay</em> [Petition]. Change.org. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.change.org/p/jeff-bezos-pedophilia-is-not-okay https://www.change.org/p/jeff-bezos-pedophilia-is-not-okay]</ref><ref>Peterson, P. [@payton1peterson]. (2022, Apr. 29). <em>Pedophilia is NOT mental illness! Labeling it as such puts our most vulnerable group at even more risk than they already are. Never let these sickos see the light of day again.</em> [Tweet]. Twitter. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://twitter.com/payton1peterson/status/1520029421327036417 https://twitter.com/payton1peterson/status/1520029421327036417]</ref>. This usually arises from a capitulation to the popular notion that mentally ill people should be offered help with kindness and compassion, something they do not wish to give to MAPs<ref><em>Legalizing Sexual Child Abuse: Pedophilia Now Classified As A Sexual Orientation</em>. (n.d.). Truth And Action. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.truthandaction.org/legalizing-sexual-child-abuse-pedophilia-now-classified-sexual-orientation#:~:text=illness https://www.truthandaction.org/legalizing-sexual-child-abuse-pedophilia-now-classified-sexual-orientation]</ref><ref>Kia [bihet-dragonize], & [recovery-doll]. <em>I wonder if y’all understand how awful you sound when you position something like pedophilia as a “mental illness” rather than the abuse of power that it is. Pedophilia is not a mental illness and making it out to be one just makes mentally ill people more marginalized.</em> [Reblog of post]. Tumblr. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://recovery-doll.tumblr.com/post/639293338257883136/i-wonder-if-yall-understand-how-awful-you-sound https://recovery-doll.tumblr.com/post/639293338257883136]</ref>. Another possibility is belief that a harmful behavior being caused by mental illness means that person is absolved of agency or responsibility, but they dislike the idea of letting off people who commit “actually harmful crimes,” so as a compromise they pick offending MAPs alone to ascribe self-aware evil and purposeful abuses to<ref><em>Pedophilia</em>. (n.d.). SOS Infanzia. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [http://www.sosinfanzia.org/fileformazione/pedofilia_definizione.asp#:~:text=illness http://www.sosinfanzia.org/fileformazione/pedofilia_definizione.asp]</ref><ref>Meter Onlus. (2017, Mar. 20). <em>Pedophilia / Meter Charity Publishes Its 2016 Report: Oceania Favorite</em>. [https://www.associazionemeter.org/index.php/ct-menu-item-69/1011-pedophilia-meter-charity-publishes-its-2016-report-oceania-favorite#:~:text=mental%20illness https://www.associazionemeter.org/index.php/ct-menu-item-69/1011-pedophilia-meter-charity-publishes-its-2016-report-oceania-favorite]</ref><ref>Ward, J. W. [CRICKET4000]. (2014). <em>Pedophilia is not a mental illness!! There is much debate about this I understand. But....those who suffer from mental illness are not predators in general. These animals are criminals, they know what they are doing. Mental illness is not a choice it is a disease. Pedophiles use the disguise of a "mental illness" to excuse their behavior. People do not premeditate mental illness, they are born with it.</em> [Comment on the social media status update <em>SHARE: This child rapist is out of prison and living near</em>]. Facebook. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.facebook.com/keprtv/photos/a.431947621182/10152173358601183/?comment_id=10152173456336183 https://www.facebook.com/keprtv/photos/a.431947621182/10152173358601183/?comment_id=10152173456336183]</ref><ref>Lily [LuunnaaPhase]. (2018). Pedophilia is not a sexual orientation. In <em>Rants, Responses, & Reviews 2</em> (ch. 12) [Story]. Wattpad. Retrieved May 9, 2022, from [https://www.wattpad.com/623699902-rants-responses-reviews-2-pedophiles-pedophilia#:~:text=I%20mean%20yes,%20Pedophilia%20is%20a%20mental%20disorder%20meaning%20pedophiles%20didn’t%20choose%20to%20be%20attracted%20to%20children%20but%20that%20doesn’t%20mean%20them%20hurting%20children%20is%20excusable%20and%20justifiable https://www.wattpad.com/623699902]</ref><ref>Lily [LuunnaaPhase]. (2020). Pedophiles & Pedophilia Apologists. In <em>Rants, Responses, & Reviews 2</em> (ch. 70) [Story]. Wattpad. Retrieved May 9, 2022, from [https://www.wattpad.com/623699902-rants-responses-reviews-2-pedophiles-pedophilia#:~:text=Yes,%20it%20depends%20but%20in%20the%20pedophile%20case,%20it’s%20inexcusable%20because%20sexual%20attraction%20to%20children%20and%20minors%20is%20unacceptable%20and%20majorly%20fucked%20up. https://www.wattpad.com/623699902]</ref>.
== Criticism from MAPs and MAP allies ==
<blockquote>We started the whole "MAP" thing</blockquote>
- NewgonOrg on Twitter<ref name="E">[http://web.archive.org/web/20220511194112/https://twitter.com/NewgonOrg/status/1524474615745105928 Tweet by NewgonOrg], via the Wayback Machine, 11 May 2022. NewgonOrg's bio is visible in the background.</ref>, currently suspended
<gallery>
File:Newgon twitter.jpg|Newgon's Twitter account
</gallery>
Pro-MAP activists such as Lecter<ref>Lecter. (2018, Aug. 22). <em>Common Misconceptions About Maps</em>. MAP Science Archive. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://wierstamann.wordpress.com/2018/08/22/common-misconceptions-about-maps/ https://wierstamann.wordpress.com/2018/08/22/common-misconceptions-about-maps]</ref><ref>Lecter. <em>Maps and doctors</em>. MAP Science Archive. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://wierstamann.wordpress.com/2020/02/04/maps-and-doctors/ https://wierstamann.wordpress.com/2020/02/04/maps-and-doctors]</ref>, Fiction Is Not Reality<ref>FinR. (2018, Jun. 1). <em>I’m not going to question your take on pedophilia being a mental illness because the scientific community is pretty split on the matter, and everyone’s opinion until a consensus is reached is just as supported as it is questioned. I am notoriously on the side of it being not a mental illness (unless it’s diagnosed as pedophilic disorder), but let’s, for a moment, analyze what mental illness means and what therapy would entail, shall we?</em>
Both these claims are not true. See: [[Minor attraction|the history of the term "MAP"]] and [[MAP flag|the origins of the MAP flag]].
FinR. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://fiction-is-not-reality.dreamwidth.org/35730.html https://fiction-is-not-reality.dreamwidth.org/35730.html]</ref>, Virtuous Pedophiles<ref>Virtuous Pedophiles. (n.d.). <em>ESSENTIALS</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.virped.org/f-a-q.html https://www.virped.org/f-a-q.html]</ref>, and B4U-ACT<ref>B4U-ACT. (2008, Nov. 13). <em>How do we talk about it?: Developing a Language for Discussing Attraction to Minors</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.b4uact.org/events-timeline/workshops/fall-2008-workshop-how-do-we-talk-about-it/ https://www.b4uact.org/events-timeline/workshops/fall-2008-workshop-how-do-we-talk-about-it]</ref>, among others, have also said that it is inaccurate to classify mapness as a mental illness or disorder.
The MAP activist Iris goes further: that not only should pedophilia itself be demedicalized, but also that adjacent concepts such as “pedophilic disorder,” even when they do not claim pedophilia itself is a disorder, should nevertheless be abolished entirely as well. One such conversation, occurring on a suspended Tumblr account of theirs<ref>Paraphilic Survivors of Abuse [paraphilic-survivors-of-abuse]. <em>Posts</em> [Tumblr profile]. Tumblr. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://archive.ph/MnYbb https://archive.ph/MnYbb]</ref>, went as follows:
==== Flags ====
In 2009 Newgon attempted to hold a contest for a map flag. The contest received several entries, but never reached the voting stage. None of the flags presented for the contest were used till 2021, when Newgon reemerged from the hiatus. On their wiki they made a claim that one of their entries was the original concept the [[MAP flag]] was based on and referred to the latter as a "contrast version"<ref>[https://archive.is/XIXHQ MAP Flag on NewgonWiki] as of 12 Dec 2021, via archive.today.</ref>. After questions and criticism, they reinforced their statement:
smol-paw<ref>Felid [smol-paw]. <em>This blog DOES support; no-contact paraphiles, recovering zoos/maps, paraphiles who are seeking support and treatment, and the effort to understand and respect those with paraphilias.</em> [Post]. Tumblr. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://smol-paw.tumblr.com/post/673164998935216128 https://smol-paw.tumblr.com/post/673164998935216128]</ref>:
<blockquote>Initial tests on the "relative luminance" difference between the two outside blue bands in the 2018 and 2009 flags, reveal those differences to be almost identical (within 0.5-1%) suggesting that the former could be a very slightly darkened and tinted adaptation of the latter, with respect to the blue portion of the graphic.</blockquote>
- The article ''MAP Flag'' on NewgonWiki as of 15 Dec 2022<ref>[https://archive.is/nUDDo MAP Flag on NewgonWiki] as of 15 Dec 2022, via archive.today.</ref>
<blockquote>As there is a post going around I want to clarify-
<blockquote>The linkage to the 2018 NOMAP Flag is contested by Map-Wiki, however the rationale given for our 2009 design is eerily similar to the 2018 NOMAP Flag. To say that the probability of the concept being copied/adapted is around 80% would probably be an understatement, but ultimately, we will never know if the flag was copied.</blockquote>
- The article ''Debate Guide: Newgon's History'' on NewgonWiki as of 1 Feb 2023<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230201193238/https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Debate_Guide:_Newgon's_History Debate Guide: Newgon's History on NewgonWiki] as of 1 Feb 2023, via Wayback Machine.</ref>
This blog DOES NOT support; beastiality, SA or CSA, “pro contact” zoo/map, those who engage in illegal/dangerous paraphilias, nor does it support the toxic “Zoo pride” community.
Currently these phrases, as well as the word "version", are removed from NewgonWiki, and the edit history of these two articles is erased (the ''MAP Flag'' article in particular has a note that "older edits on this article are being used to make false claims offsite"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=MAP_Flag&action=history MAP Flag: Revision history] on NewgonWiki.</ref>).
This blog DOES support; no-contact paraphiles, recovering zoos/maps, paraphiles who are seeking support and treatment, and the effort to understand and respect those with paraphilias.</blockquote>
Simultaneously with implying plagiarism, Newgon developed a merged edit of their flag and the MAP flag. Initially titled "yesmap" as a pun on the NOMAP identity<ref>[https://archive.is/XIXHQ MAP Flag on NewgonWiki] as of 12 Dec 2021, via archive.today.</ref>, it was renamed to "united map flag" around May 2022<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220519031544/https://www.newgon.net/wiki/MAP_Flag MAP Flag on NewgonWiki] as of 19 May 2022, via Wayback Machine.</ref>.
<gallery>
File:Yesmap.png|thumb|left|The 2021 "yesmap"/"united" flag
</gallery>
Iris:
Eventually a separate, exclusively pro c, flag was made for the "yesmap" label.
<gallery>
File:Yesmap2.png|thumb|left|A 2022 "yesmap" flag
</gallery>
<blockquote>What if we <em>aren’t</em> seeking “support and treatment,” hmm? Our paraphilias aren’t something we need support or treatment for.
Newgon continued promoting their flag under the "united" brand till August 2023, when it was renamed to "2021 version" with a note denying its previous name.
Many of us are mentally ill (something that can actually be “recovered” from). But what if we don’t want to recover from our mental illnesses? What if we’re not actively trying to recover? Does that make us any less valid, any less deserving of community and support?</blockquote>
<gallery>
File:Newgon map flag edit history.jpg|This screenshot was taken before the edit history was deleted.
</gallery>
someone else:
A new flag edit, titled "MAP union", was then posted to NewgonWiki<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/File:Mapunion.png The "MAP union" flag] on NewgonWiki</ref>.
<gallery>
File:New newgon flag.png
</gallery>
<blockquote>You don’t have to chose treatment if you don’t want to it just helps as long as your non offending/non contact I don’t understand why “no contact” is an anti term it means the same thing as “non offending.”
=== Misleading terminology ===
Other Newgon initiatives include trying to rename "pro-contact" to "pro-choice," possibly as an attempt to use the positive connotations of the latter.
harmful paraphilias are attractions but they can be harmful if acted upon such as zoophilia pedophilia that’s why it’s ADVISED to get help and treatment so that you find coping mechanism so that it’s easier to not bother the person who has it and so it’s easier for them to not act or get frustrated with it.
<blockquote>Pro-contact (or simply "pro-c") is a term used to describe a person - often an MAP or ally, as favoring the permittance of minor-adult physical/sexual relations - at least hypothetically.</blockquote>
- "Pro-c" on NewgonWiki as of 27 September 2021<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=Pro-c&oldid=7673 Pro-c], NewgonWiki as of 23:55, 27 September 2021.</ref>
<blockquote>Pro-c, (pro-consent/choice or contact) is a term used to describe a person - often an MAP or ally, as favoring the permittance of minor-adult physical/sexual relations - at least hypothetically.</blockquote>
- "Pro-c" on NewgonWiki as of 24 May 2022<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=Pro-c&oldid=12213 Pro-c], NewgonWiki as of 01:18, 24 May 2022.</ref>
No one is saying that you have to as long as you are non offending you are fine.
This text by JohnHolt refers to anti-contact MAPs as "anti-choice"<ref>[https://www.boychat.org/messages/1591530.htm Paradox/fatal flaws of the Virped/NOMAP position.] by JohnHolt, via BoyChat, 4 May 2022.</ref>.
<gallery>
File:Antichoice.png|JohnHolt's text
</gallery>
paraphilia is something a lot people need help with bc it frustrates and or is hard for the user to deal with it and it benefits them to cope with their attraction but no you don’t have to seek treatment as long as you aren’t acting on it.
On its Twitter accounts NewgonOrg<ref name="E">[http://web.archive.org/web/20220511194112/https://twitter.com/NewgonOrg/status/1524474615745105928 Tweet by NewgonOrg], via the Wayback Machine, 11 May 2022. NewgonOrg's bio is visible in the background.</ref> and NewgonOrg2007<ref name="F">[http://web.archive.org/web/20221125122816/https://twitter.com/NewgonOrg2007 Twitter account NewgonOrg2007], via the Wayback Machine, 25 November 2022.</ref>, Newgon claimed to be "pro-choice" in lieu of labeling itself as "pro-contact."
mental illness is not something to be cured but people DO need recovery anyone does not seeking to recover can literally be deadly for people with mental illness not seeking help is one thing not wanting to recover from your negative symptoms/symptoms that harm you is another that doesn’t mean you aren’t deserving of support but anyone should want to recover and learn to cope with their symptoms.
On the same page with responses to accusations Newgon has claimed: "'Pro choice' (which some of us do use) was an initiative of Allyn Walker, and possibly even the MAPs they were referring to in their book"<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/index.php?title=Debate_Guide:_Newgon%27s_History&oldid=16581 Debate Guide: Newgon's History], NewgonWiki as of 23:27, 20 January 2023.</ref>. The book is unambiguously pointing towards MAPs as the source of this term.
recover doesn’t mean “cure” or “treated” it means coping and trying not to fall into negative symptoms that harm you not wanting to get better is symptom of mental illness and these people DO need help and support like anyone else but it’s important that they do feel the need to recover and GET BETTER.</blockquote>
<blockquote>When I asked them about this label during interviews, those who were referred to as pro-contact by anticontact MAPs pushed back against being labeled as such, preferring the term ''pro-choice''.</blockquote>
Iris:
- Allyn Walker, ''A Long, Dark Shadow''<ref>[https://faraday.quest/static/box/ ''A Long, Dark Shadow'' by Allyn Walker], via faraday.quest.</ref> NOTE: change this to the Libgen; faraday.quest is down
<blockquote>There is no such thing as a “harmful paraphilia.” The thoughts themselves are never harmful to others. The potential actions being harmful doesn’t make the paraphilia itself harmful.</blockquote>
That claim has also been removed after criticism from the wider community.
Iris followed with a screenshot of one of their NNIA posts:
On its Twitter accounts<ref name="E">[http://web.archive.org/web/20220511194112/https://twitter.com/NewgonOrg/status/1524474615745105928 Tweet by NewgonOrg], via the Wayback Machine, 11 May 2022. NewgonOrg's bio is visible in the background.</ref><ref name="F">[http://web.archive.org/web/20221125122816/https://twitter.com/NewgonOrg2007 Twitter account NewgonOrg2007], via the Wayback Machine, 25 November 2022.</ref> and "Ethos of Newgon" page<ref name="C">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Ethos_of_Newgon Ethos of Newgon], via NewgonWiki.</ref>, Newgon has claimed to be "anti-offending" to mean being against contact when it breaks the law (although still pro-contact for when it is legal). However, "anti-offending" is typically used in contact discourse synonymously with "anti-contact."
<blockquote>“Pedophilic disorder” is arguably not a particularly useful diagnosis, even when eliminating distress caused purely by social stigma, and acts of offending.
=== False accusations ===
Newgon promotes far-fetched conspiracy theories about NNIA and MAP Wiki being secretly funded by antis<ref>[https://youjo.love/objects/cbd82da8-9f23-4dfd-ac4a-b4e2231c2aad Fediverse reply by @Strategist], via youjo.love, 10 May 2023.</ref><ref>[https://youjo.love/objects/8ab571f1-a684-44ae-b9cd-d31b784d64be Fediverse reply by @HinamizawaShokogun22], via youjo.love, 11 May 2023.</ref>. Neither NNIA nor MAP Wiki is funded by any antis.
Some people experience distress from their pedophilia only because pedophilic thoughts are a PTSD<ref>National Institute of Mental Health. (2019, May). <em>Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder</em>. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd]</ref> trigger. But then the problem isn’t the pedophilia, it’s the PTSD. You don’t say someone’s suffering from [random object] disorder if [random object] is a PTSD trigger. The PTSD needs to be treated, not the connection between pedophilia and triggers, because by only treating the latter you’re not actually treating the root cause, only separating it from a current other factor/trait.
<gallery>
File:Funding conspiracies.png|Newgon members promoting conspiracy theories
</gallery>
Some pedophiles (me, hello!) have ASPD<ref>Iris. (2022, Feb. 7). <em>ASPD Masterpost</em>. Anankastia. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://anankastia.dreamwidth.org/1027.html https://anankastia.dreamwidth.org/1027.html]</ref>, and thus experience violent urges + lack of impulse control when it comes to acting on those violent urges, and some of their violent urges manifest in the form of fantasizing about committing CSA. In treatment, we don’t try to cut the connection between our pedophilia and ASPD; we try to treat the ASPD as a whole.
Newgon falsely alleges that NNIA and MAP Wiki staff have been "posting fake comments in an attempt to discredit their opponents - for example, using another MAP's Fediverse server, maliciously claiming to be an 'anonymous' ex-member of Yesmap who has been party to glorification of sex with infants"<ref name="D">[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Template:NNMisinfo Template:NNMisinfo], via NewgonWiki.</ref>. There is no evidence whatsoever that any member of NNIA or MAP Wiki, much less "staff," has made such a comment, much less for "malicious" or slanderous reasons, and staff members as well as other members of MAP fediverse can confirm this. Indeed, there is currently no concrete information at all about who the asker might have been, apart from their own claims. Tellingly, Newgon claims there were "comments," in the plural, but does not cite any other examples of such "comments" apart from that one anonymous ask, nor does it cite any specific evidence to back up its claim.
Idk, I probably worded this very poorly, but this is an approximate reason for why I’m not going to claim pedophilic disorder as a label, because pedophilia is not inherently disordered nor is it causative of the listed related disordered factors (i.e. urges, & lack of control over those urges)<ref>FinR. (2018, Nov. 26). <em>Genderneutralnoun: Can I have a link to some proof of how MAPs who accept themselves and entertain their desires in fiction are less likely to offend than those who suppress them?... Below sources on the consequences of MAPs not accepting themselves (in case the very definition and criteria for pedophilic disorder are not enough), the consequences of not finding a support and empathic network, and</em>. FinR. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
[[File:Newgon infant CSA.png|thumb|Anonymous accusation against Newgon]]
I think the closest analogy is hypersexuality/sex addiction and why it was rejected as a diagnosis for the DSM-V<ref>Toussaint I., & Pitchot, W. (2013, May). Le désordre hypersexuel ne figurera pas dans le DSM V : analyse contextuelle [Hypersexual disorder will not be included in the DSM V : a contextual analysis]. <em>Rev Med Liege</em>, <em>68</em>(5-6), 348-53. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23888588/ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23888588]</ref>: for one, because sex [or sex-related behavior] isn’t inherently disordered nor more disordered than other [nonsexual] things [just because it is sexual]<ref>FinR. (2018, Jul. 1). <em>What she said was straight out of purity culture and sex-shaming rhetoric, nothing more and nothing less.</em> FinR. Retrieved May 11, 2022, from [https://fiction-is-not-reality.dreamwidth.org/11607.html#:~:text=Anything%20can https://fiction-is-not-reality.dreamwidth.org/11607.html]</ref>, nor sexuality/porn [inherently, directly] causative of sex addiction; trauma<ref>Fontanesi, L. (2021, Feb. 15). Hypersexuality and Trauma: a mediation and moderation model from psychopathology to problematic sexual behavior. <em>Journal of Affective Disorders</em>, <em>281</em>, 631-637. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165032720330330 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2020.11.100]</ref>[, religious guilt<ref>Grubbs, J. B. et al. (2016, Jun. 28). Internet Pornography Use, Perceived Addiction, and Religious/Spiritual Struggles. <em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em>, <em>46</em>(6), 1733-1745. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://sci-hub.se/10.1007/s10508-016-0772-9 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-016-0772-9]</ref>, and preexisting] predisposition for addiction<ref>O’Leary, D. (2020, Dec. 30). <em>5 Ways You Are Physiologically Predisposed for Addiction</em>. National Rehabs Directory. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://rehabs.com/blog/5-ways-you-can-be-physiologically-predisposed-for-addiction/ https://rehabs.com/blog/5-ways-you-can-be-physiologically-predisposed-for-addiction]</ref> are.</blockquote>
Furthermore, the ask in question<ref>[https://ask.freak.university/@wierstamann/a/110585620351581080 Ask sent to wierstamann], via Freak University Ask. Freak University is currently down, but the ask in question can still be viewed through the [https://web.archive.org/web/20230912040046/https://ask.freak.university/@wierstamann/a/110585620351581080 Wayback Machine] or [https://archive.is/wyTsE archive.is].</ref> was not posted using a fediverse server. It was sent through Freak University Ask, a platform for asking and answering questions which is not a "fediverse server" in any way. Although it shares the same domain and management as the Freak University Mastodon server, it is not actually a part of the server itself, nor is it using the same infrastructure, and vice versa<ref>[https://ask.freak.university Freak University Ask].</ref><ref>[https://freak.university Freak University].</ref>. In fact, when the post was first being discussed on the fediverse, the Newgon Strategist rushed to request that the Freak University administrator remove "the first sentence" of the ask, ignoring that this is technically impossible, at least without deleting the ask entirely. He falsely labeled the anonymous asker as "Lecter's friend," although Lecter did not even know who the asker was, much less have any likely personal history with them, nor did either of them claim to be "friends" with the other in the interaction. Strategist also claimed that he has "never felt the need to agitate for sexual contact with infants, nor has anybody on [his] server" (demonstrably false<ref name="M">[https://wierstamann.net/2023/06/25/ewgone-on-sex-with-babies/ Ewgone on sex with babies], via wierstamann.net, 25 June 2023.</ref>), complained of "defamation" and "damage," worried that the single-sentence anonymous statement might cause his server to be "seized," and stressed that he "[has] close relatives within that age range"<ref>[https://youjo.love/objects/1cbdc132-5da0-4ad8-86fc-2efbbb223318 Fediverse reply by @Strategist], via youjo.love, 25 June 2023.</ref>.
Iris then attached a screenshot of a Reddit thread where they had discussed the topic:
<gallery>
File:Strategist's request.png|Strategist trying to have "the whole idea" "disappeared"
</gallery>
Iris<ref>Iris. <em>Pedophilia is not a mental illness, as it does not inherently cause the individual distress.</em> [Comment on the online forum post <em>My opinions on the attempts on the internet to normalize pedophilia, zoophilia, and necrophilia.</em>]. Reddit. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalOpinions/comments/sjnl4i/my_opinions_on_the_attempts_on_the_internet_to/hy5r5e0/ https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalOpinions/comments/sjnl4i/my_opinions_on_the_attempts_on_the_internet_to/hy5r5e0]</ref>:
Tragically for Newgon, his plea has so far been completely ignored.
<blockquote>Pedophilia is not a mental illness, as it does not inherently cause the individual distress.</blockquote>
=== Enabling CSEM ===
In 2023, several Newgon members, including Strategist, were planning to create a new fediverse instance more in alignment with their ideals. When the pro-contact-run instance youjo.love was suspended, allegedly for hosting illegal content, Newgon members moved their plans forward, as they also wanted a replacement instance for posting on the fediverse when previously they had mainly been using youjo.love. According to their fediverse discussions, Strategist left the effort when it was decided that the server's name would begin with the word "childlove," which he did not want in the URL. The others launched childlove.space, an instance which openly hosted two Nazis on its very first days, permitting them to disseminate numerous instances of violently bigoted rhetoric and content<ref>Fediverse profiles @[email protected] and @[email protected].</ref>, and only took any action after a wave of criticisms from left-leaning pediverse members when a Nazi's behavior escalated into sufficiently extreme and "personal" harassment. Childlove.space also permitted users to post sexual photographs and videos of children. Multiple moderators participated in posting, liking, reblogging, or commenting on such posts<ref>[https://freak.university/@headmasters/111223914800748911 Fediverse post by @headmasters], via freak.university, 12 October 2023.</ref><ref>[https://cannibal.cafe/objects/e79b0ef8-1bd0-4501-9de2-3d76edcc90ef Fediverse reply by @lemondrow00], via cannibal.cafe, 12 October 2023.</ref> and refused to curtail the content as it popped up almost immediately. Dozens of such images were posted during the time childlove.space was online. After around four weeks, the childlove.space server was suspended. Shortly after, several of its admin team created childlove.su, intended to be a replacement from childlove.space. Users quickly began posting CSEM there too. Other Newgon members, including Strategist, created accounts on childlove.su<ref>Fediverse profile @[email protected].</ref>. A few days later, childlove.su was also suspended.
un-lovable<ref>[un-lovable]. <em>the mental illness form of pedophilia is called “pedophilia disorder” or PD. In my comment I used the term mental illness loosely, as it tends to be an effective way of communicating the unchosen and subconscious nature of the attractions.</em> [Comment on the online forum post <em>My opinions on the attempts on the internet to normalize pedophilia, zoophilia, and necrophilia.</em>]. Reddit. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalOpinions/comments/sjnl4i/comment/hy607oe/ https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalOpinions/comments/sjnl4i/comment/hy607oe]</ref>:
A subsection of Newgon's page "Pediverse," "Pediverse socials and our Official Guidance," contains<ref name="I" /> a note linking to a subsection of its "Ethos of Newgon" page on what an "Official Guidance" constitutes<ref>[https://www.newgon.net/wiki/Ethos_of_Newgon#Official_Guidance Ethos of Newgon: Official Guidance], via NewgonWiki.</ref>:
<blockquote>Yeah if you want to get technical, the mental illness form of pedophilia is called “pedophilia disorder” or PD.
<blockquote>
'''Official Guidance'''
In my comment I used the term mental illness loosely, as it tends to be an effective way of communicating the unchosen and subconscious nature of the attractions. Of course not all pedophiles agree with this usage, but I would at the very least argue that our attractions are not an optimal to find ourselves in. Given that we cannot fully express them and as such it often DOES cause us some degree of distress, I feel as though it is at the very least a dead end and unfortunate sexual orientation. I don’t personally have any qualms with using the term mental illness to describe it, though the dsm doesn’t classify it as such.</blockquote>
We occasionally publish guidance on important topics such as:
Iris<ref>Iris. [Comment on the online forum post <em>My opinions on the attempts on the internet to normalize pedophilia, zoophilia, and necrophilia.</em>]. Reddit. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalOpinions/comments/sjnl4i/comment/hycj8sn/ https://www.reddit.com/r/PoliticalOpinions/comments/sjnl4i/comment/hycj8sn]</ref>:
<blockquote><blockquote>an effective way of communicating the unchosen and subconscious nature of the attractions</blockquote><blockquote>Of course not all pedophiles agree with this usage,</blockquote>
These sections will always be described as 'official guidance' and are subject to group consultation - primarily within communities we support. Therefore, an official guidance section can be considered as '''a loosely stated organizational position''' on various topics, but not a central part of our platform as such.
Of course we don’t. The entire community of neurodivergent, &/or mentally ill pedophiles will eat you alive for this.<blockquote>but I would at the very least argue that our attractions are not an optimal to find ourselves in.</blockquote>Because we are oppressed, not by any inherent factor in them.<blockquote>Given that we cannot fully express them and as such it often DOES cause us some degree of distress, I feel as though it is at the very least a dead end and unfortunate sexual orientation.</blockquote>It is almost equally unfortunate to be allo<ref>Allosexual. (n.d.). In <em>LGBTQIA+ Wiki</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://lgbtqia.fandom.com/wiki/Allosexual https://lgbtqia.fandom.com/wiki/Allosexual]</ref><ref>Alloromantic. (n.d.). In <em>LGBTQIA+ Wiki</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://lgbtqia.fandom.com/wiki/Alloromantic https://lgbtqia.fandom.com/wiki/Alloromantic]</ref> then, because allos are often attracted to those who do not consent to them, and thus cannot fully express their attractions. But not every mildly unpleasant feeling constitutes a disorder.
</blockquote>
''(emphasis added)''
The aforementioned distress only comes from comorbidities, or societal stigma<ref>Lievesley, R. et al. (2020, Jan. 10). The Internalization of Social Stigma Among Minor-Attracted Persons: Implications for Treatment. <em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em>, <em>49</em>(4), 1291-1304. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from
"Pediverse socials and our Official Guidance" says<ref name="I" />,
[https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01569-x https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-019-01569-x]</ref>, not any inherent trait of the attraction itself. When the distress from not being able to engage in a relationship with the target of attraction becomes significant/severe as to be unmanageable, there is almost certainly a comorbidity (such as BPD or the like)<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNTLXmAX3qc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNTLXmAX3qc]</ref>.<blockquote>I don’t personally have any qualms with using the term mental illness to describe it, though the dsm doesn’t classify it as such.</blockquote>I do, as I am mentally ill with also some nondisordered neurodivergences and other traits, and I would greatly appreciate it if I could maintain accurate language to describe my separate experiences, thanks.
It’s unfortunate that we’re not particularly familiar nor especially not off-platform, because everyone who knows me knows that I go with a “fuck the DSM” approach when it comes to neurodivergency or mental health. I do not personally believe that “pedophilic disorder” exists as an independent phenomenon in which disorder is caused by pedophilia itself, rather than separate comorbidities which happen to interfere and which coexisting pedophilia alters the presentation thereof.</blockquote>
<blockquote>
MAPs have been proactive in setting up federated/decentralized communication platforms, because of '''well-founded fears centering on censorship and harassment, mental health and validity policing'''.
Iris further elaborated on their arguments in a blog post<ref>Iris. (2022, Feb. 7). <em>Defining divergence, disorder, and disability</em>. Anankastia. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://anankastia.dreamwidth.org/1872.html https://anankastia.dreamwidth.org/1872.html]</ref>.
Front-ends/user interfaces include Mastodon, and Pleroma, but the information being shared remains the same regardless of what server you are accessing it from, and what software is being used on the server.
<blockquote>According to the APA, a mental disorder is a “health condition involving significant changes in thinking, emotion and/or behavior, and distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities”<ref>Parekh, R. (2018, Aug.). <em>What is Mental Illness?</em> American Psychiatric Association. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/what-is-mental-illness]</ref>. The connotation of the term “disorder” is that disorders are bad for us, that curing disorders or treating their symptoms is necessary for us to improve in certain ways health-wise, etc. I use “disorder” as synonymous with “illness,” as the APA agrees, and I have yet to see a source or convincing argument as to why they should be distinguished; connotation-wise they seem to carry similar meanings too.
The better-known federated social (ActivityPub) instances are listed below underneath their '''advisory ratings'''. These ratings are to be read as a guide only, and the factors determining how an instance is rated by us, are in constant flux.
Other marginalized people (POC<ref>Mills, C. (2020, Nov. 23). When is sorrow sickness? A history of depression. <em>Nature</em>, <em>587</em>, 541-542. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-03286-1#:~:text=If%20life https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-03286-1]</ref>, gay/lesbian/bi/aspec people<ref>Meyer, I. H. (2003, Sep.). Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues and Research Evidence. (2003, Sep.). <em>Psychological Bulletin</em>, <em>129</em>(5), 674–697. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2072932/ https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674]</ref>, etc.) have argued against pathologizing our distress from society’s bigoted treatment of us as “disordered.” The connotation of the label “disorder” implies that we or something within us is the primary problem, rather than society. That to eliminate our distress activists should prioritize “treating” us rather than changing society to treat us better.
Are abuse victims “disordered” for experiencing distress from being abused? Similar to the previous paragraph’s example, I think not: claiming we are “disordered” implies it is optimal to try to minimize our currently experienced distress with medication or therapy, rather than simply removing our abusers.
Whereas if an abuse survivor has left their abusive situation, but still experiences PTSD (nightmares, flashbacks, now-excessive preemptive risk assessment, etc.), that distress is not going to go away just by environmental changes anymore. The symptoms themselves must be targeted for treatment.
This conversation becomes a bit more difficult when we consider that none of us, if we are marginalized, can truly (yet) escape the bigoted society, arguably the ultimate abuser. But like how abuse victims in ongoing abusive situations are capable of recognizing that we are experiencing PTSD which will continue even after we escape, so can marginalized people know that we are experiencing disorders because of society’s past treatment of us, which require treatment rather than merely social change to alleviate.
I think from this it is reasonable to conclude that a “disorder” is a condition (i.e. set of traits) which causes significantly severe and persistent (i.e. ongoing, not one-off) distress, the complete alleviation of which requires the removal of the condition’s traits, rather than merely accommodation which does not remove the traits themselves but rather makes it easier and less distressing to live with them by changing the way in which their environment interacts with them.
All such servers permit communication with one another (with a few exclusions such as NNIA's defederation of Youjo and Childlove), and prohibit CP sharing and other illegal activity.
Some of these servers host other platforms, such as decentralized video sharing (Peertube).
The problem with incorrect pathologization
'''Generally considered safe'''<br>
* '''Childlove.su - formerly Childlove.space (runs on Mangane)'''
…
</blockquote>
''(emphasis added)''
Telling those of us with nondisordered neurodivergences, disabilities, and other divergent/non-normative characteristics that we are actually disordered is a denial of our agency. You are like every gaslighting psychiatrist who tells us we aren’t distressed when we actually are<ref>Medical gaslighting. (n.d.). In <em>MEpedia</em>. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://me-pedia.org/wiki/Medical_gaslighting https://me-pedia.org/wiki/Medical_gaslighting]</ref>, except in reverse; you think you know better than us what we think and what we feel, as if we cannot know that for ourselves because we are too freaky, too insane<ref>Harris, L. (2020, May 12). <em>The “Anosognosia” Label is Psychiatric Gaslighting Masquerading as Science</em>. Rooted in Rights. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://rootedinrights.org/the-anosognosia-label-is-psychiatric-gaslighting-masquerading-as-science/ https://rootedinrights.org/the-anosognosia-label-is-psychiatric-gaslighting-masquerading-as-science]</ref>. You are speaking over us. You are implying that our feelings require “cures” rather than accommodation<ref>Hirschmann, N. J. & Smith, R. M. (2016). Rethinking “Cure” and “Accommodation”. In B. Arneil, & N. Hirschmann (Eds.), <em>Disability and Political Theory</em> (263-284). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://sci-hub.se/10.1017/9781316694053.013 https://doi.org/10.1017/9781316694053.013]</ref>.
Newgon's claim that all of the listed servers, including childlove.space and childlove.su, "prohibit CP sharing and other illegal activity," is blatantly false. Multiple pediverse admins and other individuals have testified that childlove.space and/or childlove.su contained unchecked illegal content, including media failing the Dost test<ref>[https://monk.ey.business/notice/AaheNeHAITzZGtalRg Fediverse post by @grumpy], via monk.ey.business, 12 October 2023.</ref><ref>[https://cannibal.cafe/objects/485f81c9-33d5-4a65-baa7-a1533a40cdd0 Fediverse reply by @lemondrow00], via cannibal.cafe, 12 October 2023.</ref><ref>[https://cannibal.cafe/objects/7a4cdf4f-c5c4-4782-bfac-65f903ff00e2 Fediverse reply by @cummies], via cannibal.cafe, 12 October 2023.</ref><ref>[https://mapsupport.de/@Mapadmin/111220955594082414 Fediverse post by @Mapadmin], via mapsupport.de, 12 October 2023.</ref><ref>[https://mapsupport.de/@Consuela/111224185169802038 Fediverse post by @Consuela], via mapsupport.de, 12 October 2023.</ref>. This destructive behavior on part of the childlove.space/childlove.su admin team and users, which has both sexually exploited children and potentially led unwelcome law enforcement attention onto pediverse users who were not engaged in illegal exploitative behavior, is whitewashed by Newgon, which calls them "safe" and borderline recommends people to join in, many wholly unaware of the dangerous environment they would be walking into.
Pathologization also subjects us to misdirected anti-mental-illness stigma. It makes it easier for the psych industry to research how to “cure” us<ref>Levine, B. (2018, Jun. 16). <em>Psychiatry’s Oppression of Young Anarchists — and the Underground Resistance</em>. Mad in America. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://www.madinamerica.com/2013/06/psychiatrys-oppression-of-young-anarchists-and-the-underground-resistance/ https://www.madinamerica.com/2013/06/psychiatrys-oppression-of-young-anarchists-and-the-underground-resistance]</ref>; it lends further legitimacy to attempts at conversion therapy<ref>Vider, S., & Byers, D. S. (2015, Feb. 12). <em>A Half-Century of Conflict Over Attempts to ’Cure’ Gay People</em>. TIME. Retrieved May 7, 2022, from [https://time.com/3705745/history-therapy-hadden/ https://time.com/3705745/history-therapy-hadden]</ref>.</blockquote>
<gallery>
File:Newgon on cl.s.png|thumb|Newgon on childlove.space/childlove.su
</gallery>
== References ==
== References ==
[[Category:Original pages]]
[[Category:Original pages]]
Revision as of 11:59, 5 May 2024
Newgon logo from 2007
Newgon is a pro-contact MAP organization that calls itself an information center for the MAP Movement. Its website is a MediaWiki-based site archiving talking points and arguments for pro-contact MAPs.
Newgon was co-founded in 2007 by the pro-contact MAP activists Daniel Lièvre and Jillium after Google started censorship of small blogging sites[1]. In 2014 the site was disabled, with the ISP requesting the administrator for contact. Soon, the site's domain expired and the site went fully offline.
In 2021 Newgon returned, relaunching by "previous associates of Newgon.com and its network of activists"[1]. In May 2022, an official Newgon Twitter account appeared[1].
Many Newgon activists have made social media sockpuppet accounts using various disingenuous tactics such as fabricating credentials or other significant information, targeted harassment, impersonating antis, impersonating anti-contact MAP activists (especially those who were visible opponents of Newgon) to attack or delegitimize them, spreading "ironic" bigoted rhetoric, arguing for stances they did not actually believe in, claiming certain opinions or events were far more common than they actually were, widely circulating dubious memes[2], lying, recycling pre-written lines[3] while passing them off as organic and spontaneous, and pretending to be engaged in entirely independent activism efforts rather than encouraged and backed by and working for an entire organization. Several made Twitter accounts posing as researchers of sexuality. These efforts were geared toward generating as many clicks and mainstream outrage pieces as possible, supposedly with the goal of gaining visibility and thus recognition for the pro-contact MAP movement[4]. Newgon members mainly targeted Twitter for its "visibility campaigns," but some also tried to do such activism (which Newgon believes constituted "tactical operations"[5]) on other sites[6].
The "Yesmap" Matrix server and its "Pro-c MAP Activist" ("PCMA") workgroup have been used to share choices of targets and coordinate such activity, along with distributing anonymous, cryptocurrency-bought Twitter accounts to members. The server is also used to coordinate attacks on and harassment campaigns of anti-contact MAPs on the fediverse. Newgon claims that "In 2023, PCMA and the Yesmap server, having achieved most of its publicity goals via the prior strategy, each moved independently towards a model of increasing visibility via community-building efforts such as expansion of the Fediverse"[5].
According to Newgon, "PCMA (and some of its predecessors) have been criticized, mainly by anarcho-communist MAPs, for tolerating lively debate (eventually this was moved to a separate space) and controversial opinions. Some members have also sought to mobilize chan culture"[5]. This article uses euphemistic terminology to relativize PCMA's common usage of bigotry, harassment, and alt-right tactics, and reasonable criticisms of it—throughout 2021 and 2022, Newgon and its associated projects did indeed begin to be heavily criticized by many leftist-aligned MAP activists, mainly anti-contacts but also some pro-contacts, for their persistently problematic behavior.
Art theft and content exploitation
Newgon is known for dubious behavior with regards to other people's art and content. Newgon prominently linked a blog post by the MAP Quinn in its article "Proship"[7], causing them to "keep getting unwanted traffic from it"[8]. In quote-posts and threads discussing this, Newgon seemed remarkably unfazed by the distress individuals were experiencing.
Newgon used the art of NNIA user Maki for its Twitter account NewgonOrg2007[9][10] without asking or even crediting him[11]. His art is now the full-screen background of yesmap.net, again without any consent or acknowledgment[12]. In its Memes and Graphics page, Newgon displays the image and simply labels it "Background/desktop"[2].
Discussion on Newgon's misuse of art/blog posts[13]
Newgon found stealing art
Yesmap.net welcome page
Political stances
Newgon is known for its extreme and often conspiratorial viewpoints, suggesting that anti-contact people, among others, are "sex fascists"[14][15][16][17][18], controlling the contact stances of major governments[19], and part of a "child abuse industry" or "CSA-industrial complex"[20][21][22][23].
Misogyny
Newgon resorts to "triggered feminist" memes to present anti-contacts as "Social Justice Warriors"/"SJWs"[24], promoting sexism[25] and body-shaming[26] to score points against imagined opponents. It devalues older or infertile women to present young girls as more desirable[27]. Two of its "Memes and Graphics" are tagged with "feminazi" or "feminazis"[2]. Newgon says that it is "open" to "worldviews such as Men's Rights" and "Inceldom," and that individuals "politically engaged" in the New Right and Men's Rights are permitted as members for its "Yesmap" Matrix server[28]. Newgon promotes the MRA blogger "Angry Harry"[29][30]. Newgon writes favorably on the incel movement and is dismissive of feminist critiques of toxic male entitlement[31].
Transphobia
Newgon promotes the transmisogynistic belief that the LGBT community forces cis gay youth to transition into girls[32]. Newgon uses the transmisogynistic phrasing "women and transwomen"[33].
Newgon referred to Allyn Walker as a "trans academic who was attacked for 'misappropriating queer experiences' by activists in his own University's trans umbrella organization," misgendering them with incorrect pronouns[34]. After receiving backlash, Newgon corrected the pronoun to "their"[35].
Newgon referred to the transfeminine activist ZeebDemon as "trans (female-identifying)" instead of simply "trans female"[36], implicitly delegitimizing trans female identity as mere subjective "identification" which can be challenged by outsiders with superior interpretations of a transfem's gender experience, rather than a statement of fact which she herself is the foremost expert on. (Newgon does not refer to cis women or girls as "female-identifying," just "female.") After receiving backlash, Newgon changed the section to say "trans-woman" instead[37].
Newgon refers to ZeebDemon as "they"[38], although her most recently archived Twitter[39] and Tumblr[40] bios did not state which pronouns she uses, and neither does her Freak.University profile[41]. Her most recent public statements about her pronouns, including her NNIA.space profile[42] and a past Twitter bio[43], say that she uses "she/her," with no mention of "they." Many transfem activists have discussed how referring to a transfem as "they" without explicitly knowing that she uses "they" pronouns is a form of transmisogynistic degendering, and that it is disrespectful, invalidating, and often a bigoted dogwhistle to not default to "she" for someone known to be transfem with no other information given. Although ZeebDemon has confirmed in a recent private communication that she now uses she/they pronouns interchangeably, Newgon could not have known this beforehand, and this concurred with a broader pattern of transphobic behavior and biases.
In its article "Transgender youth and attraction to minors," Newgon refers to transgender people as "trans-identified" people instead of just "trans"[44]. For two and a half months from 1:53, 26 October 2022[45] to 23:32, 10 January 2023[46], the article's section "Dissent among MAPs and Trans people" contained the (unsourced) sentence, "Some heterosexual male MAPs oppose medical transition on the basis that it 'mutilates' the bodies of girls, and should never be put ahead of other forms of less invasive and permanent bodily autonomy." Since 21:23, 26 October 2022[47], the section has also said,
Other MAPs have varying reservations about the philosophical compatibility of trans ideology as a whole, with liberation of boylove and minor attraction:
They may see trans ideology as an extension of the war on masculine eros/the appeal of boys to men. For a more general perspective on male extinction, see Andriette, 2002.
They may see gender-transitioning children, not as a prelude to increasing agency, but as part of the "bourgeois and desexualized" protectionist gaze of western orthodoxy, and thus entirely compatible with CSA norms.
These statements were all added by the Newgon Wiki account "The Admins"[48]. It could maybe, at a stretch, be argued that these were only presentations of other people's arguments which the writers did not at all endorse themselves. However, the tone of the presentations has noticeable positive slant. This is congruent with Newgon's known habit[49] of presenting bigotry or abuse apologia in a way clearly intended as appreciative and to influence readers to become more in favor of it while still maintaining barely enough plausible deniability to be able to deflect accusations and further interrogation into their views and motives.
Furthermore, after these statements were found and harshly criticized by several NNIA users for their transphobia and adultism, a different editor, "Loli," removed all mentions of heterosexuals and girls[45][46], stating that their change "modified towards a more neutral/objective viewpoint regarding MAP community"[48], belying the view that all discussion of bigotry by the wiki which does not entirely, explicitly state it is endorsing it is automatically neutral. They seemed to realize that the content of the article was especially indefensible even by their own standards, or at least by the standards of much of Newgon's support base. However, the parts about "mutilation," labeling transition "invasive," wanting to restrict bodily autonomy, and other "reservations" were left alone, not deleted[44].
The article's references for the latter (recommended for "perspective") include two BoyChat posts (by users "Sick Rose"[50] and "Errant"[51]) and one article by NAMBLA activist Bill Andriette[52], all three of which contain transphobic screeds. Both BoyChat posts are in fact replies to a post made by Newgon activist/editor JohnHolt himself, soliciting feedback on the article and asking for suggested sources[53]. The recommendation for Andriette's article, "Castrating the Church," originated from Sick Rose's reply post.
After reading these expressions of severe bigotry and oppressive sexual entitlement, JohnHolt simply replied "Thanks," expressed agreement with their views, and added them to the wiki, clearly viewing such statements as within the realm of the acceptable for Newgon[54]. They become examples for "MAP" views, with the relevant passage in the article implying a dubious, mapmisic automatic association between MAP liberation and not believing that child sexual abuse is a real, serious issue[44]. Confusingly, Sick Rose is used as one such example of a "MAP," although he does not identify as one and in fact strongly rejects the term as problematic[55].
The article as of October 26, 2022
The article as of December 7, 2023
Edits made since 12:03, 27 October 2022
JohnHolt's BoyChat thread
Sick Rose's reply
Errant's reply
JohnHolt thanking Errant and Sick Rose
Antisemitism
Newgon uses antisemitic caricatures[56] in attempt to prove its points. One of its "Memes and Graphics" is tagged with the antisemitic dogwhistle[57] "lizard people"[2].
In attempt to deflect from accusations of having a "New-Right/Alt-Lite Philosophy," Newgon says that it has metaphorically "'holocausted' antisemites and a whole variety of race-obsessed people, including some left-wing racists immediately," comparing violent mass genocide to (supposedly) banning someone from a chatroom[28].
In its "Archive" page of material it believes "has value," Newgon recommends the defunct Wordpress blog "Holocaust21" to read for the "Antifeminist perspective"[58]. The version of the blog saved on the Wayback Machine proclaims that it was about "resisting the coming 21st century holocaust – Men's Rights, Youth Rights, Sexual Rights" and "promoting the idea that teenagers are adults and feminist inspired anti-sex & anti-children's rights legislation cloaked in the warped rhetoric of 'paedophile hysteria', 'rape hysteria' & 'child protection' is leading to a holocaust of men, kids & ironically even women. Why are there so few other blogs like this? Because men are scared of being murdered by feminist political predators, that's why." One article visible on the page begins, "As the UK descends further into a level of insanity that even those who lived through a Nazi concentration camp could not have predicted, the feminists have committed their first direct political assassination. The current wave of sexual harassment allegations…" This page, promoted by Newgon, appropriates the history of the Holocaust and Nazi concentration camps in its crusade against "feminist bitches," "the feminist disease," and "feminist oppression" of "incels"[59].
Through the Newgon Wiki, the moderators of PCMA released an "official statement on the 2023 conflict between Israel and Palestine" packed with numerous antisemitic tropes, dogwhistles, factual inaccuracies, and problematic arguments, exploiting the current Palestinian genocide to spread antisemitism. Among these include the wildly revisionist claim that "It should be noted that all scholars of the Holocaust acknowledge that the decision to annihilate European Jews and the planning to carry it out was kept top secret by the Nazi state. No statement from Hitler, public or otherwise, exists where he admits his intention to exterminate the Jewish people entirely. At this late date, we can say with firm confidence that such a statement will never be found; one also struggles with great difficulty to find openly genocidal public statements from other top Nazis," and suddenly inserting the claim that the French president Emmanuel Macron is "a former Rothschild banker." They attempt to exceptionalize genocide perpetrated by Israelis as uniquely and incomparably horrific among all other genocides and Israeli settler-colonialism as uniquely protected and powerful out of a false, antisemitic belief that Jewishness would lend special, unmatchable, overwhelmingly stifling strength to a state because Jews are somehow disproportionately powerful in society and have control over Western governments[60].
One of the signatories of the statement, "AnonymousLover," has made it more clear in social media posts that he believes anti-Israeli speech is censored and Western nations enact repression in support of Israel's violence because "Jewish billionaires and voters across the West largely support Israel.… Israeli intelligence is effective because Israel has Jewish sympathizers throughout the world it can draw on" and that Israel's backers in the American establishment are "super rich Jews." He dismisses the notion of critiquing antisemitic conspiracy theories and argues that posts claiming "anti-zionism isn't antisemitism" are merely "cope posts" (i.e., false), but indicates that he considers himself anti-Zionist, which implies he is admitting that he is antisemitic[61].
Racism
Newgon refers to Indigenous peoples as "primitive"[62][63]. Newgon takes issue with the fact that "most online MAPs, particularly of the younger generation, strongly reject ethnonationalist ideology and wish not to be associated with it in any way, nor even to share a space with it," arguing that "ethnonationalist ideology" is insufficiently harmful to warrant such ostracism. Newgon claims that "non-violent" "white identitarianism" should be considered a valid "freedom of conscience"[64][65].
In a conversation in the PCMA server, multiple individuals, including one of its moderators ("HinamizawaShokogun22"), positively discussed a fediverse user with the username "AryanBoyLover1488." One user ("broken_lightbulb") said, "aryanboylover1488 sounds like a cool guy I wonder what their takes on race are." HinamizawaShokogun22 replied, "he did support israel," posted a screenshot of a report on one of AryanBoyLover1488's posts, and said, "this isn't what got him banned, it was hilarious af." The screenshot shows AryanBoyLover1488 saying,
"I stand with Israel because they are white. It's that simple. If I see a video of a white person being killed by a non-white person, my complete and full support is toward the white person. Leftists and libtards constantly call Israelis white colonizers and call for the end to Israel because of it."
The post contained a meme image with one individual accusing, "Y..y...you are anti white!" and another responding with a Hebrew approximation of the letters "TND"[66], a far-right antiblack acronym standing for "Total [n-slur] Death"[67].
In light of this, it appears additionally insidious and hypocritical that Newgon chose to host a reactionary statement feigning genuine concern for the plight of the Palestinian people, when elsewhere its members are perfectly willing and permitted to endorse violent racism against them as well as other non-white people.
The statement also encourages harmful and racist views toward the Palestinian struggle by denying the crucial role of Western geopolitical interests in motivating state support for the Israeli occupation, instead implying that Israel is only supported by the West because it is a Jewish state and that meaningful oppression is only enacted based on supposed Jewish interests. It claims that "Israel is not an asset to the US or the EU even from the perspective of their own strategic resource-based interests, but a massive strategic liability. And real discussion of that point is not only systemically kept out of the media, but gate-kept out of even pro-Palestinian leftist spaces by politically-correct leftists"[60]. AnonymousLover/GothboyAL makes this sentiment even more clear in a childlove.space post which completely denies Israel's importance to U.S. foreign policy and that "Israel is a White Supremacist State," calling these "politically correct room temperature leftist takes"[61]. These comments utilize the right-wing trope of complaining about leftist "political correctness," a line strongly associated in the current political climate with racists who believe that a "cancel culture" unfairly stifles racist speech and portray racial minorities as the ones who ultimately control society and discourse (or a Jewish cabal which promotes the interests of racial minorities). By trying to shift pro-Palestinian activism further to the right, trying to graft an ultimately white supremacist framework onto a struggle against white supremacist oppression, as individuals notorious for a history of other racist behavior themselves, the writers and signatories of the Newgon statement take efforts which would divert and weaken pro-Palestinian activism if they took hold, discouraging people from correctly identifying the causes of Palestinian oppression and thus effectively fighting against it. Their denial of the white supremacy in play in Israel's genocidal campaign and Western endorsement of it when white supremacy is in fact present amounts to apologia for white supremacy and Western imperialism.
The statement says, "It appears that the European elite cares more for the state of Israel than it does about Democracy, Free Speech, or even their own countries! Citizens and residents of Britain, France, and Germany appear to be free to denounce their countries as racist colonialist oppressors with no redeeming qualities that should be burned to the ground but when it comes to Israel? Now that's a different story!"[60], showing a dismissive attitude toward the struggles of other racialized peoples, portraying them as much more safe and privileged than they actually are, and downplaying the tremendous oppression which the European colonial powers have enacted and continue to enact upon them.
Further callous exploitation of Palestinian trauma can be observed as the statement veers from criticizing U.S. President Joe Biden's backing of the genocide to attacking the Democrats for introducing a bill "that ends the statute of limitations at the national scale for real and perceived victims of CSA." The statement subtly invalidates CSA survivors by claiming that accusers falsely "perceive" abuse where there was none. It tries to portray accused child sexual abusers as widely disadvantaged, threatened, and oppressed and assumes an automatic, necessary connection between child sexual abuse perpetrators (or individuals who would be accused of CSA) and "real or perceived MAPs" (and refuses to allow the possibility that it could be anyone else). The authors weaponize genuine Palestinian grievances to shoehorn in a reactionary, fearmongering agenda against an imagined threat of widespread false CSA accusations and unjust legal ruin, using language which promotes bigotry against both CSA survivors and MAPs. They clumsily attempt to appeal to an audience of "MAPs" (whom they seem to conflate with CSA perpetrators, aspiring perpetrators, apologists, and/or a group functionally indistinguishable from actual perpetrators) and portray themselves as heroic representatives of a heroic, homogenous demographic of "MAPs" because "That the decision to release a statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict met unanimous assent from our moderation team is a solid indication of where MAPs stand," with a contrived argument that their posturing about Israel is specifically relevant to MAP issues (which they conflate with preservation of CSA's hegemonic status, along with several things that are actually children's issues, although interpreted through a narrow and ultimately anti-child lens) because "MAPs and all caring people should note that Gaza's population is extremely young, with 44% of the population being 14 or below. The planned expulsion and even extermination of at least a million children should provoke outrage and hatred in every child lover.… MAPs should refuse to fight wars for a system that hates them, especially wars on behalf of Israel. MAPs should speak out against child killers, including the child killers of the Netanyahu government" and that "MAPs residing in Western countries" apparently will likely be "propagandized or drafted to fight in this escalating conflict" so they apparently needed to share a dissuading "statement"—all while doing nearly as much as they can to back policies which would actually harm children, and especially Palestinian children[60].
Fatphobia/body-shaming
Newgon also frequently uses fatphobia and other body-shaming[68]. Some examples also involve insulting an opponent's lifestyle as "unhealthy" and "unnatural"[69], or even using fascist terminology such as "degenerate," "mental defective," and "inferior physiognomy"[70].
Newgon claims that Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) is a "fanciful idea" "formerly or presently promoted to aid in categorizing 'ideal' victims and perpetrators"[71]. While labeling the (mapmisic) anti-CSA psychologist Joyanna Silberg as a "hostile" "pseudoscientist"[72] and "unsympathetic activist"[73] in its page of people who have "spread misinformation about pedophiles or promoted the ideology of Child Sexual Abuse in public," Newgon cites as its reasoning that she is an "advocate of Dissociative identity Disorder"[74]. Newgon recommends Bruce Rind's analysis that the Leadership Council, a (mapmisic) organization Silberg is a member of, provides inaccurate information about mental health issues because its members "advocate for the validity of repressed memories and multiple personality disorder (MPD)," labeling these as "alleged" problems[75]. Newgon states that it has a "skeptical treatment of DID, a highly controversial and lucrative diagnosis whose purported existence is likely a function of personality types and sociogenic factors, rather than the traumas said to underpin it"[76].
Strategist elaborating on his DID-denialist views[77]
Newgon uses the term "mentally retarded"[78] to refer to cognitively disabled people. Newgon hosts an image file "Retards.png," titled "Retarded or perturbed pedophile myth," and titled in the graphic itself as "The Retarded and Perturbed… 'Pedophile Degenerate.'" The text of the graphic seems to be trying to prove that pedophiles are more acceptable and less "degenerate" because they have relatively "normal" or greater intellectual capacities and executive functioning[79]. In a guide to "Social Media and Trolling," Newgon recommends that users insult an opponent as "mid-witted, with an IQ between 80 and 110" and "retarded"[80]. Newgon says of two antis, "Achievement 'retard' unlocked"[81].
Newgon insults its critics for supposedly having "OCD character traits"[28]. It attempts to denigrate and discredit MAP Wiki editor Iris for describing themself as mentally ill[76].
The Newgon activist JohnHolt insults "woke ASPD antisocial activists off Fedi"[82]. He tries to denigrate and discredit various left-leaning MAP activists for being so-called "psychopaths"[64][65] and attacks them for identifying as mentally ill[83].
One of the "Informational memes" on the "Memes and Graphics" page, titled "Minors Beware" and tagged with "antis," "warning," "minors," "consent," "advice," "youth," and "guide"[2], says,
MINORS - BEWARE THESE RED FLAGS! 🚩
Please memorize these red flags for sex-phobic, ageist hysteria. They will help you avoid mentally disturbed and manipulative personalities online."
🚩1: Those who refer to your or someone else's relationship as "grooming" or "harmful".
Their goal is to invalidate your freedom of choice and lived experiences. In other words, "gaslighting".
Newgon claims that "mentally disturbed" people are inherently to be avoided, conflating mental illness or pathology with being "manipulative" or problematic, and scapegoating them for perceived harms caused by anti-contact ideology along with various talking points popularly associated with anti-contact ideology.
It is also notable that Newgon claims any instance of someone else telling a minor a relationship is grooming or harmful is "mentally disturbed," "manipulative," engaging in "sex-phobic" "ageist hysteria," displaying a red flag, and dangerous, as if abusive, coerced, or forced relationships do not exist, as if no one at all would be helped instead of harmed by ever being told their or someone else's relationship is grooming or harmful. This implies that Newgon believes grooming and harmful relationships simply do not exist, and that any attempt at criticizing a relationship (even one clearly constraining a person's freedom of choice and causing suppression or erasure of their own subjectivity and lived experiences) would actually constitute an attack on freedom. It seems to be implying that victims of abusive relationships and gaslighting should simply be left to struggle on their own with indifferent bystanders instead of having access to help, any attempts at which would instead be an excuse to diagnose the critical individual as hysterical or insane.
The fifth "red flag" listed on the meme is "Those who group voluntary relationships and abusive relationships together": "They are not the same. If they attempted this with adult relationships, they would be accused of trivializing abuse." Yet, hypocritically, Newgon in fact does this itself in its first line, with no regard for any minors encountering the infographic who may be experiencing abusive relationships, who would suffer less harm if they were able to escape but might discard this option after being discouraged from heeding any critiques of their relationship.
According to a BoyChat post by JohnHolt, also the uploader of this meme on the wiki[84], he apparently believes this is a serious behavioral "guide for minors" providing meaningful and insightful advice[85].
Ageism
Newgon promotes anti-minor sentiments[86]. Newgon pejoratively refers to MAP Wiki editor Iris as "a mentally ill teenager" in an attempt to discredit them[87]. Newgon extends this line of criticism to young adults and younger activists in general as well[28][64][65]. (Newgon never highlights an adult's adulthood, or the fact of someone having an older age, when trying to portray an opponent in a negative light.)
JohnHolt insults "naive young idiots who [rail against the norm] on Fediverse" in a BoyChat post[88]:
Those of us who are accustomed to BC will know that you are most certainly coming from an egosyntonic place, but you might do well to recognize that impotently "railing against the norm" is one of the first stages of grievance/coping in egodystonia.
One thing I'll give you over the naive young idiots who do this on Fediverse, is that your analysis is couched in some experience and thus some historical literacy.
So we do not see, for instance the absurdity of a 19 year old MAP who rails against the demonization of paedophiles while praising victimologcal [sic] constructs such as satanic abuse and DID that contributed to that popular demonology.
But the similarity is eery.
Newgon trivializes abuse of children in school and the home, claiming that assaultive interactions "are never seen to cause mental torture, nor to have lifelong consequences." According to Newgon, the belief that "non-consensual play," "beatings," "bullying," "discipline," and other abuses of power over children will harm them is "totally unwarranted," "moral hysteria," and "reactionism." Newgon claims people should be happy about this and should "encourage" it by "erasing societal stigmas," but is vague about what exactly is being "stigmatized"[89].
Paramisia
Newgon is dismissive of paraphilic identity labels it perceives as "new," "fringe," or based on "social justice theory"[90].
Newgon invalidating zoosadism pride and a newly-coined chronophilia label
JohnHolt takes issue with NNIA for "celebrating" various paraphilic identities, including "erotophonophilia," "biastophilia," "biastomaps," "aptomaps" (MAPs attracted to the concept of "grooming"), and "zoosadism"[91].
JohnHolt invalidating paraphilias
After seeing JohnHolt's post, the NNIA user who had coined "aptophilia" and "aptomap" discussed Newgon's paramisia[92]. @[email protected], a fediverse account used by JohnHolt, quoted the thread with derogatory commentary[93]. Newgon also hosts an image file with a caption accusing fediverse users who discuss aptophilia positively of being "disruptors"[94][95].
on aptophilia
Newgon members misrepresenting aptophilia
Newgon commentary on aptophilia
Newgon attempts to denigrate and discredit MAP Wiki editor Iris for being a "self-describing biastophile (rape fetishist), and sadist - including in relation to animals"[76]. Newgon continues to promote conspiratorial "suspicion" about the coining of and creation of a flag for aptophilia, as well as the zoosadist identity[87]. Newgon claims that rape fetishist or biastophilic MAPs are even more problematic than Nazis/fascist MAPs[64][65].
In the "Debate Guide on Newgon's History," JohnHolt claims that boylovers "are not persecuted as a group" and "are rarely persecuted as individuals," and is dismissive of "online groups of people with shared trauma" from mapmisic abuse who believe this statement does not reflect reality. To elaborate on this, the article references[28] a BoyChat post titled "BL 'persecution' clown complex" where JohnHolt says that "Boy Lovers are not being 'persecuted', and never have been. If you believe this shit, calm down, and realize that you are part of a culture war and not a real war." He claims antis "want [boylovers] to survive and prosper" and that boylovers "will probably go through life with nothing worse than a lonely boner." He accuses boylovers who reject "working with people they hate," "don't understand" that positive change "will necessarily be gradual," and do not "support gradualist initiatives" of "refusing to reconcile radical philosophy with moderate demands" and "not behaving rationally"[96]. Newgon's "Ethos" page also describes its organizational approach as "radical philosophy, moderate demands"[33].
Disinformation campaigns
Exaggerating own importance
Newgon has recently attempted to join the modern MAP community and MAP activism. In this, they made false claims about the MAP community and their own role in its history.
We have introduced new writers to NewgonWiki – founded in 2007 – the birthplace of the modern MAP Movement
In 2009 Newgon attempted to hold a contest for a map flag. The contest received several entries, but never reached the voting stage. None of the flags presented for the contest were used till 2021, when Newgon reemerged from the hiatus. On their wiki they made a claim that one of their entries was the original concept the MAP flag was based on and referred to the latter as a "contrast version"[99]. After questions and criticism, they reinforced their statement:
Initial tests on the "relative luminance" difference between the two outside blue bands in the 2018 and 2009 flags, reveal those differences to be almost identical (within 0.5-1%) suggesting that the former could be a very slightly darkened and tinted adaptation of the latter, with respect to the blue portion of the graphic.
- The article MAP Flag on NewgonWiki as of 15 Dec 2022[100]
The linkage to the 2018 NOMAP Flag is contested by Map-Wiki, however the rationale given for our 2009 design is eerily similar to the 2018 NOMAP Flag. To say that the probability of the concept being copied/adapted is around 80% would probably be an understatement, but ultimately, we will never know if the flag was copied.
- The article Debate Guide: Newgon's History on NewgonWiki as of 1 Feb 2023[101]
Currently these phrases, as well as the word "version", are removed from NewgonWiki, and the edit history of these two articles is erased (the MAP Flag article in particular has a note that "older edits on this article are being used to make false claims offsite"[102]).
Simultaneously with implying plagiarism, Newgon developed a merged edit of their flag and the MAP flag. Initially titled "yesmap" as a pun on the NOMAP identity[103], it was renamed to "united map flag" around May 2022[104].
The 2021 "yesmap"/"united" flag
Eventually a separate, exclusively pro c, flag was made for the "yesmap" label.
A 2022 "yesmap" flag
Newgon continued promoting their flag under the "united" brand till August 2023, when it was renamed to "2021 version" with a note denying its previous name.
This screenshot was taken before the edit history was deleted.
A new flag edit, titled "MAP union", was then posted to NewgonWiki[105].
Misleading terminology
Other Newgon initiatives include trying to rename "pro-contact" to "pro-choice," possibly as an attempt to use the positive connotations of the latter.
Pro-contact (or simply "pro-c") is a term used to describe a person - often an MAP or ally, as favoring the permittance of minor-adult physical/sexual relations - at least hypothetically.
- "Pro-c" on NewgonWiki as of 27 September 2021[106]
Pro-c, (pro-consent/choice or contact) is a term used to describe a person - often an MAP or ally, as favoring the permittance of minor-adult physical/sexual relations - at least hypothetically.
This text by JohnHolt refers to anti-contact MAPs as "anti-choice"[108].
JohnHolt's text
On its Twitter accounts NewgonOrg[98] and NewgonOrg2007[10], Newgon claimed to be "pro-choice" in lieu of labeling itself as "pro-contact."
On the same page with responses to accusations Newgon has claimed: "'Pro choice' (which some of us do use) was an initiative of Allyn Walker, and possibly even the MAPs they were referring to in their book"[109]. The book is unambiguously pointing towards MAPs as the source of this term.
When I asked them about this label during interviews, those who were referred to as pro-contact by anticontact MAPs pushed back against being labeled as such, preferring the term pro-choice.
- Allyn Walker, A Long, Dark Shadow[110] NOTE: change this to the Libgen; faraday.quest is down
That claim has also been removed after criticism from the wider community.
On its Twitter accounts[98][10] and "Ethos of Newgon" page[33], Newgon has claimed to be "anti-offending" to mean being against contact when it breaks the law (although still pro-contact for when it is legal). However, "anti-offending" is typically used in contact discourse synonymously with "anti-contact."
False accusations
Newgon promotes far-fetched conspiracy theories about NNIA and MAP Wiki being secretly funded by antis[111][112]. Neither NNIA nor MAP Wiki is funded by any antis.
Newgon members promoting conspiracy theories
Newgon falsely alleges that NNIA and MAP Wiki staff have been "posting fake comments in an attempt to discredit their opponents - for example, using another MAP's Fediverse server, maliciously claiming to be an 'anonymous' ex-member of Yesmap who has been party to glorification of sex with infants"[76]. There is no evidence whatsoever that any member of NNIA or MAP Wiki, much less "staff," has made such a comment, much less for "malicious" or slanderous reasons, and staff members as well as other members of MAP fediverse can confirm this. Indeed, there is currently no concrete information at all about who the asker might have been, apart from their own claims. Tellingly, Newgon claims there were "comments," in the plural, but does not cite any other examples of such "comments" apart from that one anonymous ask, nor does it cite any specific evidence to back up its claim.
Anonymous accusation against Newgon
Furthermore, the ask in question[113] was not posted using a fediverse server. It was sent through Freak University Ask, a platform for asking and answering questions which is not a "fediverse server" in any way. Although it shares the same domain and management as the Freak University Mastodon server, it is not actually a part of the server itself, nor is it using the same infrastructure, and vice versa[114][115]. In fact, when the post was first being discussed on the fediverse, the Newgon Strategist rushed to request that the Freak University administrator remove "the first sentence" of the ask, ignoring that this is technically impossible, at least without deleting the ask entirely. He falsely labeled the anonymous asker as "Lecter's friend," although Lecter did not even know who the asker was, much less have any likely personal history with them, nor did either of them claim to be "friends" with the other in the interaction. Strategist also claimed that he has "never felt the need to agitate for sexual contact with infants, nor has anybody on [his] server" (demonstrably false[49]), complained of "defamation" and "damage," worried that the single-sentence anonymous statement might cause his server to be "seized," and stressed that he "[has] close relatives within that age range"[116].
Strategist trying to have "the whole idea" "disappeared"
Tragically for Newgon, his plea has so far been completely ignored.
Enabling CSEM
In 2023, several Newgon members, including Strategist, were planning to create a new fediverse instance more in alignment with their ideals. When the pro-contact-run instance youjo.love was suspended, allegedly for hosting illegal content, Newgon members moved their plans forward, as they also wanted a replacement instance for posting on the fediverse when previously they had mainly been using youjo.love. According to their fediverse discussions, Strategist left the effort when it was decided that the server's name would begin with the word "childlove," which he did not want in the URL. The others launched childlove.space, an instance which openly hosted two Nazis on its very first days, permitting them to disseminate numerous instances of violently bigoted rhetoric and content[117], and only took any action after a wave of criticisms from left-leaning pediverse members when a Nazi's behavior escalated into sufficiently extreme and "personal" harassment. Childlove.space also permitted users to post sexual photographs and videos of children. Multiple moderators participated in posting, liking, reblogging, or commenting on such posts[118][119] and refused to curtail the content as it popped up almost immediately. Dozens of such images were posted during the time childlove.space was online. After around four weeks, the childlove.space server was suspended. Shortly after, several of its admin team created childlove.su, intended to be a replacement from childlove.space. Users quickly began posting CSEM there too. Other Newgon members, including Strategist, created accounts on childlove.su[120]. A few days later, childlove.su was also suspended.
A subsection of Newgon's page "Pediverse," "Pediverse socials and our Official Guidance," contains[87] a note linking to a subsection of its "Ethos of Newgon" page on what an "Official Guidance" constitutes[121]:
Official Guidance
We occasionally publish guidance on important topics such as:
Paraphilia
Coming out
Communicating with 'minors' Fediverse servers an[sic]their safety
These sections will always be described as 'official guidance' and are subject to group consultation - primarily within communities we support. Therefore, an official guidance section can be considered as a loosely stated organizational position on various topics, but not a central part of our platform as such.
(emphasis added)
"Pediverse socials and our Official Guidance" says[87],
MAPs have been proactive in setting up federated/decentralized communication platforms, because of well-founded fears centering on censorship and harassment, mental health and validity policing.
Front-ends/user interfaces include Mastodon, and Pleroma, but the information being shared remains the same regardless of what server you are accessing it from, and what software is being used on the server.
The better-known federated social (ActivityPub) instances are listed below underneath their advisory ratings. These ratings are to be read as a guide only, and the factors determining how an instance is rated by us, are in constant flux.
All such servers permit communication with one another (with a few exclusions such as NNIA's defederation of Youjo and Childlove), and prohibit CP sharing and other illegal activity.
Some of these servers host other platforms, such as decentralized video sharing (Peertube).
Generally considered safe
Childlove.su - formerly Childlove.space (runs on Mangane)
…
(emphasis added)
Newgon's claim that all of the listed servers, including childlove.space and childlove.su, "prohibit CP sharing and other illegal activity," is blatantly false. Multiple pediverse admins and other individuals have testified that childlove.space and/or childlove.su contained unchecked illegal content, including media failing the Dost test[122][123][124][125][126]. This destructive behavior on part of the childlove.space/childlove.su admin team and users, which has both sexually exploited children and potentially led unwelcome law enforcement attention onto pediverse users who were not engaged in illegal exploitative behavior, is whitewashed by Newgon, which calls them "safe" and borderline recommends people to join in, many wholly unaware of the dangerous environment they would be walking into.