A pedophile can be male or female. Pedophiles are not extremely common, although they have existed for centuries. It is well-known that several famous persons were pedophiles. For example, the philosopher Plato, is thought to have been one. A pedophile can literally be just about anyone you know. Because of the social stigma attached to adult-child sex, most all pedophiles hide what they are from the world-and with good reason, since they face imprisonment for their views. Currently, pedophiles do not even remotely enjoy the same kinds of legal protection that other scapegoated groups (i.e. jews, gays, blacks, etc.) enjoy. Pedophiles often have tough and unhappy lives, since they are not permitted to express who they are. You may be one if reading this page, or you may be one of the legions of "lynch-mob" crusaders who aim to stifle 1st amendment free speech rights. Realize that pedophiles are not going away! A person cannot change his/her orientation any more than a dalmation can avoid spots. Despite eons of attempts to "cure" pedophilia, no such remedy has yet been found. A pedophile can be your grandfather, your mother, sister, brother or father. Or perhaps your best friend. Maybe he or she is the best friend of your own child or some child you know. Above all, pedophiles love and respect children and care about their wants, needs, desires and opinions. Pedophiles listen to children, they hear their voices and like to spend time with them and take care of them. Pedophiles are not children themselves, a common media myth. Pedophiles are often incredibly smart and intelligent by nature. Rarely are they incompetent or demented. They simply prefer children above all for relationships and for sexual relief. True pedophiles are non-abusive, good members of society, often with impeccable morals. They only want to be accepted for what they are-lovers of children and advocates for the rights of kids not to be abused by misguided adults.