I’m not trying to witch hunt on anyone nor will I use this to inform witch-hunts in the future, it’s just something I am wondering about.
Also forgive the use of “ephebophile,” I’m not using it in an apologist sense but because - when formulating my question - I was more thinking about people attracted to teenagers.
In my experience, yes… But I’ve only ever known one such person. He volunteered as a group leader in a scouting club I also volunteerd at. He had been with that group since his childhood. So he was never vetted or anything. Only after years, he started showing signs that were not ok. He had started a too close relationshio with one of the kids. We’re sure nothing sexual had happened, so thats a blessing, but he did start a relationship with one of the kids.
I’m not sure what exactly happened. It’s been more than a decade. But it was bad enough that the group had to solicit external advice.
I did know that person outside of scouting a bit and he did hang out mostly whith people a decade his junior.
Wow what a stupid reason to not vet/background check someone? That’s actually a scenario I’ve wondered about before but I think all the places where I live aren’t making that mistake (hopefully)
I don’t think it would’ce mattered. He never did anything before that would make him not pass any vetting. My take on this is that he just had mental problems (liking young boys) and his exposure to young boys made him snap eventually.
The whole situarion took place in a span of a 3 to 6 months, if I remmeber correctly. By the time we started noticing some weird stuff, it took maybe two weeks before the first conversation with that guy. A warning was given. Advice was solicited. The guy was fired. Parents were notified. And the guy was put on a blacklist.
It was all handled as well as any amateur group could’ve handled it. It could’ve been better,but that’s hindsight.