“I disagree. Don’t adults who are attracted to adults have attractions to coworkers they can’t have never do anything untoward”
I think there’s a big difference, here. I don’t exactly hide that I’m straight. Hell, my wife works at the same company.
It’s not like I’m pretending to be gay so that I can hang out next to female coworkers.
The guy hiring me probably can figure my sexual proclivities.
I’m QUITE sure that whoever hired you does not know you’re MAP.
"If the pedophile is not inclined to act on their attractions, is able to focus on their job in a professional manner, has appropriate positive feelings for children, wants them nurtured and protected and has strong empathy for them and never does anything inappropriate, why would you characterize that as “sailing into the siren song”?”
Because you need to hide it.
You acknowledge that you need to hide it.
Nd you hide it SO THAT you can work next to kids.
So, even if you would never touch a kid, the risk that you might is too great for you, and you alone, to make that decision. Other people are responsible for that child’s safety.
“Would you describe it the same way if a straight man worked in an office with women coworkers that he could not have without violating extreme moral convention, i.e. rape?”
No. Again, they’re aware or should be aware or it could be assumed that by simple observation they could determine that I’m straight, so they won’t change their shirt or adjust their nylons where I might see, like they might with a gay man or another woman.
“Most men are sometimes attracted to mostly developed or developed teens. By your logic, shouldn’t men be precluded from teaching high school students?”
Men and women teachers HAVE been prosecuted for having inappropriate sex with their students. This is not an example that does you any good, bubbles.
But still, their sexuality is not typically hidden from those around them. The principal may take steps to prevent a teacher from being alone or too close to a student.
“If you trust these people to teach your teenagers”
I actually don’t. Not completely. This is why there are background checks before a teacher is allowed in a classroom. And they get regular briefings/training about the consequences of inappropriate sex. And the admnistration is aware of the possibility.
Yours is not as aware as they should be.
"why would you have greater concern about someone attracted to younger children who would never pursue a child, keeps the attractions to himself and performs his job professionally?”
Lying to your superiors is NOT professional.
Not telling the administration that you have these proclivities is NOT performing your job.
“You are applying a double-standard”
No, you are. My sexuality is out in the open. Yours is not.
You think we should concentrate on something OTHER than the big red flag of your sexuality, while you go to some lengths IN ORDER OT HIDE your sexuality.
"based on who people are attracted to rather than rationally evaluating actual risk”
No, this is perfectly rational. You MIGHT go 40 years without touching a kid. But you MIGHT. And if you did, ever, touch a kid, the first thing the parents will ask is ‘Were you aware that he was a MAP?’ And if the answer is yes, they’ll ask, ‘Then why did you put my child at risk?’ We cannot answer, ‘but he PROMISED he’d never touch a kid…’ or ‘Well, he never touched any of the OTHER kids…’
Most rules are written in blood. OSHA has a rule that prohibits storing toxic waste in a berthing area. This means someone has found it convenient to store toxic waste in a berthing area. Which is still okay, or would be, as long as containment is NEVER EVER EVER NEVER breached.
But then, we’re one mistake away from severe consequences.
So, OSHA takes steps, or has the company take steps, to reduce the risk. And stores containers that shouldn’t leak anyway someplace safer.
Letting you work with kids is not the most safe option.