Permissive society
Sir: It is time John Torode (Letters, 19 February) moved from the Guardian where he has never been at home to the Telegraph where he belongs. The former is a mental resting place for those who deal with social conundra rationally; the latter is for those who specialise in the reaction, from the bilious gut. There is absolutely no reason why paedophiles shouldn't organise themselves into a self-interest group just like homosexuals, journalists or railway train enthusiasts.
Undeniably, children's sexuality exists and undeniably the age of consent is too high. It is not a question of offering a Lord Longford-like dividing line below which one thinks sex with children is wrong. It is a matter of debating the issue freely. If John Torode had done his job properly he would have encouraged debate rather than blasted the subject with his own prejudices and insecurities.
However, there is still room for complacency. The permissive society now rules —not in terms of changed behaviour, but in our extensive freedom to discuss all the loves that dared not speak their names before. There's far less guilt in today's world about going to bed with your lover and cohabiting even if there's been no actual increase in the amount of such activity going on. Propagators of renewed guilt (like Kenny and Torode) are fighting a tide that's all one way. Short of total dictatorship over all informational resources for a century, no one is going to re-enslave women or re-mystify sex.
Phillip Hodson Forum, 2 Bamber Road, London W14
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