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'''Boylove''' has it origins in [[Boylove in antiquity|antiquity]] and is the term that has been chosen by [[boylover]]s themselves to describe the strong feelings of affection and attraction (usually including a sexual component) that many adults (especially males) feel towards [[boy]]s.
[[File:BLogo 930x818.png|thumb|200px|[[BLogo]]: The modern symbol of boylove.]]


Until modern times, boylove was not usually criminalized in most cultures, especially outside of the [[axis of evil]] countries. Boylove was usually accepted as a somewhat unusual, though harmless, form of emotional and sexual interaction between men and boys. Boys were seen as often actively seeking out the attention of men for the emotional satisfactions that this provided to the boys (and often the associated economic benefits, as well) in order for the boys to better their own lives, which included the boylover providing a source of relief from sexual tensions which boys were denied other outlets to <ref> See Parker Rossman's book, and his [[The Pederast (magazine article)]].</ref> Until modern times, boys were usually granted sexual [[agency]].
'''Boylove''', a concept whose origin can be traced back to [[Boylove in antiquity|Classical antiquity]], with cultural parallels being found across various times and places, is the word chosen by [[boylover]]s themselves to describe the strong feelings of attraction and affection that certain adults feel towards [[boy]]s. It is semantically equivalent to the term "[[pederasty]]", which is itself derived from the combination of the Greek words ''pais'' ("boy") and ''erastēs'' ("lover"; cf. ''eros''). In ancient Greek [[Homoerotic (dictionary)|homoerotic]] poetry, the noun ''paiderastēs'' and the verb ''paiderastein'' were replaced by ''paidophilēs'' and ''paidophilein'' (synonyms from which the term "[[pedophilia]]" originates), in order to fit the elegiac metre favored for the genre.<ref>K. J. Dover, ''Greek Homosexuality''; Harvard University Press, 1989; p. 50.</ref> The word "boylove" was adopted by the homonymous community because it could be applied to both pedophiles and [[Ephebophilia|ephebophiles]], as well as to avoid the negative connotations of the modern clinical term "pedophilia", and to more accurately define the exclusive focus of the attraction: male children and adolescents.  


It has been suggested that the Western (as well as Near Eastern and Far Easterns) origins of "boylove" may have been Indo-European tribal customs.<ref>http://www.williamapercy.com/wiki/images/Greek1indo.rtf "Indo-European Pederasty - Williamapercy.com"</ref>
Boylovers commonly assert that boylove is a natural, non-pathological phenomenon that has existed throughout human history, fundamentally analogous to currently accepted sexual orientations, a perspective grounded on the documented existence of customs of age-structured sexuality in different cultures and time periods.  


"Boylove" supplants the pejorative term "[[pedophilia]]" as well as includes the concepts of "[[hebephilia]]"/[[pederasty]]. The term dissociates itself from the negative connotations of the modern-day clinical term "pedophilia," and more accurately defines the exclusive focus of the attraction, which is to male children and adolescents.  
While boylove includes feelings of sexual attraction, it does not in itself require, nor imply, sexual activity with boys. Boylove can be completely platonic, since the main concern of most self-identifying boylovers is providing friendship and guidance.  


There has been a fierce debate (a "cultural war") between [[antisexuals]] (including [[homophobes]]) and sexual liberals regarding the possible (actually, the ''proven'') benefits and the potential (in fact, mostly disproved) drawbacks of boylove to boys in modern times.
That being said, there is still ongoing debate on the nature of boylove. There are some members of the community who believe that boylove is simply a noun for adults who are emotionally and physically attracted to boys, and that there are no particular guidelines or requirements to being a boylover besides having said attraction and an aversion to hurting boys. Others believe that boylove, in addition to the attraction, denotes a set of beliefs and values related to the treatment of boys, and that one must adhere to these expectations to be considered a boylover.<ref>[[Philosophy of responsible boylove|The Philosophy of Responsible Boylove]]</ref> These values may include ideas such as that boylovers should never expose boys to alcohol and drugs, that boylovers should never initiate sexual activities with boys, or even that boylovers should refrain from sex with boys in any case, due to the risks involved for both parties in contemporary social environments. Universally accepted in the community, however, is the principle that boylovers, by definition, respect boys and do not hurt them. Therefore, the term boylove does not refer to [[child abuse]].


Boylovers (along with many other serious researchers in the field of sexology) commonly assert that boylove is a natural phenomenon which has existed throughout all of human history, and is similar in nature to other sexual orientations.  <ref>Seto recently wrote about pedophilia as an orientation. The complete reference is necessary here. The DSM once defined pedophilia as a sexual orientation, too, but quickly backtracked when attacked by radical third-wave feminists. Reference needed here to the controversy. </ref> Many other serious researchers have agreed as well.<ref>Could they ALL have been WRONG? (2005) David L. Riegel, SafeHaven Foundation Press: Philadelphia, ISBN 0-9676997-2-X</ref> While boylove usually includes feelings of physical/sexual attraction to boys, many [[virped]] boylovers claim that boylove itself may not require, or even imply, sexual activity with boys.  Boylove can be, to some, thought of as purely platonic, as the main concern of many or most boylovers includes providing love and guidance to boys{{cite}}, though some have claimed that ''without'' the sexual element, "boylove" would simply be a description of the normal protective feelings which male adults usually feel towards younger prepubescent and post-pubescent males.
== Terms for boylove in other languages ==


There are some who assert that boylove is simply a descriptive term for adults who are emotionally and physically attracted to boys, and that there should be no particular guidelines or requirements necessary for classifying a person as a boylover, aside from a person feeling a strong physical and emotional attraction to (and usually a very strong aversion to hurting) boys.
Others believe boylove, in addition to the physical attraction, should include a set of ethical beliefs and values related to the treatment of boys, and that one must adhere to these expectations to be considered a "proper" boylover.<ref>[[Philosophy of responsible boylove|The Philosophy of Responsible Boylove]]</ref>
These proposed ethical values may include a number of prescriptions, such as boylovers never exposing boys to alcohol or drugs, boylovers never initiating sexual activities with boys, and even that boylovers should always refrain from sexual contact with boys due to the potential legal risks (especially in Western countries) to the boylover, and the (alleged, though mostly disproved) <ref>Rind, et al.</ref> "psychological harms" which the boy is (mistakenly) said to usually be subject to.
Generally accepted, however, is the idea that boylovers generally are highly respectful towards boys, are kind to boys, and seek to avoid harming boys.<ref>Lautman and Sandfort references necessary here</ref> Therefore it is a very serious error to assert that boylove is simply another form of [[child abuse]].
== Foreign-language terms for "boylove ==
*(more to be added)
* Albanian: Ashik
* '''Japanese''': ''Shounen'ai'' (少年愛)
* '''Japanese''': ''Shounen'ai'' (少年愛)
==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
==See also==
==See also==
*[[Medicalization]]
*[[Boylover]]
*[[Boylover]]
*[[Greek love]]
*[[Greek love]]
*[[Pederasty]]
*[[Pederasty]]
*[[High Priest of Boylove]]
*[[A Problem in Greek Ethics (book)]] by Addington Symonds
*[[A Problem in Modern Ethics (book)]] by Addington Symonds


== External links ==
== External links ==
*[http://www.shfri.net/shfp/wrong/wrong.html Could they ALL have been WRONG? (2005) David L. Riegel, SafeHaven Foundation Press: Philadelphia, ISBN 0-9676997-2-X (Download here.)]
* [[Wikipedia: Pederasty in the modern world]]
* [[Wikipedia: Pederasty in the modern world]]
* [http://www.gay-news.com/article04.php?sid=114 Pedophilia or boy love] - boylove as seen by a gay columnist
* [http://www.gay-news.com/article04.php?sid=114 Pedophilia or boy love] - boylove as seen by a gay columnist
*[http://www.williamapercy.com/wiki/images/Greek1indo.rtf Indo-European Pederasty - Williamapercy.com]
:OLD LINK - SEEMS NOT TO FUNCTION (THE '''''HYPOCRITES''''' AT ARCHIVE.ORG SEEM TO HAVE DISABLED THE PAGE):
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080609054534/http://www.liberatedfromabuse.com/boylove.html Boylove: semantically correct?] (defunct link)--see archived version here [http://archive.is/UCIdl Boylove: semantically correct?]]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080609054534/http://www.liberatedfromabuse.com/boylove.html Boylove: semantically correct?] - boylove as seen by a victim of child abuse
:NEW LINK, TO ANOTHER ARCHIVED VERSION (PRESS "CONTROL + A" TO HIGHLIGHT THE TEXT FOR EASY READING:
*http://archive.is/UCIdl


[[de:Boylove]]
[[de:Boylove]]
[[fr:Boylove]]
[[fr:Boylove]]
[[Category:Boylove]]
[[Category:Boylove]]
{{Navbox Pederasty}}

Revision as of 14:12, 12 April 2021

BLogo: The modern symbol of boylove.

Boylove, a concept whose origin can be traced back to Classical antiquity, with cultural parallels being found across various times and places, is the word chosen by boylovers themselves to describe the strong feelings of attraction and affection that certain adults feel towards boys. It is semantically equivalent to the term "pederasty", which is itself derived from the combination of the Greek words pais ("boy") and erastēs ("lover"; cf. eros). In ancient Greek homoerotic poetry, the noun paiderastēs and the verb paiderastein were replaced by paidophilēs and paidophilein (synonyms from which the term "pedophilia" originates), in order to fit the elegiac metre favored for the genre.[1] The word "boylove" was adopted by the homonymous community because it could be applied to both pedophiles and ephebophiles, as well as to avoid the negative connotations of the modern clinical term "pedophilia", and to more accurately define the exclusive focus of the attraction: male children and adolescents.

Boylovers commonly assert that boylove is a natural, non-pathological phenomenon that has existed throughout human history, fundamentally analogous to currently accepted sexual orientations, a perspective grounded on the documented existence of customs of age-structured sexuality in different cultures and time periods.

While boylove includes feelings of sexual attraction, it does not in itself require, nor imply, sexual activity with boys. Boylove can be completely platonic, since the main concern of most self-identifying boylovers is providing friendship and guidance.

That being said, there is still ongoing debate on the nature of boylove. There are some members of the community who believe that boylove is simply a noun for adults who are emotionally and physically attracted to boys, and that there are no particular guidelines or requirements to being a boylover besides having said attraction and an aversion to hurting boys. Others believe that boylove, in addition to the attraction, denotes a set of beliefs and values related to the treatment of boys, and that one must adhere to these expectations to be considered a boylover.[2] These values may include ideas such as that boylovers should never expose boys to alcohol and drugs, that boylovers should never initiate sexual activities with boys, or even that boylovers should refrain from sex with boys in any case, due to the risks involved for both parties in contemporary social environments. Universally accepted in the community, however, is the principle that boylovers, by definition, respect boys and do not hurt them. Therefore, the term boylove does not refer to child abuse.

Terms for boylove in other languages

  • Japanese: Shounen'ai (少年愛)

References

  1. K. J. Dover, Greek Homosexuality; Harvard University Press, 1989; p. 50.
  2. The Philosophy of Responsible Boylove

See also

External links

OLD LINK - SEEMS NOT TO FUNCTION (THE HYPOCRITES AT ARCHIVE.ORG SEEM TO HAVE DISABLED THE PAGE):
NEW LINK, TO ANOTHER ARCHIVED VERSION (PRESS "CONTROL + A" TO HIGHLIGHT THE TEXT FOR EASY READING: