Discussion:
Word needed
(too old to reply)
David Sachs
2006-04-14 01:09:17 UTC
Permalink
Since the obvious combination, "pedophile", has a very different meaning,
what is the proper word for a person who likes children?
David Earl
2006-04-14 08:36:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by David Sachs
Since the obvious combination, "pedophile", has a very different meaning,
what is the proper word for a person who likes children?
Yup, avoid pedophile & the legal system.

I don't believe there's an easy one-word translation. If it fits the
context, you might try variations on "child-friendly", but it depends
on the context. You might actually have to use a separate sentance,
like "I like children".

David.
Gran
2006-04-14 09:56:50 UTC
Permalink
Post by David Sachs
Since the obvious combination, "pedophile", has a very different meaning,
what is the proper word for a person who likes children?
Daft
--
Failure is not an option, it comes bundled with the software
Chris Croughton
2006-04-14 10:35:35 UTC
Permalink
On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 20:09:17 -0500, David Sachs
Post by David Sachs
Since the obvious combination, "pedophile", has a very different meaning,
what is the proper word for a person who likes children?
A pedophile is a foot-fetishist (see pedologist, pedometer)! A
paedophile is one who "loves children" (Greek paid, child, and philos,
"love of siblings"). The correct term for a person who has sexual
desire towards children should be something like paedoeroticist (eros
being sexual love), but we are stuck with the incorrect meaning now.
The ending '-phile' now almost exclusively implies a sexual love or
desire, rather than the original "brotherly love".

In today's society, to admit to a "love of children" at all (in any
language) is regarded as suspicious and implying some sort of unhealthy
sexual interest in them, particularly if it is about children in general
(loving your own offspring is still marginally acceptable). And since
the words are often confused[1] by people, 'liking' children is often
seem as the same and is there fore dangerous[2].

[1] "I love [like] peanut butter!"; "Do you think he likes [has a sexual
or romantic interest in] me?" The words are used interchangeably by
large parts of society, and many people seem to actually not know that
there is even supposed to be a difference.

[2] Dangerous to the point where people have been arrested for having
pictures of their own child naked in a pool...

Of course, it's not the only word which doesn't mean what it ought to.
Which of 'vegetarian' and 'humanitarian' is correct? One who cares for
the welfare of vegetables, or one who eats humans?

Chris C
Miss Elaine Eos
2006-04-15 05:21:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Croughton
On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 20:09:17 -0500, David Sachs
Post by David Sachs
Since the obvious combination, "pedophile", has a very different meaning,
what is the proper word for a person who likes children?
A pedophile is a foot-fetishist (see pedologist, pedometer)! A
paedophile is one who "loves children" (Greek paid, child, and philos,
"love of siblings"). The correct term for a person who has sexual
desire towards children should be something like paedoeroticist (eros
being sexual love), but we are stuck with the incorrect meaning now.
The ending '-phile' now almost exclusively implies a sexual love or
desire, rather than the original "brotherly love".
In today's society, to admit to a "love of children" at all (in any
language) is regarded as suspicious and implying some sort of unhealthy
sexual interest in them, particularly if it is about children in general
(loving your own offspring is still marginally acceptable). And since
the words are often confused[1] by people, 'liking' children is often
seem as the same and is there fore dangerous[2].
[1] "I love [like] peanut butter!"; "Do you think he likes [has a sexual
or romantic interest in] me?" The words are used interchangeably by
large parts of society, and many people seem to actually not know that
there is even supposed to be a difference.
[2] Dangerous to the point where people have been arrested for having
pictures of their own child naked in a pool...
Of course, it's not the only word which doesn't mean what it ought to.
Which of 'vegetarian' and 'humanitarian' is correct? One who cares for
the welfare of vegetables, or one who eats humans?
Chris C
I always thought "-phile" meant "enjoys and/or has an interest in",
except in the silly case of pedophile (the American spelling of the word
that means "unnatural sexual love for children." See also pediatrician,
a children's doctor.) So, for example, you have francophiles -- those
who enjoy and are interested in all things French, (and I don't just
mean kissing! ;), etc.

No?
--
Please take off your shoes before arriving at my in-box.
I will not, no matter how "good" the deal, patronise any business which sends
unsolicited commercial e-mail or that advertises in discussion newsgroups.
Chris Croughton
2006-04-15 10:21:04 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 15 Apr 2006 05:21:21 GMT, Miss Elaine Eos
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
Post by Chris Croughton
On Thu, 13 Apr 2006 20:09:17 -0500, David Sachs
Post by David Sachs
Since the obvious combination, "pedophile", has a very different meaning,
what is the proper word for a person who likes children?
A pedophile is a foot-fetishist (see pedologist, pedometer)! A
paedophile is one who "loves children" (Greek paid, child, and philos,
"love of siblings"). The correct term for a person who has sexual
desire towards children should be something like paedoeroticist (eros
being sexual love), but we are stuck with the incorrect meaning now.
The ending '-phile' now almost exclusively implies a sexual love or
desire, rather than the original "brotherly love".
In today's society, to admit to a "love of children" at all (in any
language) is regarded as suspicious and implying some sort of unhealthy
sexual interest in them, particularly if it is about children in general
(loving your own offspring is still marginally acceptable). And since
the words are often confused[1] by people, 'liking' children is often
seem as the same and is there fore dangerous[2].
[1] "I love [like] peanut butter!"; "Do you think he likes [has a sexual
or romantic interest in] me?" The words are used interchangeably by
large parts of society, and many people seem to actually not know that
there is even supposed to be a difference.
[2] Dangerous to the point where people have been arrested for having
pictures of their own child naked in a pool...
Of course, it's not the only word which doesn't mean what it ought to.
Which of 'vegetarian' and 'humanitarian' is correct? One who cares for
the welfare of vegetables, or one who eats humans?
Chris C
I always thought "-phile" meant "enjoys and/or has an interest in",
except in the silly case of pedophile (the American spelling of the word
that means "unnatural sexual love for children." See also pediatrician,
a children's doctor.)
You mean paediatrician? <g> How about necrophilia, coprophilia,
saprophilia?
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
So, for example, you have francophiles -- those
who enjoy and are interested in all things French, (and I don't just
mean kissing! ;), etc.
The derivation is from Greek philos, which means loving. The Concise
OED says about -philia:

1. denoting (especially abnormal) fondness or love for what is
specified (example necrophilia).
2. denoting undue inclination (haemophilia).

Looking at www.dictionary.com:

-phile or -phil
suff.
1. One that loves or has a strong affinity or preference for:
audiophile.
2. Loving; having a strong affinity or preference for: Francophile.
__________________________

[New Latin -philus, from Greek -philos, beloved, dear, from philos,
beloved, loving.]

Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language,
Fourth Edition Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Again, the confusion between 'love' and 'liking' (and 'inclination'),
but Francophiles could well be descriven as "those who love all things
French" (from an English point of view this would be described as a
perversion <g>). Similarly, Anglophiles (sensible people <g>) have a
love of things English, bibliophiles a love of books, etc.

Chris C
Miss Elaine Eos
2006-04-15 16:13:27 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Croughton
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
I always thought "-phile" meant "enjoys and/or has an interest in",
except in the silly case of pedophile (the American spelling of the word
that means "unnatural sexual love for children." See also pediatrician,
a children's doctor.)
You mean paediatrician? <g>
[...]
FYI, check out:

<http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pedophile>

That's how I verified my spelling ;) And, while "ae" is offered in the
pronunciation guide, "paedophile" was offered as the Brittish
bastardization of the perfectly-valid "pedophile" <G>
Post by Chris Croughton
Similarly, Anglophiles (sensible people <g>) have a
love of things English, bibliophiles a love of books, etc.
Boiled meats, cabbage... :6

(Then again, all of my American friends think I'm affected because I
enjoy using the "our" ending for colour, behaviour, etc., and the "re"
ending for words like centre and theatre. So maybe I'm a
saemianglophile. Or is that a Canukophile?)
--
Please take off your shoes before arriving at my in-box.
I will not, no matter how "good" the deal, patronise any business which sends
unsolicited commercial e-mail or that advertises in discussion newsgroups.
Chris Croughton
2006-04-17 22:16:36 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 15 Apr 2006 16:13:27 GMT, Miss Elaine Eos
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
Post by Chris Croughton
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
I always thought "-phile" meant "enjoys and/or has an interest in",
except in the silly case of pedophile (the American spelling of the word
that means "unnatural sexual love for children." See also pediatrician,
a children's doctor.)
You mean paediatrician? <g>
[...]
<http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pedophile>
Which only does dictionaries of American, not English <g>.
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
That's how I verified my spelling ;) And, while "ae" is offered in the
pronunciation guide, "paedophile" was offered as the Brittish
bastardization of the perfectly-valid "pedophile" <G>
Nope, the British spelling was first <g>. Actually, the 'ae' is an
'ash', the 'ae' ligature (Unicode U+00E6, æ, Windows Alt-230), which in
English stayed as an expanded 'ae' and in American was contracted to 'e'
thus leading to confusion (as in 'paedo-', to do with children, versus
'pedo-', to do with feet).
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
Post by Chris Croughton
Similarly, Anglophiles (sensible people <g>) have a
love of things English, bibliophiles a love of books, etc.
Boiled meats, cabbage... :6
I'm note sure of the Greek roots to form "lover of boiled meat" etc.,
I'll have to ask <g>.
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
(Then again, all of my American friends think I'm affected because I
enjoy using the "our" ending for colour, behaviour, etc., and the "re"
ending for words like centre and theatre. So maybe I'm a
saemianglophile. Or is that a Canukophile?)
Whereas I use 'centre' but use 'er' in variants like 'centered' <g>.

"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
[Ralph Waldo Emerson]

Chris C
Miss Elaine Eos
2006-04-18 02:41:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris Croughton
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
<http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pedophile>
Which only does dictionaries of American, not English <g>.
Hey, it was YOUR recommended source -- I was only pointing out what it
has to say about adults with an unnatural attraction to feet -- I mean
children. :)
--
Please take off your shoes before arriving at my in-box.
I will not, no matter how "good" the deal, patronise any business which sends
unsolicited commercial e-mail or that advertises in discussion newsgroups.
Chris Croughton
2006-04-18 14:06:43 UTC
Permalink
On Tue, 18 Apr 2006 02:41:44 GMT, Miss Elaine Eos
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
Post by Chris Croughton
Post by Miss Elaine Eos
<http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=pedophile>
Which only does dictionaries of American, not English <g>.
Hey, it was YOUR recommended source -- I was only pointing out what it
has to say about adults with an unnatural attraction to feet -- I mean
children. :)
No, my recommended source is the OED, I was merely pointing out that at
least one American dictionary also had the same definition of the suffix
'-phile'. One of the definitions they actually get right <g>...

Chris C

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