Furor in Greece over pedophilia as a disability

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greek disability groups expressed anger Monday at a government decision to expand a list of state-recognized disability categories to include pedophiles, exhibitionists and kleptomaniacs.

The National Confederation of Disabled People called the action "incomprehensible," and said pedophiles are now awarded a higher government disability pay than some people who have received organ transplants.

The Labor Ministry said categories added to the expanded list — that also includes pyromaniacs, compulsive gamblers, fetishists and sadomasochists — were included for purposes of medical assessment and used as a gauge for allocating financial assistance.

But NCDP leader Yiannis Vardakastanis, who is blind, warned the new list could create new difficulties for disabled Greeks who are already facing benefit cuts due to the country's financial crisis.

"What's happened is incomprehensible. I think there is some big mistake. The ministry should have a different policy on disability," Vardakastanis told the Associated Press. "The list contains major changes to disability quotients, which could effectively remove many people from access to benefits."

The new list gives pyromaniacs and pedophiles disability pay up to 35 percent, compared to 80 percent for heart transplant recipients.

"It's really not serious to grant Peeping Toms a 20-30 percent disability rate, and 10 percent to diabetics, who have insulin shots four or five times a day," said Vardakastanis.

Greece has been fighting to avoid bankruptcy since 2009. Public spending on health and welfare programs has been sharply cut under austerity measures imposed as a condition for receiving emergency loans from the International Monetary Fund and other countries using the euro currency.

Independently run welfare programs that survived on state grants have been the hardest hit, leaving some disabled groups, including the deaf, facing sudden drops in their standard of care.

The government is also battling widespread abuse in the welfare system, forcing tens of thousands of disabled people to be reassessed.

..Furor in Greece over pedophilia as a disability - Yahoo! News

:jaw:

I disagree with the idea of the government paying disability to people with mental illnesses. Pedophilia is a paraphilia, which is under the category of psychiatric disorders. Now, it should be made clear that mental disorders and disabilities are two completely different concepts.

The government messed up on this one.

I think that's just messed up.

Paedophilia only disables children who cannot stop what paedophile does. Paedophile NOT FREAKING VICTIM!!!!!!!!!

This repugnant so many levels.

Banjo said:

I disagree with the idea of the government paying disability to people with mental illnesses. Pedophilia is a paraphilia, which is under the category of psychiatric disorders. Now, it should be made clear that mental disorders and disabilities are two completely different concepts.

The government messed up on this one.

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not sure, I'd wonder what Jillio got to say about this, after all she's more qualified to havea say in this highly complex matter. Scizhophrenia is often mistaken for multiple personalities or similar which shows how little it is understood, i suspect this is similar in this case too. Pedophillia could probably be understood as a stunted maturity in sex perceptions i dont know, harmful yes, dangerous yes, there are evil people out there doing this yes, but i'd doubt Every pedos are 'evil' just warped suffering some kind of ill-understood, ill-treated mental disorder, at government levels making decisions, they must have some kind of access to information, consulting at the highest level, or higher than we'd (public/masses have access to ,or understand) Im just guessing , just maybe , just maybe they do know what they are doing, afterall they are governments, not amatuers, not school yards,not distressed parents (rightly so they are harmed) but whole point is, i think there's more to it, and media loves to spin....its like the media spun stuff about AIDS being homo's diseases, it created hate towards homosexuals, and childs with AIDS in schools..... see? just something to think about , thats all

The way I see it is this: Schizophrenia CAN be dangerous to the patient and to the people around him or her. It can also be managed with medication. As far as I know, pedophilia cannot be. A schizophrenic may or may not be able to function in society. A pedophile generally can, unless he/she has comorbidity (other illnesses along with the pedophilia.) They just have to be restricted in how and where they can work.

I think this was a really horrible decision on the part of the Greek government, and I hate that it's going to affect so many mentally ill and other disabled people negatively.

Pedophilia is in a category all by itself and should be treated accordingly.

Oy vey!

Jen M.

I'm also ticked about the designation of fetishists and sadomasichists as disabled or mentally ill. That is bullshit. That's about sexual preference and has nothing to do with a person's health.

(No, I am neither, but I don't believe in denying people HEALTHY, CONSENTUAL sexual outlets.)

Holy moley!

Jen M.

It's obvious to me that this is all intentional, if nonetheless disturbing and sick. Clearly, the Greek government wants to make life as difficult as possible for people with actual disabilities. Why this is so is beyond the comprehension of any rational adult. Perhaps the people making such decisions are not disabled and are angry that they are not eligible to ride the gravy train, and want to lash out.

It's really not a lot better in the U.S. People are getting on disability because they're "depressed" that they can't find a job. Oh, really, asshole? I'd give a whole fuck of a lot to be in your shoes - a person with no disabilities! Shit, yeah, I'll accept being out a job in exchange for having normal hearing, because unlike you, I don't crumple up like aluminum foil when the going gets tough - that's just life, dude. My ears ain't workin' so great, but my brain is just fine, thank you. I'm going to use it.

Grummer said:

not sure, I'd wonder what Jillio got to say about this, after all she's more qualified to havea say in this highly complex matter. Scizhophrenia is often mistaken for multiple personalities or similar which shows how little it is understood, i suspect this is similar in this case too. Pedophillia could probably be understood as a stunted maturity in sex perceptions i dont know, harmful yes, dangerous yes, there are evil people out there doing this yes, but i'd doubt Every pedos are 'evil' just warped suffering some kind of ill-understood, ill-treated mental disorder, at government levels making decisions, they must have some kind of access to information, consulting at the highest level, or higher than we'd (public/masses have access to ,or understand) Im just guessing , just maybe , just maybe they do know what they are doing, afterall they are governments, not amatuers, not school yards,not distressed parents (rightly so they are harmed) but whole point is, i think there's more to it, and media loves to spin....its like the media spun stuff about AIDS being homo's diseases, it created hate towards homosexuals, and childs with AIDS in schools..... see? just something to think about , thats all

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Paedophilia not same mental illness. Paedophilia not something media spin. Paedophilia not distressed parents overreact.

Paedophiles know what they do. They understand.

I was thinking about this more after work. I actually think pedophelia is a sexual orientation, which makes it pretty much an untreatable condition.

That's just my theory as a former pscyh student and lay person, though. Either way, it is NOT a disability, and pedophiles should not get a pass on being productive members of society, just because they are warped.

Ugh.

Jen M.

Hey Obama, and congresspeople.... Don't ever think about it!

Definitely sicko Greece government they got!

Jens_Cats said:

I was thinking about this more after work. I actually think pedophelia is a sexual orientation, which makes it pretty much an untreatable condition.

That's just my theory as a former pscyh student and lay person, though. Either way, it is NOT a disability, and pedophiles should not get a pass on being productive members of society, just because they are warped.

Ugh.

Jen M.

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Productive members society?!?!?

That can give someone cranial burn, just trying to comprehend the logic. Where's Kryton's spare head when you need it?

No wonder they are going broke! It is very flawed thinking!

This country's best days are clearly in the past . . . about 2500 years in the past. lol