Is Doran Martell a pedophile?

[Makes No Sansa]

Seriously. He likes to watch children play, that sounds like he's a pedophile. I don't think he's never forced any children though. For his reputation's sake he'd never do it, but I think he would like to. It could be that one of his few entertainments is watching children play, because he's got gote and can do a very little amount of things aside of that.

But I've always got the vibe that he's a little bit of a pedophile.

What do you think? Do you agree?

[ab aeterno]

Yeah, I tend to think that he's an old, crippled man who knows he will die soon and is haunted by the murder of his niece and nephew, has been plotting revenge and is for lack of a better description, 'retired' to the Water Gardens when he can enjoy seeing the children who are carefree and happy. That was the impression I got anyway. I think there is a danger of seeing creepiness behind every shadow.

[Winter's Knight]

I feel so unclean.

[The Dornishman's Wife]

He likes to watch children play, that sounds like he's a pedophile.

Hmpf.

[-Ghost-]

Ive never gotten that vibe. I always thought it was just soothing for him there and was where he spent his childhood. I also didnt pay much attention to Doran though, or Dorne in general.

[SeanF]

Seriously. He likes to watch children play, that sounds like he's a pedophile. I don't think he's never forced any children though. For his reputation's sake he'd never do it, but I think he would like to. It could be that one of his few entertainments is watching children play, because he's got gote and can do a very little amount of things aside of that.

But I've always got the vibe that he's a little bit of a pedophile.

What do you think? Do you agree?

No.-

[Miko]

The poor man has been suffering every day for the last years. His sister and her children were brutally murdered by the same man who killed his brother. He finds solace in watching the care-free children.

[Scipio Africanus]

What's with the joke threads today?

First Sansa is a Norman Bates, now Doran is a catholic priest.

[Toccs]

I don't think that he is molesting any of the kids at the water gardens but there is definitley a wierd vibe to the whole "cannot be disturbed while watching the children" thing.

[Lady Sansa Stark]

I like watching children play. Reminds me of my youth, when I did that. Doesn't make me a pedophile. ;)

Doran Martell likes to watch children play because it reminds him of innocence, I'd say, and the fact that we are all human regardless of who we are. No one can distinguish between a highborn or a lowborn if they're playing in the water gardens and that's what attracts him.

[Toccs]

I like watching children play. Reminds me of my youth, when I did that. Doesn't make me a pedophile. ;)

But if you saw a man hanging around a park all the time watching kids play, would just think it was to remind of his youth or would you be suspcious?

I think that ultimately we will never know one way or the other about Doran.

[The Dornishman's Wife]

But if you saw a man hanging around a park all the time watching kids play, would just think it was to remind of his youth or would you be suspcious?

I really dislike this whole "Oh noes, men aren't allowed to like children, if they do they must be pedophiles" hysteria. And in this particular case we know enough about Doran's character that we should know better.

[Toccs]

I really dislike this whole "Oh noes, men aren't allowed to like children, if they do they must be pedophiles" hysteria. And in this particular case we know enough about Doran's character that we should know better.

I'm not promoting that attitude, I'm just using the example that in real life whether right or wrong most people would be suscipious of a man haning around watching children. So it is perfectly reasonable tor people to have those susipcons about Doran.

We don't know enough at all about Doran's character to say for sure that he is not a pedophile because we have never been inside his head. There are plenty of things that could point towards it being completely innocent but also many thigns that could point towards it not being. We'll never know for sure either way, just like with that man in the park.

[Lady Sansa Stark]

But if you saw a man hanging around a park all the time watching kids play, would just think it was to remind of his youth or would you be suspcious?

I think that ultimately we will never know one way or the other about Doran.

That depends. If he's secretly watching those children and creeping around all the time, then yes, I would be suspicious. But not if a handicapped man is just sitting there in his wheelchair, enjoying the sight of playing children from some distance.

[The Drunkard]

Well, he does have a blanket covering his lap while he watches them, doesn't he?

:stillsick:

But really, I doubt it.

[Toccs]

That depends. If he's secretly watching those children and creeping around all the time, then yes, I would be suspicious. But not if a handicapped man is just sitting there in his wheelchair, enjoying the sight of playing children from some distance.

Because handicapped people can't be pedophiles?

Thinking that pedophile are only disgusting creepy looking men is the misconception that allowed priests and school teachers to get away with it for so long.

[Winter's Knight]

But if you saw a man hanging around a park all the time watching kids play, would just think it was to remind of his youth or would you be suspcious?

Not if he, you know, owns the park.

[ab aeterno]

I'm not promoting that attitude, I'm just using the example that in real life whether right or wrong most people would be suscipious of a man haning around watching children. So it is perfectly reasonable tor people to have those susipcons about Doran.

We might today, but not 20 years ago, and not really ever before that. It's more that our society today is not entirely rational over such issues. That is why parents get banned from videoing their kids' school plays, etc.

We don't know enough at all about Doran's character to say for sure that he is not a pedophile because we have never been inside his head. There are plenty of things that could point towards it being completely innocent but also many thigns that could point towards it not being. We'll never know for sure either way, just like with that man in the park.

Because there is only one thing that could possibly point towards Doran being a pedophile, and only then if you approach it with a suspicious mind, I would say it is very unlikely. Because no-one has suggested that he is a pedophile we ought to assume that he is not unless there is convincing evidence that he is. I really don't think there is anything approaching convincing evidence.

[ab aeterno]

Because handicapped people can't be pedophiles?

Thinking that pedophile are only disgusting creepy looking men is the misconception that allowed priests and school teachers to get away with it for so long.

No, that would be deference to authority by people generally and coverups by those in the organizations who prioritized the prestige and reputation of their organizations over the well-being of children.

[Mikkel]

I'm not promoting that attitude, I'm just using the example that in real life whether right or wrong most people would be suscipious of a man haning around watching children. So it is perfectly reasonable tor people to have those susipcons about Doran.

But you are. Arguing that suspecting someone is "perfectly reasonable" is promoting that attitude. I really don't think Doran is a pedophile, either.

I'm a single man, 30 years old, and on sunny days I'll sometimes sit on my balcony, and sometimes the kids on the other side of the road will be playing, and sometimes I'll watch them and think "yeah, being a kid was awesome!". Should I be suspected of being a pedophile too?