What Constitutes a Pervert?

[RedRockRun]

I used to think that a pervert was anyone who had sexual thoughts of any kind, though it was more of a temporary term to describe someone's thoughts and behaviors in that moment rather than anything permanent.

It was only in the last few years that I discovered a different way of looking at it, that a pervert is only someone who has sexual desire or engages in sexual activities that are considered abnormal by societal standards.

Yet the colloquial use of the term seems to still apply to anyone with sex on the brain.

 

[tippy2k2]

Whose definition are we talking about?

If you're talking about the "common" definition, I always thought that was sexual thoughts/activities that were considered "Outside the norm". Think Furries, BDSM, Hentai; stuff that is more....let's call it niche.

If you're talking about my own definition, it's someone who is attempting to force sexual interaction (Whether this is verbal, "light" action like touching of the shoulders, or full on illegal like filming people who don't know it, groping someone, or having relations with someone who is passed out) on someone who does not want it to happen. Think Pepe Le Pew for the work friendliest version of a pervert.

 

[Dizchu]

To me, there's two definitions of the word "pervert". Firstly there's the self-referential way, like when you admit to liking butts and panties and stuff. Secondly is the more practical way, which describes a kind of person who is a lecherous creep who ignores the desires of others in order to satisfy their own urges. Someone peeping on other people dressing without their consent, for example.

 

[Lufia Erim]

Well based on anime. A pervert is a guy ( never a girl) who is unlucky enough to be in the same room as a girl when an unfortunate series of events, which he had absolutely no control over, ends up with the girl private parts, covered or otherwise, being exposed.

 

[Rebel_Raven]

If you are public about it, I.E. telling people about it, acting on it, you're a pervert in my book.
If I never hear about it, then you're not because I don't know you like that, and I honestly don't want to.

 

[Creator002]

This is what I got from whichever dictionary Google sources from:
"A person whose sexual behaviour is regarded as abnormal and unacceptable."

Seems about right, but I've heard it used in many other ways, from someone who exposes themselves publicly to someone who just compliments another person.
Really, the best definition I can personally give is "someone who does or says something sexual, or sexually related, that is not wanted or received well from those present."

 

[Rastrelly]

It's not even funny now.

http://www.dictionary.com/browse/perversion
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/pervert

/thread

 

[Queen Michael]

Wait, you thought that anybody with any interest in sex was a pervert? That's kinda like saying that anybody whose lips ever touched liquor is an alcoholic.

A pervert is somebody with an u n h e a l t h y interest in, or view of, sex.

 

[Thaluikhain]

To me, there's two definitions of the word "pervert". Firstly there's the self-referential way, like when you admit to liking butts and panties and stuff. Secondly is the more practical way, which describes a kind of person who is a lecherous creep who ignores the desires of others in order to satisfy their own urges. Someone peeping on other people dressing without their consent, for example.

That seems reasonable.

I'd add that there's the old way of looking at it, where something must be wrong, but need not be sexual..."pervert the course of justice" for example.

 

[K12]

It just basically means somebody who does something in an immoral or improper way. Like the word freak it's going to mean something different depending on what the person using it considers to be the proper way. There are lots of different things that people might consider "perverted" in a sexual context but generally as long as nobody is being taken advantage of and no-one gets hurt (unless they're into that) then it's not that important to me.

Some people like the fact that their tastes upset some particularly uptight people (like being into kinky BDSM stuff) so you do get people calling themselves "perverted" as if it's a good thing. Other people's disapproval can be a real turn on, in much the same way that some people on the internet think that their arguments are more valid if they outrage the right people.

 

[Addendum_Forthcoming]

I'd say a pervert (my definition) is anyone who derives pleasure from fetishized contact with others that breaks both consensual contact, and becomes a public or private nuisance for it.

Stealing underwear, spying on people through windows, stalking, etc... I wouldn't call someone nuzzling an anime pillow a pervert. I will call them a pervert if they photograph me and turn my image into a love pillow. I don't mind kink and alternative modes of sexuality... but frankly the pillow thing would kind of disturb me.

Even beyond the transgression of my privacy in my own home and taking photographs.

 

[Scarim Coral]

I say a pervert is someone who actively seek out sexual content/ activity and think about it all the time (a perverted mind so to speak).

 

[Worgen]

I think a pervert is anyone who has ever had any sexual feelings. There really doesn't seem to be a good definition of it based on usage in media.

 

[The Almighty Aardvark]

Girlfriend was chased down the street with her friends by a guy who was furiously masturbating. Whatever definition there is of pervert, I feel like at the bare minimum it should include that

 

[Smooth Operator]

Well it's quite easy, for people who are uncomfortable with sex it would be anyone who thinks or mentions sex. This seems to be the predominant type of internet goers.

And for people who mature and get to grips with sex "pervert" will become an increasingly distant concept.

 

[IamLEAM1983]

If you look at a few dictionaries, then perversion implies deviation from Western society's sexual norms. However, the fact is that several paraphilias are completely harmless. Consensual BDSM is harmless by default, anything that falls short of harming another living creature - or defiling a dead one - is usually fair game. Society's evolved enough for these so-called "perversions" to be tolerated among consensual groups. There wouldn't be much call for Furry porn or Rule 34 material, otherwise, just as the LGBT crowd would have trouble making its case heard if everything from the Kinsey studies to the Supreme Court's rulings didn't present their own urges as being inescapably human in nature.

For now, as of 2016, what society has defined as being perverted by nature chiefly involves pedophilia and necrophilia, along with all forms of rape. Polygamous groups would love to gain the same traction the LGBT community has, but insofar, society seems to frown on men being married to multiple women.

As with everything else, that perception could shift or be changed in other ways. Colloquially, however, most people define perverts as being anyone who derives sexual pleasure out of someone else's genuine embarrassment, displeasure or outright suffering; as well as anyone who gets off on the transgression of personal barriers.