On the subject of paedophilia

I know everyone has their own thoughts on Aschenbach's love for Tadzio - this is just mine (based on the movie, as I'm still re-reading the book and have forgotten what happens).

First of all just like everyone else (except, and sometimes including, paedophiles) I'm heartily against child abuse of any kind. I do find Tadzio's seductiveness in the film odd (swinging on the poles on the beach) but in light of how we're shown Aschenbach's family life, I think we're to presume that he's not gay, nor normally drawn to minors. I also think that despite his obsessive behaviour, and his daydream of touching Tadzio's hair that he wouldn't act on his feelings.

I know a couple - two ladies - who, for most of their lives, were each married to men but are now together and completely in love and completely devoted to each other and they've said to me, "We're not gay. We're just in love with each other," and that's how I feel about Aschenbach's love for Tadzio. That it just so happened that Tadzio was a fifteen year old boy but perhaps he could have been a fifty year old woman (not that that would have been a very interesting film).

I know that's simplifying it a bit, and maybe I just like to avoid the sinister, but it's such a beautiful film....!