Kacchan:
This is one of the most academic and deconsteuctive threads - and I'm here for it.
I do think we've gone way off of OP's initial topic, but I'm interested and appreciative of the many different points and perspectives happening in here.
- How do we define consent with regard to individual's sexual thoughts about others?
- What is a fetish versus a kink versus a preference?
- What are our obligations for the protection of modesty/sentiments non-FF human beings?
Fascinating stuff, and not what I expected when I started reading this thread.
I want to preface this by saying I am very much aware that just because you fantasize about something doesn't mean you would do it IRL. There's also a difference between being attracted to someone (not something you can control) and having sexual fantasies about someone (something you
can control). That said, in my opinion, it comes down to those who consented to be sexualized and those who did not.
I also want to make it clear that there is a difference between sexualizing people and objectifying them. Sexualizing isn't inherently one thing or another. It just is. Objectifying someone reduces them to whatever traits or features make you one without regard to their personhood.
I also think it doesn't matter if you know someone shares your kink. If you either know they aren't cool with it or can't confirm if they are cool with it, then maybe don't.
The reasons are two-fold: Doing this can warp your thinking and your relationships with others. I touched on both in previous posts. The things you think about and how you think about them influence everything you do and say. I am not saying that if you fantasize about force-feeding that cute girl in the next cubicle, you'll do it. I don't think most would. But you'll notice how your thoughts about this person alter how you interact with them. This can have unintended impacts as well.
Even if it's a person you'll never see again, it can alter how you think and interact with similar people. Objectifying people (because that's what this is) makes it easier to ignore a person's humanity and agency even if that's not what we mean to do.