Colin,

Medicating a child actor to prevent or even to delay puberty is probably one of the most heinous child abuse scenerios that I can conceive.

Of course, there is worse on the archive... read Final Days (http://www.eunuch.org/Alpha/F/newea_48413Final_Da.htm)

Delaying puberty is not much different than the castration of choir boys. Here, the end cannot justify the means, in my opinion.

Of course, I consider the "celebacy vow" required by many religions as abusive also. However, neither do I condone promiscuity.

I am an odd one, what?



A-1

Colin,

A-1 (imported) wrote: Wed Nov 24, 2004 12:02 pm Medicating a child actor to prevent or even to delay puberty is probably one of the most heinous child abuse scenerios that I can conceive.

A-1,

Please note that I did not express any opinion about this, although I do have some sympathy where it may be done in a case of suspected sexual dyspathy. My understanding is that these cases have a similar control as the requirement of two Psychiatrists letters before transgendering can be performed in most states in the US.

In respect of child performers I think that you are probably correct, even if the child himself expresses such a wish. It is too easy to influence a child.

LOL

As far as Dan Radcliffe goes, the boy who plays Harry Potter, it's a bit LATE in the game for him. On the Prison of Azkaban DVD, he's obviously well into puberty and the voice change in the interviews segment. Besides, it probably costs a lot less to have him stand in a hole and look short than it would to medicate him.

I can't help but think of the talk of Michael Jackson being given either female hormones or chemical castration to prolong his career, either. I always laugh at that one.

Similar rumors circulated as well over the boy band Dreamstreet, which had one album in 2001, I think, and has since disbanded. No pun intended.

Of course, had our culture NOT shifted away from such ideas as castration - either physical or modernday chemical means - then a LOT of these child actors/singers would have a LOT to worry about.