Drifter, I actually do understand your question, and I'll try to stay on track here.
Those of us with more "normal" attractions (meaning, attracted to other adults) can't figure out how or why an adult would be having those kinds of conversations with pre- or barely-pubescents. That's because we think like adults.
The pathologically-pedophilic types have trained themselves to think, and converse, like a child on some levels. On some other levels, though, they have very finely honed instinct on how to pick up on which kids are most vulnerable. They touch on several of the well-known "angst subjects", find a weak spot in the armor, and go in for the coup. Some of those angst subjects will inevitably be "mean parents," popular/unpopular in school, body image and appearance issues, and embarrassment at the changes puberty brings on. He's going to try to bring up subjects that will make his target say, "OMFG, Heather, I thought no one would ever understand me, but you do!" He builds up the trust, and eventually reveals more of the truth about himself, until the victim thinks "this is the only adult in the world who understands me and cares about me."
That's the dangerous transition for the youngster - when they think this predator is the only person in the world who understands and cares about them. It's too bad that such vulnerable kids don't feel that a parent or favorite teacher would be better to talk to than a stranger online.
