NationStates Jolt Archive


Age of Consent

Zincite
10-04-2005, 23:07
In my home state, the age of consent is 18 straight up. Personally I think that's kind of dumb.

In many states, it is 16 or 17; sometimes this is ambiguous but mostly it's also straight up. I think this is more reasonable, but still has a lot of the same problems.

In some states, there are complicated provisions for younger ages. For example, Missouri has the first age of consent at 14, but only with a partner 20 or younger. The unlimited age of consent is 17. IMO, this is the best solution currently being employed.

Now, here's something that's rarely if ever addressed: don't the parents have anything to do with it? I just read in another thread someone who believed that after a certain age you should get ALL adult rights, and before that you are entirely your parents' responsibility. While I don't necessarily agree with that, it does make me think of something. Suppose I, being under 18, were to have sex with someone over 18. Assume there are conditions that make us fairly equal in maturity and such. And suppose my parents, sound of mind, are okay with this. THAT SHOULD BE LEGAL. I wouldn't so much mind the age of consent being 18, if not for how rigid and nosy it is. Taking the situation I just outlined, if I have a literally crazy friend who's been proven borderline and she goes freaking out and reports us... none of it matters, the government can file charges regardless of maturity, my parents, etc. Parents sign the medical forms, rent the rated-R movies, and do all sorts of stuff for their children that the children can't legally do themselves - even sign forms GIVING THOSE CHILDREN THE POWER... so why can't they vouch that I'm mature enough to consent to sex and the relationship is not an exploitative one? I think it's just a LITTLE wacked out...
Weirdnessessess
10-04-2005, 23:17
Personally, I agree with you. I think that the government as it is is stupid in how it reacts to things though. Like, I think that they shouldn't decide if gay marriges should be legal or not, i mean, stuff like that never bothered anyone before! But back to consent. I mean, before that law, twelve and thirteen year old girls would get married off to grown men and it wasn't an issue. I mean, i know that they're "just trying to help" but the government shouldn't try to run people's sex lives. I also understand that it's a question about rape and stuff, but if a kid gets raped than it's different if two people have been dating for a while and decide to have sex.
Zincite
11-04-2005, 01:05
Anyone else?

...you'd think, having to do with sex, this would be a hot button issue for this forum.
Leafanistan
11-04-2005, 01:10
You'd think right. Oh well.

Age of consent should reflect puberty and I agree the limited -> unlimited consent solution sounds best. It allows for those who are mature enough to get it done without making pedophilia legal.
Zincite
11-04-2005, 01:19
In a second I'm going to add a poll...

EDIT: ...except it won't let me. So here's the question... which of the following initiatives do you think would be most likely to collect enough signatures and then pass?

A. Lower the age of consent to 16
B. Add a provision for consent at 15 provided the partner is under 21
C. Change the law so that the parents can prevent the gov't from filing charges in "statutory rape" cases
CSW
11-04-2005, 01:28
In a second I'm going to add a poll...

EDIT: ...except it won't let me. So here's the question... which of the following initiatives do you think would be most likely to collect enough signatures and then pass?

A. Lower the age of consent to 16
B. Add a provision for consent at 15 provided the partner is under 21
C. Change the law so that the parents can prevent the gov't from filing charges in "statutory rape" cases
Well, its rather hard to charge anyone with rape if the victim refuses to tesify or cooperate, I've been prevented from doing just that with some of my friends just because they've completely refused to come forward and testify.
Patra Caesar
11-04-2005, 03:41
In Australia the age of consent is 16, unless you're gay.
Zincite
11-04-2005, 03:59
In Australia the age of consent is 16, unless you're gay.

That's incredibly random.

Also something I'm not clear on: suppose a 16 year old girl and her 18 year old boyfriend want to have sex, but the age of consent in their home state is 18. If they cross into the next state where the age is 16, is it legal?
Coloqistan
11-04-2005, 04:03
So in Australia, what is the age of consent for homosexuals, and why is it different?
New Genoa
11-04-2005, 04:35
It should be 2 years old. OR, we just leave it at 18 or 17.
Hailowniss
11-04-2005, 04:40
2 years old... that would make a whole new market for kiddy clothes... a whole hooker line just for toddlers... now that would be funny... wrong, but funny...
(note - pretty much anything I just said is sarcastic. If you actually bring up a serious comment against this, I will laugh in your face.)
Zincite
11-04-2005, 04:41
New Genoa, would you care to explain that dripping-with-sarcasm comment?
Updates
11-04-2005, 04:54
So in Australia, what is the age of consent for homosexuals, and why is it different?


this one is a bit odd and goes back to the british monarchy.

several queens ago they were passing laws on the age of consent to have sex, the queen ruled that sixteen was the legal age for heterosexual sex, the adivisor then asked about male-male sex, the queen said eighteen, the adivisor asked about female-female sex, the queen refused to believe that a woman would want to have sex with another woman, so that stayed at sixteen

so in Australia women can have sex with anyone at sixteen (provided they are over sixteen)

a male can have sex with a women at 16, but can't have sex with another male until 18.



this is what happens when stupid people get into power
Potaria
11-04-2005, 04:56
this is what happens when stupid people get into power

You said it...
New Genoa
11-04-2005, 04:57
New Genoa, would you care to explain that dripping-with-sarcasm comment?

I really don't think we should complicate the issue. Just leave the age of consent at 18 or 17. I don't think it really matters where you place, because kids will still be having sex whenever the hell they want.
OceanDrive
11-04-2005, 05:00
That's incredibly random.

Also something I'm not clear on: suppose a 16 year old girl and her 18 year old boyfriend want to have sex, but the age of consent in their home state is 18. If they cross into the next state where the age is 16, is it legal?good question.
Updates
11-04-2005, 05:03
it would depend on wether the state He came from had any laws that allowed him to be punished for crimes committed in another state or country
OceanDrive
11-04-2005, 05:16
it would depend on wether the state He came from had any laws that allowed him to be punished for crimes committed in another state or country
this reminds me about all the movies about scaping the cops crossing the Mexican border.
Riptide Monzarc
11-04-2005, 05:22
The universal age of consent in Canada is fourteen, unless I am much mistaken. Randomness.

Anyway, I believe that rape should be charged as rape and consensual sex should be left alone, period. If someone is not of sound mind, either mentally ill or immature, they cannot give consent, and thus it is rape. To draw the line at 18 and say that anyone under 18 can't consent is ludicrous. When I was a young'n I was more mature than just about any adult around me at the time, and I still am. I would say that I could have given consent at fourteen or fifteen.

But I do know of cases n the US where statutory rape charges were filed, the "civtim" refused to testify and was subpoena'd, and so had to. THis was used as evidence of "rape" and the male was thrown in jail for quite a while.

I could go on and on, but whatever, you people sort it out.
Monkeypimp
11-04-2005, 05:33
The age of consent here is 16 and a while ago they were looking at bring in a rule that it was legal if you were between 12 and 16 as long as they were within 2 years of each other. This was because there are probably better ways of discouraging 13 year olds from having sex than treating them like criminals. Too many people completely misunderstood the law or just weren't very bright (I kept hearing how it was basically legalising Peadophilia. Huh?) so it was scraped.
Zincite
11-04-2005, 06:33
woo, i'm gonna bump this overnight
Arammanar
11-04-2005, 06:43
Prohibit sex except between married couples. Lower the age of marriage to 5. Problem solved.
Intangelon
11-04-2005, 06:48
Also something I'm not clear on: suppose a 16 year old girl and her 18 year old boyfriend want to have sex, but the age of consent in their home state is 18. If they cross into the next state where the age is 16, is it legal?

That's a serious grey area. The Mann Act, originally passed to combat the fake problem of "white slavery" after the emancipation of slaves following the Civil War, states that taking a minor across state lines for the purpose of a good shag is illegal. A felony, in fact. This is the law that helped start teh ball rolling on the Jim Crow legal separation of the races in the late 19th and early 20th centuries here in the good ol' USA (this is the kind of thing conservatives are talking about when they clamor for the "good old days").

As for why there are laws at all, well, that's also very grey. The problem is that many young people simply aren't emotionally equipped to deal with the consequences of sexual activity, despite being physically equipped. Because legislators knew there was no way to gauge an adolescent's readiness in all aspects for sex without a huge battery of psychological and other tests, they decided to allow the states to pick an age that was, by community standards, okay with them (see the 10th Amendment...largely ignored in cases such as Terry Schiavo, but see it anyway). It seems like the age of 14, 16, 17, whatever, is completely arbitrary, and it pretty much is. But they had to start somewhere. A bit like the voting age, where it was originally 21 and was changed by amendment to 18 (the 26th Amendment, I think, I don't have a copy in front of me).

Point is, if the person anyone is serious about is really serious about the other person, then waiting a year or however long it is shouldn't be a problem. Because you never know who is gonna go alert the cops about what you think is a harmless shag and someone else things is statutory rape. "15 will get you 20," the old saying goes. To further muddle things, I'll even add my own personal opinion as a 34 year old unmarried high school/college teacher with no kids: if you can't wait, you're no better than a rutting boar and a sow in heat. Besides, abstinence makes the heart grow fonder. Or something like that.

Cheers!
Frostguarde
11-04-2005, 06:55
The more rights the better, so I say lower the age! But I swear, if stupid people keep getting knocked up and spawning, we need to make people get government permission to have sex. Take a test to make sure you're not passing on the dumbass gene.

And actually, I don't think the current laws are that much of a problem. Kids have sex all the time and I don't see any going to jail. Hell, most of my school should be in jail.
Bulharia
11-04-2005, 07:05
As for why there are laws at all, well, that's also very grey. The problem is that many young people simply aren't emotionally equipped to deal with the consequences of sexual activity, despite being physically equipped. Because legislators knew there was no way to gauge an adolescent's readiness in all aspects for sex without a huge battery of psychological and other tests, they decided to allow the states to pick an age that was, by community standards, okay with them (see the 10th Amendment...largely ignored in cases such as Terry Schiavo, but see it anyway). It seems like the age of 14, 16, 17, whatever, is completely arbitrary, and it pretty much is. But they had to start somewhere. A bit like the voting age, where it was originally 21 and was changed by amendment to 18 (the 26th Amendment, I think, I don't have a copy in front of me).


See, the funny part about this is the government is also very willing to change the age of consent to suit their purposes. Look at the 12 year old kid who accidently killed his 8 year old sister in Florida a couple of years back. He was doing wrestling moves with her, and she died (don't remember how). He was then charged as an adult. So the state found him old enough to consent to killing someone, but not to being able to have a beer, a cigarette, or sex. (For reference, Florida law is if you're 16 or older, you're allowed to have sex with someone 24 or younger. 18 is real age for consent.)
Ying Yang Yong
11-04-2005, 11:33
this one is a bit odd and goes back to the british monarchy.

several queens ago they were passing laws on the age of consent to have sex, the queen ruled that sixteen was the legal age for heterosexual sex, the adivisor then asked about male-male sex, the queen said eighteen, the adivisor asked about female-female sex, the queen refused to believe that a woman would want to have sex with another woman, so that stayed at sixteen

so in Australia women can have sex with anyone at sixteen (provided they are over sixteen)

a male can have sex with a women at 16, but can't have sex with another male until 18.



this is what happens when stupid people get into power


It's exactly the same over here in the UK as far as I'm aware.

And Queen Vic. wasn't stupid... just a bit dense at times. *coughs* yes she was stupid*coughcough* :)
Suklaa
11-04-2005, 11:54
Ok, I think it's kind of funny that a lot of underage people always say they are mature enough to do this or old enough to do that and wisely. I'm NOT trying to be condescending. I am 25, but I still don't think my views on life are even remotely done changing. I think that the whole point of the age of consent laws is that you're not going to be old enough to make those decisions, regardless of how mature you are. And you won't know it or agree with it until it's too late. Let's say one of you ladies gets pregnant at 15 by a 16 year old. What's the odds the guys going to quit school, get a full time job, and support you happily and your kid for the rest of your life? OR is he likely to just ignore you, quit talking to you, and in 3 or 4 years finally get around to paying child support? Oh, sure you can get an abortion, but there's a high likely-hood that an abortion will mess you up. There's all kinds of mental illnesses out there related to abortion that no one wants to talk about. It just doesn't suit the agenda. I know you think you're in love, I know that maybe you just want to get it over with, but there are people out there, guys and girls, that make a sport out of taking your virginity and these are the people that these laws are protecting you against.
Suklaa
11-04-2005, 11:55
That being said, I would have LOVED for some 20 year old woman to take an interest in me at 16 and "show me the ropes". Maybe in my next life... :D
The Alma Mater
11-04-2005, 12:04
I'd say:
12 years: consent with people 12-14
14 years: consent with people 12-18
16-18 years: consent with people 14-25
18-25 years: consent with people of 16+
25+ years: consent with people of 18+

Border cases can be judged individually. If puberty hits in before one is 12 years of age.. well.. I personally consider them too young then. But that is personal. Who am I to defy nature ?
Suklaa
11-04-2005, 12:13
I'd say:
12 years: consent with most 14 years old.
14 years: consent with people 12-18
16-18 years: consent with people 14-25
18-25 years: consent with people of 16+
25+ years: consent with people of 18+

Border cases can be judged individually.

You think a 25 year old should have sex with a 16 year old? Maybe if they were in love. :rolleyes: I don't think so. That's just too much. I think Florida and Georgia have some pretty reasonable laws, believe it or not. I think the age of consent is 14 up to 18 year olds and 16-18 has some sort of age difference like 4 years.
The Return of DO
11-04-2005, 12:17
Anyway, I believe that rape should be charged as rape and consensual sex should be left alone, period. If someone is not of sound mind, either mentally ill or immature, they cannot give consent, and thus it is rape. To draw the line at 18 and say that anyone under 18 can't consent is ludicrous. When I was a young'n I was more mature than just about any adult around me at the time, and I still am. I would say that I could have given consent at fourteen or fifteen.


What would you say about a 13 year old girl having sex with a 55-year old man? Oh yeh... she was doing it to look cool!

By the way, I agree with some of your points, so I'm not having a go
The Alma Mater
11-04-2005, 12:29
You think a 25 year old should have sex with a 16 year old?

It does somewhat depend on the persons involved, but I think it is allowable, yes. It could be lowered to 21 in regions were children develop more slowly though.
LazyHippies
11-04-2005, 12:47
The most sensible law Ive heard on this subject is from the Netherlands. Age of consent is 16. But from 12 to 16, a complaint is required before the government can intervene. The person can still file charges years later (I dont know the statute of limitations on it), so even if you consented at the time, if 5 years later you feel that you were coerced back then, you can still file charges. I think this strikes a good balance between protecting young people from coersion and giving them the right to explore their sexuality. Then again, it has the drawback of giving the minor a bit too much power. Say a girl was 15 and her boyfriend was 18, they have sex on multiple occasions but later on he breaks up with her in a bad way and she gets angry at him and wants retribution. She can press charges and all she has to prove is that she had consentual sex with him while she was a minor.

So, it isnt perfect. But better than in most other places.
The Return of DO
11-04-2005, 12:48
You think a 25 year old should have sex with a 16 year old?

When I was 16 I had sex with a 23-year-old. My mistake.
Demented Hamsters
11-04-2005, 13:18
In my home state, the age of consent is 18 straight up.
The age of consent is 18 straight up?
Does it differ according to the position involved? What's the age of consent for doggy, for example? Or BDSM?
Just curious.
The Alma Mater
11-04-2005, 13:23
The age of consent is 18 straight up?
Does it differ according to the position involved? What's the age of consent for doggy, for example? Or BDSM?
Just curious.

Those depraved things are illegal, obviously. Missionary style is the only position condoned by the government. Yes, they will watch you to check ;)

Actually, I believe BDSM really *is* illegal in some countries (Belgium IIRC) and US states. And considering the amount of people that seem to think anal=gay=evil it would not surprise me to learn that is forbidden in places too...
Cyberpolis
11-04-2005, 13:40
Age of consent is always difficult. To start with, telling teenagers that they can't do something almost always means they want to do it even more.
Teenagers tend to be quite stubborn, and can be utterly dermined that they are ready to do something when they are not.
An example. A friend of mine lost her virginity at age 14. Now aged 25 she completely regrets not having waited, at least a bit longer. Partly because the guy she was with (who was aged 18 at the time) was not actually a very nice person and completely used her. But at the time, she never really even considered the age of consent.
In the UK, age of consent is 16. I *think* it is now 16 for everybody, but could be wrong. There are special laws for if an adult in a position of 'responsibility' (e.g. a teacher) has sex with a minor, or even with someone above the age of consent, but in general, it is 16.
Unfortunately, whatever the young people concerned think about the matter, having sex too young is (or can be) dangerous. The younger a girl starts having sex, the higher her chances of getting, for example, cervical cancer. Although a girl can technically be biologically capable of bearing children, it doesn't mean she is really physically ready. Just because menstruation has commenced, doesn't mean that the body is ready for sex. It can be physically damaging. Best example I can think of is a girl who used to live near me. She was 8 years old and had started menstruating.
I do not believe therefore, that menstruation/the onset of puperty can be used as an accurate measure of when a person is 'ready' for sex, either physically or emotionally.
But that is the trouble with the age of consent. It's a 'one size fits all' rule that doesn't necessarily fit all. Just because a person has reached the age of consent, doesn't mean they are ready. And this can apply to boys as well as girls. I knew at least one guy from school who did not consider himself ready for that kind of realtionship until well after he left scholl, so around aged 18.
However, BDSM is an entirely different matter. The last time I looked at it, UK law stated that consent could not be used as a defence in an assault case. There were a series of raids on BDSM 'dens' some years back. Now we aren't talking a mild spanking here, these people were serious. However, the point remains that all of these people were there of there own free will and participating of their own free will. Those who did the 'assaulting' were charged with assault, ABH and in some cases GBH. Those who were 'assaulted' were charged with aiding and abetting their own assault!
I know plenty of people who are 'into' the BDSM scene to varying degrees, from those who just like a little 'spice' in their sex lives, to those with full time 24/7 master/slave relationships. I do not believe it is or would be right to prosecute these people. However, the law disagrees.

Blessings
Lucrece
Hey, I'm at work, I get to ramble!
Suklaa
11-04-2005, 14:22
It does somewhat depend on the persons involved, but I think it is allowable, yes. It could be lowered to 21 in regions were children develop more slowly though.
Like the U.S.? Just because kids know more about sex doesn't make them more qualified to have sex. Kids in America are ridiculously immature. They don't even have enough maturity to stand up for their own actions, generally speaking. Everything is someone else's fault. Do you really think these are the people that should be potentially having more kids?
Jester III
11-04-2005, 14:31
I believe a fixed age of consent is causing more harm than good. E.g.: in a lot of countries it is ok for 16-17 year old to have sex with each other, but not with an adult. Consider the situation where two teenies can happily bang away until the older one reaches the magical 18. Now what they do is illegal till the younger is 18 as well. Sounds stupid? Well, it is. I was the adult in some situations, sometimes the minor. Did it cause me harm? No. Did i cause someone harm? Nope, either. I am talking about the time of 14-20 yo, i am not someone who is involved with teenagers in this way now.
I agree that pressing charges in the case of statutory rape should be left to the parents, on behalf of their kid. The teenager is to be considered the most important witness and her/his oppinion more important than public interest. Psychological evaluation on a case to case basis should be involved to determine if pressure was involved, but if the child convincingly states that everything was done with consent all charges should be dropped.
The Alma Mater
11-04-2005, 14:34
Like the U.S.? Just because kids know more about sex doesn't make them more qualified to have sex.

No, but it does reduce the risk of pregnancy. The average teenager experiments. Especially if you forbid him to.

Kids in America are ridiculously immature. They don't even have enough maturity to stand up for their own actions, generally speaking. Everything is someone else's fault. Do you really think these are the people that should be potentially having more kids?

I cannot judge the state of maturity in the entire US (or in the whole of Europe)... but I do agree that "mental maturity" would be a better measurement. Problem is.. how do you determine it and how do you implement it in law ? That is a practical impossibility... so agelimits are the best we got :(
Suklaa
11-04-2005, 14:36
I cannot judge the state of maturity in the entire US (or in the whole of Europe)... but I do agree that "mental maturity" would be a better measurement. Problem is.. how do you determine it and how do you implement it in law ? That is a practical impossibility... so agelimits are the best we got :(
The answer is, you can't most parents don't want to admit it if their kid is a retard. So what happens, everyone, when asked, just says, "Oh, Johnny's a good boy! Why he hasn't even stolen out of my purse in the last month or so..." The only way to determine age of consent is to take a baseline number and hope that most of the kids are mature enough by then.
UpwardThrust
11-04-2005, 14:41
The answer is, you can't most parents don't want to admit it if their kid is a retard. So what happens, everyone, when asked, just says, "Oh, Johnny's a good boy! Why he hasn't even stolen out of my purse in the last month or so..." The only way to determine age of consent is to take a baseline number and hope that most of the kids are mature enough by then.
While I agree it is also not practical to have to determine competancy in each case

How would you feel if you were having sex with a girl(or boy) for 2 months ... an issue is brought up ... and it is decided that she is not mentaly compitant enough to have concented (there are some glaring examples where you would KNOW but what about borderline cases)?

Basicaly if there is no set concent age it would lead to a LOT of confusion for thoes around that age
Ashmoria
11-04-2005, 15:26
the age of consent should be 14, for both boys and girls. any violator, especially an adult should be prosecuted. there should be a "sliding scale" of punishments so that two thirteen year olds having sex with each other get some kind of "talking to" but a 45 year old woman having sex with a 13 year old boy (or switch genders around) would go to prison

with the harsh punishments for rape these days, violent and statutory, the age of consent needs to be lowered. do we really want a 16 year old boy to have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life because he had sex with his 15 year old girlfriend? i dont.

these days, a 14 year old knows whether or not s/he wants to have sex. sure its not usually a GOOD decision but they are certainly capable of making it.
Efrafria
11-04-2005, 21:43
You can make the law whatever you want, if people want to fuck, they're gonna fuck. :rolleyes:
E Blackadder
11-04-2005, 21:51
its 16 in u.k.
however recent political rumor said that it was to be lowered......to 14 or even 12 :eek: .. by the conservative party..that sickens me
Cyberpolis
12-04-2005, 13:04
its 16 in u.k.
however recent political rumor said that it was to be lowered......to 14 or even 12 :eek: .. by the conservative party..that sickens me


Having done a little research on the subject:
Age of consent in the UK was originally 13. However, a series of sensational articles on child prostitution appearing in the Pall Mall gazette in 1885 produced such universal outrage that the age of consent was soon raised from 13 to 16 by act of parliament.

Blessings
Lucrece
The Alma Mater
12-04-2005, 14:26
Having done a little research on the subject:
Age of consent in the UK was originally 13. However, a series of sensational articles on child prostitution appearing in the Pall Mall gazette in 1885 produced such universal outrage that the age of consent was soon raised from 13 to 16 by act of parliament.

Blessings
Lucrece
This brings up an interesting point.. While we call adults that have sex with 13 year olds pedophiles, history often has very little problems with age differences. A 30-year old man marrying a 14 year old girl was normal in the Roman age for instance: the man then had had the time to acquire enough wealth and knowledge to maintain a familiy, while the girl/woman had been taught how to do the domestic chores. Another example, which however may be due to legend, Pocahontas (12) and John Smith (27).

When was this "young children cannot consent" idea introduced ?
Ashmoria
12-04-2005, 15:00
You can make the law whatever you want, if people want to fuck, they're gonna fuck. :rolleyes:

the age of consent isnt about punishing the young person for having sex, its about punishing the OLD person for preying on children.

id guess that the age of consent was raised when old men stopped MARRYING young girls. its one thing to have a 14 year old bride and another altogether to leave a 14 year old girl unmarried and pregnant.

and you can throw in the sociological change when teens were no longer considered to be in the "adult" category (old enough to marry, hold a job, support their family, be out of school) and got shoved down into the "child" category (dependant on parents, still in school, not ready for real work, not ready for marriage and babies)
UpwardThrust
12-04-2005, 15:02
the age of consent isnt about punishing the young person for having sex, its about punishing the OLD person for preying on children.

id guess that the age of consent was raised when old men stopped MARRYING young girls. its one thing to have a 14 year old bride and another altogether to leave a 14 year old girl unmarried and pregnant.

and you can throw in the sociological change when teens were no longer considered to be in the "adult" category (old enough to marry, hold a job, support their family, be out of school) and got shoved down into the "child" category (dependant on parents, still in school, not ready for real work, not ready for marriage and babies)
Then why are not the laws better worded for things like making age difference more important then the age itself?
German Kingdoms
12-04-2005, 15:17
Some of the post frightens me, and the people who post these scary post, needs to get some serious help. I'm not even kidding. I believe that the age of consent should be 16, and I agree with the one size fit all law. Because comon, lets be honest. When your 15 or younger, are you really going to think something like this through, in a rational, and realistic way? NO! You're just going to go off into wonderful land, where he will love you forever, even if you are pregent. Its not about wanting to have sex. I've wanted to have sex since I was 13! But, that doesn't mean I was mature enough to actually have a intimate experience with another human being. The age of consent is suspose to prevent a child from making a miskate, and waiting until she or he is mature enough to understand what risk are involved in sex, and the best way to curtail those risk.
UpwardThrust
12-04-2005, 15:19
Some of the post frightens me, and the people who post these scary post, needs to get some serious help. I'm not even kidding. I believe that the age of consent should be 16, and I agree with the one size fit all law. Because comon, lets be honest. When your 15 or younger, are you really going to think something like this through, in a rational, and realistic way? NO! You're just going to go off into wonderful land, where he will love you forever, even if you are pregent. Its not about wanting to have sex. I've wanted to have sex since I was 13! But, that doesn't mean I was mature enough to actually have a intimate experience with another human being. The age of consent is suspose to prevent a child from making a miskate, and waiting until she or he is mature enough to understand what risk are involved in sex, and the best way to curtail those risk.
And what makes you decide 16 is the magic age? I personaly dont think 16 year olds think more then 13 year olds. maybe we should make it 18 or 21 cause we know people start thinking about things then :rolleyes:
German Kingdoms
12-04-2005, 15:23
And what makes you decide 16 is the magic age? I personaly dont think 16 year olds think more then 13 year olds. maybe we should make it 18 or 21 cause we know people start thinking about things then :rolleyes:

Nah 18 or 21 is too high. I choose 16 because most of the kids are going to have sex at that age anyways. Might as well meet them halfway.
UpwardThrust
12-04-2005, 15:26
Nah 18 or 21 is too high. I choose 16 because most of the kids are going to have sex at that age anyways. Might as well meet them halfway.
But I thought your reasoning for not 13 is because we dont care what the kids want we care about their safty... now you are making it 16 because of the kids wishes for it not to be 18

If you are going to set it to an age that has no real meaning and is just an arbitrary number why 16? just because violaters will rise to an unacceptable level?
If you are woried about the number of violaters dont make the law in the first place
Ashmoria
12-04-2005, 15:30
Then why are not the laws better worded for things like making age difference more important then the age itself?
because simpler is better when it comes to laws. in some places they do add in an age spread thing to keep 17 year olds from going to jail for having sex with their 16 year old sweethearts.

old doesnt mean smart so its best when the rule is "15 is jailbait."

it also used to be that there was a good reason to think of "girls" (since age of consent is almost never applied to boys) as being innocent of the realities of sex. that they were being seduced into an act they were fairly ignorant of.

thats just not true today. a highschool girl may well be a virgin (very likely is at 14) but she knows what sex is. sex ed, movies, books, friends, all make it very unlikely that she doesnt know what she is doing when she consents.

to punish an older boy for having sex with his highschool age girlfriend is, in my opinion, wrong. he will have to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life because his girlfriends parents didnt like him. he'll be hounded out of certain neighborhoods, denied employment, treated like a child rapist, forever.
German Kingdoms
12-04-2005, 15:33
But I thought your reasoning for not 13 is because we dont care what the kids want we care about their safty... now you are making it 16 because of the kids wishes for it not to be 18

If you are going to set it to an age that has no real meaning and is just an arbitrary number why 16? just because violaters will rise to an unacceptable level?
If you are woried about the number of violaters dont make the law in the first place

You never had a daughter before have ya? See, this law doesn't benefit the children as much as it benefit the parents. Lets say you have a 13 year old daughter, now realistically, Unless your a sicko pervert that needs to be locked away in prison, you don't want anyone touching her. If we didn't have this law of consent, then any sick pedo can just come and touch your daughter all over. The law protects the children, and gives a parent a peace of mind. This law also works with the fact that until the child is 18, the parent is responsible and has the child Power of Attorney. So realistically, it doesn't mean jack shit if it was consent sex. The parents hold all the cards and they make the deciding vote. If I had a 13 year old daugther and she had "constent sex" with an 18 or 16 year old. I will come down on that young man like a bag full of irons.

The Consent law does the following
* TRIES to prevent Pedo from running rampant
* Gives the parent peace of mind
* Because the child is not yet 18, the parent still has the Power of Attorney, and can sue the young man, even if it was consent sex.
* It gives the child a chance to developed, in the mind, and spirit.
* It gives the child a chance to see this thing logically, rationally, and realisticlly.
Dakini
12-04-2005, 15:48
Apparantly it's 14 here. Though I've heard that that goes for 14 year olds can have sex with 18 and under kind of deal... I don't know, I'm beyond that age and wouldn't even date anyone under 19 at this point. (legal drinking age in Ontario)

And isn't oral sex illegal completely in some states simply to prevent gay people from doing anything? Cuts down on the foreplay too I suppose...
Dakini
12-04-2005, 16:08
thats just not true today. a highschool girl may well be a virgin (very likely is at 14) but she knows what sex is. sex ed, movies, books, friends, all make it very unlikely that she doesnt know what she is doing when she consents.
Have you ever taken sex ed?
Let's put it this way: They didn't even tell me I have a clitoris in sex ed. They don't really give you much of an idea of what sex is other than "penis goes in vagina" hell, even movies, unless it's porn...
I learned about sex through reading and programs like the sunday night sex show.

I somehow doubt 14 year olds on average, especially those with little or no sexual experience know much on the subject.
Whispering Legs
12-04-2005, 16:10
Anyone else?

...you'd think, having to do with sex, this would be a hot button issue for this forum.

You're under the mistaken impression that everyone is up about sex. :rolleyes:
UpwardThrust
12-04-2005, 16:13
You never had a daughter before have ya? See, this law doesn't benefit the children as much as it benefit the parents. Lets say you have a 13 year old daughter, now realistically, Unless your a sicko pervert that needs to be locked away in prison, you don't want anyone touching her. If we didn't have this law of consent, then any sick pedo can just come and touch your daughter all over. The law protects the children, and gives a parent a peace of mind. This law also works with the fact that until the child is 18, the parent is responsible and has the child Power of Attorney. So realistically, it doesn't mean jack shit if it was consent sex. The parents hold all the cards and they make the deciding vote. If I had a 13 year old daugther and she had "constent sex" with an 18 or 16 year old. I will come down on that young man like a bag full of irons.

The Consent law does the following
* TRIES to prevent Pedo from running rampant
* Gives the parent peace of mind
* Because the child is not yet 18, the parent still has the Power of Attorney, and can sue the young man, even if it was consent sex.
* It gives the child a chance to developed, in the mind, and spirit.
* It gives the child a chance to see this thing logically, rationally, and realisticlly.

Alright you sort of went on a rant here about pedophiles and not going to start into that
I will start with the botom part
1) it does not try to stop pedophiles from running rampant (and study showes it does not have any effect) other then punishement and thats fine I am not arguing pediophilia is a good thing I am arguing why you just randomly pick age 16 as the magic age

2) it would not give me a piece of mind against anything ... having a law against something does not mean it will help protect

3) there is no civil discource for reperations in the united states for underage sex
And if being of the age of minority makes it wrong to have sex then 18 should be the legal consenting age

4) the law does none of thoes ... it just sets a punishement really and with sex she is going to decide to do it when she wants regardless of the law
UpwardThrust
12-04-2005, 16:16
Apparantly it's 14 here. Though I've heard that that goes for 14 year olds can have sex with 18 and under kind of deal... I don't know, I'm beyond that age and wouldn't even date anyone under 19 at this point. (legal drinking age in Ontario)

And isn't oral sex illegal completely in some states simply to prevent gay people from doing anything? Cuts down on the foreplay too I suppose...
It is 16 in minnesota ... and before 2000 a male by law could not be statitorialy raped in minnesota (this had been an issue with my past)

And minnesota was also one of these sodomy law states ... no act other then vaginal penitration was legal
Ashmoria
12-04-2005, 16:47
Have you ever taken sex ed?
Let's put it this way: They didn't even tell me I have a clitoris in sex ed. They don't really give you much of an idea of what sex is other than "penis goes in vagina" hell, even movies, unless it's porn...
I learned about sex through reading and programs like the sunday night sex show.

I somehow doubt 14 year olds on average, especially those with little or no sexual experience know much on the subject.
im not saying that a 14 year old is READY for sex, im saying she knows what she is doing when she consents. she isnt going to be surprised about what is actually involved. i certainly wouldnt throw someone in jail for having consentual sex with a 14 year old.
UpwardThrust
12-04-2005, 16:49
im not saying that a 14 year old is READY for sex, im saying she knows what she is doing when she consents. she isnt going to be surprised about what is actually involved. i certainly wouldnt throw someone in jail for having consentual sex with a 14 year old.
Unless she hand abstinance only education :rolleyes: in that case she has no idea what should be done or what the correct methods for protecting yourself are :p
German Kingdoms
12-04-2005, 16:55
im not saying that a 14 year old is READY for sex, im saying she knows what she is doing when she consents. she isnt going to be surprised about what is actually involved. i certainly wouldnt throw someone in jail for having consentual sex with a 14 year old.

Knowing that penis goes into vagina, doesn't mean that she UNDERSTANDS what sex is suspose to be about. You see, Sex was originally designed to be the ultimate expression of love between two human beings that have grown together in mind, spirit and heart. It takes a long time to do this. But thanks to modern society, Sex has been disgraced to the likes of one night stand. Do we really want an entire generation of kids running around screwing everyone and having half of society dying of AIDS? The age of consent gives the children a chance to UNDERSTAND the meaning of Sex. The age of consent gives the woman a chance to grow into a mature person who knows that Sex is the ultimate expression of love, and SHOULD be for that one person only, not just something you can do with EVERYONE.
Riptide Monzarc
12-04-2005, 17:14
Sorry for this mini-hijack, but it ties in to the topic and general flow of the thread.

In a lot of states, especially those of the Christian persuasion, in the US many "deviant" acts are illegal even between consenting adults who are all over twenty years of age. In South Carolina, for example, it is illegal to be a tattoo artist because, and I quote from one of the senators, "God does not wish tattoos on human bodies". That is a paraphrase.

Same state, fallatio (cocksucking) is illegal in all cases, no matter what. So is male-on-male sodomy, at least. Reasons? See above example.

I don't know about BDSM, but I think it is probably legislated similarly in South Carolina and states like it.

These are often the party that wants "Smaller Government", "State's Rights", ande all thjat poppycock that almost none of them practice. What about California's State Rights to legislate marijuana to ill patients? Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Ashcroft, we thought that Mr. Bush said we could make these things called laws...and do this thing called thinking for ourselves....


Now, back to my previous post on the age of consent.

If ANYONE is having sex just to be "cool" then they are too immature to have sex, in my opinion. Sex is a beautiful act that intimately shares emotions and energy and life between two or more people. It isn't a tool that is to be used for popularity or for power over someone, as I am sad to say that it has become recently.

I'm glad I live here, cause even if it is one of the most "conservative" cities in Canada, it makes Massachussettes look like Dallas.
Ashmoria
12-04-2005, 17:19
Knowing that penis goes into vagina, doesn't mean that she UNDERSTANDS what sex is suspose to be about. You see, Sex was originally designed to be the ultimate expression of love between two human beings that have grown together in mind, spirit and heart. It takes a long time to do this. But thanks to modern society, Sex has been disgraced to the likes of one night stand. Do we really want an entire generation of kids running around screwing everyone and having half of society dying of AIDS? The age of consent gives the children a chance to UNDERSTAND the meaning of Sex. The age of consent gives the woman a chance to grow into a mature person who knows that Sex is the ultimate expression of love, and SHOULD be for that one person only, not just something you can do with EVERYONE.
so you think that a 16 year old boy should go to prison for having sex with his 14 year old girlfriend?
UpwardThrust
12-04-2005, 17:20
Knowing that penis goes into vagina, doesn't mean that she UNDERSTANDS what sex is suspose to be about. You see, Sex was originally designed to be the ultimate expression of love between two human beings that have grown together in mind, spirit and heart.
And here I thought it was to procreate being as every animal does it ... if it is such a unique thing why does anything except asexual reproducers do it :p
The Alma Mater
12-04-2005, 17:21
Knowing that penis goes into vagina, doesn't mean that she UNDERSTANDS what sex is suspose to be about. You see, Sex was originally designed to be the ultimate expression of love between two human beings that have grown together in mind, spirit and heart.

Two questions:
1. Designed by whom ?
2. Do animals have these feelings when having sex ?
UpwardThrust
12-04-2005, 17:22
Two questions:
1. Designed by whom ?
2. Do animals have these feelings when having sex ?
Ok thats just freaky :) you sound like me :p
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 00:52
so you think that a 16 year old boy should go to prison for having sex with his 14 year old girlfriend?

Yep, either that or probation and restraining order.
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 00:58
Two questions:
1. Designed by whom ?
2. Do animals have these feelings when having sex ?

1. By the almighty
2. We are not animals though. We are diffrent from animals. Animals also crap everywhere and piss on stuff to mark their territory, are we going to start doing that too? Animals have sex purely out of instinct, nothing else. We should be doing it for an entirely diffrent reason because we have a higher intelligence and can handle abstract concept.
UpwardThrust
13-04-2005, 04:40
1. By the almighty
2. We are not animals though. We are diffrent from animals. Animals also crap everywhere and piss on stuff to mark their territory, are we going to start doing that too? Animals have sex purely out of instinct, nothing else. We should be doing it for an entirely diffrent reason because we have a higher intelligence and can handle abstract concept.

Just because we can handle abstract concepts does not mean that sex for us is MEANT for anything other then sex for other animals are (and yes we are animals)
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 05:08
Just because we can handle abstract concepts does not mean that sex for us is MEANT for anything other then sex for other animals are (and yes we are animals)

Jeez, where do you get that we are animals? When you had to take a crap, did you go in the middle of the floor? Guess what we are not animals, and because are not animals, we have seperate rules for certain things than animals.

Some of you people need to find religion, seriously.
UpwardThrust
13-04-2005, 05:15
Jeez, where do you get that we are animals? When you had to take a crap, did you go in the middle of the floor? Guess what we are not animals, and because are not animals, we have seperate rules for certain things than animals.

Some of you people need to find religion, seriously.


Sence you dont seem capable of understanding the word I will post the deffinition

an·i·mal Audio pronunciation of "animal" ( P ) Pronunciation Key (n-ml)
n.

1. A multicellular organism of the kingdom Animalia, differing from plants in certain typical characteristics such as capacity for locomotion, nonphotosynthetic metabolism, pronounced response to stimuli, restricted growth, and fixed bodily structure.




We ARE animals by the deffinition of the word ... it has nothing to do with your so called god
Secluded Islands
13-04-2005, 05:22
Jeez, where do you get that we are animals? When you had to take a crap, did you go in the middle of the floor? Guess what we are not animals, and because are not animals, we have seperate rules for certain things than animals.

Some of you people need to find religion, seriously.

The only real significant difference between us and other animals are our brains. As humans we have used our brains to create a civilized and structured world. Why do we not crap on the floor? Well we made things called toilets. However, go back twenty thousand years and we were crapping in the woods somewhere.
Bizzare Space Fortress
13-04-2005, 05:45
I don't see why societies in general takes sex so seriously, at least now that it's not automatically tied up in reproduction.

However, there is a benefit to holding off rights to a certain age. It makes people feel like more of an 'adult' when they reach that point, which will hopefully mean they pick up some of that role. My main problem with the age of consent in the US is it's not kept consistent with alcohol, cigarettes, driving and so on. Graduated adulthood only confuses things, IMNSHO.
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 05:46
The only real significant difference between us and other animals are our brains. As humans we have used our brains to create a civilized and structured world. Why do we not crap on the floor? Well we made things called toilets. However, go back twenty thousand years and we were crapping in the woods somewhere.


See that what seperates us from the animals. We have a larger brain capacity. See animals cannot think for themselves. They just act on instinct. We have the capacity to reason and think. Because we have that capacity to reason and think, the defenition of certain acts, must be changed in order to suit our higher intelligence.
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 05:47
I don't see why societies in general takes sex so seriously, at least now that it's not automatically tied up in reproduction.

However, there is a benefit to holding off rights to a certain age. It makes people feel like more of an 'adult' when they reach that point, which will hopefully mean they pick up some of that role. My main problem with the age of consent in the US is it's not kept consistent with alcohol, cigarettes, driving and so on. Graduated adulthood only confuses things, IMNSHO.

Because they are diffrent things, you can't group Sex, cigarettes and driving into the same group. Unless you are going to drive over to your partner house, have sex, and then smoke a big one. Thats just how the dice rolls, deal with it.
UpwardThrust
13-04-2005, 05:48
See that what seperates us from the animals. We have a larger brain capacity. See animals cannot think for themselves. They just act on instinct. We have the capacity to reason and think. Because we have that capacity to reason and think, the defenition of certain acts, must be changed in order to suit our higher intelligence.
And how does higher intelegence have anything to do with sexual urges? nor sexual adulthood? every society over the ages has had different ages be concidered "prime" and they all think their age was right
How is your arbitrary age any better?
UpwardThrust
13-04-2005, 05:51
Because they are diffrent things, you can't group Sex, cigarettes and driving into the same group. Unless you are going to drive over to your partner house, have sex, and then smoke a big one. Thats just how the dice rolls, deal with it.
While I agree (wow) that different things have different resonable ages I still disagree with 18 registered service ... and 21 drinking age ... you can be trained to kill and die for your country ... at that point you should have all the legal rights associated with being a full member of that society you are dying to protect
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 05:51
And how does higher intelegence have anything to do with sexual urges? nor sexual adulthood? every society over the ages has had different ages be concidered "prime" and they all think their age was right
How is your arbitrary age any better?

Because at the age of 16, its not too late, and its not too soon. Its perfect.
UpwardThrust
13-04-2005, 05:52
Because at the age of 16, its not too late, and its not too soon. Its perfect.
Based on what? your perception

People said the same thing about 12 year old a few hundred years ago ... and at varying ages sence then
What is your "perfect" age based on?
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 05:52
While I agree (wow) that different things have different resonable ages I still disagree with 18 registered service ... and 21 drinking age ... you can be trained to kill and die for your country ... at that point you should have all the legal rights associated with being a full member of that society you are dying to protect

Ok, how many of yall are really concern about all this age stuff. And how many of yall are just upset that you can't do it yet, but it looks so cool? Be honest.
UpwardThrust
13-04-2005, 05:53
Ok, how many of yall are really concern about all this age stuff. And how many of yall are just upset that you can't do it yet, but it looks so cool? Be honest.
I am 22 I am legal for everything that is legal so I am really concerned about that "age stuff"
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 05:55
Based on what? your perception

People said the same thing about 12 year old a few hundred years ago ... and at varying ages sence then
What is your "perfect" age based on?

Well you got to remember, a 100 years ago, people wern't living as long as they are now, so they married early. Also back a 100 years ago a 20-30 year old man can marry a 12 year old. Do you want to bring that back too? I based the age of 16 as the point where the MAJORITY of people are at least able to UNDERSTAND what having sex entails, what its suspose to be, and how to do it responsiblilty. Now notice I said MAJORITY, there are the minority who for one reason or another aren't mature enough, and while the laws allows them to screw around, they should wait alittle bit longer.
UpwardThrust
13-04-2005, 05:56
Well you got to remember, a 100 years ago, people wern't living as long as they are now, so they married early. Also back a 100 years ago a 20-30 year old man can marry a 12 year old. Do you want to bring that back too? I based the age of 16 as the point where the MAJORITY of people are at least able to UNDERSTAND what having sex entails, what its suspose to be, and how to do it responsiblilty. Now notice I said MAJORITY, there are the minority who for one reason or another aren't mature enough, and while the laws allows them to screw around, they should wait alittle bit longer.
Again are you just randomly picking that age? do you have any stats to back that up or is it just a "feeling"?
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 05:59
Again are you just randomly picking that age? do you have any stats to back that up or is it just a "feeling"?


I just told you WHY I picked that age. Jeez you've been through the teenage years yourself. Can you HONESTLY say that a 13 year old is MATURE and RESPONSIBLE enough to make a decision to have sex? I mean lets be realistic here! Do you have any stats to prove that people at age 13 are able to make a mature responsible decision about sex?
UpwardThrust
13-04-2005, 06:05
I just told you WHY I picked that age. Jeez you've been through the teenage years yourself. Can you HONESTLY say that a 13 year old is MATURE and RESPONSIBLE enough to make a decision to have sex? I mean lets be realistic here! Do you have any stats to prove that people at age 13 are able to make a mature responsible decision about sex?
No but I cant say that a 16 year old is either

My problem is you dont have ANY proof (statistical or not) that 16 year olds understand (or a majority do) what sex includes

I know why you picked an age but how you arbitrarily decided on 16 as best I dont know.
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 06:23
I picked it because I happen to agree with the law, and I support this law because it does curtail rape and pedophilidia. Without this law, we'd have 30 years old messing with 13 years old. We'd have more rape going on, etc.
UpwardThrust
13-04-2005, 06:24
I picked it because I happen to agree with the law, and I support this law because it does curtail rape and pedophilidia. Without this law, we'd have 30 years old messing with 13 years old. We'd have more rape going on, etc.
Now I am not going to even bother with asking for proof of any of this because I am sure you dont

You do know the slippery slope arguement is a logical falicy right?
Secluded Islands
13-04-2005, 06:26
I picked it because I happen to agree with the law, and I support this law because it does curtail rape and pedophilidia. Without this law, we'd have 30 years old messing with 13 years old. We'd have more rape going on, etc.

So laws will stop rapists? I dont agree with your statement.
Invisuus
13-04-2005, 06:28
Personally, I think something like a 3 year variance for legality would be good pre 16, age 16 four year variance, and age 17 five year variance, until age 18 when you can with whoever you want past your age. Exceptions would be if like a 17 year old dated anyone like 19 and the parents didnt approve, than thats a no no.
Zincite
13-04-2005, 06:52
Here's something I posted in my blog a while ago... the starting quote actually comes from this forum. I think I might have posted this reply in the original thread, but I don't remember:

Earlier today I read this in a thread discussing age of consent:

"I live in Missouri, and I'm a 15-year-old female.

Age of consent here is weird. You can have sex at 14, but only if the
other person is 20 or under. If they're 21 or over, you have to be
17."

Even though she refers to it as "weird", you know, I think that sounds very reasonable, especially compared to what a lot of laws currently are. I mean, think about it. Take the age of consent of 18, the way it is in a number of U.S. states. That's a little ridiculous, isn't it, to say you're not mentally competent to make the decision of having sex until the same time you're legally an adult? I mean, if you want to get into analogies, the government trusts you with a multi-ton hunk of metal (car) before your own body? It's also incredibly unrealistic. And of course, say a 16- and 17-year-old are going out, then both their birthdays pass, suddenly it's illegal for them to have sex. But then again, you get THAT same problem no matter what age you set it at. If you say 16, then you just lower the ages of the example people by two years and it's the same situation. But you have to have an age of consent law to protect children, that's why it exists in the first place. Thus the dilemma.

That right there seems like a perfectly reasonable solution. It allows for human adolescent biology while keeping the age-difference window narrow enough to protect from pedophiles and other people that might take advantage of a minor. And of course it keeps genuine kids safe from all ages.
German Kingdoms
13-04-2005, 07:14
So laws will stop rapists? I dont agree with your statement.

I said CURTAIL, not stop. Rapes will still happen, but this law at least put a stop to some rapings.
Cyberpolis
13-04-2005, 07:57
I said CURTAIL, not stop. Rapes will still happen, but this law at least put a stop to some rapings.

OK, let me start by saying I am completely in favour of age of consent laws as they stand in the UK (16, in case anyone wasn't paying attention).
However, there is no way that a legal 'age of consent' will in *any way* curtail, pervent or deter rape.
Rape is sex without consent. Statutory rape (I think it's unlawful sex over here generally) is sex where at least one party is considered to be unable to give consent in legal terms ('underage' sex).
The legal age of consent cannot affect rape figures, except in the sense that with an age of consent there will be more 'statutory rape' cases, so as far as legal statistics go, there will technically be more rapes.
However, I am, as always, willing to be proven wrong. How is it that you think that age of consent can affect rape?

Blessings
Lucrece
OceanDrive
13-04-2005, 16:42
The age of consent is 18 straight up?
Does it differ according to the position involved? What's the age of consent for doggy, for example? Or BDSM?
Just curious.it should be 21 :confused:
OceanDrive
13-04-2005, 16:46
But at the time, she never really even considered the age of consent.
...
Unfortunately, whatever the young people concerned think about the matter, having sex too young is (or can be) dangerous. The younger a girl starts having sex, the higher her chances of getting, for example, cervical cancer.

cervical Cancer? WTF?
OceanDrive
13-04-2005, 16:50
Like the U.S.? Just because kids know more about sex doesn't make them more qualified to have sex. Kids in America are ridiculously immature. They don't even have enough maturity to stand up for their own actions... Everything is someone else's fault. :fluffle: My teacher...Miss Robinson made me do it... :D :D
OceanDrive
13-04-2005, 16:52
I believe a fixed age of consent is causing more harm than good. E.g.: in a lot of countries it is ok for 16-17 year old to have sex with each other, but not with an adult. Consider the situation where two teenies can happily bang away until the older one reaches the magical 18. Now what they do is illegal till the younger is 18 as well. Sounds stupid? Well, it is. I was the adult in some situations, sometimes the minor. Did it cause me harm? No. Did i cause someone harm? Nope, either. I am talking about the time of 14-20 yo, i am not someone who is involved with teenagers in this way now.
I agree that pressing charges in the case of statutory rape should be left to the parents, on behalf of their kid. The teenager is to be considered the most important witness and her/his oppinion more important than public interest. Psychological evaluation on a case to case basis should be involved to determine if pressure was involved, but if the child convincingly states that everything was done with consent all charges should be dropped.
these Laws are random and very stupid...
OceanDrive
13-04-2005, 16:54
The answer is, you can't most parents don't want to admit it if their kid is a retard. So what happens, everyone, when asked, just says, "Oh, Johnny's a good boy! Why he hasn't even stolen out of my purse in the last month or so..." .ROFL
OceanDrive
13-04-2005, 16:59
Apparantly it's 14 here. Though I've heard that that goes for 14 year olds can have sex with 18 and under kind of deal... I don't know, I'm beyond that age and wouldn't even date anyone under 19 at this point. (legal drinking age in Ontario)...I remember once I was in Ottawa...and the ontario law was "last-call" at 1am...me and my teenage friends would drive to Quebec and party even harder :D :D :D

ontario sux BTW :p