Age of Consent....

[Z24]

I recent thread reminded me of a webpage I found not too long ago. It deals with age of consent laws.

I'm curious as to what people think the "right" age is for consent.

for reference, the page is here

 

[Z24]

Okay, I'll start off.

I think that 18 is too high. Anyone agree, or disagree?

 

[konichiwa]

I don't think age is a correct measurement of maturity in any case.

 

[MisFit]

It depends on whether you are talking about the act, or the consequences of the act... sure a 16 year old may be old enough to do the deed, but there aren't too many that are mature enough at that age to cope with a baby.
I found it interesting that it certain countries the age of consent for a female was lower than that of the male.

 

[Crystal Bay]

It is 16 in Nevada...

 

[Pastore]

personally, i think that its too young... there are faaaar too many 18 year olds getting pregnant and not having a good enough job to support there little ones... id say that 20 is a better number to work with

flame away

 

[prodigy]

México 12

Uhhh ok then.

 

[Z24]

konichiwa,

i agree. but then what do you base laws upon?

i think saying that you have to be 18 years old to have sex is draconian. laws like that beg to be broken.

 

[vi edit]

At anything under 18 you are still technically a minor and your parent's responsiblity. In consideration and to be consistent with that law, I think that 18 would make sense.

I am by no means saying this is right, but I am saying that it would make the most sense. It would also clear up statutory laws as well.

 

[konichiwa]

In an ideal world, person-by-person basis. But obviously that can never happen, so I would say abolish the laws and make it parental consent. Although that wouldn't work worth a sh!t either.

 

[Z24]

vi_edit,

so, it should be illegal for a 17 y.o. to have consentual sex? that, IMO, is a very difficult to enforce law.

and what is the point of a law that is not enforced?

 

[Z24]

oh, and in Canada, the age of consent is 14.

is that too low?

 

[vi edit]

Reread my post. I never said that I agreed with it. I simply said that making it 18 would comply with and simplify existing laws.

 

[zippy]

Z24...no............................if it was 1500. hehe

Just my sarcastic, obnoxious comment.

 

[Isla]

I think that the age of consent (18)in the US is just about right.

If it were older, it would be unfair to those who were mature enough to handle the consequences of sex. If it were younger, many girls who were not ready to withstand the pressures of guys just trying to 'get some' would be taken advantage of with no recourse. Face it... a high percentage of guys are very predatory when it comes to matters of sex. The plethora of teen porn and 'virgin' sites are a testament to the many men out there who are just looking for some flesh to consume, period. They are not thinking about the feelings or the well-being of the girls, and they shouldn't feel free to pursue very young women (teens).

I am very aware of the psychological and emotional development of children. Some mature faster than others, but IMHO, 18 is a reasonable and fair age of consent in the US.

 

[Z24]

Isla, it is NOT 18 across the board in the States.

For many states, it is 16 and for some it is 14.

Remember, we're talking about consent here. Rape is still illegal regardless of age.

 

[divinemartyr]

I was 17 at the time and I was barely ready at that age but I was. I've been known to be very mature for my age, always having worked in offices with people older than me. I don't think anything under 18 is a good age. When you're talking age of consent, you're talking the age that someone over 18 can have sex with a person. So is a person who's 17 having sex with a person who's 18 wrong? Not necessarily but I do think 18 is probably a good age. If a person's 17, they should not have sex with anyone older than 19, and so on. I've heard of certain states having a 2 year rule, which to me makes perfect sense.

dm

 

[Isla]

Let me clarify then:

I think it should be 18 across the board in the US. If I am responsible for my kids until they are 18, then that includes sex.

I'm not talking about rape... I'm talking about guys who have the goal of getting into a girl's pants (sweet-talkers) and then once they have achieved that, they are on to the next conquest.

If a girl is 18 or older, she should be aware of the tricks guys play. Younger girls have a tendency to believe the lines of the players.

Just my .02.

Edit: The 2 year thing sounds like a good measure.

BTW... If I had a 17 year old who had sex with another 17 year old and it was truly consensual and well considered, I wouldn't freak out and press charges or anything. The laws are there to protect, not to harrass. At least, that's how it should be.

 

[Z24]

<< BTW... If I had a 17 year old who had sex with another 17 year old and it was truly consensual and well considered, I wouldn't freak out and press charges or anything. The laws are there to protect, not to harrass. At least, that's how it should be. >>



This is sort of what I'm getting at. If a law is valid, it should be universally applicable. If the law should only be applied in certain cases, those cases should be spelled out. I think an unqualified, across the board age of 18 is too high.



<< If I am responsible for my kids until they are 18, then that includes sex. >>



I don't quite understand what you mean. Could you elaborate?

 

[Isla]

If I can be held accountable by law for what my child does as a minor, then any consequences of sex are also mine to handle if they are not of age. As in, unexpected grandchildren.

Now, I am not sure where you are coming from... how old you are and what your motivation for being interested in the subject comes from. Apparently it is something you have thought a lot about... ???

What I do know is this: A healthy parent/child team that does not shy away from dealing with real life subjects in a practical, loving way should not have to worry much about consent laws. That is why, if one of my children were to break the law out of genuine love for the partner, it would not be a problem. The laws exist to protect the weak and to discourage predators. Because this is not a perfect world, there are no perfect laws. They exist so that there is some structure to work within.

So, what do you suggest is a better plan?

 

[AMDJunkie]

You already have enough horny teens doing it illegally and irresponsibly and now you want it to be legal? And unlike drugs, legalizing sex for younger people will not make it go away. No matter how young you make it that people can get driver's liscenses, they'll always be excited when they can finally get it, mature and competent enough for it or not. Same with sex.

 

[Z24]

<< That is why, if one of my children were to break the law out of genuine love for the partner, it would not be a problem. >>



But you see, it *would* be a problem. You don't have to press charges. The other person's parent's don't have to press charges. A 3rd party became aware of the situation, they could notify the authorities, and it would be out of your hands.

How would you feel about the law then?

I think the laws should reflect absolute minimums that ALL people could agree to as minimums. The government should not be taking the place of parents in setting rules.


EDIT: A friend of mine is a Sociology major, and this topic came up in class. We talked about it a bit afterwards. That is my interest. I find it interesting that in a society that values freedom, there is such a desire to legislate that freedom away. You talk about a healthy relationship between a parent and a child, why can't that relationship be used instead of laws? Use the laws to set the absolutely unacceptable, let the parents regulate the 'grey area' according to the local values.

 

[Isla]

I appreciate what you are saying, but I don't see the courts being clogged with these cases.

If you can direct me to a credible source that shows 3rd parties are causing young lovers to spend time in jail or have criminal records that haunt them as adults because of their passions, I would like to know about it.

The authorities usually ignore laws against nudity during festivals such as Mardi Gras and Gasparilla... I have NEVER seen a chick arrested for flashing her tits. Even when people do complain, it's blown off. I think they would laugh their butts off if some nosey neighbor complained because she saw Timmy and Susie getting it on through the bedroom window.

I think, for the most part, the authorities leave these issues alone unless one of the parents of the minors involved press charges.

I've just never heard of this as being a real problem for those who are, in general, law abiding citizens.

I'm still curious as to why you care so much.

Edit... after reading your edit...

I minored in Sociology and majored in Psych, and from what I gleaned in those courses, the age of 18 is a fair age for industrialized countries. Childhood has been stretched out much longer because we CAN stay children longer It is different in developing countries.

It might not be a bad idea to spell out the consent laws to focus more on keeping adults from having sex with minors rather than to punish minors having sex with each other. Parents of minors have to deal with the consequences of this, such as unwanted pregnancies, stds. etc.

The real trouble is when 'adults' want to have sex with minors.... and minors are those who cannot vote, cannot drive, cannot buy alcohol... cannot provide for offspring. That's what I believe the laws are really there for. Parents should have recourse if their children are lured into sexual relationships with adults who know how to manipulate.

 

[me4get]

There is a Federal Law that makes it illegal to cross state lines to have relations with anyone under 16. But it hasn't been legeally challenged in court yet, as to the constitutionality of this law.

 

[shiner]

Legal age in Oklahoma is 16.....one of those &quot;if there's grass on the field they're old enough to play ball&quot; kind of things I guess.