What if Kevin had committed statutory rape instead of Kaitlynn?

[NaturalHigh]

How many people would be signing petitions demanding that charges be dropped if we were talking about Kevin instead of Kaitlynn? How many would call the DA's office? Would the parents of the victim still be maligned as fundamentalist nuts?

I don't think it's in dispute that Kaitlynn Hunt broke the law by having sex with a fourteen-year-old girl. The question is just when it's okay to break the law.

[loyalsister]

1. I knew a Kevin

He was the boyfriend of my 14 yr old classmate back in the early 80s. It actually was fairly common and statutory rape was considered a joke.
It was not until around that time that sexual molestation and harassment were beginning to be recognized. The power differential was not acknowledged until a number of those situations came into light.
I don't know about boys, but there are more Kevins in the lives of girls who have been sexually abused. Because of that, statutory rape is taken more seriously now.
I think we have not been aware of same sex statutory rape accusations (this is the 1st I've known). In my opinion they are being consistent.

[NaturalHigh]

2. I also think they are being consistent.

So many, though, seem to think this is some sort of homophobia run amok.

[loyalsister]

3. I've seen it to

I understand how that has happened. It seems that the homophobia being expressed is so off the chart that it is probably difficult to resist seeing it in most publicly discussed contexts.

[eridani]

85. The inconsistency reflects physical reality

Nothing that Kaitlyn did with the 14 year old is likely to put her in the hospital. Not so with Kevin.

[loyalsister]

87. How do you know?

Psychological abuse is quite common when there is an possibility that one can take on a dominant role. That is most certainly the case when there is an age difference that places them in two different cultural groups. Adult vs adolescent.

I don't know what happened in their relationship any more than you do. I do know that the possibility of winding up in a hospital due to physical or psychological abuse is still possible.

[eridani]

99. Psychological abuse is certainly possible with either

Physical abuse is not all that common, but women are a lot less likely to do that.

[NaturalHigh]

96. Assume the same encounter that happened with Kate happened instead with Kevin.

How was this young lady likely to end up in the hospital?

It seems (just my impression) that you feel that if Kevin had done the same thing as Kaitlyn, he is a criminal, while Kaitlyn did nothing wrong.

[eridani]

100. I'm talking about known facts that inform relationships

The 14 year old was not likely to be abused by either, but though not statistically common, it is still far more common with heterosexual than lesbian relationships. Them's just the facts. If lesbians want to get pregnant, it requires a great deal of extra effort and expense.

[NaturalHigh]

101. Assuming that the statistics to which you refer are correct...

what does that have to do with the case of Florida vs. Kaitlyn Hunt? Shouldn't we assume that the law applies equally, regardless of gender?

[eridani]

105. I'm a lot more certain that the 14 year old is much less likely to sustain physical damage

--with Kaitlyn rather than a hypothetical Kevin. Emotional damage is, of course, another matter. But the physical thing matters--rape, getting beaten up or impregnated are not trivial things. If it ever becomes common for 18 year old girls to do those things to someone of either sex, I'll change my mind.

[NaturalHigh]

106. Okay, just to clarify...

Are you or are you not saying that Kaitlyn Hunt's relationship with a 14-year-old girl is okay?

[eridani]

109. 14 year olds should not be having sex with anyone.

Even so, if they do, physical harm will not ensue if the 18 year old is a girl. That is a plain physical fact which makes a difference.

[NaturalHigh]

110. I can see your point, but I don't think the law should discriminate in her favor.

So many have bought the Hunt family's story that this has been some sort of homophobic crusade against their daughter by religious fanatics. The facts don't bear that out. As more information comes out about the Hunt family, they don't strike me as the trustworthy types.

I'm actually much more disturbed by the fact that Ms. Hunt picked this young lady up and helped her hide out over night from her parents than I am about the sexual contact.

[eridani]

111. The law needs to consider actual harm, period

Kids of alll genders and orientations have relationships behind their parents' backs despite active disapproval.

[NaturalHigh]

112. Then I will respectfully disagree with your opinion and be on my way.

[snooper2]

118. You ever see one of these?

LOL, great argument you make there

[eridani]

119. Something of a minority taste among lesbians, AFAIK n/t

[ScreamingMeemie]

4. Well... let's see now... I have a SON who happens to be a teenager.

I'm thinking I would be calling the DA's office if the name were "Kevin," even though I've always hated that name.

It should never be a felony when it involves two high school peers who are somehow allowed to attend classes and play sports together.

It's that simple, people.

[NaturalHigh]

6. Seriously?

I was thirteen when I began my freshman year. I played on the high school football team (undersized tackling dummy, mostly) with guys who were eighteen. Are you saying that a relationship with any of the 18-year-olds would have been okay?

[ScreamingMeemie]

9. Seriously... or get them out of school together if one magically becomes an adult at 18. nt

[joeglow3]

90. This ignorant logic.

Friends of outs have kids who go to a K-12 school. Using your logic, and 18 year old could have sex with a 5 year old. It is the schools fault.

[NaturalHigh]

97. Yeah, I don't see how "they went to school together"...

or "they played basketball together" changes anything. Those are just excuses the "Free Kate" crowd are using to try to muddy the waters.

[ScreamingMeemie]

102. Yes, because that's exactly what I said...

Please.

[joeglow3]

104. Yes, that was your justification

Apparently age doesn't matter simply because the two people were in the same building for school. However, your response demonstrates just how stupid that logic is.

[Ms. Toad]

66. There is also a difference between being OK

And being criminal.

OK - no, at least in our house. But if it happened, we would be having some serious family discussion about sexual activity, the consequences or sexual activity, when a couple might be ready to deal with those consequences...but we would not be calling the police in (unless there really was force involved).

Oh, wait, those are the kind of discussions we started having when our daughter was ~ age 12. And she waited until she was 20 for her first sexual encounter. I had some issues even then - and we had lots of long talks about the implications of friends (or even not friends) with benefits.

[NaturalHigh]

72. The victims' parents in this case tried to have a family discussion.

They even talked with Ms. Hunt and asked her to stay away from their daughter. I don't really see what else they should have done before going to the police.

[Ms. Toad]

74. Not go to the police at all.

As far as I am concerned, a high school romance that becomes sexual (by mutual agreement of the two parties involved) should not be a criminal matter. Period.

[NaturalHigh]

75. Then I will just respectfully disagree with you.

[laundry_queen]

23. I totally agree. nt

[sarisataka]

5. I wonder if Kaitlynn was straight

and had sex with a 14 y/o male, would anyone have cared?

[NaturalHigh]

7. When I was fourteen, I was in a school play with a girl who was eighteen.

She used to give me a ride after play practice. Frankly, she could have had me any time she wanted. Would that have been okay?

I can assure you that my parents would have cared. Would they have called the police? I doubt it, but they would have raised hell with her parents.

[sarisataka]

11. You have good parents

As they age, my son will be held to the same standards and expectations as his sister.

I believe there are very many who would give the young boy a nudge and wink rather than viewing it as statutory rape by the female.

[NaturalHigh]

15. I have a 15-year-old son.

You can bet I would be ballistic if I found out he was having sex with an 18-year-old.

[davidn3600]

16. Most people are more accepting when a teen boy has sex with an older woman

Amazing double standard.

[LanternWaste]

38. Most people are also more tolerant when two high school students

Most people are also more tolerant when two high school students have sex with each other.



But keep telling yourself that's a double standard... and I certainly hope you're raising awareness that high school kids have sex with each other.

[Ms. Toad]

68. Amazing generalization.

My standards are the same.

Not OK, but it shouldn't be criminal (at least if we are talking about a romance between a 9th grader and a senior).

[Donald Ian Rankin]

26. I'd have cared just as much, but have strongly opposed prosecuting.

Having sex with a 14 year old is just as likely to harm a 14 year old as having sex with an 18 year old, but it's not reasonable to expect 14 year olds to know any better.

[Ganja Ninja]

122. Probably not.

But a guarantee if it were 18 year old Kevin and a 14 year old boy there would be few if anybody defending Kevin.

[Iggo]

8. ...and this thread...

[NaturalHigh]

12. What's with the "...and this thread..." that you keep posting?

Seriously, what do you mean?

[snooper2]

28. he/she is addicted to letting people know

when trashing a thread LOL


It's cute

[NaturalHigh]

30. Oh, got it.

I didn't know what that was all about.

[Dr. Strange]

43. I suppose it's a case of...

[phleshdef]

10. I disagree with the law that designates it as statutory rape.

A lot of states allow for a larger age span and I think that's reasonable. I know if I had a 14 year old, I wouldn't want them having sex with ANYONE at that age. But still, a mere 3.5-4 years age difference should not be a criminal offense. That's just stupid.

[galileoreloaded]

13. it would have been posted as another example of so called "rape culture"

[NaturalHigh]

14. I imagine you're right.

[BainsBane]

56. so-called?

What do you get out of denying the prevalence of rape?

[lumberjack_jeff]

62. Is Kaitlin promoting rape culture? n/t

[BainsBane]

65. You don't understand what rape culture is

If you're asking if Kaitlyn is a rapist, that's for the courts to decide.

Rape culture:

Rape culture is a concept which links rape and sexual violence to the culture of a society,[1] and in which prevalent attitudes and practices normalize, excuse, tolerate, or even condone rape.[2]
Examples of behaviors commonly associated with rape culture include victim blaming, sexual objectification, and trivializing rape. Rape culture has been used to model behavior within social groups, including prison systems where prison rape is common and conflict areas where war rape is used as psychological warfare. . . .
Rape culture has been observed to correlate with other social factors and behaviors. Research identifies correlation between rape myths, victim blaming and trivialization of rape with increased incidence of racism, homophobia, ageism, classism, religious intolerance and other forms of discrimination. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rape_culture
[9][10]

[NaturalHigh]

67. Well, I have seen a lot of trivializing from Ms. Hunt's parents.

[BainsBane]

70. I agree there is a double-standard here

When it comes to female perpetrators of statutory rape.

[lumberjack_jeff]

69. I would think that current events suggest that society doesn't excuse rape.

It's a zero tolerance net.

[BainsBane]

71. Really?

5% of accused rapists are convicted. Rape kits go untested. 20% of women are raped in their lives, and a important but lesser percentage of men. The rate in the military is twice that, and rapes are very rarely prosecuted there. Many of those who report rapes are demoted or kicked out. You see rape victims shamed via social media all the time, and some go on to commit suicide. Everyone knows that rape is common place in prison. The notion that there is zero tolerance is preposterous. I find is astounding you could say something that so clearly diverges from reality.

[galileoreloaded]

77. great question framing for the meek, but an implied assertion isnt really....anything.

gonna have to bring your A game because I dont believe in mumbo jumbo no matter how shrill the voice.

[BainsBane]

78. You really have difficulty answering a question

directly, don't you?

[galileoreloaded]

120. what do you get out of constant reframes and attempted shaming?

oh wait, a sense of control on the internet that i submit you don't feel you have in real life.

sorry, my post....my rules, and i made a clear statement. hope you find what you need out there.

[BainsBane]

125. Paranoid much?

It is unfortunate that your idea of a response hinges entirely on personal insults, but apparently it is all you are capable of.

[Egalitarian Thug]

17. All these threads demonstrate just what a bad idea legislating sex is.

That's sex, not violent crimes, not coercion, but consensual sex.

People are going to do what people are going to do, no matter how much it irritates the control freaks.

[NaturalHigh]

18. I understand where you're coming from...

but common sense says that a line has to be drawn somewhere. How young is too young? 14? 13? 10?

[Egalitarian Thug]

24. Why? By whom? Me? You? It's not that anything is OK, but trying to stop nature

with a piece of paper & the threat of violence doesn't work. Government is our tool to do what we can to make life better for the governed, not a club to beat people with to force them to do what we believe is best for them.

And in my case, as regards this topic, I had just turned 13 and Linda drove and so I assume was at least 16. I don't believe either of us were harmed in any way. But if the control freaks had their way she would have been put into the criminal system for the crime of being horny. How does that help anyone?

[NaturalHigh]

25. Actually...

trying to stop nature with a piece of paper and threat of violence (i.e. the law) does work, at least sometimes. If it didn't, we would likely see a lot more horny old people trying to take advantage of teens and pre-teens.

[Egalitarian Thug]

31. How do you arrive at that conclusion? Talk to nearly any good looking young woman, she can tell you

story after story of horny men trying to score with and harassing her every damned day. I think you dramatically overestimate the efficacy of these laws. DAs rarely prosecute them, the police don't want to be bothered with them, and most people ignore them the vast majority of the time. Imagine if every time this happened the woman filed a complaint. The police wouldn't have time to do anything but take reports.

And again, don't forget that we're talking about ruining lives, often multiple lives, over consensual sex.

[NaturalHigh]

32. You don't think statutory rape laws keep this from happening more often?

Then I will respectfully disagree and wish you a good day.

BTW - I also have no desire to see Ms. Hunt's life ruined. No, I don't think she should end up a convicted felon or registered sex offender. That doesn't mean, though, that she shouldn't face some sort of consequences for knowingly breaking the law by engaging in sexual behavior with a minor.

[Egalitarian Thug]

35. But, that's exactly what happens. Lives ruined forever...

for sex...

with a person they wanted that wanted them...

forever.

[Donald Ian Rankin]

27. Children cannot give informed consent; having sex with children should be illegal. N.T.

[TransitJohn]

53. No sex involving a 14 year old is consentual, as 14 year olds can't give consent

Ergo, any sex involving 14 year olds is rape. Legally. As has been outlined on DU for years, and very emphatically last winter until Newtown kind of sunk it below the surface here.

[Ms. Toad]

73. And slipping the date rape drug to your wife

and having sex with her unconscious body is not rape in Mississippi.

She consented. Legally. And we all know the law is always spot on about consent, so it must truly have been consensual.

[NaturalHigh]

76. I fail to see how your post applies to the topic of discussion.

[Ms. Toad]

81. The post I was replying to:

No sex involving a 14 year old is consentual, as 14 year olds can't give consent
Ergo, any sex involving 14 year olds is rape. Legally.

Many people in this discussion, and the post to which I replied, insist that the law is the law, and the law is what defines consent, and if the law says something was, or was not consent, there is no questioning it.

In Mississippi, sex between a husband and wife is always consensual - by statute - unless the husband overcomes the wife's resistance by force or violence (and drugging her does not count).

Those arguing that the law is always correct about consent also have to accept both ends of how the statutes deal with consent. A 14 year old cannot consent (by statute) and a wife cannot withdraw her consent (again, by statute with a narrow exception) - because if the statute is wrong about consent in some instances, it cannot be considered infallible.

[Egalitarian Thug]

79. Did you hurt your neck with that disconnect?

[quakerboy]

107. Not even with another 14 year old?

How about two 16 year olds?

[Spike89]

130. The point is what is too young for an adult

We arbitrarily set the age of 18 as adult (could be 21, whatever). Adults should not be having sex with 14 year olds, I'm fine with that as a law. I do think it would also be reasonable to exercise some discretion in sentencing--this particular case probably (probably because I don't know every detail) does not rise to felony sex offender status. It is a crime, but not to the level of pedaphilia--these are near peers.

[pnwmom]

19. How often do you hear of high school boys being prosecuted

for statutory rape of high school girls unless the girl is pregnant?

[NaturalHigh]

20. You never hear about it.

That doesn't mean it doesn't happen. The point a lot of people have made is that if a boy were being prosecuted in this case, it wouldn't even be news. Kaitlynn Hunt being prosecuted, though, makes it on CNN.

Her parents have played the media well, but now they've been caught in a few lies. They probably don't like it that the victim's parents having started giving their side of the story to the press.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

21. What this comes down to is people's messy personal and parental lives

If your parents like your 18 year old boyfriend/girlfriend, you're golden.

If they don't, you're screwed.

[NaturalHigh]

22. It's hard to argue with your post.

I have to admit that I hadn't even thought about it that way.

[LostOne4Ever]

29. I would feel the same

This story has never been about homosexuality as far as Im concerned. Its about the relationship of 2 people in the same peer group. One an 18 year old, the other 14. I don't support that she got sexually involved with a 14 year old, but I don't think she should be faced with legal charges either.

[fishwax]

33. then the victim's character would be under assault on social media and elsewhere

[KamaAina]

34. Would the parents have reported Kevin to the police?

That is the question.

[Demo_Chris]

36. Sex is really scary and a sin and decisions about it should be left to others...

I think we can all agree that a fourteen year old female is completely incapable of deciding for herself whether or not she is interested in physical intimacy. Even if she thinks she wants it, she doesn't really understand how traumatizing and icky sexual activity can be, and she is completely incapable of making any decisions about this for herself.

Decisions of this magnitude are best left to the authorities and experts in our government and churches. These adults, who of course either experienced these things themselves (or wish they had), know what's best. A fourteen year old female should devote her time to needlework, prayer, and kittens.

[madville]

37. Males get charged with this all the time

The FL sex offender registry is full of "Kevin's", I know a couple of guys that were convicted of this very thing.

99% of the time the charges originate from the younger party's parents, they are making the decisions.

[NaturalHigh]

41. You are right. That happens all the time.

However, I am hard-pressed to recall any of those cases that became media sensations or change.org petitions demanding that all charges be dropped.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

39. men have traditionally been the most oppressed group of all.

lesbians on the other hand have just always gotten so much public support. it's like they rule the damned world or something. totally unfair.

[NewJeffCT]

45. Help, Help, I'm being repressed

you lesbians on your pedestals of a worshipful society have it so easy, you don't even notice us poor, oppressed & abused white men. And, you minorities have it so much easier, too.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

49. i know right. totally unfair. i feel terrible for you.

[NaturalHigh]

50. From another GD post:

FORT EDWARD -- A 19-year-old Hudson Falls man pleaded guilty last week in Washington County Court to a felony charge of second-degree rape, officials said.

Michael Smith admitted having sex with a child under the age of 15 last fall, according to the Washington County District Attorney's Office. He was not accused of physically forcing the teen to have sex, but the charge was brought because she was too young to legally consent.

Smith likely faces a sentence of 6 months in Washington County Jail and 10 years on probation when sentenced May 30 by Washington County Judge Kelly McKeighan. He will also have to register as a sex offender.

Hudson Falls Police investigated the case.

http://poststar.com/news/blotter/hudson-falls-teen-pleads-guilty-in-statutory-rape-case/article_aa6cfda2-c06c-11e2-8088-0019bb2963f4.html

Of course, fewer people are screaming about the "injustice" in this case, since the perp is a male.

[NaturalHigh]

48. Should the case against an alleged sex offender be dropped because she happens to be a lesbian?

Will that somehow balance the books against men?

[LanternWaste]

40. Kevin would have gotten quite a few pats on his back from his friends...

Kevin would most likely have gotten quite a few pats on his back from his friends, a stern lecture from his parents, and his girlfriend's parents would have made sure she had birth control.

No police, no teachers, no media. But maybe things are quite different in the here and now than they were in the wild and wooly early eighties... maybe high school freshmen and seniors never have sex anymore...

[gollygee]

42. I knew senior boys who dated freshman girls when I was in high school

The boys were "just being boys" and the girls were labeled as sluts.

I think this idea that heterosexual teenage boys are more oppressed than teenage lesbians is ridiculous.

[NaturalHigh]

44. So do you think that a teenage boy in Ms. Hunt's situation...

would have received this much media attention and 200,000 signatures on change.org?

[gollygee]

46. No, but I don't think it would have reached prosecution

I think people would blame the 14-year-old girl. At least that's how it worked when I was in high school, though it's been a while.

Oh wait, if the mom of a 14-year-old freshman had the 14-year-old's 18-year-old high school senior boyfriend charged? I think the 14-year-old would be bullied at school worse than the victim of the Steubenville rapes was.

[NaturalHigh]

47. Well, unfortunately, I can't disagree with you about the Steubenville comment.

[customerserviceguy]

51. Don't be silly

Only penises rape. No penis, no rape.

At least that's what I've learned from my readings here.

[NaturalHigh]

52. I hadn't thought of it like that.

Maybe that's why the "Free Kate" crowd is in such an uproar.

[customerserviceguy]

54. You got it

That's what's always involved when the person supposedly "in power" has sexual relations with someone who is not considered to have the power (or ability) to refuse. Look for a penis, and you'll be able to predict the reaction to the incident.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

61. When I was in university a female adjunct got nabbed with a teen girl

And that was pretty much the line of reasoning her defenders (maybe 15-20 people) ran with. Combined with arguing that the patriarchy and heterosexual women didn't have the right to judge "sapphotic" relationships that were apparently inherently non-exploitative.

She pled guilty to something and disappeared to teach english in some far flung place.

[customerserviceguy]

88. I figured it out when I went to university nearly forty years ago

There was "All men rape" graffiti sprayed in various places, and I concluded that was because we all had penises. No exceptions for same-sex relationships or consenting adults in that line of 'reasoning'. I guess I see it being played out in this case.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

98. I think they just don't want to be perceived as criticizing a particular group,

People on this site fell all over themselves to defend Mark Foley and Larry Craig. I don't think in their hearts that they really believe what happened was okay, they just don't want to risk undermining their "board cred" with an inevitable accusation of homophobia from the permissive libertines.

[NaturalHigh]

108. +1

[customerserviceguy]

114. Good point.

[BainsBane]

55. The fact is lots of Kevins are charged

There was a thread the other day about a 19 yr old charged with statutory rape for having sex with a 15 year old girl. Same age spread, little attention, no petitions.
There is a very clear double standard.

[dlwickham]

58. and was he charged with a felony?

[BainsBane]

59. Yes, he pleaded guilty to a second degree rape, a felony

http://poststar.com/news/blotter/hudson-falls-teen-pleads-guilty-in-statutory-rape-case/article_aa6cfda2-c06c-11e2-8088-0019bb2963f4.html

[dlwickham]

91. was he dating the girl

[dlwickham]

57. good fucking god

the stupidity on this board has reached a new level

[lumberjack_jeff]

60. I guess "rape" isn't one thing.

This apparently isn't a "legitimate rape", or "rape-rape" if you will.

[Katashi_itto]

63. Lets see, yet another thread to trash

[NaturalHigh]

64. Why, because it raises a question that makes you uncomfortable?

[Katashi_itto]

86. Heheh, such humility, try not to rate your "profound" dribbles to high

[NaturalHigh]

93. I don't even know what your post is trying to say.

[Katashi_itto]

94. I'm supposed to be bothered?

[NaturalHigh]

95. Not at all.

Just saying that I don't get the meaning of your post. I assume it's some sort of insult.

[Notafraidtoo]

80. I think the laws are too harsh.

Should it be illegal? yes Should the 18 year old be on the sex offender list? absolutely not. consent of the 14 year old should matter. I think the parents should have a restraining order option maybe or something along those lines.

Where it gets complicated is the age its self. why is 4 years ok for me but not 6 if the 18 year old is in the same school as the 14 year old etc. Its not as black and white as the laws make it out to be.

Imagine your 14 year old son or daughter thinking for the rest of their life that someone they really liked or even loved is now ruined forever. Thats got to be a mind fuck.

When i was in high school both girls and boys 14 had sex at every party i went to,I lost my virginity at 14 with a girl that was 17 I never felt it was a mistake nor was it something i regretted,so if you are worried about about your son having sex keep him away from party's cause times have changed and if he has any social skills he will likely have sex.

[NaturalHigh]

82. That's a conversation worth having.

I would agree with part of your post, though not all of it. Regardless, had this story been about Kevin instead of Kaitlyn, it would barely have been mentioned in the media. If "Free Kevin" supporters had told as many lies as the "Free Kaitlyn" supporters, nobody would believe a word they said.

[pnwmom]

83. She could have become pregnant.

Which is a pretty big deal.

[eridani]

84. Odds are high that Kevin did not use physical force nor impregnate a 14 year old

But however high those odds are in Kevin's favor, the odds are many thousands of times higher in Kaitlynn's favor in the case of physical force, and zero in the case of impregnation.

[treestar]

89. I'd still have the same issue with it

How the relationship that has been OK for the past few months or however long it lasted, is suddenly one day illegal and exploitative. There has to be a better way.

[NaturalHigh]

92. Actually, that's one of the lies that the Hunt family put out to the media.

The girls didn't even begin dating until after Kaitlyn Hunt turned 18. Their first sexual encounter happened when it was already an illegal act.

[treestar]

113. They knew each other before, though and it was OK to date

during that time. Both are in high school. So there should be a better way to calculate who can't date because of age. It can't just be a hard line rule, or stupid cases like this happen.

Sex for a 14 year old, with another 14 year old or a 15 year old wouldn't be different. It could be just as exploitative, depending on personalities. There's this odd idea of "junior sex" where they are old enough to have sex but only with certain age groups. Maybe if they aren't adults, they should not do it at all, since sex is generally thought to be for adults. If teens are old/adult enough, why the age limits?

[NaturalHigh]

115. I don't necessarily disagree with much of anything that you posted...

except that if it were my 14-year-old child, I wouldn't think it was okay for her to date an 18-year-old. That's too much of an age difference for me to be comfortable with (for either my son or daughter). I probably wouldn't absolutely "forbid" it (that often backfires when dealing with teens), but I would certainly discourage it. At the very least, I would keep a close eye on the relationship.

As for whether or not a relationship between 14 or 15 year olds can be exploitive, I agree that it can be, depending on the circumstances.

[treestar]

116. I understand

I'm not even sure 14 year olds should be having sex, even though physically the body is ready for it then. That's why it is uncomfortable should one date an 18 year old, where, when the same person is 18, and dates a 22 year old, it does not seem as objectionable, and by the time they are 22 and 26, it's perfectly OK.

[NaturalHigh]

117. Frankly, I don't think it's okay for 14-year-olds to be having sex.

Though, they might be physically mature enough, I don't think most are emotionally mature enough to understand the emotional entanglements of sexual relationships.

The whole "hook-up" culture is not good for our children, and yes, 14-year-olds are children.

[Ian David]

103. Under the same circumstances, I'd sign-on for Kevin.

However, I don't think Kevin would be getting his ass prosecuted unless he was black, and the girl was white.

[Ganja Ninja]

121. In order for it to be the same circumstances 18 year old Kevin would have to be ...

having sex with a 14 year old boy. And I don't care what color Kevin is, they would be prosecuting him and he would be spending time in jail.

Not that I think the girl in question should be prosecuted but I don't get why people keep trying to compare this to a straight couple. An 18 year gay man under similar circumstances would never get the sympathy this girl is getting, not even here on DU.

[Ian David]

123. That's because too many of us have the same policy on homosexuality as Vivid Video. n/t

[NaturalHigh]

124. What policy is that?

[Ian David]

126. Vivid Video only has girl/girl and no guy/guy stuff. n/t

[jeff47]

131. I believe they have a subsidiary that publishes guy/guy.

I'm at work, so I obviously can't check on that.

[clarice]

127. A child is a child is a child. nt

[NaturalHigh]

128. I agree with you.

I just think it's wrong that this case is being treated differently because the perp is female.

[clarice]

129. And I agree with you.nt

[jeff47]

132. So, sex between two 17-years-and-364-days people should be illegal? (nt)

[clarice]

133. no, not if it is consensual. nt

[jeff47]

135. But they're both children. (nt)

[clarice]

136. As I said. A child is a child. nt

[jeff47]

137. But you also say that sex between them should not be illegal.

You need to pick one.

Either sex between them is legal, or they're a child and sex between them is not legal.

[clarice]

138. A very sticky issue to be sure. nt

[Poll_Blind]

134. They'd be clamoring to have his balls cut off. And everyone knows it. nt

PB

[NaturalHigh]

140. That's my opinion too.

[backscatter712]

139. PLONK!