General Discussion

Ms. Toad

(38,606 posts)

51. I just don't see high school kids dating each other

Tue May 21, 2013, 08:58 AM

May 2013

as criminal - regardless of the genders of the parties. So my issue isn't with the unfair application of the law - it is with the law itself.

Regardless of whether I think it is a good idea for seniors to have sex with freshmen with whom they have a romantic relationship, I don't believe those relations are inherently forced. Statutory rape laws declare - as a matter of law - that the younger person was always forced into the sexual activity; that all sexual activity between the two is rape.

I agree that it may be, and that sometimes seniors have enough power over freshmen that it could be coercive. But not always - and I would go so far as to say not most times. So those cases should be evaluated on an individual basis (as all other non-statutory rape charges are).

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Anonymous on the case of lesbian girl charged with statutory rape. [View all] BainsBane May 2013 OP

I really wonder if the parents were stalking this woman. Initech May 2013 #1

the parents went to the police BainsBane May 2013 #2

Yeah. What I'm getting at is that something stinks in this story. Initech May 2013 #13

What they were *meant* for was to legally enforce virgin purity LadyHawkAZ May 2013 #3

FFS BainsBane May 2013 #4

WTF? LadyHawkAZ May 2013 #5

You said statutory rape laws were about enforcing virgin purity BainsBane May 2013 #6

It is true that these laws seem to be focused on the female davidn3600 May 2013 #7

I agree BainsBane May 2013 #8

1) you asked what they were for, I answered LadyHawkAZ May 2013 #10

the earliest laws set 10 as the age of consent BainsBane May 2013 #17

Of course they should LadyHawkAZ May 2013 #22

I disagree BainsBane May 2013 #23

Everyone has one or two of those experiences LadyHawkAZ May 2013 #25

Did you see the affidavit? BainsBane May 2013 #26

Juliet laws cover teens within a certain age range of each other LadyHawkAZ May 2013 #28

it's not always 3-4 years rebecca_herman May 2013 #30

I think it will be eventually LadyHawkAZ May 2013 #31

I disagree rebecca_herman May 2013 #32

I'm not going to snark. LadyHawkAZ May 2013 #44

Connecticut's law changed last year to allow a three year difference Throckmorton May 2013 #38

Well, darn rebecca_herman May 2013 #40

You mean 10? Sarcastically? BainsBane May 2013 #41

Post got stuck as a reply to wrong post rebecca_herman May 2013 #42

Oh, I see BainsBane May 2013 #43

"I answered". And that's where it all went sideways. n/t Egalitarian Thug May 2013 #46

No - you are thinking of age of consent laws. Ms. Toad May 2013 #9

Attacks against GLBT people is just one of the recent uses. backscatter712 May 2013 #65

The story has gotten somewhat distorted Ms. Toad May 2013 #11

There's a problem with that. Xithras May 2013 #14

Another piece of the story - Ms. Toad May 2013 #15

I appreciate your clarification BainsBane May 2013 #18

yes, that's correct rebecca_herman May 2013 #20

Actually - Ms. Toad May 2013 #27

did you look at the affidavit? rebecca_herman May 2013 #29

I was going by the parents' statement, Ms. Toad May 2013 #33

Does not presume coercion Spike89 May 2013 #64

There's only one way to answer that. Xithras May 2013 #12

I posted this to someone else BainsBane May 2013 #19

Actually that is not correct Ms. Toad May 2013 #37

Cite? Xithras May 2013 #53

Colorado and Utah are both 10 Ms. Toad May 2013 #54

Honestly no. Xithras May 2013 #55

I don't think you spend much time around high school students. Ms. Toad May 2013 #57

I have two teenagers. Xithras May 2013 #58

Affidavit was released rebecca_herman May 2013 #16

Oh dear BainsBane May 2013 #21

Indeed rebecca_herman May 2013 #24

Message auto-removed Name removed May 2013 #34

Outrageous LittleBlue May 2013 #35

Read through the responses BainsBane May 2013 #36

Even if it's an 18-year-old LittleBlue May 2013 #39

That's not the point people are making davidn3600 May 2013 #45

There are different points of view expressed here BainsBane May 2013 #48

Not in a high school dating situation. Ms. Toad May 2013 #49

I certainly don't think the law should be applied unfairly BainsBane May 2013 #50

I just don't see high school kids dating each other Ms. Toad May 2013 #51

It's hard for me to say BainsBane May 2013 #59

Which is precisely why I don't think it should be a crime Ms. Toad May 2013 #61

I see your point BainsBane May 2013 #62

How common are they? roughrider101 May 2013 #67

They were quite common in the high school I taught in for 11 years. n/t Ms. Toad May 2013 #68

I think you have at least two overgeneralisations and an implicit error there. Donald Ian Rankin May 2013 #69

Very true, and thank goodness for the good people in Anonymous. n/t AverageJoe90 May 2013 #47

I don't really have sympathy for the older girl shawn703 May 2013 #52

You realize that in 31 states, the age of consent is at age 16? davidn3600 May 2013 #56

The 18yo would be destroying his/her own life shawn703 May 2013 #60

"If this was an 18-year-old male and a 14-year-old girl... it would be prosecuted in the same way." KamaAina May 2013 #63

She was 14 at the time of the "crime" Spike89 May 2013 #66

Nope. the younger girl was 14 the entire time and the older cali May 2013 #70