General Discussion

Warren DeMontague

(80,708 posts)

57. We have age of consent laws set at 18 the same reason we have the speed limit at, say, 55

Reply to Gravitycollapse (Original post)

Sat Jun 1, 2013, 04:43 AM

Jun 2013

because the line for certain aspects of legal adulthood has to be somewhere, and putting it there makes sense.

Getting rid of all speed limits- or age of consent laws- seems a little insane to me. I do think that the law ought to make allowances for people who are, for instance, all high school age students. Like 18 with 16, or 15 isn't the same as 40 with 15. Obviously.

18 and 14? 14 is pretty young, and given the circumstances of that particular case, I think it's a tough call. I don't know what the repercussions should be, but I don't know either if I'd say it's "okay" in any and all circumstances.

One thing I can say with certainty is that any and all laws in this regard need to be enforced fairly and equally regardless of the genders or orientations of any of the people involved.

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FFS people. The world is not the finely tuned binary a lot of you seem to believe... [View all] Gravitycollapse May 2013 OP

This site has way too many people claiming to be some kind of Liberal or Progressive, whose only RC Jun 2013 #1

You said it, RC. I once read, cannot remember where, that "if we have no compassion for those with Mnemosyne Jun 2013 #3

yup. I see a lot of just cheerleader types who wouldn't the first thing about what a liberal or pro- quinnox Jun 2013 #4

+1 bvar22 Jun 2013 #5

Empathy is great, but it frequently seems pretty selective. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #7

The poster you link to melissaf Jun 2013 #8

Statutory rape is such an absurd concept. Sexual assault is sexual assault. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #11

Yeah-huh. melissaf Jun 2013 #13

Consent has nothing to do with age. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #15

But child molestors do, in fact, melissaf Jun 2013 #16

Why don't you tell that 18 year old woman how this is an intellectual exercise. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #17

Why don't you tell that statutory rape victim melissaf Jun 2013 #19

I wrote this thread because of people like you... Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #20

Ah, so it's *my* fault melissaf Jun 2013 #24

Being a victim doesn't mean you get to call for people's heads on pikes. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #25

Read what I said: melissaf Jun 2013 #27

It's one fallacy after the other. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #31

Well, melissaf Jun 2013 #32

I am not shutting up the victims of rape. That is the terrible irony of your posts. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #34

Talk to the poster melissaf Jun 2013 #38

Why don't you talk to that poster. You're the one using her victimhood to further your own agenda. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #44

I'm not the one who used her post melissaf Jun 2013 #45

+1 n/t lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #68

You mean that AnalystInParadise Jun 2013 #94

Child molestation and statutory rape are not the same thing. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #113

18 is still an adult. AnalystInParadise Jun 2013 #114

So you are openly admitting that you refuse to use critical thinking skills. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #115

I started dating my wife 35 years ago when she was 15 and I was 18 lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #12

Couldn't that melissaf Jun 2013 #14

I expect empathy and rationality from everyone. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #18

Sorry, but melissaf Jun 2013 #22

Agreeing with sending innocents to jail won't be one of my expressions of empathy. nt lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #23

The 19-year-old man melissaf Jun 2013 #28

The "Good. Send him to jail" poster doesn't know either. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #67

The NYT had an op-ed piece a few years back about this. Igel Jun 2013 #70

Indeed. LadyHawkAZ Jun 2013 #26

Where is your empathy for them? ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #76

So true. Just look how many gun nuts there are (nt) Uzair Jun 2013 #79

LOL, empathy. So how about a 13 year old? 12? 11? 10? Where can my empathy end? Dumb! n-t Logical Jun 2013 #100

Empathy? For the ridicules? RC Jun 2013 #103

Some things are just wrong. And there has to be punishment to prevent them in the future. And you... Logical Jun 2013 #104

How about we raise them to know better, instead of punishing them after the fact? RC Jun 2013 #105

LOL, fuzzy logic means you MIGHT find a 30 year old man and 13 year old girl OK. Classic! n-t Logical Jun 2013 #106

It doesn't work that way. RC Jun 2013 #107

Couldn't agree more RC. Well said! sabrina 1 Jun 2013 #108

I'm afraid this case has enraged Mama and Papa Bears all over DU Warpy Jun 2013 #2

Are we to take for granted that the fourteen yearold is practically Marquise de Merteuil? Sen. Walter Sobchak Jun 2013 #61

I knew some who were incredibly sophisticated Warpy Jun 2013 #72

Legislating individuals doesn't work very well, Sen. Walter Sobchak Jun 2013 #92

The fuck it isn't... "the finely tuned binary..." cherokeeprogressive Jun 2013 #6

and they'll be in Scotland afore ye... Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #54

Stop it now. This is logical and has no place in the world of black and white. GoneOffShore Jun 2013 #9

It's almost never about the children. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #10

won't you think of the children? quinnox Jun 2013 #21

hah! melissaf Jun 2013 #29

Who here has claimed the world is black and white? nt ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #78

It's seen all the time on this board. GoneOffShore Jun 2013 #85

I have never seen anyone here say the world is black and white. ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #87

Whatever you say. GoneOffShore Jun 2013 #91

No room for nuance. Quantess Jun 2013 #98

Saying "no room for nuance" misses a lot of nuances in left leaning people's positions. Squinch Jun 2013 #102

Thanks for your nuanced response! Quantess Jun 2013 #111

True. Squinch Jun 2013 #112

In accordance with the law, a fourteen year old can not consent. Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #30

These laws have absolutely nothing to do with protecting the young. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #33

Having had 14 year old children, and recognizing that the 14 year old brain... Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #39

You don't have a monopoly on the mantra "we must protect the young." Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #41

I am not claiming a monopoly. That is my opinion based on being a father... Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #46

"Nowhere is it 14." False. At least 3 states have the age of consent pegged at 14. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #47

I accept the correction. thanks. Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #51

A relationship is a fluid concept. It can change based on one's capacity for complexity... Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #52

So at what age do you think a child is unequivocally NOT capable of consent in sexual relationships? Squinch Jun 2013 #101

Actually the human brain is not full mature until around 30. RC Jun 2013 #65

Protection from what? immoderate Jun 2013 #42

We have sex urges long before our bodies or mind are ready for it. The young are easily manipulated. Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #49

Concur that development varies and is individual. immoderate Jun 2013 #53

The 18 year old brain isn't fully formed, either. Occulus Jun 2013 #90

Till about 21. I've already said I think the punishment is wrong... Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #93

Sounds like this Michel guy supports pedophilia. zeemike Jun 2013 #50

�It is forbidden to kill; Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #55

Then sex between two fourteen year olds would be illegal treestar Jun 2013 #74

It is illegal in some places LadyHawkAZ Jun 2013 #110

The laws don't seem to be protecting the young. Maybe some common sense would work sabrina 1 Jun 2013 #109

why do you support rape culture? galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #35

It's actually statutory rape laws that perpetuate rape culture. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #37

that is oppressive male thinking galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #40

Your thinly veiled sarcasm chervilant Jun 2013 #66

I support no concocted faiths galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #69

Patriarchy is a damaging chervilant Jun 2013 #73

The "lock 'em all up" contingent... jberryhill Jun 2013 #36

Fuck! Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #56

IIRC, California law has a "sweetheart exception." Bette Noir Jun 2013 #43

So, over a week of posts like this... Scootaloo Jun 2013 #48

We have age of consent laws set at 18 the same reason we have the speed limit at, say, 55 Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #57

Putting it there doesn't make sense. And consent comes in a plethora of scenarios... Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #58

so DonCoquixote Jun 2013 #59

The line has to be *somewhere*, that's what the equivalency is. Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #60

Why not? AnalystInParadise Jun 2013 #95

Still there needs to be wiggle room treestar Jun 2013 #75

I agree, like I said, 18 and 16 isn't the same as 40 and 16. Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #83

Back when I was in HS many years ago I turned 18 while in my Senior Year as did a few of my friends YeahSureRight Jun 2013 #62

Empathy applies both ways. A seduced 14 year old is a *victim*, not a lover, and deserves protection Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2013 #63

no, she shouldn't go to prison. yes, there should be some penalty. yes, the law should be more HiPointDem Jun 2013 #64

Well here's the thing. We have laws in this country, as fucked up as they may be. Avalux Jun 2013 #71

Unless you're rich and/or famous, then enforcing these laws is unthinkable. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #97

I really like my perception of the general gist of your OP. ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #77

what a terrible post Motown_Johnny Jun 2013 #80

I'm just going to assume you only read the OP title and didn't bother with anything else. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #81

I read the whole thing, it has no basis in reality. Motown_Johnny Jun 2013 #82

"There is a legal age of consent and 14 isn't it." - Wrong. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #84

In Florida, 14 isn't it. Motown_Johnny Jun 2013 #88

Which state has consent set at 14? tammywammy Jun 2013 #89

What no one here seems to be addressing is the fact that the age of adulthood used to be 21, period. RC Jun 2013 #86

But, in authoritarian crazy world it's perfectly OK to prosecute an 11 year old as an adult. Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #96

+1 Savannahmann Jun 2013 #99