Allow myself to introduce...myself... (and clarification)

[tmyers09]

Let's start off with a few "fun facts".

- I'm 17

- I live in southeast Michigan

- I am disgusted with the greed, intolerance, and general douchebaggery of the right wing

- I joined this forum to talk with some cool people and to make fun of said right wing


Recently, a few comments I made in a thread about Roman Polanski caused some outrage. So right now I will clear the air. What I meant to say, is that if somebody is sexually mature, and fully agrees to it, they should be able to have sex. RAPE DOES NOT FALL UNDER THAT CATEGORY. I never said it did, nor did I condone rape.

This, combined with comments in another thread about an alleged molester getting beaten almost to death with a cinder block, made some people make comments that I was a molestation apologist, or that they fear for children around me, other derogatory things. I felt the need to clarify. Maybe my age influences my thoughts on this situation. I just graduated high school a few months ago, and I have seen and heard firsthand how many teenagers there are who are sexually active. Maybe if I had kids of my own, my opinions would change.

So far I have enjoyed my stay at DU, and hope to be a part of this community for a long time.

[pnwmom]

1. Welcome, tmyers09. Sometimes people here can be pretty quick to jump

when they read something they disagree with. Glad you're hanging in here. Welcome to the Democratic party, and to DU!

[izquierdista]

2. Your age does influence your thoughts

Right now you think clearly. Wait a few years and you will see that people acquire all sorts of paranoias about sex from all sorts of experiences, which they seek to project on all sorts of people. What they won't do is calmly consider each situation and learn from it.

[trumad]

3. LOL---both are my threads

Listen--- you really have to think out what you write here because if it comes out wrong---this place will jump on you.

That's what happened in those threads.

Anyhow--- welcome and good luck.

[Fumesucker]

6. I disagree.. It doesn't matter *what* you say, someone is going to jump you..

You can post that you like ponies and bunny rabbits and someone is going to take umbrage.. :)

[uppityperson]

8. You didn't mention kittens. You don't like kittens, do you?

sorry

[Fumesucker]

17. They're great..

I prefer fried, but broiled is fine too.. :evilgrin:

[DireStrike]

10. Ponies and bunny rabbits are not there to be "liked"

They are wild creatures and should not have to worry about whether humans like them or not. In fact they do not, as long as we stop stealing their habitats.

I bet you think it's ok to eat sea kittens, since nobody likes them, right?


(I agree with the "caring for animals should not end with cute ones" idea. I do not mean to detract from it with this lame attempt at humor.)

[Roland99]

15. Canine haters

*harumph*!

[Sinti]

4. Well then, welcome to DU

Your age has an impact on you regarding sex, for sure. When you're a 40-year-old you probably won't think 14-year-olds are sexy anymore, and will find it gross if other men your age do.

Don't take it too seriously. If people react harshly it's usually from lack of information, incorrect information, or way too much stress.

[surrealAmerican]

5. Welcome to DU.

You probably would think differently about age/sex/consent if you understood that many girls reach sexual "maturity" when they are 10 years old, long before reaching anything resembling social maturity.
An adult can manipulate consent from such a young child. There do need to be limits.

[Caliman73]

18. I think you are correct regarding the age thing....

Sexual maturity does not mean mental/intellectual/social maturity, nor does it mean life experience. The gap between 17 to 14 doesn't seem like such a leap as 25 to 14 or even 25 to 16 and 17. I think it is a common thing for younger people to to differ about because they are closer to the ages which are considered "not ready" and they attribute themselves maturity that they may not have had even in the span between 14 and 17. At the ripe old age of 36 I find myself nostalgically recalling the time when I was younger and still had a "good head on my shoulders" until my mother reminds me of the silly decisions I made back then.

Granted, things are different from individual to individual, but for the sake of a smoother functioning society, there have to be some general standards. The mental maturity between a 25 year old and a 14 year old may be similar in some respects, but chances are high that the 25 year old has more life experience and as you said, can use that skill to manipulate the younger person.

[seabeyond]

22. isnt that the truth. i am dealing with nieces, nephews and kids this age and tell myself

even in all my maturity, grown up behavior, .... still. lol

[uppityperson]

7. Welcome to DU. Read, learn, post.

[Fumesucker]

9. Yeah, but are you a man of wealth and taste?

:evilgrin:

Seriously, welcome to DU.. And don't let the flamers bother you, just make sure you have some Nomex Underoos on before you post.. There's always *someone* who's going to take even the most innocuous of statements the wrong way.

Edited to add: If you don't get my little joke, watch this video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuTiTfbfy7Q

[annabanana]

13. Unless our new young friend googles your subject line....

he may have NO IDEA what you're talking about.

[Fumesucker]

16. My daughter knew the song at that age..

And a *whole* lot more to boot.. Her HS graduation party music was almost all classic rock and she had about fifty friends there.. I was actually kind of surprised.

But then she is a musician.

[tmyers09]

25. Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name...

But what's puzzling you, is the nature of my game.

LOVE that song.

[bobbolink]

11. I'm sorry to tell you this, but what you will find is that many come to DU to pick fights.

If you were expecting to see adult and mature discourse here, well.....

:shrug:

[Individualist]

12. In order to understand the reich wing, you need to learn about PNAC

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=110&topic_id=80

Welcome!

[noiretextatique]

14. teenagers being sexualy active with each other in one thing

but adult predators who pursue children for sex is quite another. polanski is a predator.

[Martin Eden]

19. We shouted out "Who killed the Kennedys?"

... then 24 years later, you were born :toast:

Welcome youthful one, and may you acquire wisdom and thick skin.
(you'll need them both)

[seabeyond]

20. polinski, 43. stating once hitting puberty, free game (10?)... even in youth

is going to leave a bad taste for many.

do think things thru

and welcome

i love for my boys to interact on this site too. wealth of info and diversity. and man.... say the wrong shit, like young girls free game, and boy howdy, duck.

[nolabear]

21. Welcome. And stick around. We need you.

Anyone who, at 17, is interested in discussing highly charged issues with people who might not agree, and might not agree "with feeling," iykwim, is a valuable asset to DU.

[Barack_America]

23. Welcome, tymers09. And good on you for just jumping on in.

Wherebouts in MI are you from? I'm a Waterford native, myself.

[tmyers09]

26. Howell. About an hour from Waterford.

And thanks to the person below me for the writing comment.

[Mrs. Overall]

28. I used to teach high school English--

you are very articulate for your age.

[tmyers09]

30. Yep, not all teenagers talk...

LIeK tHIs OMG did U C aMerICAn idOL 2nitE?!?!11111111


At least the smart ones don't.

[Mrs. Overall]

24. You write amazingly well for a 17 year old.

[ChairmanAgnostic]

27. you forgot the "please"

but we forgive you.

[Canuckistanian]

29. We like words like "douchebaggery". Welcome to DU

And don't worry about the "outrages". We're FAMOUS for our "outrages". It's what we do.

Enjoy.

:toast: (< not intended as an explicit acceptance of underage drinking)

:hi:

[seabeyond]

32. not intended as an explicit acceptance ... bah hahahah. that is funny. nt

[MadMaddie]

31. Well we are glad you are here!

Welcome to DU!:hi:

[ms liberty]

33. Anything can cause a flame fest here. Don't worry about it. Welcome to DU! n/t

[Festivito]

34. Have a good time. Have fun with whomever you meet.

The trolls tend not to respond to your responses. They're not cool.

But from the grammar police to the conspiracy nuts, fun and frolic are possible. Have at it.

I'll just plod through frighteningly fleeting facts and play with communication skills. Not as cool, but I find it fun.

Good luck.

[Zywiec]

35. Most here don't even think you fall under the age of consent

Check out this poll done just one month ago:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x6647100

Stick around. Most of the time I just laugh. Nobody does sarcasm as well as some posters here on DU.

:hi: