I still wonder about this idea that a 14 year old girl can choose a 16 year old for sex but cannot choose a 26 year old. If she were to get pregnant, which of the 2 could actually support her and the baby? Of course, she could legally choose to get an abortion.

I grew up with a girl whose mother brought a 32 year old guy in and had him sleeping with her at the time 12 year old daughter until she hit 16. That is insane at the same time I knew young women that were able to pass as adults by 14 who were going out with much older guys that had no clue how old they actually were, even having fake ids either end of that is messed up.

Myself I chose a guy 7 years older than I am but if we had been together as young people, when he hit 19 I would have been jailbait.

Granted age difference matters less at the other end of the spectrum.

It's easy to con a youth into sexual activity just look at boycotts and Catholic priests or Epstein. Or Dahlmer or. John Wyne Gacy. We adults should be encouraging youth to remain virgin till the age of adulthood and to take their time learning the character of the person they are attracted to before that miraculous event of consummatting a life long bond and child rearing. Ethics, morals and values no matter wgmhat your sexual preference. OH MY GOD

Well.... I mean lets be honest. A 24 year old should know better. We can't hold a 24 year old to the same standard as we hold 14 year olds regardless of gender.

Damn looks like a lot of people here seem to favor sex with minors. What the hell

I do get your point here... but as @Maw mentioned yesterday there is a power and experience dynamic going on as the age gaps get larger.

I honestly find it a bit shocking that you don't see a clear difference between a 14 year old having consensual sex with a 16 and a 14 year old having consensual sex with a 26 year old.

I will be 26 next month and it is blinding obvious to me why we should discourage 26 year olds from having sexual intercourse with 14 year olds regardless of who seduced whom.

I'm vehemently against it, I believe most people are?

To be fair, I think he's talking about mentally handicapped 26 year olds, which I think is covered under the fact they're not usually treated as adults in a lot of things, as they tend to be purely dependent on others and are not considered able to be self-arbiters.

Even then, I see no reason whatsoever to lower the bar for adults.

Seems extremely dangerous to do that.

Yeppers... I am with @Maw. I am completely against sex with minors. I understand its hard to make bright line rules in this area. So I do believe that the when we are talking about the 15,16 and 17 age ranges that we should also look at the age of the accused. There is a massive difference, imo, of a 15 year old and an 18 year old having consensual sex than a 16 year old and a 26 year old.

I not studied this subject and I do agree that the all of my consensual sexual encounters before the age of 17 did not adversely affect me even though I was always the younger partner. BUT.... there is just too much risk involved in not heavily and strictly enforcing these laws.

Statutory Rape in my State is one of the very few "Strict Liability Laws" (meaning there is no requirement of mens rea - intent or even knowledge)

I like Washington's take on it, and Arizona's take on it. I wish the "by relationship" in Washington was 18 though.

Ah... I see. I might have missed that.... Depending on the level of the handicap there is a built in defense in most states... at least as to criminal intent. But as I just mentioned with Strict Liability Laws... in my State they would probably still be convicted so long as they were competent to stand trial

I think it's a good sort of system they have in that aspect.

Because I think age has a pretty key factor in positions of authority/power, so I don't think you could say a 16 year old wouldn't feel obliged to do stuff with someone older and more established.

Hence why I squint at 16.

The real point is pretty simple. Barring some sort of mental impairment we need to legislate against adults having sexual intercourse with minors. That has to be where we start. Then we can carve out some specific defenses or mitigating factors such as the age gap and mental ability of the adult in the situation.

But we also need to realize that a 17 year old having sex with a 12 year old, though both minors, is something we need to legislate against.

Agreed.

Nice points.

Parents can fail their child in this regard. Surely we can be logical prosecutors lawyers and adults when imposing justice in these and all bad choices

Thanks, it's actually a misconception I think people have that the left is easy on this sort of stuff, when they really aren't.

Because usually people on the left are very adamant about bringing up relationship power dynamics.

(Which is relative to the ability of being even able to consent)

Im a godless progressive liberal and I am very much for strict laws related to this sort of issue

@Massie1223

Oh... and a snowflake as well

Good to hear snow flake. I'm just messing with you JD. After all you labeled yourself. I love this social site. I love hearing or reading the differing and logical views

Power dynamics are why a lot of lefties feel like Trump was talking about the r-word when he said his infamous 'locker room talk'.

They have a sort of social equation that they equate that behavior to 'r-word'.

And it's another reason he's seen as such a divisive figure by the left.

History is comprised of male dominance sorry to say but it also was the males roll to provide for and protect females and children. Words like Trump's were of a male dominated society. I would be offended as well but I can get beyond it as long as the behavior changes and clearly that has happened

Except it's worse than that to lefties.

Yeah... we have very very liberal social views as they related to consenting adults. But we make a very fast 180 when consent is questioned as it relates to the power dynamic or age.

He's in a position of power and authority, not asking for consent, and inappropriately fondling someone without their consent. This is seen as the 'r-word' to lefties.

Then they see him bragging about being able to do it. It's a main reason they hate the dude.

Well.. not the main reason. But its very emblematic of why we dislike him

Okay, one of the key reasons.

Half of the Country has forgiven the comment and were reassured when false accusers were exposed. The left keep the conversation alive to usurp the Presidency

The other side didn't forgive him because he showed no signal that he changed that sort of thought pattern.