A lot of states do not call it "rape of a child" unless the victim is like 12 or under. So anyone charged in that situation regardless of their age is going to go away from a long time.

But, to me 12 is too young. Its really hard for me to imagine even a 14 year old capable of making those sorts of decisions regardless how old the other party is

It's the same sort of opinion I have about shady things in Hollywood. People have power dynamics and they abuse those to take advantage of people from a young age that are looking to make their footprint in life. A lot of the offers are simply **unable to be refused**, no matter how much they may not want to do a particular act with someone.

And I firmly believe that sort of behavior is incredibly predatory.

I do completely understand and agree.

But then at some point we have to at least assume that it was a consensual thing.

I totally get that young women (adults) wanting to make it in Hollywood or whatever were taken advantage of by the likes of Wienstein (or whatever his name was).... but I also see how a person should be able to assume or rely that another sober, mentally sound adult they are having sex with is ok with having sex.

But I am not discounting your point. In that situation he was clearly taking advantage of his position and what he could do for these women and their careers and livelihood. So was their duress? Im sure there was in most if not all those cases.

But at what point does duress remove consent? And how is a potential defendant suppose to knwo that?

I hate this topic because every time I try to defend either side I feel like I am saying something I shouldnt

I'm not judging you for wanting a reasonable bar, it's not something that can be answered in a black and white way I don't think.

I think it has to be a case by case basis

As the law should be handled.

Yeppers, but of course we have to first draft the law before we get there.... so how important are we going to make the "power dynamic" in the text of the law?

I just try to put myself in the shoes of my 17 year old self those 13 years ago and say: If some old guy came up to me and said "hey I'll pay your college tuition if you just (do something)" I'd probably feel pretty disgusted by it, but at the same time, if I knew they probably could do that, I'd probably go along with it, because I didn't know better at the time. I wasn't at an age where I understood complex social dynamics.

Absolutely. I totally get it. But what about the 18 year old? I mean, you see what I am saying the passing of some number of months or days does not remove that "durress"

@JD~Jordan That's the state's attempt to say "Well we need to have something specific at least."

Right.... and I honestly didn't follow the Weinsten crap.... but weren't many of his accusers adults at the time he made advances?

Dunno.

Never followed it myself.

And I also do recognize that at some point we have to draw a red line... anyone under X years of age simply cannot give consent for any sort of sexual intercourse, period. For me, I would put it at anyone under 14 instead of 12 like in many states.

I also see the logic of having it on the other end, 18. Of course, our laws are so batty . At 18, 19 and 20 I can buy a gun, have sex with anyone, enter into contracts, go to war.... but I cant buy a bear or a pack of cigs

its seems so random

Depends on the state, I think one state age of consent is actually 21.

Wow, really? That's crazy. So, I could travel to the wrong state hook up with a 20year old and potentially be charges with Stat. Rape? Yikes

Yup.

I was told that once upon a time the drinking age in Louisiana was 18 but they had to bump it up because the federal government was refusing to give them money toward roads ..

not sure if that is true tho

I thought it was 21 federally-enforced in all states?

Maybe, like I said... it something I was told... just found it interesting

No, it's 18 to 16 in every state. Be careful when travelling internationally.

What bugs me is that a 14 year old girl can choose to do it with every boy in her class but if she seduces a 24 year old, he goes to prison! Or a 15 year old doing it with a 18 year old - no problem. But if she does it with a 28 year old, prison for him. What happened to "equal protection"?

@GregInHouston2, you just advanced to level 11!

I'm all for this. (:

Adults should know better.

14 and 15 year olds should not be seducing 24-28 year olds, and 24-28 year olds should NOT be accepting any sort of offers, at all. Ever.

Period, end of story.

I don't disagree. But we do not live in a world of "shoulds and should nots". And for the record, the youngest I've ever had sex with was 29 when I was 23. She was my bride. I have no desire to change that.

We absolutely live in a world where there are things you should and shouldn't do.

Is there a short guy yelling "da plane! da plane!" there?

What?

Google it.

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.