Age of Consent

Postby Sealherlips » Sun Mar 15, 2015 4:28 pm

In the US, the age of consent is 18. Other places have it at 16. When people hear about a 15 year old and 20 year old, we get disgusted, but what makes it immoral? An innate knowledge or just society's norms? When a 30 year old teacher sleeps with her 17 year old student, she goes to jail, but he knew what he was doing, and no one was harmed. So is it really wrong? There does need to be a limit, but how do you know at which point the act becomes wrong? A 17 and 30 year old is illegal, but if they turn 18 the next day it's suddenly okay? It just seems like a confusing grey area. What are your thoughts?

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Kyle » Sun Mar 15, 2015 4:56 pm

Age of consent laws in the US are actually a lot muddier than it simply being 18. It's 16 in a few places, and almost everywhere allows two people who are under 18 but above 16 to consent to sex. Local laws varying so much mean there is no way I'm going to try to get into all the differences here, and there are lots of gray areas as it pertains to two minors having sex.

And not every adult that has sex with a minor goes to jail. I had a neighbor who was a teacher who had sex with one of her students and she didn't spend any time in jail (or not any significant time, anyway). She did have to register as a sex offender, which is probably worse in the long run than going to jail, although people tend to be much, MUCH more forgiving to female sex offenders than males, even more so than they usually are when it comes to other crimes. But she'll never work with children again. Her husband also understandably divorced her, for what it's worth.

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Sealherlips » Sun Mar 15, 2015 5:02 pm

Well I understand her being fired, but it seems harsh to lump her in with rapists and child molesters.

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Plueschbabycd » Mon Mar 16, 2015 3:16 am

Hallo,
yes in Germany also two over 16 have sex with permission of there parents.
But in Germany could teacher even is only 24 who sleep with 17 students, for him the are is ward and if court think he use status than is out of Consent, I think even for over 18 students. That bring him to jail.
Andrew
"Don´t dream it, be it." Dr. Frank N. Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show

Re: Age of Consent

Postby 31acujoker » Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:00 am

It gets a little complicated here in Australia:

If you are between the ages of 13-15, you can have sex with someone who is two years older, so for example a 13-year-old can consent to sex with some one who is 15, but not 16. But at age 16 you can legally consent to sex with any person who is not legally responsible for your care, e.g. a sports coach or teacher, and then from 18 onwards you can consent to sex with whoever you please who is also over 18.

Like I said, it gets complicated lol
"A thing is not beautiful because it lasts"
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Re: Age of Consent

Postby Plueschbabycd » Mon Mar 16, 2015 4:16 am

Hallo,
I have add that Gemany for over 16 near are same rule as 13-15 in Australia. Only that in Germany are 5 year. Yes 17 can sleep with 18 but not with 23 old and sports coach or teacher and chef of you job also forbidden.
Andrew
"Don´t dream it, be it." Dr. Frank N. Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Jason Toddman » Mon Mar 16, 2015 8:00 am

One thing that troubles me is that a 12-to-16 year-old is considered too young to consent to sex (and is considered not at fault if 'consenting' to sex with someone older), but in many places that same child can be charged as an adult when a serious enough crime is involved... not necessarily murder either.
If they aren't old enough for one (and they shouldn't be either of course; don't get me wrong), why are they considered old enough for the other?
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Plueschbabycd » Mon Mar 16, 2015 9:19 am

Hallo Jason Toddman,
than only would say children should not charged as an adult in crime. Perhaps only if near an adult teen and really show that mental adult. In Germany can fall adult teen under criminal law relating to young offenders if the shows that mental not adult.
One other hand you can have one scene as child in film for Adult that can see if become adult.
"Don´t dream it, be it." Dr. Frank N. Furter in Rocky Horror Picture Show

Re: Age of Consent

Postby abductionfan » Mon Mar 16, 2015 12:03 pm

Being in the us, the laws vary one state to another like has been said here; my state if they are 17 they are considered legal adult status for everything. Another state in southern part is 16, some have drinking ages at 18, and others are 21. ONE STATE I HEARD DROPPED THAT AGE TO 16, all that did is open up for trouble there; especially if at 16, gets wasted and drives killing someone do they get charged as an adult????? Laws are hard to follow here, but; where do they draw the line of sexual conscent ??

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Sealherlips » Mon Mar 16, 2015 3:11 pm

abductionfan wrote:Being in the us, the laws vary one state to another like has been said here; my state if they are 17 they are considered legal adult status for everything. Another state in southern part is 16, some have drinking ages at 18, and others are 21. ONE STATE I HEARD DROPPED THAT AGE TO 16, all that did is open up for trouble there; especially if at 16, gets wasted and drives killing someone do they get charged as an adult????? Laws are hard to follow here, but; where do they draw the line of sexual conscent ??


What age do you think it should be?

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Kyle » Mon Mar 16, 2015 6:52 pm

Jason Toddman wrote:One thing that troubles me is that a 12-to-16 year-old is considered too young to consent to sex (and is considered not at fault if 'consenting' to sex with someone older), but in many places that same child can be charged as an adult when a serious enough crime is involved... not necessarily murder either.
If they aren't old enough for one (and they shouldn't be either of course; don't get me wrong), why are they considered old enough for the other?


You're an adult when the legal system wants you to be an adult, basically.

Re: Age of Consent

Postby tony2 » Mon Mar 16, 2015 9:47 pm

jason - "tried as an adult" is up to the discretion of the prosecutor. For outrageous crimes, I believe I have heard of 12 year olds so convicted.

kid sex? Under English Law (which was Cannon or Church Law that covered family issues) "marriages" etc. were allowed even younger than 12.
So much simpler without smart phones then eh?
If you believe in yourself enough -
nobody else will figure out you're faking it.


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Re: Age of Consent

Postby tie_up_kathy » Sat Mar 28, 2015 11:01 pm

It's 16 where I am (and nope, that doesn't mean I'm looking for a partner sorry :lol: )

Re: Age of Consent

Postby abductionfan » Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:13 pm

Sealherlips wrote:
abductionfan wrote:Being in the us, the laws vary one state to another like has been said here; my state if they are 17 they are considered legal adult status for everything. Another state in southern part is 16, some have drinking ages at 18, and others are 21. ONE STATE I HEARD DROPPED THAT AGE TO 16, all that did is open up for trouble there; especially if at 16, gets wasted and drives killing someone do they get charged as an adult????? Laws are hard to follow here, but; where do they draw the line of sexual conscent ??


What age do you think it should be?





At least 17

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Jason Toddman » Fri Apr 03, 2015 7:34 pm

I think legal age, voting age, driving age, drinking age, age one can join the military, and smoking age should all be the same... 18.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Nexus » Sat Apr 04, 2015 6:15 am

Jason Toddman wrote:I think legal age, voting age, driving age, drinking age, age one can join the military, and smoking age should all be the same... 18.


Sounds about right to me except for the driving age. I would have went crazy having to wait until 18 to drive.

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Jason Toddman » Sat Apr 04, 2015 7:25 am

Nexus wrote:
Jason Toddman wrote:I think legal age, voting age, driving age, drinking age, age one can join the military, and smoking age should all be the same... 18.


Sounds about right to me except for the driving age. I would have went crazy having to wait until 18 to drive.

Perhaps, but considering how many teen drivers get into accidents (many fatal), it seems prudent to me.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Sealherlips » Sun Apr 05, 2015 1:24 am

Jason Toddman wrote:
Nexus wrote:
Jason Toddman wrote:I think legal age, voting age, driving age, drinking age, age one can join the military, and smoking age should all be the same... 18.


Sounds about right to me except for the driving age. I would have went crazy having to wait until 18 to drive.

Perhaps, but considering how many teen drivers get into accidents (many fatal), it seems prudent to me.


Perhaps teens should only be allowed to drive to work, school, and home. That way they get driving experience without being on the roads too often.

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Jason Toddman » Sun Apr 05, 2015 4:31 pm

Sealherlips wrote:
Perhaps teens should only be allowed to drive to work, school, and home. That way they get driving experience without being on the roads too often.

Or perhaps if convicted of any juvenile offense such as under-aged drinking, then they not be allowed to drive until they're 21. No exceptions. That might help make them behave.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Kyle » Sun Apr 05, 2015 4:48 pm

Jason Toddman wrote:
Nexus wrote:
Jason Toddman wrote:I think legal age, voting age, driving age, drinking age, age one can join the military, and smoking age should all be the same... 18.


Sounds about right to me except for the driving age. I would have went crazy having to wait until 18 to drive.

Perhaps, but considering how many teen drivers get into accidents (many fatal), it seems prudent to me.


Thing is, you can be under 18 and going to college for a brief time if your birthday falls in just the right time of the year. It can be hard to go to school in a lot of places without being able to drive. There's also the fact a lot of teenagers have jobs, and some live in rural areas and help out with the family. It would probably also just move the fatal accidents back to early 20s.

But the follow-up comment you made makes a lot of sense.

Re: Age of Consent

Postby Jason Toddman » Sun Apr 05, 2015 5:42 pm

Kyle wrote:
Thing is, you can be under 18 and going to college for a brief time if your birthday falls in just the right time of the year. It can be hard to go to school in a lot of places without being able to drive. There's also the fact a lot of teenagers have jobs, and some live in rural areas and help out with the family. It would probably also just move the fatal accidents back to early 20s.

But the follow-up comment you made makes a lot of sense.

Then perhaps another way to do it would be to allow younger (16 to 18) people to drive provided they can show need like that (and therefore showing they're responsible people at the same time), can get their own car (or permission to use their parents' or someone elses' car), and pass a driver's ed course.
Though this somewhat contradicts an earlier statement of mine here, I also think that the drinking age of 21 should be lowered to 18 for people in the military. If they're old enough to serve our country, they're old enough to be allowed to drink beer at least and the occasional whiskey - as long as they don't get drunk and obnoxious anyway.
Dare to be different... and make a difference.
To boldly go where no one in their right mind has gone before...

Re: Age of Consent

Postby tony2 » Mon Apr 06, 2015 11:05 pm

As my failing memory seems to recall, a DWI or DUI for under 21 does revoke the driver's license until 21 in some states. Washington comes to mind.
The accident numbers, again as i remember, were 1 in three would be in an accident before 25. In driver's ed, it used to be 33% of the class would have an accident within the first year.
And I have never gone along with the idea that a person old enough to get shot for his country isn't entitled to make a drunken fool out of himself at least once before facing his end.
If you believe in yourself enough -
nobody else will figure out you're faking it.


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Re: Age of Consent

Postby Kyle » Tue Apr 07, 2015 6:04 pm

One idea behind the reason for the drinking age being 21 in all states is because there is some evidence to suggest alcohol has a stronger effect on people up until about the age of 20 than it does later. There is a fairly significantly higher chance of becoming an alcoholic for someone who starts drinking before the age of 20, at least.

But the main reason the states set the drinking age at 21 is because MADD managed to convince the federal government to withhold federal funds to states if they didn't change the drinking age to 21 (as studies showed an increase in the number of fatal car accidents for the 18-21 age group when drinking ages were lowered following the passage of the 26th amendment). Needless to say, all the states complied.

It is actually not illegal for minors to drink alcohol in most states, only to buy alcohol. Only seven states (Alabama, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Vermont) explicitly ban alcohol drinking for anyone under 21. Many states do heavily restrict when a minor can drink, such as requiring them to be supervised by family members, or for religious activities. So if you live in one of these states and you're 18, you can legally drink alcohol.

Added: Usually the requirement is that someone underage has to be at home and supervised. Most kids probably aren't going to be able to get that. Local laws on what qualifies as possession of alcohol could also play a part. So it's not really the smartest thing for someone underage to drink, even if it may technically be legal. And I wouldn't want to try to explain it to the cops, who aren't known for letting you know all the rights you really have normally. But it can be legal in some places if you really understand the laws.

Re: Age of Consent

Postby TUfriend » Wed Apr 22, 2015 12:12 pm

Apparently the age of consent is different than the age of sodomy in some parts of Canada. I have a friendfriend of a friend who got in a lot of trouble because he looked up the age of consent, saw it was 17 and went to go "visit" his boyfriend. But then only after he got back to the states did he find out the age of sodomy is 18 in that area.
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Re: Age of Consent

Postby tony2 » Thu Apr 23, 2015 4:01 am

That's a holdover from the British legal system. Consent arises from contract law. E.G. buy a car, get a loan, etc.
sodomy arises from cannon or church law and used to be the exclusive province of the church to try Some states still have the dual court system, and last time I was there I ran into it in Tenn.
If you believe in yourself enough -
nobody else will figure out you're faking it.


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