Age of Consent

monster · 06-25-2011, 09:17 PM

So, I had thought that the Age of Consent in the US is 18 because so many people here refer to under 18s as being jail-bait. Now I learn that it's 16 in Michigan -and in fact in more than half the states (same as Canada and UK and most of Aus). I guess maybe Cali and Florida are more vocal and populous than most so that's why I thought 18?

So then I looked at the world map. Now that's scary. 12? rly?

I think I'm good with 16. What about you? What age did you grow up with? Did the law have any effect on your decisions? Did you stay legal? Do you think there should be an age law at all? -after all people mature at different rates (physically and mentally)....

Clodfobble · 06-25-2011, 09:41 PM

When I was in high school, Texas' age was 17 but only with a partner up to age 21. If the partner was older than that, the age was 18. As a 16-year-old who was sleeping with a 20-year-old, this was a very relevant law to me at the time. But they may have changed it since then to be just a straight 17 across the board, I don't know.

Honestly, I think the law should stay out of it unless there's a questionable age gap or power gap (e.g., student/teacher) involved. If two 14-year-olds want to have sex, or even a 14-year-old and her 17-year-old boyfriend, the legality of it ought to be the least of their concerns.

richlevy · 06-25-2011, 10:18 PM

Marriage age on the books in at least one US state is 12 with judge/parent consent. Some other states it is pregnancy which can mean the same thing.

Back in the days when average life expectancy was about 40, and in some parts of the world it still is, 18 is almost 'middle age'.

GunMaster357 · 06-26-2011, 02:59 AM

Here in France it is 15 because the law stated that the marriage age for a girl was 15 and 3 months with parental agreement (18 for guys).

The law was changed a few years back to address a growing concern about forced marriage. Mostly in groups of muslim background.

Perry Winkle · 06-26-2011, 02:58 PM

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Jewish people in Russia and Poland used to get married at about 12 years old (they wouldn't live together until 14, or so). This had something to do with the fact that the army would conscript any unmarried male about 14 years old.

Unfortunately I don't remember the exact years and details.

wolf · 06-26-2011, 03:26 PM

9 is scary. 12 is merely wrong.

lookout123 · 06-26-2011, 04:52 PM

I propose we put this conversation on hold until Drax can weigh in on the ick factor.

monster · 06-26-2011, 10:05 PM

har and yuck.

ZenGum · 06-27-2011, 02:48 AM

LOLs.

The info on Japan is inaccurate.

The *national* government sets 13 as the minimum age, but the prefectural (US: state) governments then add to this. There is one prefecture where 13 is legal, but all the rest have higher numbers - 15, 16, 17, 18 maybe. I don't know what it was where I lived. By the time I got there, I was 33, and the "Uncle Creepy" equation was at 24 or so by then anyway.

18 is necessary for any kind of pornography and/or prostitution. Duh. However, "subsidised dating" circumvents the prostitution law. Here, sweetie, accept this designer bag which you can sell second hand for $500. Shall we have dinner?

You want ICK factor? One case hit the media where a prosecutor tried to argue that this was in fact prostitution. The girl was 14. The John was 73.

Brain bleach in aisle 4, please.

I think Australia is more varied than the graph shows. We also do a few of the age-gap factors. I don't know the exact age of consent, because I've got to the age where if she's even close, my answer is NO. So, probably, is hers. Along with "disgrossting!"

Spexxvet · 06-27-2011, 08:24 AM

Isn't the Judeo-christian rite of bar/bat mitzvah basically the point at which girls and boys reach the age of consent? That's 13 for boys and 14 for girls, I think.

06-25-2011, 09:17 PM	#1
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Age of Consent So, I had thought that the Age of Consent in the US is 18 because so many people here refer to under 18s as being jail-bait. Now I learn that it's 16 in Michigan -and in fact in more than half the states (same as Canada and UK and most of Aus). I guess maybe Cali and Florida are more vocal and populous than most so that's why I thought 18? So then I looked at the world map. Now that's scary. 12? rly? I think I'm good with 16. What about you? What age did you grow up with? Did the law have any effect on your decisions? Did you stay legal? Do you think there should be an age law at all? -after all people mature at different rates (physically and mentally).... __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

06-25-2011, 09:41 PM	#2
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	When I was in high school, Texas' age was 17 but only with a partner up to age 21. If the partner was older than that, the age was 18. As a 16-year-old who was sleeping with a 20-year-old, this was a very relevant law to me at the time. But they may have changed it since then to be just a straight 17 across the board, I don't know. Honestly, I think the law should stay out of it unless there's a questionable age gap or power gap (e.g., student/teacher) involved. If two 14-year-olds want to have sex, or even a 14-year-old and her 17-year-old boyfriend, the legality of it ought to be the least of their concerns. __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

06-25-2011, 10:18 PM	#3
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Marriage age on the books in at least one US state is 12 with judge/parent consent. Some other states it is pregnancy which can mean the same thing. Back in the days when average life expectancy was about 40, and in some parts of the world it still is, 18 is almost 'middle age'. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

06-26-2011, 02:59 AM	#4
GunMaster357 Professor Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Brest (FRANCE) Posts: 1,837	Here in France it is 15 because the law stated that the marriage age for a girl was 15 and 3 months with parental agreement (18 for guys). The law was changed a few years back to address a growing concern about forced marriage. Mostly in groups of muslim background. __________________ "War is God's way of teaching Americans geography." - Ambrose Bierce

06-26-2011, 03:26 PM	#6
wolf lobber of scimitars Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Phila Burbs Posts: 20,774	9 is scary. 12 is merely wrong. __________________ wolf eht htiw og "Conspiracies are the norm, not the exception." --G. Edward Griffin The Creature from Jekyll Island High Priestess of the Church of the Whale Penis

06-26-2011, 02:58 PM	#5
Perry Winkle Esnohplad Semaj Ton Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: A little south of sanity Posts: 2,259	In the late 19th and early 20th centuries Jewish people in Russia and Poland used to get married at about 12 years old (they wouldn't live together until 14, or so). This had something to do with the fact that the army would conscript any unmarried male about 14 years old. Unfortunately I don't remember the exact years and details.

06-26-2011, 04:52 PM	#7
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	I propose we put this conversation on hold until Drax can weigh in on the ick factor. __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

06-26-2011, 10:05 PM	#8
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	har and yuck. __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

06-27-2011, 02:48 AM	#9
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	LOLs. The info on Japan is inaccurate. The national government sets 13 as the minimum age, but the prefectural (US: state) governments then add to this. There is one prefecture where 13 is legal, but all the rest have higher numbers - 15, 16, 17, 18 maybe. I don't know what it was where I lived. By the time I got there, I was 33, and the "Uncle Creepy" equation was at 24 or so by then anyway. 18 is necessary for any kind of pornography and/or prostitution. Duh. However, "subsidised dating" circumvents the prostitution law. Here, sweetie, accept this designer bag which you can sell second hand for $500. Shall we have dinner? You want ICK factor? One case hit the media where a prosecutor tried to argue that this was in fact prostitution. The girl was 14. The John was 73. Brain bleach in aisle 4, please. I think Australia is more varied than the graph shows. We also do a few of the age-gap factors. I don't know the exact age of consent, because I've got to the age where if she's even close, my answer is NO. So, probably, is hers. Along with "disgrossting!" __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

06-27-2011, 08:24 AM	#10
Spexxvet Makes some feel uncomfortable Join Date: Dec 2005 Posts: 10,346	Isn't the Judeo-christian rite of bar/bat mitzvah basically the point at which girls and boys reach the age of consent? That's 13 for boys and 14 for girls, I think. __________________ "I'm certainly free, nay compelled, to spread the gospel of Spex. " - xoxoxoBruce

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