Reasonable Age of Consent?

[Request a new user name]

This is a source of much consternation and angst, so I put this question to you for open debate.

In my opinion, starting at 12 years of age all children should receive mandatory sex education, which includes the dangers, upsides, and get some motivational speakers thrown at them till their 14th birthday.

On that day, they can legally consent to sex and get married. I feel that this is the most reasonable approach, as number one we cram them with the information they need, which scares most of them off from getting into such acts in the first place and encourages the rest to make at least semi reasonable choices.

I say 14 as quite simply, most kids that age are under such stress and marketing which uses sex appeal, that is pretty much inevitable that some will develop a relation with a close friend and take it a little too far. The last thing I want to see is our courts flooded with minors being charged with statutory rape of each other. Also in many places these kids are old enough to get a job which in theory can support them.

Discuss what age you feel is the right one with your reasoning for such an age.

[Dayman]

16 seems fine. That's what it is here in Pennsylvania. At 16, you know what you're doing.

[Nellup]

Well, one should consider that people are ready (biologically) for sex at ~12, so perhaps it could be said that should be the age of consent as nature intended it that way.
However in this day and age, it is much more important to be psychologically ready for sex than biologically, therefore (and speaking as a 16 year old) 16 seems a sensible enough age to be able to consider the emotional implications.

[removeduser_426582376423734]

I'm fine with 16. Veering towards 15, though.

[Serious Spamurai]

I say 14 as quite simply, most kids that age are under such stress and marketing which uses sex appeal, that is pretty much inevitable that some will develop a relation with a close friend and take it a little too far. The last thing I want to see is our courts flooded with minors being charged with statutory rape of each other.

Even though that rarely, if ever, happens. They usually only make a fuss if one is 17 and the other is 14, or something similar.

[gaius valerius]

When 2 ppl love each other and wanna have sex. Then I don't care whether they are 14 or 16. Just do what you both want, but do it safe

[roy34543]

14 seems fine to me if sex education starts at age 10-12 and becomes serious at 13 .
However, if these conditions are not fullfilled then age 16.

[Moosferatu]

It's fine at 16, but I agree with sex education being taught at 12. At early ages sex education is just a funny thing but at 12 they'll be more accepting of it and can be told about not spreading STIs through the population.

[Wicked]

This could be an interesting topic... :hmmm:

I'd say 16, with the caveat that the other partner not be over 4 years older until they reach 18, 14 is just...odd, potential for a high school graduate to be ravishing an 8th grader...if it were my daughter I'd be breaking out the shovel about that time, legal or not...

I just don't think 14 can be considered fully responsible in the area of sex & relationships, hell, 16 isn't for that matter, but the latter is a reality that *will* happen, might as well acknowledge it within certain limitations.

Might help if everyone mentioned age restrictions for the other partner, i.e. you are considered responsible at X age, with no partners over X years older, otherwise this is going to look a little too much like a child molestor convention...

-Wicked

[Request a new user name]

This could be an interesting topic... :hmmm:

I'd say 16, with the caveat that the other partner not be over 4 years older until they reach 18, 14 is just...odd, potential for a high school graduate to be ravishing an 8th grader...if it were my daughter I'd be breaking out the shovel about that time, legal or not...

I just don't think 14 can be considered fully responsible in the area of sex & relationships, hell, 16 isn't for that matter, but the latter is a reality that *will* happen, might as well acknowledge it within certain limitations.

Might help if everyone mentioned age restrictions for the other partner, i.e. you are considered responsible at X age, with no partners over X years older, otherwise this is going to look a little too much like a child molestor convention...

-Wicked

What standards for that equation then?

[Pontifex Maximus]

I think as young as eight is good...

haha yeah right

but seriously, 15 is good to me.

[Gaidin]

16 is fine as a starting point. They should have more rules taking into account proximity of ages though.

[Problem Sleuth]

16 should be a slap on the wrist, fine them a few hundred bucks (more if they're 20+), so it isn't unfair but enough to be restricting and to prevent them from ruining their futures with a possible pregnancy. Keep the official age at 18, when high school ends.

[Serious Spamurai]

16 is fine as a starting point. They should have more rules taking into account proximity of ages though.

Agreed, they need to put more emphasis on the ages of the two. I suppose if they really want to, two 13/4 year olds seems fairly reasonable, but an 18 year old and a 13 year old just seems weird.

[Niles Crane]

12 years old. I knew exactly what I wanted at that age.

[roy34543]

14 is fine in my opinion because it happens illegally if people want it done anyway.
Im 14 and i feel absoloutly no trace of lust in my body . So i imagine it would be rare anyway .

[Gaidin]

14 is fine in my opinion because it happens illegally if people want it done anyway.

Murder happens in spite of it being illegal. Should we make that legal as well?

Im 14 and i feel absoloutly no trace of lust in my body.

Are you human?

[Problem Sleuth]

12 years old. I knew exactly what I wanted at that age.

Wanted, not needed. I doubt banging other 12 year olds would help your situation, especially when one of you gets pregnant... 6th or 7th graders =/= responsible. At ALL.

[Pontifex Maximus]

14 is fine in my opinion because it happens illegally if people want it done anyway.
Im 14 and i feel absoloutly no trace of lust in my body . So i imagine it would be rare anyway .

...to think I was 14 a mere 2 years ago...and horny as hell.

[roy34543]

Its kind of cruel to enforce the law though, i mean it is human nature after all . and at 14 well. What are you going to do to them?

Are you human

Nope . im just a bookish reclusive thingy.