The Age of Consent: Too High or Too Low?

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 11 Nov 2005, 00:22

In the UK its 16; it maybe lower in your country.?

Do you agree with the current law in your land? Is it right that kiddies should be porking before they can drive or vote? Or is it draconian to halt the natural harmonal urges of a minor?

How young is TOO young?

gasteropod · Post by **gasteropod** » 11 Nov 2005, 00:41

I don't think there should be an age of consent law. Don't get me wrong - it sickens me that teenagers have sex, for some bizarre reason (I have a mate who feels the same way!!!) - but people should be allowed to do what they want.

Yi-Long · Post by **Yi-Long** » 11 Nov 2005, 08:25

Yeah, as I said before, one kid is READY for sex (mentaly) at age 13 ... and some arent't even ready when they're 19 or 20 ... so it's very difficult to find a good, fair solution to it. Personally, I COULD have had sex at 14 or something, but I wasnt ready for it back then (as in a girl wanting to have sex with me). I think I was 17 or 18 when I first had sex.
But there are lots of 14 and 15 year old kids who have sex and just deal with it wisely, using condoms and the pill etc.

Personally I prefer having sex when someone means something special to you (as in love), so I do not (morally) agree with kids (or grown-ups for that matter) sleeping around and just behaving like dogs and sluts etc, but that's different for everyone and they should do what they like and I do what I like.
Schools and parents at least need to educate stuff like birth-control and safe-sex etc, and ALSO about LOVE and RESPECT and that sex should preferably with someone special. But many at that age just wanna fuck/fool around, trying it all out and such, so I just wonder if it would change much. Personally, I was raised with those ideas, but maybe that's cause I'm a hopeless, naieve romantic ...
Maybe if I get my heart broken, I'll turn into a huge slut that goes sleeping around.... who knows?

nenmaster · Post by **nenmaster** » 11 Nov 2005, 15:14

i think probally 14 or 15, age for drinking shouldnt be as high as well

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 11 Nov 2005, 16:12

I think 16 is about right. It's not the age which I have an issue with it's the "oh we can't talk about sex to kids" or "we can't sell condoms in schools" talk that annoys me. Both just lead to more kids not understanding the implications and because it's a taboo to buy condoms they simply don't, which leads to teenage pregnancies.

As for drinking I think they've got it about right in Holland. Beer, Cider etc . . . at 16 but spirits at 18. At least this way it's controlled.

The amount of 16 year olds you see down the train station unsupervised getting drunk is stupid.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 11 Nov 2005, 17:06

I'm no expert but from what I can gather, I think 16 seems reasonable.

I'm curious, what's the minimum age in the US?

When I worked there, the kids (who were like 14-15 years old) told me openly about their sexual activities... and I was like "erm, rawk..."

bradavon · Post by **bradavon** » 11 Nov 2005, 17:55

What does rawk mean?

I think it's the same Bisc at 16. 16 seems to be pretty common.

p.s - It's 19 for anal sex apparently in South Africa but according to this article it's being lowered to be in line with other sexual practises of 16. You think we're conservative check out these guys:

http://www.thebigquestion.co.za/Default.aspx?tabid=705

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 11 Nov 2005, 18:02

American slang for "rock" Brad.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 11 Nov 2005, 18:03

I think in the USA it's 18.

In Jesusland it's 45.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 11 Nov 2005, 18:05

At what age do girls become women (ie. are able to bear children)? It's as young as 12 isn't it? So clearly nature intended THAT age to be the beginning of sex for a young person. But society says 16 or 18. Is it right to repress nature for so long? Discuss.

BiscLimpkit · Post by **BiscLimpkit** » 11 Nov 2005, 18:20

Markgway wrote:At what age do girls become women (ie. are able to bear children)? It's as young as 12 isn't it? So clearly nature intended THAT age to be the beginning of sex for a young person. But society says 16 or 18. Is it right to repress nature for so long? Discuss.

Ah but since when has a 12 year old been mature enough to look after a child? I doubt even most 16 year olds have what it takes to raise a baby - at least provide a decent home, future etc. The human body continues to develop long into adulthood, for both males and females (mentally as well as physicially).

Just because a 12 year old girl may have the ability to give birth, does not mean that is what nature intended IMO. Just like anything in nature, developing one's body is a gradual process.

It's not even healthy for such young pregnancies, which again reflects on nature most certainly not intending for 12 year old girls to be pregnant.

In Jesusland it's 45

Jesus you say? LOL!

Mordib · Post by **Mordib** » 11 Nov 2005, 19:20

people mature at different times, in a perfect world the age of consent would be different for each person to suit their physical and mental state, same with movies and alchohol... but of course, there is no real way of enforcing that. as such i think 16 is fine as a sort of average... it doesnt actually stop anyone having sex anyone, but as they say, its the thought that counts

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 11 Nov 2005, 20:17

I sort of agree with Bisc, but in the 19th century the AoC was 12. A hundred years ago, girls were often married at 14 or 16. In Japan, The AoC is only 13/14 which has only been enforced since 1997 (I think).
Is it right that a young teenager can't have a beer or smoke at that age but can sell her body and be taken advantage of? I don't think so!
People mture at different rates, I mean you could have a very mature 14 year old but immature 22 year old?

When I was born, my mother was 32.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 11 Nov 2005, 20:35

Lets make it 3 years old then so the freaks can prey on the young!

countries with younger laws than our are really messed up places.

Markgway · Post by **Markgway** » 12 Nov 2005, 11:43

BiscLimpkit wrote: Just because a 12 year old girl may have the ability to give birth, does not mean that is what nature intended IMO. Just like anything in nature, developing one's body is a gradual process.

I'm not disagreeing. It's just interesting that "we" as humans begin to develop sexually at such a young age but society deems it unacceptable to act on those natural urges. I think society has also changed the development of children. I'd imagine that 100 years ago 12 year olds were a lot more mature and capable than they are now. Now many come across as if they have no brains between them. But long ago children HAD to be mature to raise and support their families. I think it's society that's changed not our bodies.

Jesus you say? LOL!

Well, George Bushland.

grim_tales · Post by **grim_tales** » 12 Nov 2005, 12:04

You may have hit on something there Mark. As I said 100 years ago the age of consent was 12 years old and girls would often get married at 14. They were expected to do much more.

romerojpg · Post by **romerojpg** » 12 Nov 2005, 13:49

Yes and childred as young as you can imagine were having sex hundreds of years back! thats a very flawed line of thinking! 5 year olds were married off in the medieveil times man! thats just sick.