age of consent-varg's post

drab4


I don't really have an opinion as I don't think an age of consent actually affects much in the real world. It's just another law which doesn't do much

Exactly this ^

Although it can potentially ruin people.  I had a 15 year old GF when I was 16- I wasn't and I'm not a peado though, but the law would have said I was.

Varg

drab4


I don't really have an opinion as I don't think an age of consent actually affects much in the real world. It's just another law which doesn't do much

It affects how people think of those who sleep with under 16's.

And who goes to prison

I should probably have been clearer - I don't think it affects people's actions - I don't think the age of consent law stops people having sex any more than the laws on alcohol stop young people drinking for example

dazc


i think the problem is age difference more than anything to be honest.  i mean i see nothing wront with two 14 year olds being sexual if they want, but a 14 year old and a 25 year old?  now that would be wrong imo.  But its impossible to make such complicated laws.  So i think 16 is a good balance.

I don't think prosecutions are ever made on cases between two 14 yos are they?
The law seems pretty grey on this.

Varg

dazc


i think the problem is age difference more than anything to be honest.  i mean i see nothing wront with two 14 year olds being sexual if they want, but a 14 year old and a 25 year old?  now that would be wrong imo.  But its impossible to make such complicated laws.  So i think 16 is a good balance.

I don't think prosecutions are ever made on cases between two 14 yos are they?
The law seems pretty grey on this.

im not sure mate.  as far as i know the male would be commiting a crime i think, but its not prosecuted unless there is a complaint from the family?  complete guess though, just seem to remember it being something like that?  others will probably know

Something I find even more intriguing about this whole area is that prior to 1990, it was generally held as a principle of law that a male under the age of 14 was presumed to be incapable of committing a sexual offence. A 14 year old guy could rape his sister and there would be absolutely no criminal reprecussions.

Similarly there was the 'marital rape exception' whereby a husband could never be charged with raping his wife, even if the wife did not consent to the intercourse. This was amended by the same legislation as the above.

1990, not all that long ago.

I'm quite shocked that that Spain's a low as 13.

I really can't justify that to myself. However I consider it, it just seems a little wrong.

13 is too young. I wont be told otherwise. I think 15/16 is borderline depending on the individual.

dazc


i think the problem is age difference more than anything to be honest.  i mean i see nothing wront with two 14 year olds being sexual if they want, but a 14 year old and a 25 year old?  now that would be wrong imo.  But its impossible to make such complicated laws.  So i think 16 is a good balance.

Along those lines, Canada has laws where age difference is taken into account

http://en.wikipedia.org...consent_reform_in_Canada

jango


I'm quite shocked that that Spain's a low as 13.

I really can't justify that to myself. However I consider it, it just seems a little wrong.

does to me too, but then would it if we lived in spain?  i mean do lots of spanish people disagree with the law or is it just accepted.  if its just accepted then it must just be socially conditioned into us?  does seem way too young though

theITman

I personally think 13 is way to young, but then considering we have the highest teenage pregnacy rate in europe with one of the highest ages of consent somhing doesnt quite add up.

The UK has the highest birth rate full stop, it is perfectly logical that some of those babies will be born to teenagers.  Italy and Spain have birth rates of around 1.3 which is listed as 'lowest low'.  It's not just teenagers in those countries not having babies, no one is.  No society has ever survived such a low birth rate.

drab4

dazc


i think the problem is age difference more than anything to be honest.  i mean i see nothing wront with two 14 year olds being sexual if they want, but a 14 year old and a 25 year old?  now that would be wrong imo.  But its impossible to make such complicated laws.  So i think 16 is a good balance.

Along those lines, Canada has laws where age difference is taken into account

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_consent_reform_in_Canada

Most/many of the developed world countries with a lower age of consent have the same considerations in their laws. If you are 18+ you cannot simply go around having sexual relationships with those of a younger age

drab4


I don't really have an opinion as I don't think an age of consent actually affects much in the real world. It's just another law which doesn't do much

One thing worth bearing in mind is that kids are maturing earlier and earlier as time goes on. Physically that is. I'm not sure about mental development (although on a biological level the two are somewhat tied)

I imagine the thread can stay open if people just stay polite

This for me.  It seems a very pointless law, and tbh I don't feel that having it as high as it is currently serves much purpose at all, so it would make sense imo to lower it by at least a couple of years.

PAGAN


13 is too young. I wont be told otherwise. I think 15/16 is borderline depending on the individual.

Well, to be fair 13 is depending on the individual too (if you happen to be that 13 year old).   Remember that it means ALL sexual contact - let's face it many many 13 years old are engaging in some sort of activity to varying degrees.  Essentially at 13 /14 you can't snog your girlfriend as that's indecent assault (if the police were daft enough to do anything, which I'm sure they wouldn't)

erekose, your post count is 8888

erekose , no offence but I'm guessing yuor not a parent? yes I've shagged a 14yr old , and I wont tell you how old I was at the time but I would never agree with any move to lower the age of consent.

PAGAN


erekose , no offence but I'm guessing yuor not a parent? yes I've shagged a 14yr old , and I wont tell you how old I was at the time but I would never agree with any move to lower the age of consent.

You guess wrong then!  I am a parent, and my belief is not changed one bit by that fact - actually I think it would be rather odd if it did as it means I'd be quite hypocritical.

Think people are reading too much into this. All the age of consent means is that it presumes that a person has the capacity to consent to sexual relations, it doesn't presume that they did consent to sexual relations. If there is ever a case of sexual assault or rape, the age of consent will be irrelevant if they didn't consent (which they didn't, if we're talking about sexual assault or rape!). And seeing as the point of the legislation is to protect children from these kinds of assaults, then it really doesn't matter that much what the age of consent is. A 13 year old is going to know just as well as an 18 year if they have given consent or not.

dirtyvest

drab4


Along those lines, Canada has laws where age difference is taken into account

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_consent_reform_in_Canada

Most/many of the developed world countries with a lower age of consent have the same considerations in their laws. If you are 18+ you cannot simply go around having sexual relationships with those of a younger age

and quite right too!  didnt know those laws were like that but they have it spot on imo.
 
off topic, does it not get confusing using both identities in the same thread?

Do you have a daughter ? if so  how old is she ? I dont think I'm old fashioned or whatever the correct term is for it but my daughter is not ready for a sexual relationship, and I dont mean because I'm not ready for her to be in one. 

 

I don't think there is one right age, perhaps there should be bands of similar ages as is written in Swiss law (if children are within three years of each other if under 16). In fact, I believe British law does in effect operate like this.

The Swiss also have a law that if you're under 21, you won't be prosecuted if you reasonably believed that your partner was 16+.