Can we all agree it is wrong for a 32yo to date a teenager?

[PureX]

No, I just think the age of consent should be raised to 21.

I don't think that's workable. There's no way to stop teenagers from having sex with each other. And I think they need to engage with each other emotionally and sexually to learn, and to ultimately 'grow up' into young adults. Mistakes have to be made for the necessary lessons to be learned. But they need to be making these mistakes with each other, mutually. And not with adults that can (and almost certainly will) take advantage of them.

 

[whirlingmerc]

Criminality aside, can we all just agree that it is wrong for a man in his 30s to date a teenager?

Yes and no... yes legal... maybe unwise since one maybe so much more mature... If you mean underaged teen I agree

 

[Subduction Zone]

Why do you think it's OK for a 61 year old to go after an 18 year old?

Sarcasm. Or did you miss it?

 

[leibowde84]

Why should they wait?
If an 18 year old has the right, then it ain't none of our business.

My point was that maybe the age of consent should be increased to 21 to avoid sickos in their 30s and 40s from dating teenagers. There is a big difference between 18 and 21.

 

[Jumi]

My point was that maybe the age of consent should be increased to 21 to avoid sickos in their 30s and 40s from dating teenagers.

Why not go for 25 or higher since 21 is already arbitrary.

There is a big difference between 18 and 21.

Really now? Are people where you live maturing slower, given less responsibility for their lives to make such control necessary... by the way age of consent in my country is 16.

 

[Revoltingest]

My point was that maybe the age of consent should be increased to 21 to avoid sickos in their 30s and 40s from dating teenagers. There is a big difference between 18 and 21.

If a 21er dated a 20er, would you make it a crime?
What about a 20er & a 19er?

 

[leibowde84]

Why not go for 25 or higher since 21 is already arbitrary.

I think the age of consent should be the same as the drinking age.

Really now? Are people where you live maturing slower, given less responsibility for their lives to make such control necessary... by the way age of consent in my country is 16.

Why shouldn't the age of consent be the same as the drinking age? What is the drinking age where you live?

 

[leibowde84]

If a 21er dated a 20er, would you make it a crime?
What about a 20er & a 19er?

I kind of like the half your age plus 7 rule.

 

[Jesster]

On that note, I think the drinking age should be lowered here.

It should be 18.

 

[Revoltingest]

I kind of like the half your age plus 7 rule.

But what would you make into law?

 

[Koldo]

I don't think that's workable. There's no way to stop teenagers from having sex with each other. And I think they need to engage with each other emotionally and sexually to learn, and to ultimately 'grow up' into young adults. Mistakes have to be made for the necessary lessons to be learned. But they need to be making these mistakes with each other, mutually. And not with adults that can (and almost certainly will) take advantage of them.

What do you mean by 'take advantage' here ?

 

[Koldo]

My point was that maybe the age of consent should be increased to 21 to avoid sickos in their 30s and 40s from dating teenagers. There is a big difference between 18 and 21.

Is there ? Really ?
This must be an american thing because I haven't noticed any particular difference between 18 and 21.

 

[siti]

What a weirdly puritan thread this is! I believe someone actually suggested that it would be wrong for someone in their 20s to date a teenager - so a 20-year-old dating a 19-year-old would be wrong? There is not a single country in the entire world ever in history I would imagine where this would be considered illegal. There are dozens of countries where the age of consent (without restrictions) is 14 (or lower) - including countries like Italy, Austria and China. Some countries have provisions to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors (14- and 15-years old for example) by persons over the age of 21. But there is not one country as far as I can see that does not recognize that (at least some) teenagers as young as 13 or 14 are likely to be sexually active and that by the time they reach 16 to 18 they are sufficiently mature in the eyes of the law to decide for themselves whether or not they want to have sex with an older person. Why in God's name a 32 year old would want to have a sexual relationship with a 14 year old is beyond my comprehension, but age of consent 21? Seriously?

 

[leibowde84]

But what would you make into law?

That is a bit trickier. I don't necessarily think that the law has to change. There are many things that are legal

What a weirdly puritan thread this is! I believe someone actually suggested that it would be wrong for someone in their 20s to date a teenager - so a 20-year-old dating a 19-year-old would be wrong? There is not a single country in the entire world ever in history I would imagine where this would be considered illegal. There are dozens of countries where the age of consent (without restrictions) is 14 (or lower) - including countries like Italy, Austria and China. Some countries have provisions to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors (14- and 15-years old for example) by persons over the age of 21. But there is not one country as far as I can see that does not recognize that (at least some) teenagers as young as 13 or 14 are likely to be sexually active and that by the time they reach 16 to 18 they are sufficiently mature in the eyes of the law to decide for themselves whether or not they want to have sex with an older person. Why in God's name a 32 year old would want to have a sexual relationship with a 14 year old is beyond my comprehension, but age of consent 21? Seriously?

I never said that a 20 year old dating a 19 year old is wrong. The OP doesn't suggest anything of the sort. It says a 30 something dating a teenager. If it makes you feel better, let's just say "teenager" means 17 and below.

 

[leibowde84]

Criminality aside, can we all just agree that it is wrong for a man in his 30s to date a teenager?

I think that the best rule for this is half your age plus 7. That means a 30 year old should stay away from anyone under 22. Seems like a good rule (not law).

 

[leibowde84]

What a weirdly puritan thread this is! I believe someone actually suggested that it would be wrong for someone in their 20s to date a teenager - so a 20-year-old dating a 19-year-old would be wrong? There is not a single country in the entire world ever in history I would imagine where this would be considered illegal. There are dozens of countries where the age of consent (without restrictions) is 14 (or lower) - including countries like Italy, Austria and China. Some countries have provisions to prevent the sexual exploitation of minors (14- and 15-years old for example) by persons over the age of 21. But there is not one country as far as I can see that does not recognize that (at least some) teenagers as young as 13 or 14 are likely to be sexually active and that by the time they reach 16 to 18 they are sufficiently mature in the eyes of the law to decide for themselves whether or not they want to have sex with an older person. Why in God's name a 32 year old would want to have a sexual relationship with a 14 year old is beyond my comprehension, but age of consent 21? Seriously?

What about a 32 year old with a 16 year old, assuming that the age of consent is 16?

 

[siti]

What about a 32 year old with a 16 year old, assuming that the age of consent is 16?

Its up to the 16 year old as far as the law is concerned - that's what 'consent' means.

 

[leibowde84]

Its up to the 16 year old as far as the law is concerned - that's what 'consent' means.

I didn't ask about the law. I asked about whether you thought it was appropriate. Or, are you saying that anything that isn't illegal is, by definition, appropriate?

 

[Jesster]

If it makes you feel better, let's just say "teenager" means 17 and below.

Well that's different then. I'd definitely be against someone older dating anyone under the age of consent.

 

[Jumi]

I think the age of consent should be the same as the drinking age.
Why shouldn't the age of consent be the same as the drinking age? What is the drinking age where you live?

Drinking age here is 18 like in most countries. Same with driving license, voting, marriage...