Age of Consent

[Zingari]

Oh yeah, that's why I agree with Finnegan's point about the age difference up until the age of 18, it makes sense. But it's the same with everything, there's always going to have to be a cut off point.

Blimey, that sounds a bit harsh.

Isn’t prison and medical counselling enough in a civilised society?

[acooling08]

I would have a law based on the age difference of the parties involved.

Initially I'd have the law be pretty young, something like thirteen as your minimum (be as outraged as you want, if a couple of 13 / 14 year olds want to have sex they're going to have sex), but the stipulation being that a sexual partner can be no more than two years of age older than the youngest party. That up until the age of 18 when I'd just say a person was free to choose and I'd make that my blanket age of consent.

Solves two things I see as wrong with the current system: The idea that a sixteen year old can be done for statutory rape for sleeping with their partner of the same age group - but also the idea that a sixteen year old is an appropriate sexual partner for a mature adult. I find the idea that the law lets some predatory forty year old bloke sleep with an impressionable teenager to be frankly disturbing.

I'm not saying that nobody is easily swayed or overly impressionable aged eighteen but I do think you do a lot of growing and developing throughout your mid to late teens and that those two years would make a difference.

Good post Finners.

Now there's something I never thought I'd say.

[Guest Col city fan]

I married youngish and have only ever had sex with my wife. I may preach liberal safe sex to my kids but I've only slept with one woman. Sad I know.

Oh you poor sod!

I offer you my sincerest condolences that's such bad luck!

Blimey, that sounds a bit harsh.

Isn’t prison and medical counselling enough in a civilised society?

[Phube]

That's pretty interesting. It brings up another question as you seem to be saying that 2 people of a mature age could be seen to be acting indecently.

for example a 39YO with a 23YO but 7 years later it'd be alright.

Do you think that it's creepy/weird for mature adults of whatever age to be sleeping together?

This also assumes that 14 is a mature enough age to be having sex.

This isn't a sex thing, it a well known rule of thumb for relationships... and yes it's a bit odd for a 39 year old to be with a 23 year old. The age difference IMO is just too great.

[Captain...]

The age of consent is arbitrary but something is needed, the problem is one that there are some people below the age of consent that are capable of making a mature informed decision, and those over the age that aren't. The half your age plus 7 is a good rule of thumb, and better than the old grass on the wicket method, but there is on way of really determining maturity by age.

Now one idea that is a bit radical, and may infring people's human rights is to have an adult test, at the moment you have different ages for fvcking, driving, drinking. It makes no sense to me that you are an adult for some things at 16 and other things at 18, so a maturity test, or something, where people have to demonstrate an understanding of the dangers of drinking, fvcking etc, before they are permitted to have an id card that allows them there privileges, of course people would still have sex and drink before taking the test, but more than trying to control people, it is to protect people and ensure they know what they are doing.

[acooling08]

Now one idea that is a bit radical, and may infring people's human rights is to have an adult test, at the moment you have different ages for fvcking, driving, drinking. It makes no sense to me that you are an adult for some things at 16 and other things at 18, so a maturity test, or something, where people have to demonstrate an understanding of the dangers of drinking, fvcking etc, before they are permitted to have an id card that allows them there privileges, of course people would still have sex and drink before taking the test, but more than trying to control people, it is to protect people and ensure they know what they are doing.

Imagine the cost of something like this though...

[Jimothy]

The age of consent is arbitrary but something is needed, the problem is one that there are some people below the age of consent that are capable of making a mature informed decision, and those over the age that aren't. The half your age plus 7 is a good rule of thumb, and better than the old grass on the wicket method, but there is on way of really determining maturity by age.

Now one idea that is a bit radical, and may infring people's human rights is to have an adult test, at the moment you have different ages for fvcking, driving, drinking. It makes no sense to me that you are an adult for some things at 16 and other things at 18, so a maturity test, or something, where people have to demonstrate an understanding of the dangers of drinking, fvcking etc, before they are permitted to have an id card that allows them there privileges, of course people would still have sex and drink before taking the test, but more than trying to control people, it is to protect people and ensure they know what they are doing.

Have you seen some of the people out there driving or who have kids? I honestly think a lot of people would be losing privileges if this test was brought in.

[Guest]

Have you seen some of the people out there driving or who have kids? I honestly think a lot of people would be losing privileges if this test was brought in.

Which is a shame because these people probably shouldn't be driving or having kids.

[Captain...]

Imagine the cost of something like this though...

It could just be part of school, if you complete school up to the age of 16 and the curriculum includes lessons and an exam on social responsibility and on how to be a functioning member of society

[Guest]

It could just be part of school, if you complete school up to the age of 16 and the curriculum includes lessons and an exam on social responsibility and on how to be a functioning member of society

and then night school / Continued education. But can you really see the people who are likely to fail NOT having sex before they passed?

[Captain...]

and then night school / Continued education. But can you really see the people who are likely to fail NOT having sex before they passed?

Likewise people don't respect age of consent, if done correctly it would be something people aspire to have and would see it as a badge of honour or a symbol of maturity, and even if they still have sex before passing, then at least they will have spent some time learning and understanding more about the dangers.

It wouldn't just be about sex though, it would be about drinking, smoking, drugs, your responsibility to society and the law.

We had pse at our school, with was similar, but there was no exam or anything and was generally treated as a doss.

[davieG]

Likewise people don't respect age of consent, if done correctly it would be something people aspire to have and would see it as a badge of honour or a symbol of maturity, and even if they still have sex before passing, then at least they will have spent some time learning and understanding more about the dangers.

It wouldn't just be about sex though, it would be about drinking, smoking, drugs, your responsibility to society and the law.

We had pse at our school, with was similar, but there was no exam or anything and was generally treated as a doss.

I don't think I'd trust anyone to come up with sound criteria and a way of putting it into practice also some people mature very late or not at all what do you do with them, do you come up with an age where you say it no longer matters.

Perhaps we should also have assessments before people can drive or join the military at least there is a good chance of actually stopping them.

[1964FOX]

A friend of mine was 38 when h went out with a 16 year old. The relationship was encouraged by the girls mother who's husband was 25 years older than herself. She knew my friend well and thought he was the ideal man for her daughter at the time.

To be fair her daughter looked about mid twenties and my mate early thirties. An extreme example but lawful and no issues from anyone involved.

[Bettsj2]

There is no point setting an age as each case is far too different. Thinking back to when I was at school, there was one girl who was 14 or 15 being picked up by her boyfriend aged 25. She was clearly bright and very mature and looked very much older than she actually was. I remember her telling me that he was starting to get abusive so she ditched him.

Clearly she was capable of making a choice that she was comfortable with and never seemed to me to have been taken advantage of, however in a court of law, he'd be ****ed.

Age should be set low, probably around 12, then judge each case on its own merit. Otherwise a 17yr old could be doin time for gettin it on with a 15 year old which in reality just isnt right.

[Vacamion]

A friend of mine was 38 when h went out with a 16 year old. The relationship was encouraged by the girls mother who's husband was 25 years older than herself. She knew my friend well and thought he was the ideal man for her daughter at the time.

To be fair her daughter looked about mid twenties and my mate early thirties. An extreme example but lawful and no issues from anyone involved.

Wow. Well played him. I couldn't do it. I wonder what they talked about?

Women my own age have always been difficult enough to fathom, let alone trying to communicate on a relationship level with someone from a different generation.

I'm 41 and I can honestly say that if I were single, I could not contemplate going out with a lass more than about 10 years younger than me. I just couldn't be doing with having to explain how things were "when I were a lad", before the internet and mobile phones, when you thought "HD" was a type of pencil.

I think Nature deliberately makes us uglier, smellier, hairier in the wrong places, more reactionary in our tastes etc as we get older, to try and prevent young people finding us attractive.

Well played Nature.

[Bryn]

I don't know the ins and outs but I do think the CPS has a certain level of discretion. I'm under the impression that it is fairly unlikely a seventeen year old would be prosecuted for consensual relationship with his fifteen year old long standing girlfriend.

[AoWW]

Wow. Well played him. I couldn't do it. I wonder what they talked about?

Women my own age have always been difficult enough to fathom, let alone trying to communicate on a relationship level with someone from a different generation.

I'm 41 and I can honestly say that if I were single, I could not contemplate going out with a lass more than about 10 years younger than me. I just couldn't be doing with having to explain how things were "when I were a lad", before the internet and mobile phones, when you thought "HD" was a type of pencil.

I think Nature deliberately makes us uglier, smellier, hairier in the wrong places, more reactionary in our tastes etc as we get older, to try and prevent young people finding us attractive.

Well played Nature.

Except that's "HB".

[1964FOX]

I don't know the ins and outs but I do think the CPS has a certain level of discretion. I'm under the impression that it is fairly unlikely a seventeen year old would be prosecuted for consensual relationship with his fifteen year old long standing girlfriend.

More likely to get an adult caution if both parties are consenting but once reported can't be ignored.

[Guest]

Except that's "HB".

I think Vacamion uses the unleaded version - if you get my drift.

[Vacamion]

Except that's "HB".

If someone in 1987 said "Have you got HD?" you would think they were either talking about a pencil or a sexually transmitted disease.

[FoxyPV]

I would have a law based on the age difference of the parties involved.

MsFoxy would be doing time then

There's 17 years between us. She picked me up as impressionable teenager (19 but still) and made a man out of me.

Joking aside I do agree with your post though.

[Parafox]

It goes much further than children under 16 being able to say yes to intercourse. The emotional involvement isn't there in these "relationships" at a young age. No commitment and no fear of consequences unless you happen to have a very bright and "mature" 13-15 yr old.

I speak from my own experience with my daughter who was having casual relationships from about 14 and was pregnant at 15. The result from this immature association was the birth of my 1st grandaughter with whom my daughter was too young and immature to be properly responsible for or bond with. My grandaughter is now adopted and I miss her every day.

It's just NOT as simplistic as saying "if they're going to have sex at 13-14 then no-one will stop them". The law DOES put a worm in peoples minds that it IS wrong and ILLEGAL. The fallout from failure of these childish liaisons, where they think the'ye "in love" and will be able to bring up a baby is just so far reaching.

Incidentally, we reported the 19 yr old male to the police but they wouldn't pursue him for having sex with a minor as they had consensual sex.

[Parafox]

More likely to get an adult caution if both parties are consenting but once reported can't be ignored.

See my post above

[Guest Col city fan]

My lady is 14 years my junior.

Good job we didn't meet at school...

[Guest Bilo]