Age of Consent

[Eor]

I was going to post about this in the Gay marriage thread, but it's more deserving of it's own topic.

Mainly, is 18 years old a good age of consent? Too high?

I don't have any real scientific evidence to back myself up other then personal experiences and sights, but I believe that 18 is too old. I've yet to see a 15 year old that can be suckered into a sexual relationship without wanting it. Regretting it, sure, but that's no different then any other age group, except that they're doing it for the first time and so want it to be "special". Obviously a 40 year old who has sex with a 15 year old would be sucking weird, but I don't see how it's any different then a 40 year old that has sex with an 18 year old.

I'm more interested in seeing others debate this

 

[Mini Mic]

I have to agree with you. I suppose though they had to assign an age restriction at some point to ensure 40 year olds don't go around having sex with children and 18 was just decided. This is just my thought but maybe they decided 18 as that's generally the age most people finish school at so the government decided that would be the most appropriate age, who knows.

But you're totally right, believe it or not it IS possible that a 17 year old can be more mature than an 18 year old even if the law dictates it as the other way around.

 

[Mini Mic]

Whoops sorry about the double post.

 

[Eor]

Well just because people can be mature enough doesn't mean anything, I'm sure there are a few four years olds somewhere in the world that are mature enough to make the decision, but when you take the whole, no bloody way. I was just using 15 as a random age, I'd think it might be possible to lower the age to 13.

 

[AlcyoNite]

Well just because people can be mature enough doesn't mean anything, I'm sure there are a few four years olds somewhere in the world that are mature enough to make the decision, but when you take the whole, no bloody way. I was just using 15 as a random age, I'd think it might be possible to lower the age to 13.

The technical age of consent in Virginia is 13; other states, such as New York, have way more lenient laws regarding sex between minors. Literally, age of consent means the age at which the verbal agreement to have sexual intercourse is legally valid. At age 13 [in VA], a girl can have consentual sex with a 14 year old and it will not be considered statutory **** or "carnal knowledge of a minor." I do not know the specifics, but at a certain age, one cannot have sex with a minor so many years younger than him/her.

These guidelines reveal (1) that the law recognizes that younger people can rightfully wield dominion over their own physical aspects. The age of 13 was selected because by this age, kids supposedly know about sex via sex ed. and "maturity." They reveal (2) that the law recognizes that it is obscene that a man 40 years old should be allowed to have sex with a 13 year old. Moreover, the ability of an older person to pressure a child into having sex is much more prominent as age increases; sex between two 16 year olds is less likely to have a dominant person pressuring/manipulating the other to have sex (supposedly).

Now, the age of 18 addresses the legality of people to have the uninhibited right to have sex. This theme parallels any other law that restricts minors from making life altering decisions. The general age of 16 that permits teens to drive allows them a certain freedom to ride the road, but it restricts certain conditions that could lead to dangerous circumstances founded upon irresponsibility, such as limted passengers and curfew. The smoking age exists, again, so that young people won't make irresponsible decisions [until they are (supposedly) old enough to know and accept the consequences]. The age 18 of consent allows an unrestricted freedom that is for adults. "Adult" materials typically always refer in some way to sex, and the freedom to have unrestricted sex should only be allotted to adults. Age 18 represents the legally acknowledged age of adulthood.

Ultimately, age 18 of consent is very consistent with other laws dealing with the same age group. It fits with the themes of the fostering of responsibilities and the prominent presence of guidelines governing life-altering decisions that can be made at a young age.

 

[Eor]

I understand the law very well, thank you

 

[AlcyoNite]

I understand the law very well, thank you

I was not trying to debase your argument by playing some "I'm smarter than you" card. I was trying to supply validity for the law that stands because I agree with it. Isn't this the Debate Hall? It's called a rebuttle.

 

[lonejedi]

The age should stay at 18. The last thing this country needs is pregnant 13 year olds because a condom broke. If you lower the rate to 13, people will have no reason to not have sex at this age since it's legal. And condoms do break.

 

[Aesir]

They don't break very often though, 2 out of every 100 condoms will actually break. Their success rate in general is far greater then their failure rate. Nothing is 100% proven, except abstinence.

13 year old's will have sex and get pregnant regardless of legality, besides whats the difference of 5 years? both ages 13 and 18 are not good years to start having children. at 18 you'll have a minimum wage job? that's in no way a fit salary to be taking care of a child.

 

[Xsyven]

Consent at 13 is ridiculous. Can you imagine a happy couple at thirteen? The wife being pregnant, the two of them dropping out of seventh grade, only so the poor dad could get a full time job at the snow-cone shack for 5 dollars an hour, under the table.

Even a McDonald's wouldn't hire a 13 year old. There's no way anyone that young could support themselves. Consent at 16 seems a bit more realistic, but then again, I still think that it's a tad irresponsible. Pregnancy at that age would ruin her education, and practically doom her to live life as a housewife. Meanwhile, the father would also drop out of school in order to support her.

It's not a basis of maturity for 16 year olds-- it's a basis of how little they'd be able to take care of themselves. I'm struggling living by myself, at twenty. =/

 

[Aesir]

^ Again using that same logic 18 is also irresponsible no 18 year old is ready to start a family, especially in today's economy.

at 18 you can get a minimum wage job in CT that's about 8 dollars an hour, which is one of the highest in the country. You can't support yourself on that let alone you and a kid.

 

[lonejedi]

^ Again using that same logic 18 is also irresponsible no 18 year old is ready to start a family, especially in today's economy.

at 18 you can get a minimum wage job in CT that's about 8 dollars an hour, which is one of the highest in the country. You can't support yourself on that let alone you and a kid.

18 year olds can have full time jobs. There are plenty of Job Opportunities for 18 year olds. Look at how many people are going to technical colleges now. A 2 year college that is cheap, and has great opportunities for young adults. Where as a 13 year old, or a 16 year old doesn't have that opportunity. Andhow many 13 year olds are going to be carrying around condoms with them like an adult would. I would think 13 year olds would be more likely to have sex out of emotion, then have planned sex with a condom.

 

[Crimson King]

Wrong. Most kids that I knew who had sex at 13 or so planned it well ahead of time with condoms. Also, the legality only works if one is above 18.

 

[Aesir]

18 year olds can have full time jobs. There are plenty of Job Opportunities for 18 year olds. Look at how many people are going to technical colleges now. A 2 year college that is cheap, and has great opportunities for young adults. Where as a 13 year old, or a 16 year old doesn't have that opportunity. Andhow many 13 year olds are going to be carrying around condoms with them like an adult would. I would think 13 year olds would be more likely to have sex out of emotion, then have planned sex with a condom.

Yes they can get full-time jobs, they'll also be at school full time. Wheres the time for the kid? taking care of a kid is a full time job in of it's self.

most 2 years only give an associates in which case you'll be making a little over minimum wage but not nearly enough to be out of the red.


also do you know anything about a 13 year old? They're very well planned, especially since sex ed is taught around that age a sensible one if they wanted to have sex would more then likely use a condom.

 

[Kur]

the problem with lowering the age of consent is not so much about maturity or ability to get a job and support your children. It is more about physical maturity.

Just because a girl is going through puberty and has the ability to become pregnant, does not mean she should. Her body is still growing and developing and a pregnancy would wreak havoc on her. And I am not sure of the numbers but statistically, the younger the parents (to a point) the more likely the baby will have birth defects or be still born.

You could say "Well they can just wear condoms" but come on, do you really think a 13 year old kid could even keep a condom from just falling off? Sure, some are bigger than others, but a lot aren't.

Emotional maturity is another issue. I suppose it is possible for a 17 year old or even a 13 year old to be mature enough to have sex, but realistically, no they aren't.

Kids are kids. They are immature by nature. That is why we don't let them drive, vote, buy guns, have credit cards, or do any of that other stuff that requires a certain amount of maturity.

And just ask a young teen about birth control, or whatnot. You would be surprised what you hear. Even with sex-ed in schools, a lot of teens think pulling out is effective birth control. A lot think that a girl can only get pregnant on 1 day a month, or that 7up makes girls infertile. They are still young enough to think "I won't get an STD"

And remember, these are the same kids who think they are going to be with their boyfriend/girlfriend forever, and think their life is over because the social studies teacher is a jerk. Do you really think they are ready to be having sex?

They passed a law last year in Arizona (becomes active today) that teens are not allowed to drive at night or with more than one other teen in the car.

While I do not agree with this particular law, it just shows how immature and often irresponsible teens can be. Even ones over 16 years old.

 

[Peeze]

I think eor had in mind how old do you have to be to want to knowlingly and completely know you want to have sex. Personally 13 is too young only because your still a child at 13.-Whats more irritating is the fact that i can buy cigarettes and get drafted at 18 but can drink(legally).- your just learning what variables are in math and writing "powergraphs". Not only that the body is going through crazy developments at 13. I dont see much difference in 16 and 17/18 though.

 

[Pluvia's other account]

16's fine.

I'm 16, so I can have sex and get married (without parental consent) just now if I wanted, and I don't see anything wrong with that.

 

[Kur]

16's fine.

I'm 16, so I can have sex and get married (without parental consent) just now if I wanted, and I don't see anything wrong with that.

You would probably change your mind if you were older and had a 16 year old daughter (or son for that matter).

A lot of younger people say they are mature enough, or that they would let their kids do thing at the same age, but once they get a few years under their belt, they realize just how immature they really were.

Besides, how irresponsible is it to put yourself in a position to have a child when you are still young enough to probably have to be living in your parents house?

Like most things in life, just because you can, does not mean you should.