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at what age should teenagers be considered adult ?

the age of consent

  • the ones under 18 should be considered child

    Votes: 20 37.7%

  • the ones under 14 should be considered child

    Votes: 4 7.5%

  • the ones under 21 should be coınsidered child

    Votes: 6 11.3%

  • the ones over 14 should be allowed to marry too

    Votes: 1 1.9%

  • the ones under 14 or 15 shouldnt be allowed to have sex if they are child

    Votes: 2 3.8%

  • they are not child if they have physical maturity

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • they need both emotional and physical maturity to have sex

    Votes: 7 13.2%

  • it depends on individual differences

    Votes: 8 15.1%

  • l dont care

    Votes: 1 1.9%

  • others

    Votes: 12 22.6%
  • Total voters
    53
ChrisL said:
That depends upon the mentality of the child involved. It would be NEARLY impossible to figure that out without extensive psychiatric evaluations. Therefore, we go by our age of consent laws.

Men (and women at times) can avoid being labelled as sexual predator by simply avoiding those types of relationships. It is personal responsibility for yourself and your freedom. Just like any laws, if you break them you should expect to pay the price. If you are unwilling to accept the penalty, then don't commit the crime.
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A sixteen year old may be legally a child, but not in the same sense as a 10yo is a child. That's my main point, and you seem to be either missing it or ignoring it.
 
Navy Pride said:
I believe it should be 18.
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I agree, unless it is my daughter, at which case the age is at least a year after my death but not less than 36 :)
 
Cyrylek said:
Nope. The infantilization is, after all, mostly a sad side effect of the need for longer schooling period.

As I said, whatever is the current consensus is OK. 18? So be it. It is a somewhat arbitrary number, but some number is necessary. 21 would be OK as well.
But let's not insult common sense by banning cigarette sales to people who are "mature" enough to be voters, parents and soldiers.
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That is why I say 18 across the board. If you are old enough to fight in a war, then you are old enough to drink and give consent to sex, etc. Also, I prefer the age of 18, not as just an arbitrary age, but because I think it is the smart thing to at least give the poor kids enough time to finish an education and be children before we marry them off for goodness sake. You may think it is "infantile" but I disagree. Teens have a track record for responsibility that generally is NOT good.
 
Medusa said:
should a man age of 21 be charged with pedohilia and convicted of having sex with a child age of 14 15 0r 16 ?

when should a person be considered adult ?

my purpose in starting this thread is not to justify this action

l just wonder why a person has to be accused of being a pedohilie although he is not sexually interested in little children

many of the teenagers have the physical maturity to have sex and give birth although not all of them can be emotionally mature to marry and raise their babies.

if 3 or more adults over 18 can have sex together or marry if polygamy is legalized , why is a person considered pervert pedohilie only because he had sex with a girl who is mature enough to menstruate ?

if both of them are consent to have sex ,what is teh problem ?

they dont seem more disturbing than polygamic lovers
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I think it is impossible to put an exact age on this. Maturity varies a great deal with upbringing. You can raise children or adults, your choice. In the USA, it is common for parents to raise children instead of adults. Goo goo, gaa gaa, teaching childish language inaccuracies, cutesy childish behaviours, as opposed to raising them as adults and participating in discussions on all matters their communication skills support and those skills will encourage mental skills. The same applies to their physical skills. Sex! They must understand the enormity of impact upon some people and be prepared. The first preparation is understanding that all of the impacts are not immediate nor apparent. Combine mental, physical and communication skills to be prepared.
 
Goshin said:
A sixteen year old may be legally a child, but not in the same sense as a 10yo is a child. That's my main point, and you seem to be either missing it or ignoring it.
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I'm not missing or ignoring anything. There are PLENTY of 16-year-olds who act even less mature than a 10-year-old. My point is that our age of consent laws are based on the fact that generally 16 year olds are NOT mature enough to make such life-altering decisions and to have such responsibilities.

Do disagree with that point? Do you think that 16-year-olds are as capable as 25-year-olds when it comes to decision-making and coping skills?
 
ChrisL said:
I'm not missing or ignoring anything. There are PLENTY of 16-year-olds who act even less mature than a 10-year-old. My point is that our age of consent laws are based on the fact that generally 16 year olds are NOT mature enough to make such life-altering decisions and to have such responsibilities.

Do disagree with that point? Do you think that 16-year-olds are as capable as 25-year-olds when it comes to decision-making and coping skills?
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chris ,is every adult over 25 30 mature enough ?
 
Medusa said:
polygamy is not acceptable either
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Consenting adults entering in relationships other than the "standard" marriage should be able to do so, because it is their own business, and not a valid subject of legislation. Freedom of choice, you know. But the age of consent is exactly the age when a person is deemed capable of making choices.

In both cases, the cultural conensus defines "acceptability", but its moral content is entirely different.
 
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Cyrylek said:
Consenting adults entering in relationships other than the "standard" marriage should be able to do so, because at is their own business, and not a valid subject of legislation. Freedom of choice, you know. But the age of consent is exactly the age when a person is deemed capable of making choices.

In both case, the cultural conensus defines "acceptability", but its moral content is entirely different.
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if a teenager has enough maturity to have sex ,it means she he is consent too...............

she is neither child nor stupid..
 
Medusa said:
chris ,is every adult over 25 30 mature enough ?
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Like I've said, of course not, but we have to draw a line somewhere, unless you approve of a 14-year-old marrying a 30 year old? Without any consent laws, that would not be illegal. This is about protecting children from predatory adults and acknowledging the fact that children should be given time to learn and grow and make good decisions with some kind of life experience under their belts before making such life-altering decisions.
 
Medusa said:
if a teenager has enough maturity to have sex ,it means she he is consent too...............

she is neither child nor stupid..
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That is not true at all. Just because you "consent" to sex, that doesn't mean you understand the full impact of what you are doing. For example, when I was 16 years old and found out that I was pregnant, my auntie cried and cried. I was so confused about why she was so upset because I thought that being a mom wouldn't be much different from babysitting. :roll: Good Lord what a dumbass!
 
To be clear, I was calling myself a dumbass. :lol:
 
ChrisL said:
I'm not missing or ignoring anything. There are PLENTY of 16-year-olds who act even less mature than a 10-year-old. My point is that our age of consent laws are based on the fact that generally 16 year olds are NOT mature enough to make such life-altering decisions and to have such responsibilities.

Do disagree with that point? Do you think that 16-year-olds are as capable as 25-year-olds when it comes to decision-making and coping skills?
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You're still missing or ignoring my primary point.

Do you think the SAME penalty is appropriate for sexually molesting a 10yo, as for having sex with a consenting 16yo?
 
ChrisL said:
That is not true at all. Just because you "consent" to sex, that doesn't mean you understand the full impact of what you are doing. For example, when I was 16 years old and found out that I was pregnant, my auntie cried and cried. I was so confused about why she was so upset because I thought that being a mom wouldn't be much different from babysitting. :roll: Good Lord what a dumbass!
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.(

l understand you

you have a son now and you must be proud of him

but l mean ,nobody forced you to have sex with him ..you decided to do it..
 
The age of consent in Switzerland is 16. I'm okay with that. Also, I don't consider a teenager, anyone over 13, as a child. Child is 0-12. Children should not be having sex.
 
Medusa said:
if a teenager has enough maturity to have sex ,it means she he is consent too...............

she is neither child nor stupid..
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Please, almost all animals (and plants) have "enough maturity" to have sex. It does not mean they have the capacity of human reasoning and choosing.
 
Goshin said:
You're still missing or ignoring my primary point.

Do you think the SAME penalty is appropriate for sexually molesting a 10yo, as for having sex with a consenting 16yo?
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I think it depends on the circumstances, but unfortunately we can't do that. We just don't have the resources, time or money. We have to come up with some general guidelines and stick to them.

And again, a man or woman can avoid it altogether by NOT engaging in those activities. If you have sex with a 16-year-old girl, and she tells on you or gets pregnant, then be prepared for the consequences. Life isn't always fair.
 
ChrisL said:
Like I've said, of course not, but we have to draw a line somewhere, unless you approve of a 14-year-old marrying a 30 year old? Without any consent laws, that would not be illegal. This is about protecting children from predatory adults and acknowledging the fact that children should be given time to learn and grow and make good decisions with some kind of life experience under their belts before making such life-altering decisions.
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l cant approve that kind of marriage between teenagers and adults .

family institution is important and even adults cant make good decisions about it.
 
ChrisL said:
I have YET to meet a 13-year-old who is responsible enough to be married and raise a family. They might be mature "for their age." If they are out there, they are the exception and not the rule.
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13?
Easy good decision.....obvious generally too young.
19.5... the great compromise

Or, another compromise...leave things as they are now....with states rights.
 
Arcana XV said:
The age of consent in Switzerland is 16. I'm okay with that. Also, I don't consider a teenager, anyone over 13, as a child. Child is 0-12. Children should not be having sex.
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So what do you consider a teenager? An adult? And tell me how allowing men or women to have sex with 16 year olds would advance or help society in any way. I can give at least a dozen ways on how it can hurt a society.

An individual does not take precedence over what is BEST for everyone else in society. Even if they are horny for young teenagers.
 
ChrisL said:
I think it depends on the circumstances, but unfortunately we can't do that. We just don't have the resources, time or money. We have to come up with some general guidelines and stick to them.

And again, a man or woman can avoid it altogether by NOT engaging in those activities. If you have sex with a 16-year-old girl, and she tells on you or gets pregnant, then be prepared for the consequences. Life isn't always fair.
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There is absolutely no reason why we "don't have the resources" to decide that there will be different penalties for having sex with a consenting 16yo vs raping a 10yo.

None whatsoever.

And there is obviously a huge difference.
 
Cyrylek said:
Please, almost all animals (and plants) have "enough maturity" to have sex. It does not mean they have the capacity of human reasoning and choosing.
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according to your logic

if we have much more capacity to think , we mustnt allow these children to have sex with anybody untill they become adults......

because you see ,teenagers may have to abort their babies.

do you agree ?

we are not animals....

our children shouldnt have sex.
 
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Goshin said:
There is absolutely no reason why we "don't have the resources" to decide that there will be different penalties for having sex with a consenting 16yo vs raping a 10yo.

None whatsoever.

And there is obviously a huge difference.
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Yes there is a difference, but how much? Most 16-year-olds are not mature enough to make such life-altering decisions. That is what it is based on. It would be EXTREMELY expensive and time consuming to figure out who is mature enough to consent and understand all that entails, so we look at the age group and how they generally represent themselves and make educated decisions.

Obviously YOU have ignored many of my posts. Again, I LIVED IT.
 
Giving young idiots the right to vote at 18 is one of the major reasons we have a moron running the country.....
 
ChrisL said:
Yes there is a difference, but how much? Most 16-year-olds are not mature enough to make such life-altering decisions. That is what it is based on. It would be EXTREMELY expensive and time consuming to figure out who is mature enough to consent and understand all that entails, so we look at the age group and how they generally represent themselves and make educated decisions.

Obviously YOU have ignored many of my posts. Again, I LIVED IT.
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I've met 45 year olds that aren't mature enough to raise chlldren, but many of them have been breeding like flies since their teens and getting paid for all the babies. Disgusting but reality!
 
Wayno said:
Giving young idiots the right to vote at 18 is one of the major reasons we have a moron running the country.....
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l was not a moron when l was 16 or 18

and my political ideas never changed since l was 18
 
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