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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
Goshin said:
You'll turn hundreds of thousands of people into convicted sex offenders that way.
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I don't think they should be old enough to have consensual sex at that age. 21 should be the new "are you 18?" question.
 
Goshin said:
16 is the age of consent in my state.


And I'm sorry, but you just cannot equate the sexual molestation of a 10yo with someone having a consensual sexual relationship with a 16yo, it is comparing apples and nukes.
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Really, I'm surprised that you have taken this stance. And yes, you can compare it. A 16-year-old is only six years older than a 10 year old. How much life experience do you think they have acquired in that time? How much do you think a 16-year-old understands about actions and consequences?

I wonder what you think about a 16-year-old being put into an adult prison system? What about a 16-year-old getting the death penalty? What is your opinion about a 40-year-old man having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl?
 
ChrisL said:
It is what is generally expected from people in certain age groups and protection of children and teens from predatory adults. Nothing arbitrary about it.
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What we expect from people of a certain age? Honestly, if that's the criteria then I would suggest the Age of Majority in America needs to be about Thirty; because we don't actually EXPECT anything out of anyone under that age in this country. We find more excuses for why the 16, 18, 21, 25, and older crowds shouldn't be held responsible for the decisions they've made and/or actually taking care of themselves. It's ridiculous.

Oh, and on the "protecting children and teens from predatory adults" front..... What's your plan for protecting adults from the predatory teenagers?

ChrisL said:
What is arbitrary is when we have different ages, such as 21 for drinking, 16 for driving, 18 for fighting in a war. It should be the same age when you get your adult privileges. (not that fighting in a war is a "privilege" in all cases, but you get the gist).
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I can actually agree with that idea, so long as we are willing to set it all at the HIGHEST standard, not the lowest. I'd suggest about 25 years old, considering the teens and twenty-somethings that I see around me a good deal of the time.
 
ChrisL said:
Really, I'm surprised that you have taken this stance. And yes, you can compare it. A 16-year-old is only six years older than a 10 year old. How much life experience do you think they have acquired in that time? How much do you think a 16-year-old understands about actions and consequences?

I wonder what you think about a 16-year-old being put into an adult prison system? What about a 16-year-old getting the death penalty? What is your opinion about a 40-year-old man having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl?
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many of them can understand ...................

at least they know how to have sex

children cant do it...
 
Medusa said:
l was not a child when l was 15. l think l am clear enough..
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I wasn't a child when I was 13. By that age I tended to hang out more with the adults around me than with any of my peers. They were far too immature for me to waste my time with. Now, was I ready to engage in sexual activities at that age..... Not at all. I didn't have the experience or the understanding of how the act worked, nevermind the ability to deal with the potential consequences of the act. Was I ready when I did lose my virginity at age 17?.... NOPE. I thought I was, but I definitely wasn't.
 
Tigger said:
I wasn't a child when I was 13. By that age I tended to hang out more with the adults around me than with any of my peers. They were far too immature for me to waste my time with. Now, was I ready to engage in sexual activities at that age..... Not at all. I didn't have the experience or the understanding of how the act worked, nevermind the ability to deal with the potential consequences of the act. Was I ready when I did lose my virginity at age 17?.... NOPE. I thought I was, but I definitely wasn't.
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l a m not saying you should do or not :lol:

but it was your decision..
 
Tigger said:
What we expect from people of a certain age? Honestly, if that's the criteria then I would suggest the Age of Majority in America needs to be about Thirty; because we don't actually EXPECT anything out of anyone under that age in this country. We find more excuses for why the 16, 18, 21, 25, and older crowds shouldn't be held responsible for the decisions they've made and/or actually taking care of themselves. It's ridiculous.
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Of course they should be held responsible for certain decisions they make. We have to have age requirements that are reasonable though.

Oh, and on the "protecting children and teens from predatory adults" front..... What's your plan for protecting adults from the predatory teenagers?
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Not sure what you're getting at here. No teenager could manipulate me. :shrug: I wouldn't allow myself to be put into such a situation to begin with.


I can actually agree with that idea, so long as we are willing to set it all at the HIGHEST standard, not the lowest. I'd suggest about 25 years old, considering the teens and twenty-somethings that I see around me a good deal of the time.
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Well I think that 18 is a good age because it gives a child enough time to grow up and complete a basic education, yet is still a reasonable age. :shrug:

Of course, you're entitled to disagree.
 
ChrisL said:
Really, I'm surprised that you have taken this stance. And yes, you can compare it. A 16-year-old is only six years older than a 10 year old. How much life experience do you think they have acquired in that time? How much do you think a 16-year-old understands about actions and consequences?

I wonder what you think about a 16-year-old being put into an adult prison system? What about a 16-year-old getting the death penalty? What is your opinion about a 40-year-old man having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old girl?
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I have a son that just turned 17. At 16 he was VASTLY more mature and rational than he was at 10.... the difference was not merely one of degree, but an entire paradigm shift in the quantity and quality of his ability to understand the realities of life, apply reason to problems, and project the future consequences of his actions. Indeed, I could safely say he is almost a different person, fundamentally, than he was at age 10.

Still didn't want him having sex at 16, of course.... but making it a crime for someone older to have consensual sex with him at 16 still seems a bit harsh to me even though it is my own kid we're talking about here. I'd be pissed off, sure... but applying the SAME criminal penalties to that as to raping a 10yo? Hell no! If someone had sexually abused him at age 10 I'd kill them. If, OTOH, some 25yo girl slept with him and it was HIS idea that would piss me off but it isn't the same thing as raping a 10yo!

As for putting a 16yo in adult prison or executing them, under certain special circumstances I could accept that. A 16yo should have enough sense not to murder or rape people; if they don't there has either been a serious flaw in their upbringing or they went WAY wrong and aren't fit to be loose in society for sure.

Sure, some 16yo's are blithering idiots... but they shouldn't be. Mine wasn't. Probably because I expected and insisted on better out of him.
 
Tigger said:
Oh, and on the "protecting children and teens from predatory adults" front..... What's your plan for protecting adults from the predatory teenagers?

.
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Exactly. These days there are teenage girls whose age is not easily determined. I've seen some of the girls my son goes to school with and some of them at 15 could have claimed to be 22 and I would have believed them.

And some of them WILL and DO entice men in the 20s and even 30s and LIE about their age. Seen it....
 
I mean seriously... one could say that a 20yo is just six years older than a 14yo so they should be treated the same???

Um no... a LOT of maturing goes on between 14 and 20, just as a LOT of maturing goes on between 10 and 16.


Raping a 10yo and having consensual sex with a 16yo just isn't the same thing, deserving of the same penalty... not even CLOSE.
 
Goshin said:
I have a son that just turned 17. At 16 he was VASTLY more mature and rational than he was at 10.... the difference was not merely one of degree, but an entire paradigm shift in the quantity and quality of his ability to understand the realities of life, apply reason to problems, and project the future consequences of his actions. Indeed, I could safely say he is almost a different person, fundamentally, than he was at age 10.

Still didn't want him having sex at 16, of course.... but making it a crime for someone older to have consensual sex with him at 16 still seems a bit harsh to me even though it is my own kid we're talking about here. I'd be pissed off, sure... but applying the SAME criminal penalties to that as to raping a 10yo? Hell no! If someone had sexually abused him at age 10 I'd kill them. If, OTOH, some 25yo girl slept with him and it was HIS idea that would piss me off but it isn't the same thing as raping a 10yo!

As for putting a 16yo in adult prison or executing them, under certain special circumstances I could accept that. A 16yo should have enough sense not to murder or rape people; if they don't there has either been a serious flaw in their upbringing or they went WAY wrong and aren't fit to be loose in society for sure.

Sure, some 16yo's are blithering idiots... but they shouldn't be. Mine wasn't. Probably because I expected and insisted on better out of him.
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Well, in reality the sentencing is different. They are split up. It is considered a MORE serious crime when one molests a child under 14 for example in a lot of states. I'll bet if you did a little more research into the statutory rape and child molestation laws in your state, you would see that they do split up the penalty phases.
 
Goshin said:
I mean seriously... one could say that a 20yo is just six years older than a 14yo so they should be treated the same???

Um no... a LOT of maturing goes on between 14 and 20, just as a LOT of maturing goes on between 10 and 16.


Raping a 10yo and having consensual sex with a 16yo just isn't the same thing, deserving of the same penalty... not even CLOSE.
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That depends on the person and the situation. Sometimes a 10-year-old might be more mature than a 16-year-old, but again we are talking generalities here, and if a line has to be drawn, I don't see why one would have a problem with the age of 18. Why do you object to that age?
 
Goshin said:
I mean seriously... one could say that a 20yo is just six years older than a 14yo so they should be treated the same???

Um no... a LOT of maturing goes on between 14 and 20, just as a LOT of maturing goes on between 10 and 16.


Raping a 10yo and having consensual sex with a 16yo just isn't the same thing, deserving of the same penalty... not even CLOSE.
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Strictly opinion. There are many people who would say that a man should be able to control himself and not "knowingly" have a sexual relationship with a young teen. Of course, I have nothing against age-gap laws either.
 
ChrisL said:
Well, in reality the sentencing is different. They are split up. It is considered a MORE serious crime when one molests a child under 14 for example in a lot of states. I'll bet if you did a little more research into the statutory rape and child molestation laws in your state, you would see that they do split up the penalty phases.
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That wasn't my point. You appeared to be arguing that the two were the same and should face the same penalty.

If that wasn't what you meant, you could certainly have communicated that a lot more clearly.
 
Goshin said:
Exactly. These days there are teenage girls whose age is not easily determined. I've seen some of the girls my son goes to school with and some of them at 15 could have claimed to be 22 and I would have believed them.

And some of them WILL and DO entice men in the 20s and even 30s and LIE about their age. Seen it....
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If it is proven that a girl lied about her age, then there should be no penalty. Most of the time, if you just have a simple conversation though, you would be able to determine that the person is young and inexperienced. That is usually a good clue.
 
ChrisL said:
That depends on the person and the situation. Sometimes a 10-year-old might be more mature than a 16-year-old, but again we are talking generalities here, and if a line has to be drawn, I don't see why one would have a problem with the age of 18. Why do you object to that age?
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Because it fails to take into account the real world. In the real world, a LOT of teens are sexually active by the time they are 16.

Not saying they should be... just saying it should not be the same crime as raping a 10yo.
 
Goshin said:
That wasn't my point. You appeared to be arguing that the two were the same and should face the same penalty.

If that wasn't what you meant, you could certainly have communicated that a lot more clearly.
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I really don't care if they face the same penalty to be completely honest. :shrug: There is absolutely no NEED to have sexual relationships with 16-year-olds anymore than there is with a 10-year-old.

Why don't you tell me the benefits for the 16-year-old who has a sexual relationship with an adult? I can give at least a dozen reasons of how it is hurtful.
 
ChrisL said:
I really don't care if they face the same penalty to be completely honest. :shrug: There is absolutely no NEED to have sexual relationships with 16-year-olds anymore than there is with a 10-year-old.

Why don't you tell me the benefits for the 16-year-old who has a sexual relationship with an adult? I can give at least a dozen reasons of how it is hurtful.
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Again you mischaracterize my position. I NEVER said it was a good thing for a 16yo to have sex, let alone with an adult. IN fact I pretty clearly said it wasn't.

What I said was it isn't the same as raping a 10yo and should not have the same dire consequences.
 
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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Physical and emotional maturity is desirable, though some are not emotionally mature even after 21. I'm more uncomfortable at 16 than 18, but anywhere you draw a line there will be exceptions. So some reasoning with the limitation needs to be exercised as well.
 
Goshin said:
I mean seriously... one could say that a 20yo is just six years older than a 14yo so they should be treated the same???

Um no... a LOT of maturing goes on between 14 and 20, just as a LOT of maturing goes on between 10 and 16.


Raping a 10yo and having consensual sex with a 16yo just isn't the same thing, deserving of the same penalty... not even CLOSE.
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Modern statutory rape laws are just a way to legally empower women at the expense of men. Kind of like our draconian divorce laws and child support laws, which clearly favor the mother.

American men, as usual, are just giant limp vaginas and do whatever women tell them to.

There is nothing unnatural about a teenage girl being in love with a guy in his 20's. For most of human history, this was the norm. In fact, that's a woman's most beautiful age - women know this and men know this.

Of COURSE there's a difference between thinking a 16 year old girl is hot, and thinking some little girl is hot. One is normal, and every guy does it, and the other is creepy and weird.

The only problem with it is that it puts a higher value on young women, which goes against the interests of older women. Thus, like alimony and child support and the rest, laws are put in place to subvert the natural order of things.

All the while, my limp dick American brothers continue to hold their wives purses at the Pottery Barn in hopes of getting some.
 
Gipper said:
25, when the brain fully develops.

Teenagers don't have a fully developed sense of reasoning or an ability to accurately weigh consequences for poor decisions.
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Hell you say that for about 30% of the adults of the population.:lol:
 
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