Statutory Rape & Such...

[Mstrskey]

I dunno James...

I think I might be asking for trouble if I batter you over the head...dunno if I can handle the consequences of such brazen actions..

Oh and I apologize...my caffiene deprived brain was supposed to have typed out

I know you were speaking in blanket generalities and not saying all young marriages are doomed to failure
...doh!

 

[James G 5]

Re: I dunno James...

I think I might be asking for trouble if I batter you over the head...dunno if I can handle the consequences of such brazen actions..

Oh and I apologize...my caffiene deprived brain was supposed to have typed out

I know you were speaking in blanket generalities and not saying all young marriages are doomed to failure
...doh!

I knew what you meant
And it would depend on which head & what sort of assault
assuming you're old enough

 

[Ms_Lilith]

Some people are open-minded and think nothing of it and others cringe in horror and cannot accept it. Age means nothing in the long run, our present day society has only made it an issue with consent laws.

To be quite honest, I'm about the most open-minded person I know. When I was 19, I dated a 48 year old.

But here's the thing.. I was legal.

I understand that your cousin or whoever the hell he is loves this girl, and I understand that the girl loves him.

And you're right, age is nothing but a number. However. Life experience adds up. This girl is not even a woman yet, she is a girl. She's still in high school, and she's dating someone that could very well have a college degree. Why would she want to sell off her teenage years to someone that she can't share her experiences with (I mean by living them together, not by telling each other about them).

And why doesn't this relative of yours look for love among women of his own age? Yes, the parents are fine with it (which boggles my mind, I'd break his legs) but that doesn't mean it's a healthy situation for either of them. For him to be dating someone so much younger seems to suggest that he has some social.. um... issues that need to be dealt with. He is the older one in the situation, and he needs to be the one to see that it's not a very good idea.

Those laws are in place for a reason, y'know.

I don't mean to insult either of them, but I just can't see how it's a healthy situation...

 

[Xcitra]

First of all, Milo isn't dating or hitting on an underage girl... he was offering his opinion on the girl that his relative is dating. Sooo... your general assessment of the situation is slightly off.

I stand corrected:

That's how ALL older guys who hit on underage girls AND THEIR BUDDIES WHO ARE CHEERING THEM ON rationalize/justify their actions!

Oh, and I'm still as in love with him now as I was when I was fifteen. I have many friends who are married to the guys they met when they were 14-16 who would say the same thing.

Ignorance is bliss!

-X-

 

[Mstrskey]

Re: Re: I dunno James...

I knew what you meant
And it would depend on which head & what sort of assault
assuming you're old enough

Oooooohhh yer a badun!
I'm turning 30 this October hun....I think that's old enough!
As to the issue of which head, darlin I would never do damage to the lower head and only occassionally to the upper...lol!
Now about the assault...from my reading at Lit I think you're more qualified to suggest " punishments" then I sir.

 

[Draker]

And you're right, age is nothing but a number. However. Life experience adds up. This girl is not even a woman yet, she is a girl. She's still in high school, and she's dating someone that could very well have a college degree. Why would she want to sell off her teenage years to someone that she can't share her experiences with (I mean by living them together, not by telling each other about them).

And why doesn't this relative of yours look for love among women of his own age? Yes, the parents are fine with it (which boggles my mind, I'd break his legs) but that doesn't mean it's a healthy situation for either of them. For him to be dating someone so much younger seems to suggest that he has some social.. um... issues that need to be dealt with. He is the older one in the situation, and he needs to be the one to see that it's not a very good idea.

Well... I guess I should start this out by saying that I'm Milo's relative in question. My family is rather wealthy so yes, I do have a degree and have been schooled in a number of languages and other worthless skills that look great on a job application. I fail to understand what you mean when you say that my girlfriend cannot share her experiences with me. Just because I'm not in the same AP physics class with her and I can't carry her books doesn't mean that we're sharing anything less. I go to all of her awards ceremonies and volunteer with her at the local nursing home and animal shelter. I'm involved in all of her extra activities and I don't miss any of her honor's ceremonies, I've never missed a game she's been in (except for one and I had an important meeting to attend)... I probably share more with her than any boy she would be with at her school. I'm there for her whenever she needs me and I back off when she needs some space to think. Our relationship is probably healthier than a great majority of the world's...

As for looking for love among women my own age. I've always dated women my age and I didn't wake up one morning and think, "Hey... I'm going to go out and find someone who's illegal to date!" It just happened that we were involved in the same program and got to talking... talking more each week until we realized we had a lot in common and started seeing each other more to talk about other things. Then I realized that I was falling for her and things progressed naturally. It has nothing to do with my social issues - I have a great social presence as is needed in my family and the company I represent... I'm just in love with her and I don't see any way around it and I don't WANT to find a way around it. She's the one I want and she loves me and we're willing to support each other and make our relationship work. That's all I need to know.

 

[Guest]

DRY!!!!! ((HUGS)) It's so strange how similar our situations are... even now... it was wonderful being able to hook up and chat with you last night. You shouldn't have even bothered to subject yourself to the crap on this thread though. It bothers me and it's not even about me, lol.

"I stand corrected:
That's how ALL older guys who hit on underage girls AND THEIR BUDDIES WHO ARE CHEERING THEM ON rationalize/justify their actions!"
Umm... did you miss this part: Also, the only thing my older boyfriend used to justify his actions when we started dating at the time I was fifteen was, "I love her." Sooo... your general assessment of the situation is slightly off.
No, of course you didn't miss it, you're just a moron who refuses to acknowledge anything but what she wants to mock...

"Ignorance is bliss!"
So I've been told. Maybe you can PM me sometime and tell me how it is on the other side.

 

[Draker]

Oh Tania you always were such the charmer . Wanted to date you before I met my current girl... but you know that story. Hell, maybe I am a big bad pedophile . I always was supportive of your relationship with Chris and never judged you. I love you for doing the same for me now. It's good to have someone that can understand what it's all like... but you don't have to tell off the people on your little porn board in my defense. We both know the truth and it's not hurting us unless we let it. Stay strong mon chéri...

 

[Guest]

Don't even start on the pedophile crap... everyone that knows you and your girl supports the two of you. I think that fact alone says a lot. Either get married or continue not being sexual for the next two years and no one can touch you. As for the people on my porn board, I've made a lot of good friends but you can't love everyone, lol. And I try so hard to stay strong... sometimes I break down though and hit the wall. Hard. But I haven't killed myself yet... that alone says something, right?

 

[Draker]

I'm not busy tonight... why don't you give me a call? We still have a lot to catch up on. I'm not going to be online any more tonight.

 

[Xcitra]

Well... I guess I should start this out by saying that I'm Milo's relative in question. My family is rather wealthy so yes, I do have a degree and have been schooled in a number of languages and other worthless skills that look great on a job application. I fail to understand what you mean when you say that my girlfriend cannot share her experiences with me. Just because I'm not in the same AP physics class with her and I can't carry her books doesn't mean that we're sharing anything less. I go to all of her awards ceremonies and volunteer with her at the local nursing home and animal shelter. I'm involved in all of her extra activities and I don't miss any of her honor's ceremonies, I've never missed a game she's been in (except for one and I had an important meeting to attend)... I probably share more with her than any boy she would be with at her school. I'm there for her whenever she needs me and I back off when she needs some space to think. Our relationship is probably healthier than a great majority of the world's...

As for looking for love among women my own age. I've always dated women my age and I didn't wake up one morning and think, "Hey... I'm going to go out and find someone who's illegal to date!" It just happened that we were involved in the same program and got to talking... talking more each week until we realized we had a lot in common and started seeing each other more to talk about other things. Then I realized that I was falling for her and things progressed naturally. It has nothing to do with my social issues - I have a great social presence as is needed in my family and the company I represent... I'm just in love with her and I don't see any way around it and I don't WANT to find a way around it. She's the one I want and she loves me and we're willing to support each other and make our relationship work. That's all I need to know.

Ok Draker - just for sake of argument - let's say she has some growing up to do (geezzz, do you realize that at 16 she isn't PHYSICALLY done growing yet??? Think about THAT for a second.....) but yer in love so age doesn't matter.......so what happens if you two stay together and she hits 18 and then 20...and so on - apparently you've had a chance to experience some of what life has to offer and grow unencumbered by an "end all and be all" relationship. Seems you're denying her the good things that you've had. I'm WELL past 16 and have been for some years, and looking back I'm a much different person now than I was at 16 or 18 or 25 or 35, etc. Seems a little selfish to me that you're so much "in love" that it never dawned on you that SHE has growing up to do and some of life's experiences to have - without YOU! - like say getting OUT of her teen years for starters! No matter how mature she is, she's still a kid who has a lot of life (and just basic growing up, never mind growing to become a decent, mature person) ahead of her. And you want to rob her of that? Nice guy!

Also - and this may sound cynical - you said you come from money, social standing???? Well if she doesn't I'm not surprised her parents are jumping at the chance for you two to be together - my God, you're every parent's wet dream!

Frankly, it sounds kind of creepy that you're attending all her events - are you looking for a girlfriend or a daughter???

Yes - at 16 I thought I'd found the love of my life too - as I'd said in a previous post here - show me a 16 year old - ANY 16 year old - who DOESN'T think they know what love is??? LOL! You're the adult here and well past the age of 16 yourself - try and remember back to how rational, knowledgable, stable and mature YOU were at that age! In other words - you're the adult in the realtionship and have the advantage of hindsite - being able to look back and remember what 16 was all about, and just based on that and nothing else, you should know better AND know that you're dealing with a kid (and I mean "KID" as in "Child") AND doing her a big disservice by trying to lock her in to a serious relationship at this stage in her life.

-X-

P.S. If she were MY daughter, I'd have run you off with a shotgun!

 

[Guest]

You aren't making much sense but I'll try to figure out what you're getting at by asking you some questions.

"Seems you're denying her the good things that you've had."
How is Draker denying her of anything?

"SHE has growing up to do and some of life's experiences to have - without YOU!"
Why does she have to be without Draker when they get along perfectly and she loves him?



And... just to add some information that you seem to have misinterpreted in your rant against Draker... his girlfriend also comes from a wealthy family with a prestigious social background.

"Frankly, it sounds kind of creepy that you're attending all her events - are you looking for a girlfriend or a daughter???"
...Draker, you really just cannot win my friend. If you support your girlfriend then they try to turn it into a problem and if you don't support her then you're ignoring her major events at her age. Why is it weird that her boyfriend wants to show up and support her? I WISH mine would come to more of my events...

"try and remember back to how rational, knowledgable, stable and mature YOU were at that age! In other words - you're the adult in the realtionship and have the experience of hindsite and just based on that alone, you should know better AND know that you're doing the kid (and I mean "KID" as in "Child") a big disservice here."
I'm starting to feel like a broken record here. Met my boyfriend at 15 and I was very mature and guided and wanted to make our relationship work... and I thank God everyday that I met my man and that he was there for me in my miserable high school days. Where do you get off saying that Dry is doing his girlfriend some sort of disservice? You don't know them and you don't understand the situation... but I'm sure you won't care or even read anything I've said here. Feel free to just post another inane rant.

 

[MiloDRemix]

Man... this just keeps getting uglier...

Tania... just let it go... this thread isn't worth the stress is causes you... People on here do not want to discuss with you or listen to you. They just want to rant and scold and it just pisses you off and puts you in a bad mood. It's not worth your time...

Just... let... it... all... go...

 

[Xcitra]

Umm... did you miss this part: Also, the only thing my older boyfriend used to justify his actions when we started dating at the time I was fifteen was, "I love her." No, of course you didn't miss it, you're just a moron who refuses to acknowledge anything but what she wants to mock..

No, I didn't "miss" it. That sentence made absolutely no sense so there was no cogent way I COULD respond, perhaps if you reworded it............

However, I WILL say for a "moron" I certainly got YOUR dander up, now didn't I?????

"Ignorance is bliss!"
So I've been told. Maybe you can PM me sometime and tell me how it is on the other side. [/B]

Naah....far be it from ME to burst your bubble!

-X-

 

[MiloDRemix]

However, I WILL say for a "moron" I certainly got YOUR dander up, now didn't I?????

Nothing annoys Tania more than ignorance. You're even starting to get on my nerves and I'm not the saltiest fry in the happy meal...

You're either really stupid or you're just using this thread to increase your post count. Only time will tell I guess.

"No, I didn't "miss" it. That sentence made absolutely no sense so there was no cogent way I COULD respond, perhaps if you reworded it............"
I'll try to explain this to you before I go though because I really am such a nice guy. You said that ALL older guys justify dating younger girls by saying, "The girl is more mature than any girl I have ever had the pleasure of talking to and more level headed and in tune with reality than anyone I have ever met, which is why she doesn't get along with people her own age who she finds too immature to be around." Tania proved your statement wrong by saying that her older man justified dating her (a younger girl) by saying that he loved her... Do you understand now? No... I didn't think so... you should move on to a thread that's a little less advanced I guess.

 

[James G 5]

Re: Re: Re: I dunno James...

Oooooohhh yer a badun!
I'm turning 30 this October hun....I think that's old enough!
As to the issue of which head, darlin I would never do damage to the lower head and only occassionally to the upper...lol!
Now about the assault...from my reading at Lit I think you're more qualified to suggest " punishments" then I sir.

No, I'm THE bad one
Sounds old enough.....but I might have to saw you in 1/2 and count the rings to be sure
And there're a lot of ways to do "damage"....hickeys, for instance, are "damage" but a little suction down there can make it worthwhile


And heh, yeah, I keep a bag full pf punishments handy

 

[Weird Harold]

And you're right, age is nothing but a number. However. Life experience adds up. This girl is not even a woman yet, she is a girl.
...
Those laws are in place for a reason, y'know.

You make some fairly good points that probably apply to the majority of relationships with a wide varition in ages.

However, I strongly disagree with the point I quoted.

At the age of 16, she can be tried as an adult for a felony because she is presumed able to tell the difference between right and wrong.

At the age of 16, she is considered mature enough to be trusted with a 5,000+ pound lethal weapon called an automotive vehicle -- AKA car or truck.

At the age of 16, she's mature enough to legally manage her own finaces and enter into many forms of contracts -- including employment contracts usually without parental permission or an adult co-signer in most jurisdictions.

In a very few months, on her 17th birthday, she's mature enoughto join the US Military with parental consent -- once she takes the Oath, she's fully emancipated and no longer requires parental consent for anything. (although she'll still have trouble with age of consent laws even though she's already legal in purely Military jurisdictions because of the way the UCMJ is worded.)

In just what way is any person of the age of 16 "just a child"?

Physical maturity is also not an issue because the odds are that 99% of her physical growth is complete (save for a possible final growth spurt that might add a half inch to her height and/or bust.) In every way that matters, she's physically mature, and like everyone elese, she'll change continue to change physically for the rest of her life -- a half inch of growth is minor compared to the longer term changes age brings.

Even legally, she's not a "child," she's at worst a "minor" or in some jurisdictions a "young adult."

At that age, my daughter caused an acquaintance to call me a liar to my face when I told him she was underage until she produced her ID card to prove her age to him. He then accused her of having a false ID!

Draker didn't say when he found out exactly how old she is, but I'd bet that he didn't believe it at first any more than my acquaintance believed daughter's age. (I'll bet she didn't ask his age right off the bat either.)

Sometimes it's difficult to tell a person's age when you don't meet them in a situation that gives you a clue -- sometimes not evenuntil after you've commited the horrible crime of falling for someone who is perfect and commiting statutory rape.

As for the reason that "these laws exist," it is my opinion that there are far too many people like Xcitra, who don't think young adults are really human and should be protected in cages, who vote for such laws or for people who want to control others as much as she apparently does.

Age of consent laws are an aberration imposed by people who don't think that minors are rational beings without a high-school diploma or until they've reached some totally arbitrary age.

This situation is only a "problem" because Wisconsin chose an arbitrary age higher than most places that have age of consent laws on the books. In more than half of the places around the world that have have of consent laws she's already legal -- sixteen is the mean age of consent world-wide for places that limit consent.

Any claim that maturity isn't possible at age 16 flies in the face of legal precedent that it is very commonly accepted as a given. Only parochial cultural morals say anything differently.

 

[Xcitra]

Nothing annoys Tania more than ignorance. You're even starting to get on my nerves and I'm not the saltiest fry in the happy meal...

You're either really stupid or you're just using this thread to increase your post count. Only time will tell I guess.

"No, I didn't "miss" it. That sentence made absolutely no sense so there was no cogent way I COULD respond, perhaps if you reworded it............"
I'll try to explain this to you before I go though because I really am such a nice guy. You said that ALL older guys justify dating younger girls by saying, "The girl is more mature than any girl I have ever had the pleasure of talking to and more level headed and in tune with reality than anyone I have ever met, which is why she doesn't get along with people her own age who she finds too immature to be around." Tania proved your statement wrong by saying that her older man justified dating her (a younger girl) by saying that he loved her... Do you understand now? No... I didn't think so... you should move on to a thread that's a little less advanced I guess.

It seems to me that for a "man" whose so sure that dating a minor is ok (if she was 18 this wouldn't be an issue.......) you' re terribly defensive. If you're SO sure that you're right why did U come here and ask advice? Why do you feel the need to engage a bunch of strangers and then fight like hell to justify your position when they disagree? I mean HER PARENTS approve for God sake, so why do you need OUR input/approval???? If you truly believe you're right this wouldn't even be an issue - it would be settled in your mind. I mean, why didn't you just hire an attorney to advise you and be done with it?

Also, poor sentence structure notwithstanding Tania seems quite capable of speaking for herself, so why don't you let her? OR is that why you don't date women your own age....because they CAN speak for themselves and YOU prefer to do all the talking??? Hmmmmm????? I'd take a look at that if I were U.

Anyway, I take comfort in the fact that within say, 2 years the object of your desire will probably tire of you (out grow you?), wise up and break it off. But take heart, after you've run through the female student body at the local high school, you can always find a fresh supply of young chippies at the grammar school.

Byeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!! -X-

 

[James G 5]

It's so nice to see everyone here on both sides can keep the debate civil

 

[MiloDRemix]

Xcitra... you're just making yourself sound more ignorant by the minute.

"If you're SO sure that you're right why did U come here and ask advice?"
I didn't. I came on here asking if anyone knew about the statutory rape laws in Wisconsin - I didn't come on here asking if anyone thought that underaged dating was 'right' or 'wrong'. If you'd read any of the posts on this thread you might have realized that.

"I mean, why didn't you just hire an attorney to advise you and be done with it?"
I didn't have to - people like Weird Harold were very informative and actually answered my questions without being psychotic. The only reason I bother in replying to you is because Tania is taking a break from the thread tonight and I think you're an ignorant piece of work who needs to be knocked down a peg or two or five.

"poor sentence structure notwithstanding Tania seems quite capable of speaking for herself"
That made me laugh. Have you tried to read some of your own posts? Your grammar is atrocious.

"OR is that why you don't date women your own age....because they CAN speak for themselves and YOU prefer to do all the talking??? Hmmmmm????? I'd take a look at that if I were U."
Once again you make it obvious that you haven't read this thread... I do date women my own age (though I would date a younger girl if we clicked)... I was asking for my relative, Draker. And the reason I'm replying for Tania now is that she couldn't stand anymore of your ignorant crap and told me to take over because I'm her best friend and share her views on this topic... we like to doubleteam morons like you. Have to do it in shifts, you know?

In all reality, you should just stop now... you're only making yourself look like a fool.

 

[MiloDRemix]

It's so nice to see everyone here on both sides can keep the debate civil

Sorry James... it just annoys me that Xcitra would come on here being rude when it's obvious that she hasn't even read any of the previous posts. She isn't making any sense and I cannot figure out what her point is. I'm losing my patience. Trying to stay civil but she's making things up and... well... God, just try to read her posts yourself. I do appreciate the fact that you've been a gentleman throughout your stay on this thread, lol. I've tried...

 

[Xcitra]

You make some fairly good points that probably apply to the majority of relationships with a wide varition in ages.

However, I strongly disagree with the point I quoted.

At the age of 16, she can be tried as an adult for a felony because she is presumed able to tell the difference between right and wrong.

At the age of 16, she is considered mature enough to be trusted with a 5,000+ pound lethal weapon called an automotive vehicle -- AKA car or truck.

At the age of 16, she's mature enough to legally manage her own finaces and enter into many forms of contracts -- including employment contracts usually without parental permission or an adult co-signer in most jurisdictions.

In a very few months, on her 17th birthday, she's mature enoughto join the US Military with parental consent -- once she takes the Oath, she's fully emancipated and no longer requires parental consent for anything. (although she'll still have trouble with age of consent laws even though she's already legal in purely Military jurisdictions because of the way the UCMJ is worded.)

In just what way is any person of the age of 16 "just a child"?

Physical maturity is also not an issue because the odds are that 99% of her physical growth is complete (save for a possible final growth spurt that might add a half inch to her height and/or bust.) In every way that matters, she's physically mature, and like everyone elese, she'll change continue to change physically for the rest of her life -- a half inch of growth is minor compared to the longer term changes age brings.

Even legally, she's not a "child," she's at worst a "minor" or in some jurisdictions a "young adult."

At that age, my daughter caused an acquaintance to call me a liar to my face when I told him she was underage until she produced her ID card to prove her age to him. He then accused her of having a false ID!

Draker didn't say when he found out exactly how old she is, but I'd bet that he didn't believe it at first any more than my acquaintance believed daughter's age. (I'll bet she didn't ask his age right off the bat either.)

Sometimes it's difficult to tell a person's age when you don't meet them in a situation that gives you a clue -- sometimes not evenuntil after you've commited the horrible crime of falling for someone who is perfect and commiting statutory rape.

As for the reason that "these laws exist," it is my opinion that there are far too many people like Xcitra, who don't think young adults are really human and should be protected in cages, who vote for such laws or for people who want to control others as much as she apparently does.

Age of consent laws are an aberration imposed by people who don't think that minors are rational beings without a high-school diploma or until they've reached some totally arbitrary age.

This situation is only a "problem" because Wisconsin chose an arbitrary age higher than most places that have age of consent laws on the books. In more than half of the places around the world that have have of consent laws she's already legal -- sixteen is the mean age of consent world-wide for places that limit consent.

Any claim that maturity isn't possible at age 16 flies in the face of legal precedent that it is very commonly accepted as a given. Only parochial cultural morals say anything differently.

Hi Weird - It's late here and I just skimmed your post and saw my name so will respond - think I got the jist of it! If not please excuse and tell me where I went off track.....

In a nutshell - it isn't maturity per se at 16, it's experience as Vixen said b4. No I don't think young people should be kept in cages, but I do believe that we live in a society where kids are forced to grow up way too fast (and MOST times at the behest of Madison Avenue.....and for the almighty buck no less!) And ya know, for myself, even though I looked and acted and was much more mature than my 16 years AND lived in a cosmopolitan area and had "liberal" parents and was pretty well traveled for my age - ya know what? At age 16, I was STILL green and lacked the life experience, judgement and maturity to make a really informed decision about the really big stuff. I mean I THOUGHT I knew, but guess what......I was young, optimistic AND inexperienced......especially looking back now on 16 from my vantage point of WELL over 30!

But you miss judge me when you say I don't think kids are human. If I didn't think they were human, I wouldn't have spent every Saturday night for two years volunteering at a residential treatment facility for teenage addicts/alcoholics. I love teens - and I think they need to be allowed to grow up and be protected from those who would exploit them, if that's "control" then so be it. They need to find their own way unencumbered by those who would use or exploit them. Laws and parents were put in place to protect minors, as well as to protect society FROM minors - the parents make the decisions until the kids have the wherewith all to be able to do it themselves to some reasonable degree. Perhaps 18 is arbitrary but they had to set the age somewhere.

Lastly, I believe ANY man (OR woman for that matter) who feels the need to become emotionally/physically involved with one who is under the legal limit (especially when that person is a solid 8 years older than the teen) is nothing less than a predator and a person that a teen must be protected from. Pure and simple - people who lack that kind of restraint frighten me.

Thanks!
-X-

 

[Xcitra]

Sorry James... it just annoys me that Xcitra would come on here being rude when it's obvious that she hasn't even read any of the previous posts. She isn't making any sense and I cannot figure out what her point is. I'm losing my patience. Trying to stay civil but she's making things up and... well... God, just try to read her posts yourself. I do appreciate the fact that you've been a gentleman throughout your stay on this thread, lol. I've tried...

Come now Milo - playing the victim doesn't become you!

-X-

 

[SexyChele]

I'm starting to feel like a broken record here. Met my boyfriend at 15 and I was very mature and guided and wanted to make our relationship work... and I thank God everyday that I met my man and that he was there for me in my miserable high school days.

Yanno, I've seen this inconsistency several times now on these boards. To the point where I'm beginning to wonder what the true story really is.

I mean, in one story you met your boyfriend (who I am presumming is this Chris fellow) when you were 15, it's now 3 years later, and the two of you are going strong. Great.

Then, in story number 2, you met your "soulmate" at 15, broke up with him last summer (June, I believe it was?) and met Chris less than a month later by illegally signing up on an 18+ dating service. Well, alright.

Then, in story number 3 (which does sort of flow from #2) you've only been dating Chris (met through the illegally signing up on an 18+ dating service) only for something like 10 months.

I'm just curious. Which story is correct? I mean, if you met Chris when you were 15 and you met last summer, then - uh oh! That would only make you 16 and, uh, I do believe Lit would need to be notified to cancel your account.

I think instead of getting upset with the "morons" on this board, you need to figure out which story you are doling out as truth.

 

[Weird Harold]

In a nutshell - it isn't maturity per se at 16, it's experience as Vixen said b4. No I don't think young people should be kept in cages, but I do believe that we live in a society where kids are forced to grow up way too fast ...

You missed the point that, legally, age sixteen is considered mature enough to be treated as an adult for almost anything except sex, alcohol and voting. The point is that the law does not make allowances for experience or lack of experience. Age of consent laws are arbitrary limits that disregard individual abilites and growth.

I was a DFK at age 16 -- and even up through about age 30 when I finally wised up about most things and became a reformed Lush.

But you miss judge me when you say I don't think kids are human. If I didn't think they were human, I wouldn't have spent every Saturday night for two years volunteering at a residential treatment facility for teenage addicts/alcoholics.

Your comments thus far give the impression that "underage children" should be treated like animal by being kept on a short leash so they don't hurt themselves until they magically pupate and transform into adults on the day they reach some arbitrary age.

Since you just skimmed my post I'll quote an important part of what I said that you either missed or ignored:

Draker didn't say when he found out exactly how old she is, but I'd bet that he didn't believe it at first any more than my acquaintance believed daughter's age. (I'll bet she didn't ask his age right off the bat either.)

Sometimes it's difficult to tell a person's age when you don't meet them in a situation that gives you a clue -- sometimes not even until after you've commited the horrible crime of falling for someone who is perfect and commiting statutory rape.

The situation of meeting someone and NOT asking their age is the reason I'm strongly against age of consent and other "Nanny Laws" -- they're arbitrary and often irrational.

Did you know that as late as 1968, when I graduated from high school, picking up a barefoot hitchiker could land you in jail for either statutory rape or sexual assault and public lewdness depending on her age?

There was no penaltyfor the woman at all in that obscure little nanny law -- it was written to protect women's virtue after all -- but whether a man even knew that a female passenger kicked her shoes off or not was no defense -- if she was barefoot, he was deemed guilty of sexual assault.

You say you'r concerned about lack of life experience screwing up a young woman's life. At what age do you propose the age of consent to? It's obviously too low at 18, and from my perspective, it's probably too low at 21 or 25 if wisdom earned from life experience is the criterion.

Given your experience counselling young people who have made bad choices and learned from them, anyone whograduates from that program should be certified as having sufficient life experience to make wise choices.

oops, sorry -- they haven't undergone that magic pupation mandated by law at age 18, so they still need protection and coddling. In fact, since they're "troubled" and have demonstrated poor decisionmaking abilities, they should be barred from pupating for at least another ten year, right?


Whether a relationship is fated to fail or the couple will grow closer together, life experience is no real argument against allowing it or not -- life experience is gained by living and making mistakes. That just as true at sixteen as it is at sixty and at least half the world thinks sixteen is time people were allowed tostart learning from experience without blinders or leashes.