The scoop on the Over-18 thing

[Eve_of_destruction]

I am posting this in two other categories, so I appologize in advance to any who stumble onto this thread more than once.

The question of why we cannot publish stories featuring anyone under the age of 18 pops up every so often, and I'm sure Laurel and Manu get exasperated having to hear it dredged up ad nauseum.

The answer: IT'S THE LAW! Or rather, it's the law in only 8 STATES! It is illegal to have sex with anyone under the age of 17 in 7 states, and all the rest of us feel it's okay anywhere from age 14 to 16.

See how your state feels about this at http://www.ageofconsent.com/ageofconsent.htm

All of you who live in one of those states and want to write a story with an underage character in it, instead of writing Laurel and Manu, write to your congressman and your senators and ask that the age be lowered. It couldn't hurt anything...

EOD

 

[Pokerman]

While there may be different ages of consent in different states, I believe the national "age of majority" is 18.

I know Penthouse has a warning on it's magazine that it is not to be sold to anyone under 18.

All the law of consent means is that it's no longer statutory rape to have sex with a person of that age. It doesn't mean they're old enough to view pornography or other adult material. Heck, you might even be allowed to get marrried at 14 or 16 in some states - but LEGALLY, can't get in to see an R-rated movie without your parents, since that age is 17. And you couldn't get into an X-rated movie (if there are still any places showing them in theaters) even WITH parental supervision until you're 18.

So it's easier to say you cant use characters who are below the national age of majority than to say it's ok for them to have the sex, but not to read about it.

 

[GuyJD]

THIS IS ALSO COVERED IN THE GENERAL BOARD

As I mentioned there, it is okay to write about it. It's illegal to act upon it. Much like fantasizing about it.

 

[Guest]

I just read Getting Ryan, a new story by Angel Dangerous. At the start of the story she refers to Hannah's age as 18 but then later before she seduces her brother she writes that Hannah is 15!! I liked the story but the age thing is bothersome and distracting.

 

[KillerMuffin]

The legal age to buy, sell, and witness pornography is 18 in most cases. The legal age to have sex varies.

In the state of California, where the server is based, the webmasters live, and Literotica originates the legal age to have sex is 18. This pretty much covers why the legal age to have sex in fiction on Literotica is 18, because essentially, Literotica is in California no matter where you access it from.

 

[Eve_of_destruction]

This is all so very confusing.

I live in one of the 14/17 states. So let me get this straight: If I were a 16 year old girl, who was having sex (legally) with my 19 year old boyfriend, the law says that's okay - BUT I can't rent an X-rated movie, or be a member of Literotica? In other words, because it is a STATE law, I can have sex with whoever I want (as long as I decide not to press rape charges against him, I could have sex with someone aged 14 to 114 and neither of us would be breaking any laws, right?), but I can't see sex depicted in movies or in print because it's a FEDERAL law?

I'm sorry, I just don't get it.