I Question The Age Of Consent

Everything should be questioned.

There's a perfectly good reason to have AOCs but like all received wisdom it should be challenged and tested to see if it's still relevant. Maybe it is. But maybe it isn't.

Apart from anything else, it's so routinely and consensually flouted that having one is kind of silly.

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Eclipsed · M

The is a growing suspicion that a member of similar worlds may be a pedo..👀

BanPlastic · 31-35, M

@Eclipsed Judging by these comments, there are several.

MeisterAndrew · 41-45, M

@Eclipsed Define pedo. First of all pedophilia is a predominant attraction to prepubescent children. Hebophilia is a predominant attraction to young teens which is not defined as abnormal. An attraction to older teens who can no longer be said to be children doesn't even have a label and in many cultures it isn't frowned upon or illegal.

BanPlastic · 31-35, M

@MeisterAndrew In some cultures, the age of consent is 12 - 14 and child sex trafficking is ignored. In many cultures, raping your spouse is legal. Child marriages still occur. Just because something is legal, doesn't make it right. Older teens are still children. A 16 year old cannot give consent to someone much older because there is a large disparity in power that makes the 16 year old naturally compliant.

MeisterAndrew · 41-45, M

@BanPlastic In my country a 16 year old CAN give consent to someone of any age. A 14 y.o. can give consent to someone below 16. None of the things you mention are legal. You just can't get by the fact that there is no age the world can agree upon because it's not based on any science. Someone doesn't magically become capable when they reach a certain age on a calendar.

Dshhh · M

@MeisterAndrew i think it's
Ephebophilia is the primary sexual interest in mid-to-late adolescents, generally ages 15 to 19.
again far different than children

MeisterAndrew · 41-45, M

@Dshhh Yes. So many terms it's hard to keep up. Point being it's not a disorder just like preferring blondes isn't a disorder. Whether one can act on it or not is a cultural determination.

Dshhh · M

@MeisterAndrew you will find some to be adamant that the entire subject is forbidden, and not to be discussed.
so0me parts of the US the AOC is 16 others 18 and some with * special circumstances*

BanPlastic · 31-35, M

@MeisterAndrew Just because a 16 year old can legally give consent to a 40 year old in our countries, doesn't mean they can psychologically give consent to someone they see as an authority figure. I don't care about laws. I care about the reality of power disparities. I don't agree that a 14 year old can give informed consent to anyone because they are unlikely to be aware of the risks associated with sex.

MeisterAndrew · 41-45, M

@BanPlastic Just because an 18 year old can legally give consent to a 40 year old doesn't mean they can psychologically give consent to someone they see as an authority figure. You can substitute the 18 with any number you want, it doesn't mean you arrived at that number in a rational manner. Putting a magical figure on something doesn't take care of power disparities.

BanPlastic · 31-35, M

@MeisterAndrew Yes. I agree with you. But an 18 year old is far less likely to perceive a 40 year old as an authority figure than a 15 year old. So it may not eradicate all power disparities, but it takes care of a large chunk of them. Using exceptions to justify sex with children isn't going to fly with me so you're better off not even trying.

MeisterAndrew · 41-45, M

@BanPlastic You don't know what the likelihood is. You have no idea if it takes care of the majority or not. You simply assume it does because of preconceptions. And you continue to call 16 year olds children. I don't even know if a 15 year old can be called a child. It does seem like you are simply arguing based on indoctrinated preconceptions of what's acceptable and what's not. I do see what another poster on here said that you seem to be projecting feelings of something that happened to you onto everybody else.