Poll: The age of consent

[bjj hero]

One of the things I like about the Escapist is the diversity on the forums. I like how there are plenty of nationalities represented here and everyone can share their views.

Having this in mind I was wondering what people think the legal age of consent should be? It can vary wildly from country to country. As low as 13 in Spain up to 18 in parts of America.

So how old do you think you should be to "legally" have sex and why? Is it the same age stated in the laws of your country?

Finally do you think the age should be different for homosexual acts?

 

[Piecewise]

Well, looking at this logically, 13 or so is probably a good age. I Knew kids who were fucking about at 12 or so. To be honest kids are gonna have sex before 18, most likely before 16 or 15 even. And really its not a problem at that age because they can clearly decide for themselves. The problems come about at earlier ages as well as abuse of the law.

Such as, in Arizona at least, if two 16 year olds have consensual sex together then BOTH of them can and actually have been labeled sex offenders.

To me at least, people should be able to do whatever the fuck they want to their bodies as long as they can make an informed decision about it.

 

[NeutralDrow]

I'm fine with whatever the government (whichever national/state/province/prefecture government that may be) decides on. It doesn't really affect much.

And no, the age shouldn't be different for homosexual acts. There's no real difference.

 

[andrat]

Hmm. I'm good with the 14 limit here in Canada

 

[Internet Kraken]

In my opinion it should be 18. Kids at younger ages should be more focused on moving forward in their lives and maintaining their friendships. They don't need to be fucking their classmates.

 

[bjj hero]

If someone is going to fuck, they are going to do it regardless of whether or not it's legal.
If someone is not going to fuck, they are not abstaining because of a law, they are doing so for any reason but.

I think its more to do with punishing people who have sex with underage boys or girls rather than stopping teenagers putting out.

 

[D_987]

Well, looking at this logically, 13 or so is probably a good age. I Knew kids who were fucking about at 12 or so. To be honest kids are gonna have sex before 18, most likely before 16 or 15 even. And really its not a problem at that age because they can clearly decide for themselves. The problems come about at earlier ages as well as abuse of the law.

Such as, in Arizona at least, if two 16 year olds have consensual sex together then BOTH of them can and actually have been labeled sex offenders.

To me at least, people should be able to do whatever the fuck they want to their bodies as long as they can make an informed decision about it.

I disagree - at 13 children don't know what they want most, if not all will have sex simply because its "cool" and "grown-up". I believe 16 is slightly to young but at least your at an age at which peer-pressure is not so obvious.

 

[Cpt_Oblivious]

16's good for me. I know people who waited for years after and I know people who did it years before.

 

[Souplex]

The age of the older party /2 +7 is the minimum age for the younger party. (Applies 14+) Not just for schtupping but dating in general, outside of this bubble is creepy.

 

[Daniel Cygnus]

In my opinion it should be 18. Kids at younger ages should be more focused on moving forward in their lives and maintaining their friendships. They don't need to be fucking their classmates.

This. Very this.

And no, the age shouldn't be different for homosexual acts. There's no real difference.

I'm pretty sure you're talking LEGALLY, but you're forgetting one important thing: there's no possible way to get pregnant.

 

[bjj hero]

Hmm. I'm good with the 14 limit here in Canada

I had no idea it was so low in Canada...

Well, looking at this logically, 13 or so is probably a good age. I Knew kids who were fucking about at 12 or so. To be honest kids are gonna have sex before 18, most likely before 16 or 15 even.

Being an adult with a car, money and house it would be easy to impress a 13/14/15 year old into having sex. It would be manipulation and abuse in my opinion. Thats why I think 16 is a better age than 13.

Plus if you are old enough to join the military and die/kill for your country, you are surely old enough to get laid.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

Hmm. I'm good with the 14 limit here in Canada

it's 16 now, not 14, Harper moved it up to 16

i think Canada does it right, it's 16 but there is a 2 year buffer, ie the boy can be 16 and the girl can be 14 and that's legal

i think that 16 is a good age because the kids SHOULD be a bit smarter and know what's going on and be a bit more sexually mature by then and got beyond the "omg i got hair down there" point

 

[Sejs Cube]

16 seems solid, and no. No difference for hetero v. homo-sexual. That's just silly.

 

[ThePocketWeasel]

It's 16 here, England, and to be honest regardless of what the law is on this people will always ignore, whether it's to look cool or not. Most of them don't even think about the consequences it can have either.
So in my opinion the law is completely pointless people will or won't have sex regardless of the law, when someone can decide for themselves and think seriously, not just oh yeah i could have a herd of kids before I'm 18 and have every STI going, about the consequences then fair enough.

In the UK we have one of the highest or the highest, I'm not sure, rates of teenage pregnancy so obviously the laws being ignored despite the teaching or they're chavs who want a kid just so they can get their own house payed for by the tax payer.

EDIT: I don't think they're should be a higher age consent for homosexuals, it's epic discrimination and to me makes no sense.

 

[bjj hero]

As always, I don't see the draw of fucking, but god forbid I disallow anyone who knows what they're doing from doing so.

No one really knows what they are doing at first, half the fun is finding out.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

I would say that, once again, Canada has probably gotten it right. A 16 year old, having sex with a fifteen year old, is not a big issue. But beyond 2 years, and you are crossing into the realms of abuse (Aside if both parties are above sixteen - in which case it may well still be abuse, but it's your own damn fault).

 

[hooblabla6262]

In my country/province the age for driving is 16, the age for guns/porn/lotto are 18, and drinking/tobacco are 19. So I would have to put sex with the age of 17 just for the sake of filling the gap.

Also, I always think back to the south park episode where they tried to teach all the 10 year old kids about sex and it caused a massive gender war. For those who have seen it, they would remember that Chef said the age should be 17, and you can't disagree with a school chef.

As for those who are gay, I don't think they should be treated any differently.

 

[Chaos Bringer]

It depends. If the kid is mature enough to wear a condom or whatever then they should be alowed to do at least some form of sex. If the kid cannot be trusted to do that then they don't deserve to have sex. I know that some people were having sex at 13. The other person was 18. So it really depends on the kids and the parents. Sorry if that doesn't make sense I don't know what I write half the time I do.