cross posted from SMP "age of consent"

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I'd like to get polictical discussion of this as well.

Try to avoid the implications for gay marriage or other hot button issues.

Simple question. Where does the value of age in relation to sex come from? Why does it matter? Biologically our species is able to engage in the act of sex at a much earlier age. Why exactly should I as an individual be confined to this particular value if I can find a someone of any age to have sex with without having to use physical force?

Why do we say that a child consent is not the same of someone we consider an "adult"

Think hard about why this matters to you and if it should be reflected in our laws and remember this isn't about what you believe but rather why I should have this value impossed on me.

Second question: how should laws be determined?

[mslif]

A child does not have the maturity or the experience to make such a decision. Sex can lead to pregnacy and sometimes to death (STDs). You cannot ask a child to make that kind of decision as most children do not understand that people can hurt them. They are innocent and can be manipulated so easily by adults.
Laws should be determined by votes of the entire population and should be determined by our values as a whole and by what is in the best interests of everyone

[goofball]

When you were a child did you make the sound decisions you make now? Obviosuly children are different than adults. Their brains are not fully developed and they don't have the capacity to fully appreciate the consequences of their action. As such we have to draw a line that fits the majority of the population. Obviosuly some are ready for those decisions at age 15, while some still aren't ready at 25, but we can't do things on a case by case basis.


How are laws determined? In this country they are based on christian values in my opinion. Most are reasonable but some are outdated and/or unreasonable (i.e. application of the death penatly, prostitution, drug use).

How should laws be determined? I'm going to have a hard time articulating this well. Proper behavior held to standards of reasonableness is a decent start after we take into accoutn the value of personal freedom. I'm sure you would be much better of discussing this with a law professor.

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[ QUOTE ]
When you were a child did you make the sound decisions you make now? Obviosuly children are different than adults. Their brains are not fully developed and they don't have the capacity to fully appreciate the consequences of their action. As such we have to draw a line that fits the majority of the population. Obviosuly some are ready for those decisions at age 15, while some still aren't ready at 25, but we can't do things on a case by case basis.


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So then clearly the US should strive to have our laws of age of consent impossed on any parts of the world that have not adopted them already. Wherein if we simply had the power without the cost of military action etc to simply change their laws and customs (african tribes for example) we should do. for it is obvious that these children are being woefully mistreated.

what other laws of ours should be try to have enforced through out the world.

[mslif]

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So then clearly the US should strive to have our laws of age of consent impossed on any parts of the world that have not adopted them already.

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In some of those countries, it is their custom and tradition. As wrong as it may be, the US goverment would have no business getting involved in changing some other countries' beliefs.

[Dov]

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So then clearly the US should strive to have our laws of age of consent impossed on any parts of the world that have not adopted them already.

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Since when is this our job?

Why do you think this is the responsibiliity of the US?

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So then clearly the US should strive to have our laws of age of consent impossed on any parts of the world that have not adopted them already.

[/ QUOTE ]

In some of those countries, it is their custom and tradition. As wrong as it may be, the US goverment would have no business getting involved in changing some other countries' beliefs.

[/ QUOTE ]

So is the belief that children are incapable of making an informed decision (consent) a fact or value? Because right now it sounds like value?

[mslif]

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So then clearly the US should strive to have our laws of age of consent impossed on any parts of the world that have not adopted them already.

[/ QUOTE ]

In some of those countries, it is their custom and tradition. As wrong as it may be, the US goverment would have no business getting involved in changing some other countries' beliefs.

[/ QUOTE ]

So is the belief that children are incapable of making an informed decision (consent) a fact or value? Because right now it sounds like value?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a fact. Those cultures are primitive. They are based on superstitions and religious beliefs more than on common sense. They do not understand society as we do.

[tolbiny]

"They are based on superstitions and religious beliefs more than on common sense. They do not understand society as we do."

IPOTD

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So then clearly the US should strive to have our laws of age of consent impossed on any parts of the world that have not adopted them already.

[/ QUOTE ]

In some of those countries, it is their custom and tradition. As wrong as it may be, the US goverment would have no business getting involved in changing some other countries' beliefs.

[/ QUOTE ]

So is the belief that children are incapable of making an informed decision (consent) a fact or value? Because right now it sounds like value?

[/ QUOTE ]

It's a fact. Those cultures are primitive. They are based on superstitions and religious beliefs more than on common sense. They do not understand society as we do.

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Then clearly we need to imposse our law as by your own admition it is far superior. We would if anything be helping them.