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?