Age of Consent

19 or older.

0 (0%)

18

3 (5.8%)

17

1 (1.9%)

16

15 (28.8%)

15

5 (9.6%)

14

8 (15.4%)

13

7 (13.5%)

12

5 (9.6%)

11 or younger.

8 (15.4%)

Total Members Voted: 18

[Alex Libman]

This poll oversimplifies the broader question of teenage sexuality just to gauge what you think the proper minimum age should be.  I know that a number of progressive ideas exist to allow flexibility on this issue, including: parental permission, personal liability insurance, IQ tests & certification, religious traditions, age differences, local vs state vs federal laws, etc, etc, etc.  (See also a related poll here.)  This poll also assumes the same age of consent for all genders and types of sexual activity.

So, if you have to set it at a specific age, what should that age be?

[ladyattis]

Hmmm, hard to pin down... 16 would be about right for some 'consent' since about that time the brain is fairly developed in making abstract decisions, but that doesn't guarantee anything. What the question should be is at what age does a parent let go of protecting their child and let that child to learn on its own?

-- Brede

[lordmetroid]

I would find any age as long as it is with equaly old people to be morally fine so that there isn't an individual of authority to manipulate a weak minded individual... Governement doesn't have anything to do with it, parents do!

[One two three]

Hmmm, hard to pin down... 16 would be about right

What a bitch.  Of course, you are like 22 and still none but...

[mlomker]

I would find any age as long as it is with equaly old people to be morally fine so that there isn't an individual of authority to manipulate a weak minded individual.

I know that I'm radical on this but I'd set the age of consent closer to puberty--probably 13.  The absence of an AOC law wouldn't get rid of rape laws, it would just get rid of the insulting assumption that teens are clueless. 

[mikehz]

One of the problems with growing up in America is that there is no rite of passage. At one age, you can do this; at another, that; at yet another, the other thing.

I think that once you have established in some manner that you are an adult, you should have all of the rights of an adult. This ought to come at one of three points: when you openly state your majority and are no longer supported by someone else, at high school graduation, or at the age of 21.

[Lindsey]

It would be stupid to try and set one.  Everyone is different. 

[Soundwave]

Puberty, but everyone goes through it at different ages, so I vote no age of consent.

[Taors]

0 years old.

[ladyattis]

Hmmm, hard to pin down... 16 would be about right

What a bitch.  Of course, you are like 22 and still none but...

Ass sphincter says what?

[Osborne]

How about letting the market decide on an individual basis? Are we to believe there is some magical date where someone is able to have sex after but not before? Give me a break.

If I am going to have sex with an 11 year old, then I had best make sure that her family is OK with it and not going to kick my ass and chop off my balls.

[ladyattis]

Menger, but do you accept the fact that 16 is the average age by which the brain is formed sufficiently to make abstract judgments? Remember, neurologists have proven that point time and time again in their studies.

-- Brede

[Ecolitan]

Are we talking about my daughter? Or yours?

[Laetitia]

42, of course.

[Lindsey]

Well hey, I looked just like I do now when I was 12, except I had a different hair color.  That doesn't mean I was ready to have sex.  That also doesn't mean I didn't.  But we're not going there.  Just an example.