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originally posted by: GopiGrl
a reply to: NightSkyeB4Dawn
I can' help but feel that if my parents had been committed to raising a family, my siblings would not have been abused. Divorce and new relationships put them on a bad trajectory - looks selfish to me.
originally posted by: Boadicea
a reply to: Terpene
Oh! And just FYI, teenage predators are not "pedophiles." They are "ephebophiles." Very big difference.
originally posted by: tanstaafl
... a 40+ yr old man going after an ~18 yr old is reprehensible (and really scummy and cringeworthy), it is not even in the same universe as someone who goes after small pre-pubescent children.
I'll also point out the other biggie - a 17, 18 or 19 yr old boy getting involved with a 14-16 yr old... again, not even remotely related to pedoland, and these kids should absolutely not be branded as 'sex offenders' for life.
originally posted by: Terpene
a reply to: infolurker
So from 700 and some they closed 600...
Hmmm
Have you read the cases? Sounds like 99% disgruntled teens that didn't get their ways and tried the old "my teacher is a perv" route.
3 out of 4 sexual violence happens at home
But hey let's make this a sensation so no one comes looking at my home?
If anyone should get the pedo chopping block it's team bible.
Those that scream the loudest???
originally posted by: Boadicea
a reply to: tanstaafl
This isn't to minimize or excuse creepy old men preying on teenage girls, it's simply putting the crimes in their proper perspective.
In a reasonable and sane world, any such laws would recognize that such relations are not abuse; just young and immature youths exploring this new world post-puberty.
In fact, I'm guilty of the same. When I was 16, I had a (very respectful) 20-year-old boyfriend... with a Harley! He was the older brother of my friend's boyfriend. My parents knew him, knew his age, and liked him. We stayed together until I was well into my 20s.
While I get what you mean, I wouldn't characterize creepy old men preying on 18 yr olds as a criminal act.
I don't think it is a crime anywhere in these 60 united States of America.
Yes... it is called sane, rational people acting sanely and rationally. Another girl, another family/similar situation as yours, and the appropriate thing for the parents to do may have been right to warn the 20 yr old off - with a shotgun if necessary. It would all depend on the circumstances.
originally posted by: Boadicea
a reply to: tanstaafl
At 18, everyone is an adult, and their decisions and choices are theirs to live with.
Are we at 60 states now? Darn! I thought we were still at 57...
Sometimes that's necessary at any age... and sometimes it's the girl/woman that needs to be warned right off... As you say, it just all depends on the circumstances.
I gave this a lot of thought a while back when the subject of voting came up, and considering just how immature most kids are today, I'm actually in favor of raising the 'Age of Majority' (when one is considered an adult) to 21, or hell, even 25. Pf course I'm not under the delusion that there's a chance in hell of that happening.
Hah! Hadn't had my coffee yet (just now having my first cup)...
Exactly! My nephew fell in with a slightly older girl when he was 15, and she (and her other friends) got him mixed up with drugs, and he ended up getting a felony conviction for B&E when he was 17, which destroyed his plans to join the military. He still hasn't fully recovered from what happened and that was almost 20 years ago. Of course, he made the decisions, but without her influence, who knows...
originally posted by: Boadicea
a reply to: tanstaafl
I'm sorry he had to learn the hard way. I'm idealistic enough to hope though that it's better than not learning when he did and finding himself in even worse circumstances.