The link no longer leads to the story, so I can’t really comment on the story itself.
However, as a female, I’d just like to say that I think it is perfectly ridiculous to jump to the conclusion that an 18 year old boy and a 14 year old girl are on vastly different planes in their sexual savvy. Having once been a 14 year old girl myself, with many 14 year old girl friends from all walks of life, and having also been 18 and known many 18 year old boys, I feel I can say with confidence: are you fucking kidding me?
Any 2 (or 3 or 4, as the case may be) kids may fall anywhere on the spectrum of emotional and sexual development, but my personal experience and observation is that 14 year old females and 18 year old males are frequently about at the same level of sexual maturity, both physically and emotionally.
I find it especially silly to suggest that the magical 18th birthday turns a 17 year old BOY into a predatory 18 year old MAN. Good grief.
No, I am not advocating a “who cares” policy for sexually active kids, but on the other hand, I think alot of adults are in willful denial these days about what’s going on with their kids.
Good link Poster Child, and thank you.
I believe Stoid has come closest to articulating my position on the matter better than I have been able to. Are we forgetting that little over a century ago, girls were often wives and mothers at this age? I feel like sex is still too much of a hushhush topic in our society–in all the wrong ways. Kids get bombarded with all the sexual overtones of fashion, music, movies, etc., but with very little focus on the health, science, or emotional aspects to flesh out their “education” in the subject. Is it any wonder they feel forward enough to engage in the physical side of the act, but show little appreciation for it’s weight? I’m not so disturbed that this girl would give a guy a blowjob, but that she would
a) choose to do so in a crowded classroom
b) veiw it so callously that doing 2 guys simultaneously seemed like a good idea
I’d also like to add that, in my experience, the kind of kid who’d take some random pills in school is most likely not a virginal victim. Those were the kind of kids I hung out with, and sex went hand in hand with getting high and hanging out. Just because a person’s underaged, doesn’t automatically mean they’re inexperienced.
I don’t that anybody here is denying what is being done by kids these days (and by kids in previous days). I also don’t think that anybody is claiming that there is a solid moral line with these ages. I do think that there is a line somewhere and that from a legal point of view it has to be reasonably rigid if it is to serve any purpose.
stoid Even though your personal views (14-year-old girls and 18-year-old boys being on the same approximate plane as regards sex) are merely anechdotal evidence, I would not disagree with your general line of thinking.
You said
I don’t think we are quibbling about 17 vs 18 here. The 17-year-old is charged exactly as the 18-year-old.
So, as obfusciatrist points out, where do you draw the line? Where would you make a distinction in the law as regards two teens of different ages?
Stoid has said it better than anyone so far in my opinion.
I do believe that the law requires some rigidity with respect to relative ages. But if these boys are deemed to be guilty based on the technicalities of the law, and it was the girl who instigated or facilitated the incident, then I think she should be held accountable for aiding and abetting the transgression to some degree rather than be labelled a victim.
After all, if a 14 year old can be determined to have consented to committing murder, and subject to adult trial and penalties in that regard, I see no reason why the character/sexual maturity of the 14 year old can not be regarded as a mitigating factor in determining the penalty for these boys, to the extent that a similar penalty might apply to her as well.
I’ve always felt that “statutory” rape was a stupid concept, motivated by good impulses.
I don’t think there should ever be an * automatic * assumption of victimhood in any teenager. I think that the law should leave it to judges, juries, parents and prosecutors to look at each case individually to determine if anyone was truly victimized. It’s usually not the case, or rather, the girls are victims of bad parents rather than predatory boys.
But if I had to say what I would pretty much assume was felonious, I’d say a 12 year old girl and a 19 year old boy is crossing a bunch of lines I’m not happy about. But still… I have known and seen some pretty slutty 12 year olds. (Again, more the victim of bad parenting than rapists)
Stoid, we (via our laws) take the view that it is more important to avoid letting possible lack-of-consent pass than it is to allow 14 year olds to have sex. So we draw the line. If you think that the line is drawn in the wrong place, that is a reasonably debatable issue. But whilst that line exists, it must be obeyed. Those who break the law know (or should know - ignorance is no defence) what they are doing.
As such, I fail to see what the issue is. The line is there to protect the more vulnerable members of society. If a few not-so-vulnerable members have to wait a few more years then my heart bleeds.
Hmm… it seems that part of what is getting us all tied up in knots here is the word “victim”, as in the original report that she was sent to a “victims” program.
Being as I was not competent to give consent 'till a few months ago, I am afraid that I must report over a thousand cases of being molested by myself. Wonder what the police would make of that? Also, a question: I was under the impression that if a fourteen-year-old sexually harassed an eighteen-year-old, the fourteen-year-old would be the one charged. Being as the charges are of carnal knowledge, rather than molestation, one can assume (bad habit, but the link’s broken) that the girl initiated the episode. By extention, how can we say where the line of consent is, and whether or not the boys passed it by taking it like, if you will excuse the expression, men?
The grand jury handed down indictments against the 18-yr-old and the 17-yr-old in the case. Charged with obscenity and carnal knowledge of a juvenile. They will be arraigned June 4.
Hell, Heloise, back in the '70’s and early '80’s, I went to several parties where the host would hand 'round a bottle of pills. Those of us so inclined popped them without asking too many questions. We trusted X (I think he would rather not admit in public to knowing me) and he didn’t poison us.
Hey, belladonna. Assuming you(or anyone else) is still interested, you might want to know the outcome of the case. Even though it still begs for more detailed info.
Wonder what the police would make of that? Also, a question: I was under the impression that if a fourteen-year-old sexually harassed an eighteen-year-old, the fourteen-year-old would be the one charged. Being as the charges are of carnal knowledge, rather than molestation, one can assume (bad habit, but the link’s broken) that the girl initiated the episode. By extention, how can we say where the line of consent is, and whether or not the boys passed it by taking it like, if you will excuse the expression, men?