# How far can society fall? Read on... **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 8, 2006, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-society-fall-read-on/371882 "2006-09-08T04:36:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 7
**Author:** ![AngryIrishLass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bbce88/32.png) [@AngryIrishLass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngryIrishLass)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-society-fall-read-on/371882/122 "2006-09-12T18:11:27Z")
So this begs the question: Which is more horrifying? The alleged gang rape of an 11yro or the fact that an HIV positive 11yro knowingly had unprotected sex with 15-20 people. Unfortunately, in this day and age, age is not representative of innocence. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-society-fall-read-on/371882/123 "2006-09-12T19:06:55Z")
We chased that question around here a few times, but I’m of the opinion age is representative. An 11 y.o. will know what she is doing is wrong, but might not fully understand the extent of how wrong it is. Even when repeated often, the true consequences sometimes don’t sink in. We don’t know if this young girl was ever properly told of her disease and the consequences - many American families avoid talking sex with children with the idiotic theory that if we don’t say it, they won’t do it. And that’s hoping this girl lives with family, having already lost her mother. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-society-fall-read-on/371882/124 "2006-09-12T19:29:26Z")
[QUOTE=Malacandra] I also see from the quote that she was born HIV positive. Which, looked at one way, spells instant karma for everyone else involved, and looked at another… ☹ [/QUOTE] I may be wrong, but I inferred that most of the sex involved was oral, giving a lower chance of infection. Also, while HIV is certainly sexually transmitted, female to male is much rarer and even under the “ideal” sexual transmission circumstances - transmission isn’t certain. Especially if she is on medication and her virus load is low. The likely karma for these guys will be the worry. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2006, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-society-fall-read-on/371882/125 "2006-09-12T21:55:05Z")
[Here](http://fullcoverage.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060908/ap_on_re_us/girl_assaulted) is a link to a news article confirming the child’s HIV status. I hope the girl can turn her life around with counseling, but I fear that she has a very long row to hoe. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-society-fall-read-on/371882/126 "2006-09-13T11:29:10Z")
So this started bothering me yesterday… The girl in question is eleven. It sounds like most of the males in question were minors. It sounds like the rape was statutory - she was willing (screwed up and with odd motivations but willing), just too young to giive consent. The age of consent in Wisconsin is eighteen. If it was one fifteen year old boy, would we still be agast. Who raped these fifteen year old boys (who - are below the age of consent and therefore were raped). Don’t get me wrong - I too am against the gang rape of eleven year olds. And this is warped. But I’m not exactly sure how you prosecute minors for statutory rape… ---
**Author:** ![fessie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c37758/32.png) [@fessie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fessie)\ **Post date:** [September 13, 2006, 11:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-society-fall-read-on/371882/127 "2006-09-13T11:30:48Z")
Yep, I was wondering about that, too. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-far-can-society-fall-read-on/371882.md?page=6)