You know, I’m not so opposed anymore actually. I think that instead of 18, 16 is a fine age to start going on a few harmless dates. However, anything younger than 16 means that they shouldn’t.
Now, let me explain that a little bit so you don’t get the wrong idea. What I mean is that they shouldn’t ACTUALLY go out, but I completely support in-school boyfriends-girlfriends. Things like holding hands, pecks IN SCHOOL is fine if you’re in high school IN MY OPINION. However this is somewhat out of compliance with my parents so I wouldn’t do it anyways. But in my honest opinion, I think it’s okay as long as it stays in-school and texting/callling/messaging from home. But anything more than that under the age of 18 (16 for some that are ready for it by exception) is asking for trouble.
I’m not really pitting the concept of dating early anymore as much as I’m pitting the concept of how SEX is so important to even the young now, and I’ve started a new thread pitting this: http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=672425
No, dear, actually, you don’t agree with me at all. I was just questioning your thought processes. My actual opinion is that, within the confines of safe, sane, and consensual, I think it is in teen’s best interests to explore their sexuality along with the other personal growth they are going through at that age. This should include appropriate parental guidance to work through the psychological issues that sex is tied to. How do you break up? How do you know if you’re in a loving relationship? When and how is it okay to say no?
So when you grow up big and strong and smart enough to make your own decisions, you don’t make choices that are quite as stupid as the ones people make when they are repressed from exploring all aspects of their natural selves. I also think that religion conflating morality with sex is extremely psychologically damaging and the prohibition against sex outside of marriage is a tool to control worshippers and breed more tithing payers.
If you look at the history of mankind from Neanderthals to now, you may observe that our current idea of “marriage” is a relatively new-ish concept. I think it’s completely unnecessary and refuse to believe that I am a bad or immoral person because I enjoy sex and seek it out.
Pitting minors who date is swinging with a big bat. I grew up in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The legal age of sexual consent a the time ( late 1970’s ) was 16.
The drinking age was 18, then 21. Voting age was 18. Drafting age was 18. ( Compulsory Registration for a draft was reinstated in 1980 ).
The age of majority is 21.
You really want to lump a coupla 13 year olds who go bowling with 15, 16, 18 year olds? Really? :dubious:
I went on a few dates in 8th grade. We did go bowling. One of our parents would drive us and drop us off. I wasn’t in love, but we liked each other and we like to go bowling. It was in fact a superb way to socialize and learn to socialize one on one.
