# Waddaya mean she's a minor? She was a MAJOR 'ho!

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waddaya-mean-shes-a-minor-she-was-a-major-ho/112552>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [June 5, 2002, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waddaya-mean-shes-a-minor-she-was-a-major-ho/112552 "2002-06-05T22:30:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 101

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**Author:** ![Ms2001](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ms2001/32/18463_2.png) [@Ms2001](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms2001)\
**Post date:** [June 10, 2002, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/waddaya-mean-shes-a-minor-she-was-a-major-ho/112552/101 "2002-06-10T20:57:21Z")

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> [@](#):
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> \*Originally posted by DSeid \*  
> **Let’s take your logic further - Are there any 10 year olds who are capable of giving consent? 8 year olds? … Certainly there are some who _think_ that they are. Are they just because they believe it? Is there no victim?**

There may be… I haven’t met any myself, and I doubt I ever will, but I have no reason to think it’s impossible. I’d have to look at each case individually, unless presented with medical evidence that 100% of humans younger than _N_ years are incapable of giving consent.

Is there a victim? Well, if the child doesn’t feel she has been victimized, she wasn’t subject to any force or fraud, and she (as an individual) hasn’t been found incapable of giving consent, I don’t think she’s a victim.

And I don’t think we can possibly help the child by telling her, “I know you don’t feel like anything is wrong, but what happened was _very bad_, and your friend is a _very bad man_ who will be going away for a long time,” creating a painful memory from what was otherwise a pleasant (or at least unremarkable) experience.

> [@](#):
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> **But, society has to make an arbitrary decision. How old is old enough to be considered age of consent, and how young is young enough to be _defined_ as below the age of consent.**

I disagree. The statement “all children under 16 are incapable of giving consent” makes about as much sense as “all men over 20 are capable of running down the street carrying a television.” Both statements are substitutes for actually discovering the facts of each individual case, and they’re only useful when saving time and money is more important than justice.

> [@](#):
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> _Originally posted by shrew_  
> **I want to know what world you live in, mr2001, in which you know 14-year olds who are mature enough for sex. I teach them everyday, and I haven’t met one YET who fits that description.**

I know when I was that age, I acted differently while I was in class than when I was with my friends. Could it be that you’re just not seeing them in situations that demand this kind of maturity?

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