# What would you do? (Teenage sex question) **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 18, 2011, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028 "2011-01-18T01:21:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/21 "2011-01-18T02:15:16Z")
> [@Freudian\_Slit](#): > > Er, why would it even occur to you to file rape charges? Does your nephew say he’s been raped? Basically as premptive strike in case the girl’s family finds out and decides he “raped” their daughter. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/22 "2011-01-18T02:17:30Z")
Jesus, you are obsessed with sex and rape. Men rape women by shaking hands, women rape men if they get pregnant, two teenagers have sex and your automatic thought process is that the girl’s family will cry “rape”… Seriously, you need help. Medical help. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/23 "2011-01-18T02:17:46Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Basically as premptive strike in case the girl’s family finds out and decides he “raped” their daughter. At this point, I’m thinking the Pit thread is accurate. Going for one last blowout? ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/24 "2011-01-18T02:19:30Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > Are you saying that they have sent photos back and forth? Because 16-year-olds writing about sex between each other isn’t illegal. You have to provide more info than this. And falsely accusing someone of rape IS illegal. There were sexually explicit photos on the phone’s camera. A nasty enough prosecutor could probably consider them pornography. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/25 "2011-01-18T02:21:54Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > Please cite that it is statutory rape for two sixteen-year-olds to have sex where you live. > **[Age of consent in North America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America)** > > In North America, the legal age of consent relating to sexual activity outside of marriage varies by jurisdiction. > The age of consent in Canada is 16. > As of August 2018, each U.S. state has set its age of consent at either age 16, age 17, or age 18, most with some exceptions. In the case of the state of Washington, the age of consent rises to 21 for the specific instance student-teacher sex (the age of consent in the state of Washington is otherwise 16). In a number of U.S. states, the ag... ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/26 "2011-01-18T02:22:59Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > There were sexually explicit photos on the phone’s camera. A nasty enough prosecutor could probably consider them pornography. I don’t think it’s HIS phone you need be concerned about. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/27 "2011-01-18T02:24:24Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Jesus, you are obsessed with sex and rape. Men rape women by shaking hands, women rape men if they get pregnant, two teenagers have sex and your automatic thought process is that the girl’s family will cry “rape”… > > Seriously, you need help. Medical help. Have you looked at the news lately. People at least in America have gotten rather crazy when it comes to teenagers and sex. Nephew X is sixteen and yes, this could really screw up his life, if some tough-on-crime prosecutor decides there’s a crime going on. Being labeled a sex offender is no laughing matter. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/28 "2011-01-18T02:24:57Z")
Is your nephew supplied with condoms? It’d be a shame to have to kill the girlfriend when he knocks her up. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/29 "2011-01-18T02:25:01Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > [Age of consent in North America - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America) That certainly cleared everything right up! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/30 "2011-01-18T02:26:14Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Nephew X is sixteen and yes, this could really screw up his life, if some tough-on-crime prosecutor decides there’s a crime going on. What is your attorney’s opinion? ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/31 "2011-01-18T02:27:26Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Have you looked at the news lately. People at least in America have gotten rather crazy when it comes to teenagers and sex. Nephew X is sixteen and yes, this could really screw up his life, if some tough-on-crime prosecutor decides there’s a crime going on. Being labeled a sex offender is no laughing matter. So because you are so sex-obsessed and frightened over it, you are willing to ruin a young woman’s life by falsely accusing HER of rape, in order to protect your nephew on the off chance that her parents MIGHT POSSIBLY accuse him of rape, so that SHE could endure the “no laughing matter” of being labeled a sex offender for consensual sex with your nephew, for no other reason than she had the poor taste to choose someone in your family for her lover. Lady, you are one of two things: 1) a lunatic; 2) an evil fucking harpy who has no problem fucking with others for fun. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/32 "2011-01-18T02:28:14Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I don’t think it’s HIS phone you need be concerned about. Hence, the crux of the problem, I don’t know what’s out there in cyberspace. I’m sure there’s emails, texts, whatever evidence of the relationship out there. I know zip about this girl’s family and I am worried about digging for information now for fear they will start thinking something is wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/33 "2011-01-18T02:28:36Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > [Age of consent in North America - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America) Yea, this? Doesn’t really help. Nice grab at the first Google link, though. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/34 "2011-01-18T02:29:52Z")
> [@Frank](#): > > That certainly cleared everything right up! 🙂 I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not. [I’m assuming she’s from one the states where the age of consent is 17 or 18.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America#State_laws) ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/35 "2011-01-18T02:30:55Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > Yea, this? Doesn’t really help. Nice grab at the first Google link, though. Did you try reading the part about the USA and states? > **[Age of consent in North America](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America#State_laws)** > > In North America, the legal age of consent relating to sexual activity outside of marriage varies by jurisdiction. > The age of consent in Canada is 16. > As of August 2018, each U.S. state has set its age of consent at either age 16, age 17, or age 18, most with some exceptions. In the case of the state of Washington, the age of consent rises to 21 for the specific instance student-teacher sex (the age of consent in the state of Washington is otherwise 16). In a number of U.S. states, the ag... ---
**Author:** ![Electric\_Warrior](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee7513/32.png) [@Electric\_Warrior](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Electric_Warrior)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/36 "2011-01-18T02:31:14Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > Hence, the crux of the problem, I don’t know what’s out there in cyberspace. I’m sure there’s emails, texts, whatever evidence of the relationship out there. I know zip about this girl’s family and I am worried about digging for information now for fear they will start thinking something is wrong. You could also try… talking to them. Tell your nephew that you want to meet his girlfriend and her family, because you think openness is important in your family. Pursuing legal action is going to leave everyone miserable. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/37 "2011-01-18T02:31:20Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not. [I’m assuming she’s from one the states where the age of consent is 17 or 18.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America#State_laws) You don’t know that, and that’s not what **Frank** asked. He asked YOU to prove that it’s illegal for two 16-year-olds to have sex where the lunatic lives, which you don’t know. > [@needscoffee](#): > > Did you try reading the part about the USA and states? > [Age of consent in North America - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America#State_laws) Yea, and? That’s totally less than helpful given that we don’t know where the lunatic lives. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/38 "2011-01-18T02:34:04Z")
> [@needscoffee](#): > > I can’t tell if you’re being sarcastic or not. [I’m assuming she’s from one the states where the age of consent is 17 or 18.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America#State_laws) I don’t have the patience to read through all fifty states, but a quick look shows that most have a “close in age” exception for two minors who are close in age. Interestingly, California does not. The situation described in the OP would be a misdemeanor in California (if Wiki is correct). ---
**Author:** ![ladyfoxfyre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ad7895/32.png) [@ladyfoxfyre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ladyfoxfyre)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/39 "2011-01-18T02:35:09Z")
Hoooly shit you are loopy. Do you really think it’s a good idea to file rape charges against a 16 year old girl on behalf of your 16 year old nephew, when by all accounts they are having a consensual sexual relationship? What possible good could come of that? Are you so paranoid about someone accusing you of misconduct that you would potentially ruin the lives of two young people? God damn. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2011, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028/40 "2011-01-18T02:39:11Z")
> [@Kolga](#): > > You don’t know that, and that’s not what **Frank** asked. He asked YOU to prove that it’s illegal for two 16-year-olds to have sex where the lunatic lives, which you don’t know. > [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > The problem is where we live that is still a crime (statutory rape). > [@Kolga](#): > > Yea, and? That’s totally less than helpful given that we don’t know where the lunatic lives. So unless she tells you the state she lives in, you won’t believe it? Considering it’s illegal in 19 states and legal in 38 states and D.C. according to the link, it’s not a stretch. She may well live in Illinois, where she’s mentioned she’s from in another thread. But go ahead and be snippy all you want. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-you-do-teenage-sex-question/568028.md?page=3)