# Why is ignorance of age not an excuse? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [May 7, 2010, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677 "2010-05-07T20:44:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 33
**Author:** ![ivan\_astikov](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/58f4c7/32.png) [@ivan\_astikov](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivan_astikov)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/641 "2010-05-27T09:54:13Z")
I’m sure the statistics would back me up if I stated that most little girls/female minors are less at risk of being taken advantage of by perverted old men in bars, than they are from Daddy “tucking them into bed”. ---
**Author:** ![Lunchy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Lunchy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lunchy)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/642 "2010-05-27T10:16:24Z")
I’m pretty new here, but is that Diogene a troll? Is it against board rules for calling someone else a troll? I’m finding it hard to believe otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/643 "2010-05-27T11:25:28Z")
> [@Lunchy](#): > > I’m pretty new here, but is that Diogene a troll? Is it against board rules for calling someone else a troll? > I’m finding it hard to believe otherwise. Yes, it’s against the rules (except maybe in the pit, I don’ t remember for sure). And no, he isn’t a troll, he’s a regular here, but on this specific topic (and a couple related ones), it’s totally pointless to try to argue with him. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/644 "2010-05-27T11:26:55Z")
> [@Lunchy](#): > > I’m pretty new here, but is that Diogene a troll? Is it against board rules for calling someone else a troll? > I’m finding it hard to believe otherwise. See the [corresponding Pit thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=562819) for that type of talk. Note that it’s been pretty much silent for a while now, but it will at least let you read his defense. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2010, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/645 "2010-05-27T11:29:51Z")
> [@Lunchy](#): > > I’m pretty new here, but is that Diogene a troll? Is it against board rules for calling someone else a troll? > I’m finding it hard to believe otherwise. Yes, it’s against the rules. The next time you want to make a post that might break a rule, ask if it’s allowed _before_ you make the post. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/646 "2010-05-28T03:27:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I know. Let’s say you’re an adult, and you pick up a girl in the park one afternoon. You get her home, and it comes out that tomorrow is her 17th birthday. (You’re in a state where 17 is legal age.) D’oh! :smack: So you tell her, “Honey, you sleep on the couch, I’ll set my alarm for midnight, then come and get you.” You wake up to see the clock reading 12:20. You figure you must have slept through the alarm. So you go get her and have a wild rest of the night. But then the next morning, the clock still reads 12:20. D’oh! :smack: You just remembered the battery in it died two days ago, and you never got around to replacing it. The girl helpfully remembers seeing a working clock out in the living room read 11:15 when you went to get her; she just figured you couldn’t wait any longer. But then it turns out she was born in a different time zone … maybe. It transpires that she was born on a cross-country flight, and there’s some uncertainty about just where she was when the happy event occurred … > [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Tough shit. That guy shouldn’t be fucking anyone who doesn’t have wrinkles. But then it seems his own 17th birthday was five days before, so he’s actually only less than a week older … ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/647 "2010-05-28T04:21:28Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > I know. Let’s say you’re an adult, and you pick up a girl in the park one afternoon. You get her home, and it comes out that tomorrow is her 17th birthday. (You’re in a state where 17 is legal age.) D’oh! :smack: So you tell her, “Honey, you sleep on the couch, I’ll set my alarm for midnight, then come and get you.” You wake up to see the clock reading 12:20. You figure you must have slept through the alarm. So you go get her and have a wild rest of the night. But then the next morning, the clock still reads 12:20. D’oh! :smack: You just remembered the battery in it died two days ago, and you never got around to replacing it. The girl helpfully remembers seeing a working clock out in the living room read 11:15 when you went to get her; she just figured you couldn’t wait any longer. But then it turns out she was born in a different time zone … maybe. It transpires that she was born on a cross-country flight, and there’s some uncertainty about just where she was when the happy event occurred … Your clock doesn’t matter. She’s 17 when it’s actually midnight in that particular jurisdiction. It’s unlikely that a prosecutor would charge you for that, even if you think the girl would try t press charges against you. Personally, (if I was single, which I’m not) I wouldn’t bother with anything under 30. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_stamos_left_ear/32/3198_2.png) [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Stamos_Left_Ear)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/648 "2010-05-28T13:57:07Z")
> [@AClockworkMelon](#): > > Tough shit. That guy shouldn’t be fucking anyone who doesn’t have wrinkles. I like you. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/649 "2010-05-28T14:23:07Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Your clock doesn’t matter. She’s 17 when it’s actually midnight in that particular jurisdiction. > > It’s unlikely that a prosecutor would charge you for that, even if you think the girl would try t press charges against you. > > Personally, (if I was single, which I’m not) I wouldn’t bother with anything under 30. That advice is singularly unhelpful to the 22-27 yr old contingent who is most vulnerable to the scam under discussion. ---
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2010, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/650 "2010-05-28T16:41:00Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Personally, (if I was single, which I’m not) I wouldn’t bother with anything under 30. That’s nice. This thread isn’t about you - ether your age, or your opinion that it’s icky for a fifty year old to be screwing someone half her age. (It _is_ icky, mind you - from an objective standpoint, backed by all six of the ruling dieties. But icky or not it’s still perfectly legal - easily as legal as you and your wife going at it. Which is pretty icky if you actually think about it - you’re _old people!_ Ew!) ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/651 "2010-05-29T06:00:06Z")
> [@John\_Stamos\_Left\_Ear](#): > > I like you. Everyone does! ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2010, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/652 "2010-05-29T07:47:37Z")
**Dio** , I expect to see you in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=564760) thread mentioning that you hope the sick bitch goes to prison for raping the poor 17 year old sexual victim. ---
**Author:** ![DevilMayhem666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@DevilMayhem666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DevilMayhem666)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/653 "2012-12-04T07:13:16Z")
I’ve read the thread. I was wondering if the same applies to selling alcohol to minor with a convincingly fake ID in most states. If not, does anyone else see how ridiculously inconsistent that is? ---
**Author:** ![CoastalMaineiac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e8c25b/32.png) [@CoastalMaineiac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CoastalMaineiac)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/654 "2012-12-04T14:39:46Z")
> [@Mosier](#): > > I think prosecution should have to prove that either 1. a reasonable person would have determined the child was likely not an adult, or 2. the defendant had intent to have sex with someone under the age of consent. It’s kind of silly that a person can be convicted of rape when at no point before or during the crime was there any intent of committing it. actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea ([Mens rea - Wikipedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mens_rea)) Shouldn’t this come into play even in statutory rape charges? ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/655 "2012-12-04T15:50:42Z")
> [@DevilMayhem666](#): > > I’ve read the thread. I was wondering if the same applies to selling alcohol to minor with a convincingly fake ID in most states. If not, does anyone else see how ridiculously inconsistent that is? People don’t ordinarily get prosecuted for selling alcohol to a minor on just anybody’s say-so; if there’s word that a particular vendor is selling to minors, whoever regulates the sales (Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, in my case) will set up a sting, using a minor as a buyer and another undercover agent in the store as an observer. The minors used for the stings definitely look like minors and do not carry fake IDs. Only after _that_ buy will the vendor be prosecuted. ---
**Author:** ![DevilMayhem666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@DevilMayhem666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DevilMayhem666)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/656 "2012-12-04T17:38:01Z")
Not really surprised. But what I find hilarious is that sex offenders have to stay away for places like schools and **daycare centers** because they had sex with people like Courtney Stodden (_ **who looked like she was way over their 20s when she was 16** _). The punishment is nowhere near the level of the crime. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/657 "2012-12-04T18:09:33Z")
You might as well complain that sex offenders have to appear on a registry, while violent non-sexual offenders don’t. It’s a function of the public ooginess over sex crimes. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/658 "2012-12-04T20:41:18Z")
> [@DevilMayhem666](#): > > I’ve read the thread. I was wondering if the same applies to selling alcohol to minor with a convincingly fake ID in most states. If not, does anyone else see how ridiculously inconsistent that is? Not in the state of WV. If a minor provides a reasonable fake ID to a vendor, then that is an affirmative defense to the charge of selling booze to a minor. Although I agree that it’s inconsistent, I wouldn’t say “ridiculously” so. Selling a 17 year old a six pack of beer isn’t the same as having sex with her. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/659 "2012-12-04T22:32:18Z")
Wow, is this thing still going on? 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![DevilMayhem666](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/258eb7/32.png) [@DevilMayhem666](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DevilMayhem666)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2012, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677/660 "2012-12-04T23:36:24Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > You might as well complain that sex offenders have to appear on a registry, while violent non-sexual offenders don’t. It’s a function of the public ooginess over sex crimes. I know all too much about how uptight up Western Culture is with sex and I can tolerate things like that. I could also tolerate punishment for someone who unknowingly lusted after an underage minor with the appearance of a 20-30 year old, but as a sexual misconduct misdemeanor (even though its BS). But to treat him/her like he/she is into toddlers at daycare or school children is both an unnecessary and nonsensical punishment in my eyes. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677.md?page=32) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-ignorance-of-age-not-an-excuse/538677.md?page=34)