Originally Posted by Kapri

I find some of the views on here very sad.

Let's think about some things.

Just because it's legal to marry a 12 year old in "very few" places, doesn't make it right. Teenage bodies are getting ready to bear children, but it's very risky up until age 17 ish.

Teenage girls are just discovering their sexuality. They will try it out. This shouldn't be manipulated by unscrupulous older men.
Yes, some teens are precocious, they need to be protected, not used.

No child under the age of 14 should ever be considered asking for it in any way, shape or form.

Originally Posted by Beoz

So what should it be 14 or 17? Again this is another reason why this whole thing of older men having an attraction for young girls is a bit of a farce in my opinion. As you say, a girl hitting puberty at 13 yet may no be ready until 17. I'd even push this out to 19 just to be sure. Yet the law is set at 16. And you are still going to have older men that have desires for young women and the line between appareance age, maturity age, and actual age is so blurry.

I dare say there will be many more of the Rolf Harris cases to come.

Originally Posted by knockoff nige

I really don't understand what you're saying. An adult should be expected to apply common sense. If a girl is much younger, it would make perfect sense to check what age they are before getting involved in anyway. In fact, a better idea is to leave well alone. 16 is probably about right. I can't see it making sense for a 20 year old to go to prison for having sex with his soon to be 19 year old girlfriend.

Originally Posted by Beoz

Again very vague ..... that's the problem. You want to apply common sense to all. Perhaps they should apply a rule. You can't have sexual relations with anyone who is half you age, multiplied by 1.8, divided by 0.6 to the power of 2.

Originally Posted by knockoff nige

Well no. We're talking about protecting kids. Sexual assault on an adult in a different crime. Kids need more protection.

Originally Posted by Beoz

So legally in Oz and UK 16 is the age. Some would, including myself, that for many women this is too young. In Spain 13 is the age. Is this a kid? For the Spanish its not. Village in India? Your moral view point and mine has no baring on world wide rules for age of consent.

Originally Posted by stevenglish1

So because it's 'in their culture' they're not animals?

Originally Posted by Beoz

So legally in Oz and UK 16 is the age. Some would, including myself, that for many women this is too young. In Spain 13 is the age. Is this a kid? For the Spanish its not. Village in India? Your moral view point and mine has no baring on world wide rules for age of consent.

Originally Posted by andyrich666

No they are not, your the Animal with your prejudice views. Your culture differs, why can you not understand that ?

You cant have everything your own way otherwise you would be a tyrant !

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

My dentist's receptionist is Iranian, she was telling me her mum and dad have been happily married since they were both 13.

Originally Posted by stevenglish1

So it wasn't arranged for them by adults then?

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

Presumably it was.

I think there is a certain amount of danger in getting so worked up about this issue that whole cultures are written off as depraved though.

Originally Posted by stevenglish1

nowhere near as much danger as accepting it, just as a side track, how do you feel about female circumsision? Is it barbaric full stop, or only when it's practised in your country?

Originally Posted by Sally Redux

I think all circumcision is barbaric.