International Law (Iz abowt SEX! YEE!)
 

I'm curious, what's the age of consent in the various countries you guys are from? (in case I'm using the wrong term, I'm talking about the age at which someone is no longer considered a minor when it comes to having sex, so when it basically becomes legal for them). I think it's eighteen here in the states, but I heard it was lower and higher in some countries.

It's 16 in Blighty, but I think it should be 21, as should the ages at which you can get married (currently 16) and drive a car (currently 17).

Apparently it's 12 in Japan, but I find that hard to believe.

Wait.....if you're having sex, or have had sex, and are under the age of 18, you've violated a law? Jeeze, the police should be here for me any moment now...:fuzblink:

Really, Rachel? If two consenting partners under the age of consent have sex here (UK), someone gets prosecuted. I know it's the male that gets prosecuted if it's hetrosexual sex (don't ask me why, probably bigotry) but I don't know what happens with homosexual sex.

Mind if I ask why?

In Britain:

16: Sex, Tobacco.
17: Cars.
17 and a half: Knives.
18: Booze.

Incidentally, does anyone know if they've actually managed to lower the age of homosexual consent to 16 yet? I don't remember hearing the outcome of that particular battle, it just kind of faded away...

It was lowered to 16. It did seem to be too unanounced, didn't it.

although in the state of california, you cannot be prosecuted for sex with a minor if you are within exactly two years of your partner...ex:
18 year old having intercourse with a 17 year old is legal.
an 18 year old having sex with a 16 year old WOULD be legal, as long as the 'offender' wasn't a DAY over two years older that his or her partner. Kooky, no?

I think it's 18 here in Aussie, I'm not sure though.
In Australia it's 16 ans 3 months to get your learners perment, 18 to buy beer and smokes and I think to gamble or that might be 21 years.

Almost... in Australia you've got to be 18 to legally drink, drive (alone) and gamble.

Age of consent is 16, I'm pretty sure.

For heterosexuals here in Australia the age of consent is 16. Homosexuals must wait until they are 18.

But who pays any attention to these laws?

People with no sense of rebellion probably stick by them.

Then again, I'm sure somebody in England has eaten lamb without mince sauce and not realised they were breaking the law.

A cunning scheme to find the best place to spend the summer holidays, no doubt. Good luck. :fuzwink:

So far, Japan is winning.

Teens are starting to have sex as young as 11 now. As time goes by it will get yonger and younger. Soon the laws will have to change...probably

Jacob, I know exactly what you're talking about.
It's sad; very sad.

There's a girl in my high school with three children. She had the first at 11, the second at 12, and the third at 16.
ack.

Although changing the laws would almost seem like...approving of sex at a young age, so a decrease in the consent age is doubtful.

One stupid kid at the camp I went to. He was stupid, and relatively a country moron that was extremely bitchy. Age 7, ack.

Uhuh, at the ages of 12-14 i think its disgusting...however, 15-adulthood i dont find that bad. I dont know why, technically i know its "wrong" but basically its because i believe that you shouldn't have a child at a late age. For me the age 35 is too old to have children. My family (Aunts, Uncles) have had children at relativly late ages...but i still believe its best to have a child young and then you connect with them more as the age gap is smaller.

I think it is 15 for women and 16 for men here.

18 in the United States.

You have to be 21 in order to drink.

They are changing the law that you have to wait until six months after your birthday to get your learners permit.

In the US, the age of consent, drinking age, age for getting a learner's permit and driver's license, are all matters of state law. Although states sometimes follow each others' leads and they end up with similar standards, they can potentially be completely different from state to state. There is sort of a de facto national drinking age now because most if not all states have changed their drinking ages to 21 in response to federal pressure. However, not long ago it was not uncommon to have drinking ages of 18 and 21 on either side of a state border.

Although it may have changed by now, I have a faint memory of the age of consent in at least one state as being as low as 13. They are quite different from state to state.

Yeah that's true. It really depends where in the United States you are in. Some kids get their license when they are 14 or 15.

Kids are hitting Puberty quicker anyways. Also, even if they arn't in the process of Puberty they will still have sex, Townies for instance (Not Dans Townies...which are really Trendies, but the proper version of Townies.) they will have sex with each other in the group just to know what it feels like...once they have done so it will give them something to brag about. In which the only decent and vaguely amusing comeback is:

"Yes, but when i have sex i wont catch any STD's now will i."

or

"You are so right, i am so jealous of a walking talking STD like yourself."

I think the low age of consent in Japan is due in large part to the fact that crime (rape) is so low, and anyone that old probably is consenting. Over there they figure its seldom too early for a kid to learn the "facts of life". And that's good. It might also have something to do with the fact that most of Japan's laws, as well as it's constitution, were written by Americans in 1945.

Also Japanese are usualy more well behaved, and have morals. That is why the suicide rate is higher. Also why explained in some Who Wants to be a Millionare topic it was stated that the show failed in Japan because they like to see the moeny and wealth spread. I sound like a fool o yes I do.