Nature or convention?

[Mitera Nikkou]

I was chatting up with someone a few nights ago and the topic concerning pedophilia happened upon us. Basically, it came down to two things: if you're an adult by law or by nature that really dictates if and when you should engage in sexual activity.

I, of course, still stick with the natural side of things. Humans are sexual (male and female) animals/creature like many others out there, and we reach physical maturity when we're able to reproduce. Not that that would work well with how most of the world is these days, but it has been a practice in the past (and still is in some parts of the world).

And don't get me wrong: I'm not condoning pedophilia. For one thing, humans have become too complicated to handle sexual relations that early in their lives, when they first become capable to reproduce. Any time before that shouldn't be done for any reason, by law of nature and by law of man.

And that's all that I'll say for now. I have more but I'm hoping that that's enough to express my point of view. If not I can always add/elaborate later.

(Was a tough poll for me to make, but I hope people can forgive me if I ended up not providing enough stuff for it.)

[SweetSophia]

I'm going to go with Reason. When you're able to consent and understand all the consequences and ready to accept them. But, I'd like to also note that it's my personal belief that it should only be done after marriage. Now, the odd thing is I don't belive that hold true to everybody on earth, but that I specifically will only be able to accept the consequences when I know I'm going to be spending the rest of my life with that person and am ready to commit.

[Christina Anikari]

I am definitely going to say when people are ready to accept it themselves. I also believe that it happens earlier than most people would say, teenagers having sex with each other isn't a problem in my opinion for example, though that might be a consequence of my cultural background. I also really don't see the point of having a problem with sex outside a stable relationship if condoms are used. In general sex and feelings are quite a lot more divided in my mind than it is for most people. That does not mean that i have personally experienced it or that it holds true for my own desires, it is merely what i see as the way we should structure our moral views about the topic.

[ZeroForever]

reason is the closest to what i would choose though there are exceptions... i mean honestly .... even if you consent... pre teens like below 13.... should just be no... be it just wrong in society or other facites.. so i went with other since i'm a littles of several groups.

[Helel]

Mainly reason, but from the points that other people have brought up, a tad of kids being at a certain "mature" age, both physically and by a mental/moral standpoint so that they are old enough to know the gravity of what may result from their actions.

[Raijin]

I would say Reason as well.

[Temet nosce]

I unequivocally favor when both parties are prepared and know what they are doing. Physical intimacy and sentimental intimacy are separate things and people should feel free to indulge in purely physical pleasure at any time provided both parties consent. The taint or shame society puts on such contact is a large part of why so muh unsafe sex and rape occurs in my opinion.

[Mitera Nikkou]

The taint or shame society puts on such contact is a large part of why so muh unsafe sex and rape occurs in my opinion.

That's what I think, as well. I believe any psychiatrist would recommend finding an outlet for something instead of bottling things up, which is what law and convention and some (many?) religions essentially do. Problem with blocking the flow of something is that it can eventually break and/or it'll find an alternate route to its destination where the end is more important than the means of reaching it. So the minimum age for sexual relations, to me, is when people are physically able to reproduce. And while it's good to be done when people are mentally able to comprehend what it's all about, it's not a perfect system. We came from ancestors where, way back down the line, they did it whenever it was the right time like other animals did. Which was fine for that time frame, but now we're a lot more complex mentally and there are so many things to consider, something I also think causes problems here and in other places: people get it into their head that because they have the capacity to think in complex ways that they need to make life complex in order to define themselves. Or something like that.

[Ijuin]

I think that part of why teenagers use contraception less than older people is that in asking their parents, doctor, or whoever, for access to contraceptives they are admitting that they are sexually active, which they know is generally frowned upon by older people. If birth control pills were available over the counter instead of by prescription I think it would significantly reduce teen pregnancies.

[Zeph]

I believe that Law aides Reason, in that the law is set by the standards of reason. Therefore, the law ensures that one is mature enough to make the decision and understand the consequences before they engage in sexual activity.

[Christina Anikari]

I think that is something unique to the US, Ijuin. I mean there is no secret in my 16-year old little sister using contraceptive pills. In general on this side of the Atlantic teenage sex is much more accepted than it seems to be in the US.

[Ijuin]

In the USA in general sex is seen as more of a forbidden fruit thing, probably due to the fact that the Puritans had heavy influence in the founding of the country. In some states if two teenagers have sex with each other it is considered statutatory rape the same as if an older adult had had sex with a teenager (and usually the boy is faulted unless both get charges leveled against them).

[Alyta]

I'm going to stand up and say something that I'm sure people will not agree with. I voted for option 4, Divinity. I don't believe in sex before marriage.

There's isn't a particularly logical reason for this, it's an article of faith for me, and while I'll admit I don't practise my faith as much as I should, I know that without it I wouldn't be here. So I don't do it, that's about it. I'm not going to tell anyone else not to nor look down on anyone who does, because that's none of my business and we each have out own road to walk.

Hopefully that makes some kind of sense...

[Mitera Nikkou]

No worries, Alyta. At least two others went with divinity as well. I'm all by my lonesome with technicality. XD