4 ms·

> 25 percent of people on the sex offender registry are under the age of 18. This is the money quote. These people's lives are ruined forever and they haven't

> 25 percent of people on the sex offender registry are under the age of 18. This is the money quote. These people's lives are ruined forever and they haven't even begun.

nostrebored 10y ago
There lives have certainly begun enough to become a sex offender. Holding people accountable for the crimes that they commit means that we have hard and fast boundaries. Especially in the case of sex-crimes which are pervasive throughout our society. When you keep in mind that a large number of those people have likely sexually assaulted someone their age, do you feel differently? You can talk to me about "not-fully-developed brains". all you like, but as a 16yo you certainly have the capability to make the decision to not rape/assault/etc.
- Nadya 10y ago
  >You can talk to me about "not-fully-developed brains". all you like, but as a 16yo you certainly have the capability to make the decision to not rape/assault/etc. It can be far more innocent than that. Such as sending nudes to your SO: you are now in possession of and distributing child pornography. Something that many, if not most, sexually active millennials have done at some point in time ever since people could send each other nudes on their cell phones.
  - nostrebored 10y ago
    This is also something that teenagers are being made aware of at a young age. I am a millennial, and I had tons of school-hosted discussions about the legal issues re: sexting. All of my friends knew that this was illegal. And I'd actually suggest that this happens less frequently than you think.
    - Nadya 10y ago
      I'm referring more to Gen Y than Gen Z. I know "Millennials" often includes both depending on who you ask with Gen Y's typically using it to reference Gen Z's. (personal note: Gen X/Y/Z as naming scheme is silly IMO, but those are the terms) I remember no such discussion about sexting ever occurring - and I've attended more schools in more states than a typical military brat. I believe you that the current generation (referring to those who are currently 18 or younger) are educated on the subject or at least have school discussions around the subject. It's also entirely plausible I only attended prudish schools that wouldn't discuss such topics. :) Just stating that I had the complete opposite experience and in >14 different schools. E: I'm also not implying that the above accounts for most of the cases, just saying that some of the reasons for being "put on the list" are not satisfactory to my opinion and listed one such occurrence where I do not agree with it. With a few grey areas, I'm of the opinion that two consenting minors should be able to be sexual without fearing it could ruin their lives.
- Oletros 10y ago
  > You can talk to me about "not-fully-developed brains". all you like, but as a 16yo you certainly have the capability to make the decision to not rape/assault/etc. having sex with your girlfriend or sexting is the same as rape/assault/etc?
  - nostrebored 10y ago
    The misconception that these are all from Romeo and Juliet type laws is disingenuous. Fehrenbach and Allard-Dansereau found that adolescents were actually more likely to commit serious offenses (genital contact/penetration) than adults.
    - Oletros 10y ago
      How is having sex as a teenager a serious offense?
      - nostrebored 10y ago
        If you seriously think that teenagers sexually assaulting or raping people (likely other teenagers/children) is 'sex' then you are part of the problem.
        Oletros 10y ago
        No, the one being part of the problem is the one that thinks that everyone is a sex offender independently of the situation. A 18 year old having sex with his/her 17 years old partner IS NOT A sex offender You're the one thinking that every sex act between teenagers is a "serious offense". I can distinguish between a normal and health sexual life and sex offenders, you put them in the same bag

> 25 percent of people on the sex offender registry are under the age of 18. This is the money quote. These people's lives are ruined forever and they haven't even begun.

nostrebored 10y ago

There lives have certainly begun enough to become a sex offender. Holding people accountable for the crimes that they commit means that we have hard and fast boundaries. Especially in the case of sex-crimes which are pervasive throughout our society. When you keep in mind that a large number of those people have likely sexually assaulted someone their age, do you feel differently? You can talk to me about "not-fully-developed brains". all you like, but as a 16yo you certainly have the capability to make the decision to not rape/assault/etc.

Nadya 10y ago
>You can talk to me about "not-fully-developed brains". all you like, but as a 16yo you certainly have the capability to make the decision to not rape/assault/etc. It can be far more innocent than that. Such as sending nudes to your SO: you are now in possession of and distributing child pornography. Something that many, if not most, sexually active millennials have done at some point in time ever since people could send each other nudes on their cell phones.
- nostrebored 10y ago
  This is also something that teenagers are being made aware of at a young age. I am a millennial, and I had tons of school-hosted discussions about the legal issues re: sexting. All of my friends knew that this was illegal. And I'd actually suggest that this happens less frequently than you think.
  - Nadya 10y ago
    I'm referring more to Gen Y than Gen Z. I know "Millennials" often includes both depending on who you ask with Gen Y's typically using it to reference Gen Z's. (personal note: Gen X/Y/Z as naming scheme is silly IMO, but those are the terms) I remember no such discussion about sexting ever occurring - and I've attended more schools in more states than a typical military brat. I believe you that the current generation (referring to those who are currently 18 or younger) are educated on the subject or at least have school discussions around the subject. It's also entirely plausible I only attended prudish schools that wouldn't discuss such topics. :) Just stating that I had the complete opposite experience and in >14 different schools. E: I'm also not implying that the above accounts for most of the cases, just saying that some of the reasons for being "put on the list" are not satisfactory to my opinion and listed one such occurrence where I do not agree with it. With a few grey areas, I'm of the opinion that two consenting minors should be able to be sexual without fearing it could ruin their lives.
Oletros 10y ago
> You can talk to me about "not-fully-developed brains". all you like, but as a 16yo you certainly have the capability to make the decision to not rape/assault/etc. having sex with your girlfriend or sexting is the same as rape/assault/etc?
- nostrebored 10y ago
  The misconception that these are all from Romeo and Juliet type laws is disingenuous. Fehrenbach and Allard-Dansereau found that adolescents were actually more likely to commit serious offenses (genital contact/penetration) than adults.
  - Oletros 10y ago
    How is having sex as a teenager a serious offense?
    - nostrebored 10y ago
      If you seriously think that teenagers sexually assaulting or raping people (likely other teenagers/children) is 'sex' then you are part of the problem.
      - Oletros 10y ago
        No, the one being part of the problem is the one that thinks that everyone is a sex offender independently of the situation. A 18 year old having sex with his/her 17 years old partner IS NOT A sex offender You're the one thinking that every sex act between teenagers is a "serious offense". I can distinguish between a normal and health sexual life and sex offenders, you put them in the same bag