5 ms·

Even if the person who commited the crime had no knowledge that the other party was coerced? Why are they at fault because they were lied to and tricked into c

by dx87 7y ago

Even if the person who commited the crime had no knowledge that the other party was coerced? Why are they at fault because they were lied to and tricked into commiting a crime?

nemothekid 7y ago
First, claiming ignorance isn't a strong defense. It wouldn't hold up in any court in America, so I have no reason to buy it as an argument. However, if it did, to be fair, you would have to seriously consider if it is reasonable to assume that person was ignorant. For example, if you know your friend is a drug dealer and he asks you to "drop off a bag at another house", you would get the book thrown at you even if you didn't know they were drugs in the bag.
throwaway17746 7y ago
There are certain crimes for which intent doesn't matter, legally. This is one of them. And likewise from a moral perspective: Minsky did harm her. Regardless of his knowledge of the situation at the time, I would expect him (were he still alive) to apologize and do whatever he could to try and heal the pain he caused. However, I do also think it would reflect much differently on his character if he knew all the details of the situation he was in vs. if he did not. That, from what I've seen, is still unclear. Consequences and intent both matter.
- bitwize 7y ago
  As of yet I see no reason to disbelieve Gregory Benford's account that Minsky turned her down when she approached. So he did not harm her.
azernik 7y ago
Having sex with a minor is a crime, regardless of coercion, because a minor is not capable of giving consent to sex with an adult, because of both cognitive differences and power imbalances. If someone Minsky's age went out and started dating and having sex with high schoolers, he would go to jail. Period. Regardless of the exact social dynamics.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- AstralStorm 7y ago
  There's minor, and there's minor. Age of consent differs by state and country, quite a lot, everything from 14 y.o. to 21 y.o. plus special case exceptions by court. Remember that before making absolute statements about mental powers. By the way, coerced sex (sometimes rape, sometimes assault, sometimes pimping, in some places prostitution) is illegal among adults too. You can keep it extra illegal for minors. Minority should not be an absolute but treated as a high bar. (The younger, the higher.) Unfortunately legislatives are black and white in most countries, and people accede to it.
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]

by dx87 7y ago

Even if the person who commited the crime had no knowledge that the other party was coerced? Why are they at fault because they were lied to and tricked into commiting a crime?

nemothekid 7y ago

First, claiming ignorance isn't a strong defense. It wouldn't hold up in any court in America, so I have no reason to buy it as an argument. However, if it did, to be fair, you would have to seriously consider if it is reasonable to assume that person was ignorant. For example, if you know your friend is a drug dealer and he asks you to "drop off a bag at another house", you would get the book thrown at you even if you didn't know they were drugs in the bag.

throwaway17746 7y ago

There are certain crimes for which intent doesn't matter, legally. This is one of them. And likewise from a moral perspective: Minsky did harm her. Regardless of his knowledge of the situation at the time, I would expect him (were he still alive) to apologize and do whatever he could to try and heal the pain he caused. However, I do also think it would reflect much differently on his character if he knew all the details of the situation he was in vs. if he did not. That, from what I've seen, is still unclear. Consequences and intent both matter.

bitwize 7y ago
As of yet I see no reason to disbelieve Gregory Benford's account that Minsky turned her down when she approached. So he did not harm her.

azernik 7y ago

Having sex with a minor is a crime, regardless of coercion, because a minor is not capable of giving consent to sex with an adult, because of both cognitive differences and power imbalances. If someone Minsky's age went out and started dating and having sex with high schoolers, he would go to jail. Period. Regardless of the exact social dynamics.

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
AstralStorm 7y ago
There's minor, and there's minor. Age of consent differs by state and country, quite a lot, everything from 14 y.o. to 21 y.o. plus special case exceptions by court. Remember that before making absolute statements about mental powers. By the way, coerced sex (sometimes rape, sometimes assault, sometimes pimping, in some places prostitution) is illegal among adults too. You can keep it extra illegal for minors. Minority should not be an absolute but treated as a high bar. (The younger, the higher.) Unfortunately legislatives are black and white in most countries, and people accede to it.
deleted 7y ago
[deleted]