Quote:
Originally Posted by deecee
I don't understand what switch gets turned at 18 where then it's ok all of a sudden. Arbitrary age laws just seem...so arbitrary. Then there's the whole discussion about when is old enough.
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The specific age could certainly be argued but the laws often have an age differential element such that if the older person in the situation is less than 3 years older than the younger one, it is not a crime...that is, if the boy (usually the case) is 19 and the girl is 17, it is not against the law. But 17 and 21 is. They're trying to cover the maturity window and are saying that if you're that much older than the teen, you really should both know better and are old enough and mature enough to be able to inappropriately manipulate a teenager...but similar aged teens would not be.