Should we reduce the legal age for pornography to 16? (1 Viewer)

[Freedom_]

My ideas of total freedom in society may come to many as dubious and outright far-fetched.
But I am by no means a troll.

 

[EMFC]

My ideas of total freedom in society may come to many as dubious and outright far-fetched.
But I am by no means a troll.

Do you actually mean "total" freedom, because that really suggests that there should be no laws, government etc and that's ridiculous. If you don't literally mean that then I think you should think about it a bit more.
If a ten year old pubescent child decides he/she wants to have sex and you think they should have the freedom to choose what they will, does that suggests that they have the mental capacity to choose everything for themselves. Can they now look after themselves, choose to take drugs, vote etc.

 

[Freedom_]

Do you actually mean "total" freedom, because that really suggests that there should be no laws, government etc and that's ridiculous. If you don't literally mean that then I think you should think about it a bit more.

No. I do not mean that at all.

If a ten year old pubescent child decides he/she wants to have sex and you think they should have the freedom to choose what they will, does that suggests that they have the mental capacity to choose everything for themselves. Can they now look after themselves, choose to take drugs, vote etc.

I may have played devils advocate but I do stand by the idea that legal sex at the age of 16 is tad too high. When I was in high school I knew a few 15 year olds having sexual intercourse. To suggest that these teenagers be punished by the government does not sit well with me.

 

[EMFC]

I may have played devils advocate but I do stand by the idea that legal sex at the age of 16 is tad too high. When I was in high school I knew a few 15 year olds having sexual intercourse. To suggest that these teenagers be punished by the government does not sit well with me.

Yeah, agreed, I know loads of people who've been having sex since before they were 16 and I don't necessarily think they've done anything that should be legally considered wrong. But, have you ever heard of anyone being punished for under aged sex, I haven't. I don't think the legal age, 16 is a parameter that should apply to everyone, i agree with that too. But instead of saying puberty should mark someone's decision to have sex i think emotional and intellectual readiness makes more sense.

 

[Freedom_]

Then why is it if a 17 year old has sex with 15 year old the law defines this as statutory rape? this is absurd

 

[EMFC]

Haha, yeah but that's a whole other issue isn't it. I do think statutory rape is something that's pretty often looked over unless the age gap is significantly larger though.

 

[pman]

Working in the industry should be illegal but If you are over the legal age for sex, you should be allowed to do amature stuff, as long as there is no payment. This reduces thepressure on young people but still allows them to participate!

 

[Kalashnikov47]

There is a fundamental difference between having sex and acting in a porn film. Having sex, unless you get pregnant, has little effect (if any) on the person's life, whereas shooting a porn film will have a life time effect on the person (almost like once you do it, there is no going back). I do not think, according to my own experience and my knowledge of others around me, that teenagers at the age of 16 can make responsible and mature decisions such as choosing a career as a porn actor/actress.

This debate is somewhat similar to that arose couple of years ago, when people argued that children at 16 should be allowed to consume alcohol because they are allowed to work at pubs and bottleshops. In my opinion, a responsible society should put the safety and physical well-being of young and aged citizens as paramount to that of their desire and indulgence.

 

[Tully B.]

Then why is it if a 17 year old has sex with 15 year old the law defines this as statutory rape? this is absurd

This is simply a glich in the system, a system which would rightfully condemn a 50 year old man with having sex with a 10 year old child.

Plus:

Haha, yeah but that's a whole other issue isn't it. I do think statutory rape is something that's pretty often looked over unless the age gap is significantly larger though.

 

[DavidBenGurion]

There is a fundamental difference between having sex and acting in a porn film. Having sex, unless you get pregnant, has little effect (if any) on the person's life, whereas shooting a porn film will have a life time effect on the person (almost like once you do it, there is no going back). I do not think, according to my own experience and my knowledge of others around me, that teenagers at the age of 16 can make responsible and mature decisions such as choosing a career as a porn actor/actress.

this is a v good point

 

[katie tully]

I don't think there should be any age.


re: viewing. I mean, it's practically a given that anyone can go on youporn, regardless of age, so there isn't any way to police the viewing of porn as it is now.

 

[I Study Hard]

And that should be the crime. The exploitation and abuse.

But the effect would of this law are the same: to reduce all teenagers to a subhuman level and to deprive everyone of the most precious part of his or her humanity—the freedom to choose. Are you telling me that if a 15 year old had consential sex with another 15 year old that they should be persecuted? This thought of line fundamentally violates the natural rights of all teenagers of such age to own their own body and therefore decide what they wish to do with that body.

No. If the abused did not want to have sex then it is a violation of her right and therefore a crime.

I think that the only time a 15 year old might get persecuted for having sex would be if they went around telling everyone about it?

On topic:
Lowering the age of watching porn - I honestly don't think it would matter, i'm pretty sure most people i know have been watching porn since as young as 12-13. The law isn't something that really stops them, and what would happen if they were found with porn anyway? I somehow really doubt that they're going to be arrested...
I think the law is just reflecting what parents would think is a good age, possibly?
I can see alot of public outcry happening from over protective mothers if the government ever tried to lower this.
Appearing in pornographic material - I'm not sure if anyone has seen the "safe sexting" ads? I think they're pretty recent. The reason why i don't think they should lower the age to 16 is because young girls/boys are pretty vulnerable. They could easily get lured into that industry with the promise of lots of money and such but not realising that it can come back to haunt you later in life. Lowering the age to 16 could encourage the exploitation of underage teenagers, and like someone said above, to have a legally binding contract you need to either be over the age of 18 when you sign or you need to have a parent/guardian sign for you. It would be so simple for a parent/quardian to take advantage and sign a contract like this (not saying most would, but its possible). Also, again, i'm sure that there would be alot of public outcry if the government tried to change this.
I think the difference in age for consenting to sex and acting in porn differs for the simple reason that once you act in porn it gets distributed, you can never get rid of the evidence (i know, crappy word choice).
If a person really wants to be a porn star they can wait 2 years. If they really need the money they should try applying at macca's.

 

[wendus]

completely agree with i study hard

 

[Tully B.]

I don't think there should be any age.


re: viewing. I mean, it's practically a given that anyone can go on youporn, regardless of age, so there isn't any way to police the viewing of porn as it is now.

I'm much more fine with removing an porn-watching age than with what "Freedom_" is suggesting.

 

[123ash]

does it even matter? people watch porn from the age of 12.

 

[Serius]

There is a fundamental difference between having sex and acting in a porn film. Having sex, unless you get pregnant, has little effect (if any) on the person's life, whereas shooting a porn film will have a life time effect on the person (almost like once you do it, there is no going back). I do not think, according to my own experience and my knowledge of others around me, that teenagers at the age of 16 can make responsible and mature decisions such as choosing a career as a porn actor/actress.

This debate is somewhat similar to that arose couple of years ago, when people argued that children at 16 should be allowed to consume alcohol because they are allowed to work at pubs and bottleshops. In my opinion, a responsible society should put the safety and physical well-being of young and aged citizens as paramount to that of their desire and indulgence.

I dont think theres a fundamental difference. Keep in mind that acting in pornography is exactly that, its classed as acting, and even though the participants get paid it isnt prostitution.

Acting is legal at this age, as is having intercourse, so i dont see what the problem is with porn. You can do any other type of acting at this age, just when it comes to sex thats a big no no for some reason [even though its legal for you to have sex]

A 16yr old can work in just about any other industry without nanny state laws trying to "protect" them from their choices. What a load of shit, the ellements of the job are all legal yet you still cant do it, its for your own protection lol.

As for the whole "coming back to haunt you" crap, do you really think someone would make this decision lightly? i am pretty sure they would know what they are getting into. Also, 18yr olds arent all that much smarter, should they be "protected" from decisions they might regret aswell? if the government doesnt trust 16yr olds to make responsible decisions about sex[including whether to work with it or not] then raise the age to 18....but if they want to keep it at 16, then all the jobs associated with it need to be legal as well [unless of course it has elements of something a 16yr old cant do e.g.....i dunno, stripping cause its a bar and you need to be 18 to be in there.]

 

[Uncle]

Just raise the legal age to 69 years old.
Twilight years for the twilight fans.

Man, what is with you? Why does every single one of your posts have to be about freedom? Talk about the damn topic or fuck off.

Your concept of freedom is distorted. Allowing all children at the age of puberty (which is, for some, as early as 8 or 9) to have sex is simply wrong. It allows to much space for exploitation and abuse. That's not the kind of freedom anyone should want. The current legal age for sex, 16, is fine and provides a reasonable safeguard against abuse.

Question 2: Do you think that we should legalize pedophilia and child molestation (as long as the abused have hit puberty)?

Exploiting children against their will under the facade of freedom.

does it even matter? people watch porn from the age of 12.

Let them be, they chose to view such mature material, however raping children on the other hand is an act against their will.

 

[kami]

I dont think theres a fundamental difference. Keep in mind that acting in pornography is exactly that, its classed as acting, and even though the participants get paid it isnt prostitution.

Acting is legal at this age, as is having intercourse, so i dont see what the problem is with porn. You can do any other type of acting at this age, just when it comes to sex thats a big no no for some reason [even though its legal for you to have sex]

A 16yr old can work in just about any other industry without nanny state laws trying to "protect" them from their choices. What a load of shit, the ellements of the job are all legal yet you still cant do it, its for your own protection lol.

As for the whole "coming back to haunt you" crap, do you really think someone would make this decision lightly? i am pretty sure they would know what they are getting into. Also, 18yr olds arent all that much smarter, should they be "protected" from decisions they might regret aswell? if the government doesnt trust 16yr olds to make responsible decisions about sex[including whether to work with it or not] then raise the age to 18....but if they want to keep it at 16, then all the jobs associated with it need to be legal as well [unless of course it has elements of something a 16yr old cant do e.g.....i dunno, stripping cause its a bar and you need to be 18 to be in there.]

Bullshit.

Don't play semantics and base an argument on the word 'acting'. While the people are acting in their responses - orgasm, arousal, vocal aspects - they are not 'acting' intercourse, they're actually doing it. It's prostitution and it having aspects of performance doesn't remove that fact.

We also do have 'nanny' laws restricting minors participation in other industries and, you're forgetting that the sixteen year old would not necessarily have primary access to their capital when earned. Allowing sixteen year old persons to participate in sexual acts on camera with their guardian's permission and possibly to their guardian's profit is horrendous and is what sexual abuse is all about, the exertion of sexual pressures by someone in a position of power over you. No no no no.

Further, there is a difference in that an eighteen year old is considered legally responsible for their own decisions; legally and financially. A sixteen year old is not considered responsible. If the decision comes back to bite the eighteen year old then tough luck but at the age of sixteen these things aren't meant to come back to bite you in the arse, no pun intended. You also forget that many businesses have 'morality clauses', appearing in porn can get you fired and this shit could ruin the future of someone who couldn't possibly make that decision, at least criminal records get sealed if you're a minor.

 

[carpetdiem]

nooooo wayy, keep the legal age at 18, who wants to see people still going through puberty having sex, common there is plenty of pornos anyway, unless of course your a pedofile and like looking at people that havnt fully "matured"

 

[Uncle]

nooooo wayy, keep the legal age at 18, who wants to see people still going through puberty having sex, common there is plenty of pornos anyway, unless of course your a pedofile and like looking at people that havnt fully "matured"

hey kid i said raise the age to 69.
who knows if the 18 year old nimp is actually a 12 year old.