I recall many times growing up when I felt like my inalienable fundamental human rights were violated in unjust autocratic ways, mostly at school. There was also the time of being a year older than my partner but the potential of ridiculous arbitrary laws having major consequences.
I feel like the age of 18 as some kind of moral benchmark is ridiculous. I feel like it is just tied to the age of conscription. Basing sexual morality on the age when the state can abduct and murder without recourse is nonsense. Most of us likely exist in a duality where we might cringe at “underage” of any kind, but not think twice when a couple of teens are dating and in a physical consensual relationship that is respectful and private.
So from a distant future culture’s perspective, like if Star Trek TNG existed in hard SciFi, and there is no need for our present arbitrary policy enforcement, what should be the basis of adolescent autonomous agency?
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Maybe it is weening, cultural pressures, and education.
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Maybe it is full independence and self sufficiency.
For the record, this is my favored idea as it pressures society to enable a balanced financial early life and opportunities. It also adjusts to account for real world maturity levels. IMO, it is either this or number 1 as these are derived from individual human life phases.
- Maybe you think it should be something else?
If it HAD to be changed the most I’d agree with is something like the Half Your Age Plus Seven Rounded Up rule with the additional caveat that both parties have to actually be capable of arousal to avoid young teens getting it on with near peers who are still prepubescent.
Plus it avoids abuse prone age gaps in adult relationships too. Someone hitting 40 probably shouldn’t be allowed to rob the cradle at college bars.
Strictly speaking, the “half your age plus seven” rule says no to relationships for under-14s. If you’re 14, half your age plus seven is, of course, 14. Any younger and you get a minimum that is older than you, and that person’s own minimum will therefore exclude you. So in the vast majority of cases it actually kinda has your caveat covered already