• krashmo@lemmy.world
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      4 days ago

      I don’t think a 20 year old dating a 17 year old falls into that category but it would fall under the legal definition you’re referring to in many states. That’s the problem with drawing arbitrary lines, you usually end up labeling some things incorrectly. That doesn’t mean you get rid of the line but understanding the context is still important.

      That being said, there is no amount of context that will lessen the creepiness of a 50+ year old man serially preying upon 15 year old girls. That’s disgusting and I find Megyn Kelly’s invocation of this defense to be indefensible. She should be ashamed of herself if she were capable of feeling shame.

      • hateisreality@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        Yeah of course a 20 year old dating a 17 year old is fine…we all know this isn’t what they are talking about…it’s disgusting people trying to justify someone old enough to be their parent or grandparent…

        Maryland has a system in place to protect teenagers…the age of consent is 16 (which if you’re over 21, shame on you) but there’s a 4 year sliding clause, so for example if your 17, a pissed parent cannot charge you for having relations with their 14 year old, if all was on the up and up.

        I’m in my 40s and anyone under 30 is too young.

    • Cruel@programming.dev
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      4 days ago

      Being sexually attracted to 17 year old females makes someone a reprehensible creep?

      Most straight men probably fit into that.

      • NewSocialWhoDis@lemmy.zip
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        2 days ago

        17 year olds still tend to be physically less developed… But even if they’re not, if you’re more than a handful of years older than the 17 year old, having a sexual relationship with them is still exploitative since they’re still mentally (both emotionally and reasoning abilities) immature.

        • Cruel@programming.dev
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          2 days ago

          I agree.

          But being attracted to someone is distinct from having a sexual relationship with them. I can be attracted to a married person, a mentally ill or incompetent person, or even a minor. It’s not necessarily wrong unless I engage with them.