Hacker News Reader

Comment by byoung2 | Hacker News Reader

It is important to note that the age of consent could have something to do with the differences in attitudes in the US vs Netherlands. In many states in the US, the age of consent (sexual) is 18. There are a few states where it is 16, or even 14, though. It would be interesting to compare responses from parents of 16 year olds in these states. In the Netherlands, from what I was able to find online, the age of consent is 16, but with the consent of parents, it can be as low as 12. Given that, it would make sense that attitudes of parents would be different.

View on HN

It would be good for all if our cultural attitude toward sex here in the US was more practical and mature.

However, as you note, age of consent is a very important factor. The two families could be enlightened, mature and responsible, but if either kid is below the age of consent, then both kids are at risk of being registered sex offenders, and the enabling parents may be in for legal trouble also.

I would prefer to take the Netherland's approach, but the legal issue trumps everything, in my opinion, in these hyper-puritanical United States.

Many US states have Romeo and Juliet laws that decriminalize sexual activity between minors providing that their age difference is close. see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statutory_rape#Romeo_and_Juliet...

I suspect the cultural attitudes shaped the law, and not the other way around.

I suspect the cultural attitudes shaped the law, and not the other way around.

You're right...these laws were likely written during a more conservative age, but even though attitudes have changed, it is difficult to change the laws. Just do a search for "Blue Laws" to see plenty of examples of this. I think that it's quite possible that now the situation is reversed, that the laws are influencing attitudes. Just look at the drinking age. I'm sure there are plenty of parents who don't give their kids wine simply because the drinking age is 21.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com