Hacker News Reader

If it’s consensual obviously a 16 year old is fine. It’s the law.

> If it’s consensual obviously a 16 year old is fine.

That's not obvious to me. For example, would it be fine for a rich, powerful 40 year old to sleep with a 16 year old? Given the power inbalance, is consent really possible?

> It’s the law.

Lots of very not 'fine' things are legal.

Would it be fine for a poor, weak 40 year old to sleep with a rich 16 year old? Asking for a friend.

ok, but it wasn't consensual?

Then he should be in jail. Unless they mean it is statutory even though she gave consent (since she was 15 and underage). Then it would be consensual if she was 16.

I don't understand the purpose of writing multiple comments about the age of consent on a thread that is unambiguously about sexual assault. It wouldn't matter if she was 40 years old!

The point I’m trying to make is it’s called sexual assault automatically if the person is underage. Even if it was consensual. If it was a 40 year old it would just be called consensual sex.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com