My oh my, what a topic...

Well, I just read the entire thread and there are some good points made about Tourguide's questions. I don't think that a global age of consent would ever be reached due to the differences in cultural practices around the world. I believe that people mature, both mentally and sexually, at different rates. This has to do with their home enviornment as well as their social enviornment. I do think that education is a VERY important key to kids understanding what sex and relationships are all about. The more informed kids are the better equiped they are to make good decisions. I'm 20 years old...my little brother is 10. I can guarantee you he knows more about sex than I did at that age and has at the very least heard things about it and doesn't really understand what it's all about. I went to a private Catholic school for 7 years (kindergarten-6th grades). When I was in 6th grade (I was 11), I, along with the other 6th, 7th, and 8th graders, took a sex ed class. I knew the practicalities of sex, why sex before marraige was a big risk (both pregnancy and STDs were covered well), and how to protect myself should I decide to have sex before I was married. So...at 11 years of age, I knew about the human reproductive system and knew my options should I become sexually active. Then I went to a public school the next year. I learned what 'fucking'/'screwing' was. Yeah, it was a bit different than what I was taught at the Catholic school but the difference was I learned this in the hallways and the gym and in whispered conversations/notes in class from my peers. No one mentioned things like condoms or birth control...they just had a good time and didn't care that they weren't being responsible about sex. This is what most kids (at least at a preadolecent age) know about sex nowadays. They hear what good fun it is and yeah bad stuff could happen but it'll never happen to me. They're hearing stuff from movies and music and older siblings/friends and what they get is a glazed look at sex. They haven't been taught that should they choose to have sex that they have a responsibility to themselves and their partner to protect themselves from both disease and pregnancy. Or that even if they take precautions they could still end up with a STD or unplanned pregnancy. Tell me if you think any 10-13 year old is prepared to take on such responsibility? It's a lot for anyone to consider and should be taken very seriously, which unfortunately, isn't something that teenagers today do very much. Yes, the kids should know about it and be able to figure out for themselves whether they are or are not ready to handle having sex instead of someone preaching to them all the bad things that'll happen if they do have sex.

Education is key and it's not up to just schools either. Parents have to take it upon themselves to educate their children about sex if they want their kids to know their options and be able to make rational decisions about sex. Easier said than done I know but it is what needs to be done in my humble opinion.

~Artemis~