Teens Legal ages?

Hey all,

I was just wondering about legal ages. I'm 13 and my SO is 16, and I'm constantly frustrated with people telling me that we are illegal. I don't believe there are any age limits for dating; however, there are for engaging in sexual relations. We have not had sexual intercourse nor done anything of the sort. (I've yet to meet him in person). Therefore, I do not think we are illegal in any way.

What are the age limits/ages of consent in your area, and where do you live? Do you agree with them? What should/shouldn't be legal?

Discussify.

[Brieasaurus]

I definitely would not go around telling people that he's 16. Every state has different laws (for CT, if you're under 13 with a 13+ it's illegal, 13-16 year olds can have sex, anyone 16 or 17 can't have sex with someone four years older than them). It's important to know them like the back of your hand if you're going to be in a relationship with an age gap, especially an underaged one. I believe there are laws that prohibit sexual nature- photographs, kissing, etc between certain age gaps but I'm not 100% sure.

Anyways, my SO and I have a 4 1/2 year age gap. We started dating when I was 15 and he was 19, and now I'm almost 18 and he's 22. Obviously I used to think the rules were stupid but I can see why they're in place to stop older guys (or vice versa) from taking advantage of young girls. However, they definitely need to be tweaked because I've met so many other people in long, healthy relationships where the limitations could have gotten them into trouble. I do believe that if a relationship is meant to be that it can wait until 18 though.

[Deleted]

I think you're very right! I admire the way you think. You're right; rules will never work out for everybody.

Thanks for your reply!

(Just a note for everyone else: I'm 14 in a month, and he turned 16 in May).

[LadyDaemon]

What are the age limits/ages of consent in your area

Age of Consent here is 18.

where do you live?

Arizona

Do you agree with them?

Yes. It's all too often I see all of these young kids going out and hooking up with others who are older then they are in real life or online and then they hook up thinking they're grown enough and have the maturity level to make such a big decision as engaging in sexual acts with others when really most aren't/don't. Then things happen like pregnancy and they don't want to deal with it. I think laws like this are just as good for this purpose as well as the protection of minors from perverts. Especially because most minors don't have the judgement,understanding or knowledge to know the difference between when someone older genuinely cares and loves them and when they're just exploiting them.

What should/shouldn't be legal?

Depends on what laws you're talking about.