(Let me preface what you will read below by saying the following:
MINOR ADULT RELATIONS BAD!! OKAY. I DO NOT CONDONE IT AND THINK IT IS WRONG. THE POINT OF THIS IS JUST TO ELUCIDATE ONE SALIENT POINT OF PRE-SELECTION WHICH I WILL NOT SPOIL.)
In the tapestry of human experience, few topics evoke as much fervour and moral indignation as the notion of relationships between adults and minors. This phenomenon, often shrouded in a veil of societal disapproval, raises profound questions about power dynamics, consent, and the very fabric of our moral codes.
The masses, driven by a primal urge to safeguard young girls from potential predators, cry out for protection. They fear that these individuals will manipulate or entice them with experiences beyond their legal reach, such as driving privileges, adult gatherings, or substances. Yet, I pose a question: do not girls of 18 years old remain susceptible to the same manipulation and enticement? Does not the same logic apply to them as well?
In my contemplation on this matter, I am drawn to the idea that every relationship is inherently transactional. The man seeks to reproduce; the woman seeks controlled excitement and security—both desires manifesting in a myriad of forms. This perspective suggests that age does not fundamentally alter these primal drives but merely changes their expression.
I do not advocate for adults to date younger women or men. However, these relationships should be policed not by law but by society itself. The notion that age provides a safeguard against manipulation or exploitation is an illusion. An individual's temperament plays a pivotal role in how they respond to pressure or manipulation—whether they are 14 or 18 years of age.
The only standard with a biological basis for the age of consent would be for those individuals who have undergone puberty and are capable of reproducing. It seems to me that it matters not, the age of the individuals involved in the act. The arbitrary legal boundary of 18 years old appears to be a mere social construct, devoid of biological significance and more likely an export of Hollywood rather than objective truth.
Strictly from a legal perspective, there is little reason to have the age of consent at 18. Instead, societal norms can serve as potent deterrents against behaviors deemed inappropriate by society. The fear of social ostracism can be just as effective as any legal edict in policing such relationships.
A crucial aspect of relationships often overlooked is the concept of pre-selection. In the natural order of things, women of a similar age to the man have already pre-selected him, deeming him worthy or unworthy of partnership. This pre-selection process is a crucial aspect of mate selection, as it allows individuals to gauge their own value and desirability.
In the case of an adult-minor relationship, it seems that the aversion and disgust to this potential partnership is rooted in the concept of pre-selection. If a woman of the man's age has rejected him and deemed him unworthy, and the only way he can achieve a partner is by aligning with a younger girl who may not have the same amount of experience to select appropriate partners, then the relationship is viewed as inherently problematic.
This phenomenon speaks to the heart of our societal discomfort with adult-minor relationships. We recognize that the man's inability to secure a partner of his own age is a reflection of his own lack of value and desirability. The fact that he must resort to pursuing a younger, less experienced partner is seen as a desperate attempt to assert power and control.
If one is concerned about forced sex, then that is an issue that transcends age. The fear of being taken advantage of is not unique to younger women; it is a universal concern that permeates all relationships. Age does not ameliorate this risk; but it can determine the dynamics of the relationship but is separate to the question of age.
The notion that age provides a safeguard against manipulation or exploitation is an illusion. Relationships between adults and minors should be, to an extent, as it already is, policed by society itself, rather than by law.