The arguements for an "Age of consent" or regulation of sexual relations are put in place to protect the kids (Minors, etc) but what if you have a truely curious under age person who is interested in exploring their sexuality with someone older? People tend to assume that doing so with someone in your age group is for the best (After all, doing so with someone older is a crime!) but from a dispassionate point of view, is it really?

An older, more expirienced person is more likely to use a condom, as well as more likely to use it correctly. They're more likely to use lube and take precautions. Do you honestly think it is better for a gay boy to have his first encounter where there is tearing of the tissues? Likewise for a girl.

I personally agree that an adult should never have sex with a minor they have sway over (Preist, teacher, etc) but I also think the law as it stands does a disservice to "advanced" minors who just want to expiriment with more expirienced people. Or, horror of horrors, actually falls in love with an older person! (I know in highschool I lusted after a certain biology teacher. She wasn't MY teacher, but dizamn was she cute.)

Many of the arguements against are typical reactionary knee-jerk bullshit. How often do you hear "But it is bad for the kids!" or "It warps their little minds!" without anything else to back it up? A thinking man might say "Well, the female's vaginal tract doesn't fully mature until 18-21, making it much more prone to damage before that age" (true, btw) but no, you get idiotic out lashings. I'd even go so far as to say that it is those idiotic outlashings that CAUSE most of the "warping" that society's knee jerk reaction of "That is wrong He touched you in a naughty spot!" does more damage than the act itself.