"how can you hold a man responsible for doing 14-17 y.o girls who look, act and dress like 18-19 y.o. s”
Because they broke the law. Pretty straightforward.
If you sell cigarettes to someone underage, it doesn’t matter if they ‘looked’ old enough. You didn’t take sufficient care to make sure YOU weren’t breaking the law.
Same on giving them alcohol. Or letting them into a strip joint. Renting them a car. Signing a bank loan. Enlisting in the Military.
The burden is on you, as at all other times, to NOT BREAK THE LAW.
If you’re not absolutely sure they’re legal, play it safe.
“These laws were written at a time when girls didn’t pretend to be older women, so perhaps its time for a change.”
So you want to change REAL laws for REAL sex because girls PRETEND to be old enough? Yeah, that’ll fly.
“Yes, it is difficult to prove that a guy ‘knew’ she was 17 not 18, but really…but if its ok for companies to sell thongs to 12 y.o.,”
It’s not OKAY, it’s LEGAL. And that should be a warning to YOU.
“how’s a dude to know if he is commiting a crime??”
That’s quite literally his problem. He can look surprised when he’s arrested, but do not pretend to be affronted by the fact that the law is the law.
"Blaming the victim” always sounds like a bad thing to do.”
Because it’s a bad thing to do.
“ But if a 17 year old girl chases after and ends up sleeping with an older man, is she a victim?”
Exactly how often does this really happen, though?
But, yeah, she’s the victim the way the laws are written.
“My sister, when she was 16,”
Oh, look, you have an anecdote. Well, then i take EVERYTHING back because there’s absolutely no way there’s more to the story than what you reveal to support your argument.
“Am I now “blaming the victim”?”
Yes, you’re casting the NON-ADULT in the predatory role. The entire POINT of consent laws is that she cannot be held accountable for her actions. And you’re trying to hold her more accountable than the adult.
“As for the laws, it’d be nice if there was a better way to define if a person is capable of giving consent other than their age.”
And is this mythical way something that could be dependably employed in a singles bar? In the parking lot behind a singles bar? On the sidewalk in front of a convenience store that sells beer?
Age is pretty quick, given their ID.
“I know 25 year olds that don’t have the maturity to understand the consequences of their actions”
Then fuck them. Literally. have a blast. or do they turn you down?
“and I have known minors who had better judgment than many adults.”
Yes, yes, sure, sore, these nameless moral titans from another anecdote.