[extropy-chat] Re: extropy-chat Digest, Vol 20, Issue 19

[ben]

Damien wrote:

"A 14-year-old is not legally able to give consent to sexual 
intercourse, even if she agrees to it. Legally, therefore, if she is 
pregnant, she's been raped. Even if the pregnancy has been induced by 
evil IVF scientists or UFO Grays conducting their vile implants."

Hey, stop splitting hairs! :-)

Legally, in some western countries, what you say is true (although not 
in Holland, as i understand. I think the age of consent there is 12). 
Conventionally, though, 'rape' means forcing someone. So what i meant 
was, she was not forced. The reason i thought it worth making the point, 
was that if someone is raped (forcibly, rather than legally), that is an 
additional consideration when deciding whether to abort or not.

And for the record, the pregnancy was not the result of evil scientists, 
aliens, or ming the merciless and his diabolical designs. It was cos she 
liked a boy, and, um, was inadequately educated. Because the teachers at 
her school weren't allowed to give sex education classes. Maybe.

ben