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(03-06-2015, 12:13 AM)Zyrusticae Wrote:I'm trying to parse this without being a total asshole and I'm, quite honestly, failing. So here goes.(03-05-2015, 11:50 PM)Faye Wrote: Nononono absolutely no, ERPing with a RL minor is very, very illegal in the US, and there are certainly parents who WILL get the authorities involved and pursue legal actions. It is very far from impossible, to the point that I can promise you it has happened before and could easily happen again.The problem with claims like this is that no one ever actually cites such an event. Until one is produced I will continue to assume it to be standard paranoid hyperbole borne from other, similar-but-not-related events.
(03-05-2015, 11:25 PM)Ette Wrote: It's like uh. . . Something something open hostility towards laws put in place to protect minors or. . . ??? Lord, I'unno anymore.That laws are overbroad, overbearing, and overly harsh and often don't actually serve to protect minors in any sensible fashion, especially because most of the measures are taken after it becomes extremely obvious that something has happened to the child.
Remember, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. The justice system is currently set up entirely for the latter, and is very poorly equipped for the former.
First off, it does happen. I knew a number of people who's parents actively chased off online sexual predators with the threat of legal action if their child was not left alone. Can I cite sources? Absolutely not. Why? Because 9 times out of 10, you aren't going to be privy to the dirty details about how the individuals met or the situation that led directly up to the arrest.Â
A parent that punishes their child for failing to tell an adult (someone who should, in all circumstances know better) no is a parent that I have a hard time believing is anything other than a minority. I know it's popular to paint most parents in a fairly negative and negligent light, but the overwhelming majority of people I've come into over the duration of my life have been vicious fucking beasts the moment they feel like their child is being threatened, especially by an adult.Â
Secondly, fuck you. The law is not overly harsh in regards to dealing with people that willfully and knowingly take advantage of a minor. I don't care how mature you think you are. A teenager wants nothing more than to be considered an adult and "fit in" and will oftentimes go to great lengths to be seen in a positive light by someone that can vindicate those feelings. It is the adult's responsibility (yes, the legal adult) to not take advantage of a person that is, for all intents and purposes, fairly easy to take advantage of. Maybe it's just me, but I have a hard time imagining a world where someone is willfully flirting with someone under the age of 16-17 without some kind of ulterior motive. Is that to say that you can't have a meaningful friendship with someone that's underage? Absolutely not! But it's also fairly easy to have a friend that you never romantically or sexually advance on in any way.
Honestly, what do you want. A Minority Report situation? Every single negative behavior can only be addressed after the behavior has come to light. Can we do better in regards to protecting a minor from ever dealing with the situation? Absolutely. Certainly. We can always do better.Â
All that said, I do agree with Coatleque 100%. It's always worth examining why you think something is reprehensible/unacceptable before you act on that. Especially if you're hoping for other people to go along with your feelings on the matter.