Is Obie still allowed...

Because a minor can't give any consent.

I still don't believe it should be called rape. Should be a seperate offence

Therefore it's called statutory rape.

And semantically the difference is what? That its rape as defined by statute? You're still calling it rape ... Unlawful sex with a minor would be a lot more accurate

What bothers me in this case, is Obie's position. When it comes to having sex with minors, especially when the other one is way older than the minor, it's extra icky when a person holds a position of authority (teacher, doctor, etc) or in a position the minor would look up to. Like Obie had. I'm sure a 15 year old girl (if I'm informed correctly in the meantime, Obie was in his 50s and this girl was only 15 years old) would look up to a roadie of a big famous rock band. Obie should've considered that. No matter what age this girl looked like, no matter what she was wearing, no matter what age she siad she was. An idiot could've seen this girl was *young* and probably too young for him to be all ok with it.

... and what exactly is the 'American' definition of rape????

However, I don't see what is stupid about protecting children from sexual predators. No matter what clothes they happen to wear.


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It's not an opinion. It's the definition of the law.

Being forced does not mean a person had to be pinned down and whacked over the head. There are many non-violent forms of force. Clearly you know nothing about this subject - consider yourself and your loved ones lucky.

As for minding my own business, I certainly won't stand by and let a rapist justify his/her actions and say nothing while minding my own business. People like you are the problem in our society.

We're not really talking about a child or a sexual predator

Because it IS rape. Even if it looks pretty to you - it is NOT to the victim.

What do you call it if someone drugs a girl - enough to have her not resist - and sleeps with her. Is that consentual? Is that ok? How is that different than rape? Is it only rape if she doesn't know him? Is it only rape if she yells and screams and fights? Is it only rape if she ends up in the emergency room?

There are so many faces to rape, some are a lot more vile and evil than others, but they are all RAPE.

As for what the difference is, the difference is sentencing and the level of sexual offense one will be charged with.

In Obies case - and most other cases - statutory rape is excused and the charges are pretty much none at all. In other cases, when the rape is accompanied by violent physical assault, the charges and sentencing are more severe.

I really would like what you all have to say when you have a 15 year old daughter and she is seduced by some 50 year old and sexually abused. Would you still think it is ok - since your daughter 'thought she was in love wiht him'?

and certainly too young to consent to a sexual act with a 50 year old. Sigh.

Somebody using their status and age to seduce and prey on children for sexual favors is most definitely a sexual predator.

How could anyone excuse such conduct?

A 15 year old is a child. Even though they may object to the term. However, our laws are in place to protect such children from many aspects, ie. a 15 year old cannot sign a contract and still need their parents consent for pretty much anything in their lives. How is such a person anything but a child? Why would you think that someone who cannot decide on their own business affairs would be able to consent to a sexual act with a man 30 years older????

With drugging I call it rape, because of course it's not consentual. The other questions are irrelevant and slightly ridiculous, but obviously I'd still answer no to all of them. That's far and away from the issue at hand though

Thats exactly my point. Having sex with someone against their will is not the same as having consentual sex with a minor, and therefore both the sentencing should be different and the offender should not have to be known as a rapist when, by my definition at least, they are not.

I don't think your use of the phrase "sexual abuse" in that sentence is appropriate. And my point isnt that I'd be OK for that to happen to a 15 year old daughter I might have .... my point is that even if it was my daughter, I still wouldn't consider it rape.