Harris Wofford's incredible (love) story

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Ugh what a half plus seven violating creep.

Who f**king cares? Beside judgemental internet dorks that is.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Ugh what a half plus seven violating creep.

You do realise that 'rule' isn't actually the law?

Uh, who cares? It's legal for me to f[inks] 16-year olds in Minnesota but that doesn't make it OK.

[The Arizonan]

Ugh what a half plus seven violating creep.

You do realise that 'rule' isn't actually the law?

Uh, who cares? It's legal for me to f[inks] 16-year olds in Minnesota but that doesn't make it OK.

What? You mean the age of consent in Minnesota is 16?

Oh my God.

[Mopsus]

In all seriousness it's kind of heartwarming that we're at the point where elderly gay men can now, too, marry creepily below the acceptable age range.

That was my reaction too. I think true LGBT equality is admitting that there's something kind of off about marrying someone who could be your grandchild, regardless of whether they are of the same or the opposite sex.

I'd argue that it i'ts a lot more concerning in heterosexual couples due to the inherent power imbalance between genders, but I know this kind of argument won't go over well here.

Yes, I think the historical prevalence of pederasty weakens this argument considerably.

[Antonio the Sixth]

In all seriousness it's kind of heartwarming that we're at the point where elderly gay men can now, too, marry creepily below the acceptable age range.

That was my reaction too. I think true LGBT equality is admitting that there's something kind of off about marrying someone who could be your grandchild, regardless of whether they are of the same or the opposite sex.

I'd argue that it i'ts a lot more concerning in heterosexual couples due to the inherent power imbalance between genders, but I know this kind of argument won't go over well here.

Yes, I think the historical prevalence of pederasty weakens this argument considerably.

A 40-year-old = a child?

[Mopsus]

In all seriousness it's kind of heartwarming that we're at the point where elderly gay men can now, too, marry creepily below the acceptable age range.

That was my reaction too. I think true LGBT equality is admitting that there's something kind of off about marrying someone who could be your grandchild, regardless of whether they are of the same or the opposite sex.

I'd argue that it i'ts a lot more concerning in heterosexual couples due to the inherent power imbalance between genders, but I know this kind of argument won't go over well here.

Yes, I think the historical prevalence of pederasty weakens this argument considerably.

A 40-year-old = a child?

I meant that the history of pederasty in patriarchal societies shows that homosexual relationships aren't necessarily more egalitarian.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Ugh what a half plus seven violating creep.

You do realise that 'rule' isn't actually the law?

Uh, who cares? It's legal for me to f[inks] 16-year olds in Minnesota but that doesn't make it OK.

What? You mean the age of consent in Minnesota is 16?

Oh my God.

I honestly don't understand what's so shocking about the age of consent being 16.

[Antonio the Sixth]

In all seriousness it's kind of heartwarming that we're at the point where elderly gay men can now, too, marry creepily below the acceptable age range.

That was my reaction too. I think true LGBT equality is admitting that there's something kind of off about marrying someone who could be your grandchild, regardless of whether they are of the same or the opposite sex.

I'd argue that it i'ts a lot more concerning in heterosexual couples due to the inherent power imbalance between genders, but I know this kind of argument won't go over well here.

Yes, I think the historical prevalence of pederasty weakens this argument considerably.

A 40-year-old = a child?

I meant that the history of pederasty in patriarchal societies shows that homosexual relationships aren't necessarily more egalitarian.

Well, age is obviously another element that introduces inequality. That doesn't change my point.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Ugh what a half plus seven violating creep.

You do realise that 'rule' isn't actually the law?

Uh, who cares? It's legal for me to f[inks] 16-year olds in Minnesota but that doesn't make it OK.

What? You mean the age of consent in Minnesota is 16?

Oh my God.

I honestly don't understand what's so shocking about the age of consent being 16.

I think the whole thing about 18 being the age of consent is a product of most movies and shows being shot in California, which is one of the few States where it is.

The idea that it's somehow wrong or creepy for a 18 year old to have sex with a 17 year old is certainly pretty strange.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

who care

[Mr. Reactionary]

The idea that it's somehow wrong or creepy for a 18 year old to have sex with a 17 year old is certainly pretty strange.

Some states have a 2 year grace period. For example, in Virginia I believe an 18 year old can date a 16 year old, and a 19 year old can date a 17 year old.

[they don't love you like i love you]

So Tony, you have no problem with cougars then?

[Antonio the Sixth]

So Tony, you have no problem with cougars then?

It's still pretty awful, just not as awful.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Wait that doesn't make any sense.

Much older man and young woman = creepy and awful

Much older woman and young man = creepy and less awful but still awful

Same huge age gap if both are the same gender = OK

[Antonio the Sixth]

Wait that doesn't make any sense.

Much older man and young woman = creepy and awful

Much older woman and young man = creepy and less awful but still awful

Same huge age gap if both are the same gender = OK

I'm not saying either is OK. What's your point with all this anyway?

[they don't love you like i love you]

My point is that it's creepy gay or not. Though I'll make an exception for cougars, I had a 43 year old girlfriend when I was 27.

[Iosif]

This story and article are lovely and this thread is a sh**tshow.

[Joe Republic]

Ugh what a half plus seven violating creep.

You do realise that 'rule' isn't actually the law?

Uh, who cares? It's legal for me to f[inks] 16-year olds in Minnesota but that doesn't make it OK.

What? You mean the age of consent in Minnesota is 16?

Oh my God.

It's 16 in well over half of the states:





Blue = 16, gold = 17, green = 18, Texas = 18 with a two-year 'close in age' exception

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

Tony is right, of course.

Nothing he is saying is controversial is it? All else equal, more relationships between men and women will feature economic considerations that could be described as a "power imbalance" that distorts the choice of the lesser privileged party. To my knowledge, this is less likely to effect gay couples than it is to effect straight couples: the pay gap plays a role in this as do social norms.

However, this is still incredibly creepy and makes me feel very uncomfortable!!!

[Joe Republic]

According to the half plus seven rule, the minimum age for a 90-year old's partner is 52.  Obviously that's a big difference versus 40, but there's still a 38 year gap between 52 and 90.  At that point the 'rule' clearly breaks down.

Of course, we're all assuming that a 90-year old is looking for any kind of sexual relationship from their partner.

[The Arizonan]

According to the half plus seven rule, the minimum age for a 90-year old's partner is 52.  Obviously that's a big difference versus 40, but there's still a 38 year gap between 52 and 90.  At that point the 'rule' clearly breaks down.

Of course, we're all assuming that a 90-year old is looking for any kind of sexual relationship from their partner.

What exactly do you mean when the "half plus seven" rule breaks down?

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

My point is that it's creepy gay or not. Though I'll make an exception for cougars, I had a 43 year old girlfriend when I was 27.

Samuel Johnson's wife was twenty years older than him. And this was in the eighteenth century, when the expectation that an age gap, if present, would favor the man was way stronger than it is now.

I'm not trying to prove anything by saying this; I just think it's an interesting fact.

[Joe Republic]

According to the half plus seven rule, the minimum age for a 90-year old's partner is 52.  Obviously that's a big difference versus 40, but there's still a 38 year gap between 52 and 90.  At that point the 'rule' clearly breaks down.

Of course, we're all assuming that a 90-year old is looking for any kind of sexual relationship from their partner.

What exactly do you mean when the "half plus seven" rule breaks down?

I think I just explained what I mean...

A 90-year old is apparently forbidden from being in a relationship with anybody younger than 52.  But even that age creates a yuuge and fairly uncomfortable gap between both of them.

[100% pro-life no matter what]

Ugh what a half plus seven violating creep.

You do realise that 'rule' isn't actually the law?

Uh, who cares? It's legal for me to f[inks] 16-year olds in Minnesota but that doesn't make it OK.

What? You mean the age of consent in Minnesota is 16?

Oh my God.

I honestly don't understand what's so shocking about the age of consent being 16.

I think the whole thing about 18 being the age of consent is a product of most movies and shows being shot in California, which is one of the few States where it is.

The idea that it's somehow wrong or creepy for a 18 year old to have sex with a 17 year old is certainly pretty strange.

Whatever the age is set at, you will have that problem.  What about a 16 year old with a 15 year old?

Now, this story is just weird.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

This thread if full of judgemental dorks. But we shouldn't be surprised, should we?