Thank you William Saletan for bringing some reality into the debate about age of consent. The Genarlow Wilson case is horrifying to me -- he never should have gone to jail or even to court in my opinion. Many 17 year old boys are dating 15 year old girls and sex between teens is -- dare I say it-- normal.

I am as disturbed by pedophilia as the next person -- but this is not it -- and the law should reflect that.

15 year old girls very often initiate sex -- yes I was one of them -- and while it may not be a good idea -- no victim is involved.

Did you note that boys' judgment often matures more slowly than girls' and is incomplete until early 20s.

I have a son -- 12 -- and my heart breaks for those teens who get into trouble for what is a very natural act.

And yes I will be warning my (black) son to be very very careful.

In my opinion, the US is still very immature in its attitudes to sex. Voyeuristic and obsessed yet still acting like it is dirty and bad.

15 year old girls very often initiate sex -- yes I was one of them -- and while it may not be a good idea -- no victim is involved.

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So if a 15 year old girl initiates sex with a 45 year old man is there no crime since there is no victim?

If there is a crime than there has to be some other rules to separate what is a crime (e.g. over 19, more than a 3 year age difference etc...), from what is not a crime.

Your question:

"So if a 15 year old girl initiates sex with a 45 year old man is there no crime since there is no victim?"

The answer:

Yes.

I was with older men when I was a teenager (more than a decade difference) and never felt victimized or raped.

All I can say to answer your question is that if a fifteen year old tries to initiate sex with a 45 year old, the 45 year old should know better.

On the other hand, if a 15 year old tries to initiate sex with a 19 year old, and there's no sense of being victimized, then it's a much less serious offense.

if there is no sense of being victimized then whose place is it to imply victimization? Isn't that classical transferrence of fear by someone else? This is exactly what this article is trying to point out -- one person's relationship is another's victimization.

fyi - im a mother of 2 teenage daughters and 2 teenage sons...