Wha I'm 30 something hate my life and hang with 16 year olds? - The Lifeguard (2013) Discussion

[–] Airman87 11 years ago

The plot is: Have an emotional mid-life crisis that your life didn't turnout how you had hoped, move back home into mommy's house, then try and subconsciously relive your joyous youth by hanging out with teenagers. Any ensuing pedophilia that happens is acceptable as collateral damage in your plight to rediscover yourself.

reply

[–] otter68 11 years ago

First world problems.

"Leeches suck!"

reply

[–] rjcarr 11 years ago

Pedophilia is sex or sexuality with children. People in high school are generally not children, but young adults.

reply

[–] Zakredding 11 years ago

Sadly you have been misinformed 16 year olds are children. Anyone under the age of 18 is a child. Hence why he was referred to in the film as a schoolboy with boy being the key word. If you don't believe me pick up a law book and it will tell you the same.

So in the film you have a full grown middle age adult having sex with a child you might think that's ok but there are names associated with people that do and that then just take it just a little further...

reply

[–] rjcarr 11 years ago

First of all, I'm not condoning sexual relationships with minors. But be very clear, kids in high school (say, 15-18) are not children, but minors. If you are sexually mature then you are not a child. It's really that simple.

Our laws are set up so adults cannot have sexual relationships with any minors (although every state has its own age of consent laws). This is because although they may be sexually mature they are typically not emotionally mature enough to make the correct decisions.

And back to the original point, I think this is true for both boys and girls, although a girl may be more emotionally harmed than a boy in the long run.

reply

[–] Zakredding 11 years ago

"If you are sexually mature then you are not a child"

That's your opinion and not how the law sees it, and how do you gauge sexual maturity ? Just because a child has had a lot of sex with one person doesn't mean they are mature enough to do so with others from different age groups and different backgrounds. Additionally there is much more to being an adult than having sex, to have people as being classed an adult just because they have had sex seems slightly crazy considering you have in some countries people having sex at 10 (Thailand, India etc) would you class a 10 year old child prostitute as an adult !?

To give you an example

boy A 17 years old and girl A 17 years old

These could have been having sex for a year, but would I say they are sexually mature ? no.

If you take Girl A 17 years old who then starts dating man 56 years old who is into hardcore BSDM torture and pain and has been doing it for the last 30 years.

This would freak the hell out of the girl who would not be sexually or mentally mature enough to handle what was about to happen.

Therefore my point is you can't gauge if or how sexually mature someone is at that age because they are likely to be incredibly naive and it's why the age of being an adult is set at 18 not on some mythical "sexual maturity" level.

reply

[–] plazbo 11 years ago

age of consent laws aren't always 18. Even in the state this movie is set in the age of consent is 16, legally the biggest issue is the fact that she's a life guard (position of authority....granted fairly minor).

Also it'd be ephebophilia not pedophilia, pedophilia is exclusive to children despite general usage. Ephebophilia is specific to approx 14-19, ie the end of puberty and even then either of those refer to primary or exclusive sexual attraction to those age groups.....once off generally wouldn't fall under primary or exclusive....

reply

[–] PrecidiaZ 11 years ago

If you take Girl A 17 years old who then starts dating man 56 years old who is into hardcore BSDM torture and pain and has been doing it for the last 30 years.

This would freak the hell out of the girl who would not be sexually or mentally mature enough to handle what was about to happen.

I'm sorry but if someone's not ready for this type of relationship at 17, then it's unlikely they will be prepared for it at 18. I know a lot of people who would be freaked out by this type of relationship at ANY age.

Therefore my point is you can't gauge if or how sexually mature someone is at that age because they are likely to be incredibly naive and it's why the age of being an adult is set at 18 not on some mythical "sexual maturity" level.

Where I'm from the legal age of consent is 16, 5 years ago it was 14. The fact that different states and provinces have a different age of consent does indicate that there are varying opinions on selecting an age that people become "sexually mature". I find it extremely hard to believe that a 17 year old in one state is "incredibly naive", while a 17 year old in a neighbouring state is "sexually mature". Let's face it, different people do have different sexual maturity levels, regardless if you want to believe it or not.

reply

[–] iAmTheOneWhoKnocks 10 years ago

That's your opinion and not how the law sees it

Laws change depending on which side of the border you decide to cross.

and how do you gauge sexual maturity ?

Post puberty.

Just because a child has had a lot of sex with one person doesn't mean they are mature enough to do so with others from different age groups and different backgrounds.

That logic can apply to anyone from any age from any background.

To give you an example

boy A 17 years old and girl A 17 years old

These could have been having sex for a year, but would I say they are sexually mature ? no.

If you take Girl A 17 years old who then starts dating man 56 years old who is into hardcore BSDM torture and pain and has been doing it for the last 30 years.

This would freak the hell out of the girl who would not be sexually or mentally mature enough to handle what was about to happen.

Again, that logic could apply to anyone from any age.

Therefore my point is you can't gauge if or how sexually mature someone is at that age because they are likely to be incredibly naive and it's why the age of being an adult is set at 18 not on some mythical "sexual maturity" level.

How is it that you would sooner take what the law dictates as a suitable age, but not the word of the individual? How can the government possibly dictate who is and isn't mature enough to have sex? And like I said, laws are contingent on which side of the border you are on. You seem to take what the law says as scripture. If America says the age of maturity is 18, and the rest of the developed world says 16. Who's right?