Kinda jumping in here a bit late, but....

Realize that until about the 18th century, it was commonplace for a woman to be sent off to the marriage bed at 16, and for many centuries before that it happened after 'flowering' or around 14.

Just my 2 cents.

Young enough to get you arrested.

That's my philosophy.

Throw the law out the window and it all depends on the "maturity" of the girl, both mentally and physically. I guess that could be almost too young, so safe is 16 but not strictly. Age doesn't matter, shouldn't matter, except for the before mentioned requirements. 16 and up for sure.

Now my question to add: Why does it matter? Say if the guy is 40 and the girl 18, whats wrong with it? We are talking about an enjoyable physical activity. So, Age shouldn't matter.

as parent college is about the right age, as an ogler (is that even word ?) less than 18 make me feel wierded out. if only 16 yo didnt look like 20 yo it would make it easier.

A buddy of mine coined the term (in high school mind you) "boobs and pubes". Frankly, it's not a terrible rule. Of course, being 28 y/o now, If I even had to use that rule I'm probably doing something I shouldn't be (despite being married, of course). However, I don't personally think age has too much to do with it. Generally, if girls are developed well enough, they have the hormones that give them those urges. You can say "16 if she's mature" or "18, but only if she's out of high school"... but why? Reason would have it that most likely, you are trying to stay within the law, or saying "mature enough" in case of accidental pregnancy. Well, the first is a farse... the original question did not discuss law... it's outside of the law. The second is also crap. There are women that are 35 that have NO business having children under any circumstance. Further proof that age regarding sex is more of a gimmick than anything.

If you're asking what is the minimum age not to be considered a pedophile, I'd say once she's getting the aforementioned "boobs and pubes" and her period, there's nothing wrong with you being sexually attracted. If you're asking what should be the minimum age of consent, I generally agree with the State of California, she should be 18 unless you're within a few years of her age. The reason being that people under 18 are not adults, and they don't have the same rights and responsibilities, including the responsibility for a child. YOU as an adult are the responsible one, and getting a young girl pregnant is not being responsible. (And the same goes for older women and males under 18, but most of the time people asking questions like this are the guys. ;P)

Pointless observation: hey this thread was made on the same day I joined the TFP

I think guys have a tendency to claim that younger girls are unattractive out of fear of being labeled a pedophile. My friends recoil in disgust if a girl looks the slightest bit underage, no matter how hot she is; I don't understand it. Youth is attractive. I'll admit that I catch myself looking at 15 and 16 year old girls and thinking "I'd hit that" (I'm 20). As has been said before, it seems that girls are developing earlier and my sex drive doesn't discriminate between a 15 year old and an 18 year old. If she's hot, she's hot, no matter what her age, and I can't help being attracted to her. But if given the opportunity to fool around with an underage girl I probably wouldn't take it because of statutory rape laws, and also out of respect for the girl, especially if I had a feeling that she'd regret it later.

I don't know what I wrote before, but I'm putting in my other two cents (that brings me up to four). Age itself shouldn't be a factor. Puberty should. If they haven't at least been IN puberty for a year or two, it's definitely too young.

"15 will get you 20"

That's the rule I always heard. Depends where you are though. I'm sure all statutory rape laws are different in different states, but here in Colorado the legal age of consent is 16. Even that being the case, I'm 23 years old and wouldn't dare mess around with a 16 year old, no matter how horny I am. It's a matter of ethics and morals versus law.