I'm against many forms of ageism and believe young people should get more rights and more of a say in their lives. HOWEVER - when there is a clear power difference like this, the rules stand as they are. I also am against the education system attempting to manipulate children through confusion, timed tests, teaching things as "facts" when they are not, textbooks with politically motivated agendas that change from whatever the whims of the education system is. I believe in teaching free thinking. Clear thinking. Not just "critical thinking" which is a very specific technique, but teaching how to spot bullshit, how to spot a bullshitter, how to discern the difference between good information and bad information and how to think clearly through issues and situations and their own lives. So, I see a lot of education as a form of power abuse as well. I also see some forms of parenting as a form of abuse. Not physical but psychological. Even if you remove the "predator and prey" analogy: you still have a clear power difference. This doesn't mean that there is overt force either: being charming and suave, grooming, cool toys, .... and part of being an ADULT, especially an adult that is in an area of responsibility for children: and all adults ARE RESPONSIBLE for the welfare of all children... ... is to NOT make your ADULTHOOD become part of their CHILDHOOD. You HAD yours. Let them have theirs. If you're going to involve yourself in children's lives, do so as a mentor, a role model, someone who is guiding a member of the next generation into becoming a better citizen, a better human being, helping someone self-actualize. But sexually? No. Just... no. No. Recalibrate because you're an adult. You had your childhood. Let them have theirs. === Causation aside (nature/nurture), you have responsibilities as an adult. Let's say you hold a "no free will" position. Doesn't matter. You're still responsible for your actions. That's part of being an adult. Want to eliminate your responsibility? Eliminate adulthood. Until then, you're responsible. == I don't think causation makes a difference. You're equally morally culpable. Victim of genes? Victim of circumstance? Doesn't matter. The culpability remains equal and equivalent. The victim angle is just a nice story you can use in court to defend your actions and maybe convince a jury but part of being an adult is culpability. == Oh it was clearly a troll: I just like tallying up my likes with my marvelous argumentation because, really, I do present a strong case that deserves 10x more. == If the student isn't learning, the teacher needs to change tactics. It's not the students fault, Terrance. Everybody is teachable. == I've been online since 1989 in thousands of discussions about everything. I can be persuasive and convincing. It's not difficult. That being said, yes, you have people who like to "shoot and leave". But they're like hecklers, ignorable. == ''you do realize you just disagreed then agreed with me, but in a way to be manipulative to pressure your own point, correct?" I work for the light side. Committed. I would be a horrible person if I switched over. == I'm what a reformed troll would look like, except I've never been a troll... if that makes any sense. == I haven't used the term asexual for myself - I generally don't stick a name on it - but I gave up dating in my early/mid 20s because of relationship turmoil. It was bringing out the worst sides of me. I said, "screw this" and just stopped. Just like that. Focused on life. 44 yrs old now, no regrets. Best thing for me. Not for everybody of course. [we'd have no population then!] but I'm glad I did. == Yup. It's freedom because I can talk to and deal with anybody. If they have assumptions, well then they'll just have to learn that SOME guys aren't looking for sex, not from anybody. From an 'outsider's' perspective for a while now, it's amazing how sex and relationships in general are more akin to PTSD than anything else.