[baltodog]

"I see a real difference between the guys who buy these tapes -- mostly in their twenties or early thirties -- who like to look at attractive young women, and a dirtly b*stard who wants to diddle little kids. Flame away."

16 or 17 is a minor, I don't care how they look or they're doing.
If it's Ok for a 16 or 17 year to expose herself to a 20- 0r 30-year old, then it should be OK for that same guy to date her, get to know her, and maybe cop a feel....or a little more without "doing it"?
Where are we going to draw the line?
It's one thing for a teenage boy to horny, but something is not fully cured when an older person gets off on this stuff. I totally blame the internet for bring so much porn "mainstream".

[Queen Jadis]

I totally blame the internet for bring so much porn "mainstream". </i?

How true that is. Jenna Jameson getting an E true Hollywood Story made about her. One scene has her going to a mall in Arizona Shopping...a girl (barely over 18) recognises her and asks for her autograph. I liked it better when Porno stars were "underground". Glad I don't have teen age girls....Porn definately has gone mainstream. Funny thing to notice now, the stars in the MTV awards look like the stars in the Adult Film Awards did (10 15 years ago) and the Adult Film Awards look like the stars that were in the Oscars (20 years ago).

[geaux]

Actually, I think the arbitrary age line for majority is a bit like the zero tolerance nonsense -- it can produce absurd outcomes. We've quit using common sense in these situations in favor of a completely random line in the sand. I agree that a 20 or 30 year old chasing after a 16 or 17 year old is demonstrably immature and, as you say, not fully cured. But I just don't equate him with the sickos who molest little kids.

Many moons ago, when times were very different, my 21-year old grandfather married my "almost 15 year old" grandmother. No one blinked an eye that she was 14 and marrying a 21 year old. A few years later, my 42 year old uncle married a 13 year old. Everyone knew he was a disgusting pig. People exercised common sense to arrive at these conclusions; not hard-line applications of a rule with no exceptions.

[68skylark]

If it's Ok for a 16 or 17 year to expose herself to a 20- 0r 30-year old, then it should be OK for that same guy to date her, get to know her, and maybe cop a feel....

Actually, age 16 or 17 is the "age of consent" for sexual activity in most states, so I don't think your example holds up real well. What you describe IS currently legal. It's odd that a young woman can legally have sex, but can't legally be photographed lifting her top. I agree with those who don't think it should be worth 30 years in prison (a year or two in jail would be more proportionate to the offense, IMHO).