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lumberjack_jeff

(33,224 posts)

7. Empathy is great, but it frequently seems pretty selective.

Reply to RC (Reply #1)

Sat Jun 1, 2013, 12:30 AM

Jun 2013

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2919835

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FFS people. The world is not the finely tuned binary a lot of you seem to believe... [View all] Gravitycollapse May 2013 OP

This site has way too many people claiming to be some kind of Liberal or Progressive, whose only RC Jun 2013 #1

You said it, RC. I once read, cannot remember where, that "if we have no compassion for those with Mnemosyne Jun 2013 #3

yup. I see a lot of just cheerleader types who wouldn't the first thing about what a liberal or pro- quinnox Jun 2013 #4

+1 bvar22 Jun 2013 #5

Empathy is great, but it frequently seems pretty selective. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #7

The poster you link to melissaf Jun 2013 #8

Statutory rape is such an absurd concept. Sexual assault is sexual assault. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #11

Yeah-huh. melissaf Jun 2013 #13

Consent has nothing to do with age. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #15

But child molestors do, in fact, melissaf Jun 2013 #16

Why don't you tell that 18 year old woman how this is an intellectual exercise. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #17

Why don't you tell that statutory rape victim melissaf Jun 2013 #19

I wrote this thread because of people like you... Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #20

Ah, so it's *my* fault melissaf Jun 2013 #24

Being a victim doesn't mean you get to call for people's heads on pikes. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #25

Read what I said: melissaf Jun 2013 #27

It's one fallacy after the other. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #31

Well, melissaf Jun 2013 #32

I am not shutting up the victims of rape. That is the terrible irony of your posts. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #34

Talk to the poster melissaf Jun 2013 #38

Why don't you talk to that poster. You're the one using her victimhood to further your own agenda. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #44

I'm not the one who used her post melissaf Jun 2013 #45

+1 n/t lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #68

You mean that AnalystInParadise Jun 2013 #94

Child molestation and statutory rape are not the same thing. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #113

18 is still an adult. AnalystInParadise Jun 2013 #114

So you are openly admitting that you refuse to use critical thinking skills. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #115

I started dating my wife 35 years ago when she was 15 and I was 18 lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #12

Couldn't that melissaf Jun 2013 #14

I expect empathy and rationality from everyone. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #18

Sorry, but melissaf Jun 2013 #22

Agreeing with sending innocents to jail won't be one of my expressions of empathy. nt lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #23

The 19-year-old man melissaf Jun 2013 #28

The "Good. Send him to jail" poster doesn't know either. lumberjack_jeff Jun 2013 #67

The NYT had an op-ed piece a few years back about this. Igel Jun 2013 #70

Indeed. LadyHawkAZ Jun 2013 #26

Where is your empathy for them? ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #76

So true. Just look how many gun nuts there are (nt) Uzair Jun 2013 #79

LOL, empathy. So how about a 13 year old? 12? 11? 10? Where can my empathy end? Dumb! n-t Logical Jun 2013 #100

Empathy? For the ridicules? RC Jun 2013 #103

Some things are just wrong. And there has to be punishment to prevent them in the future. And you... Logical Jun 2013 #104

How about we raise them to know better, instead of punishing them after the fact? RC Jun 2013 #105

LOL, fuzzy logic means you MIGHT find a 30 year old man and 13 year old girl OK. Classic! n-t Logical Jun 2013 #106

It doesn't work that way. RC Jun 2013 #107

Couldn't agree more RC. Well said! sabrina 1 Jun 2013 #108

I'm afraid this case has enraged Mama and Papa Bears all over DU Warpy Jun 2013 #2

Are we to take for granted that the fourteen yearold is practically Marquise de Merteuil? Sen. Walter Sobchak Jun 2013 #61

I knew some who were incredibly sophisticated Warpy Jun 2013 #72

Legislating individuals doesn't work very well, Sen. Walter Sobchak Jun 2013 #92

The fuck it isn't... "the finely tuned binary..." cherokeeprogressive Jun 2013 #6

and they'll be in Scotland afore ye... Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #54

Stop it now. This is logical and has no place in the world of black and white. GoneOffShore Jun 2013 #9

It's almost never about the children. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #10

won't you think of the children? quinnox Jun 2013 #21

hah! melissaf Jun 2013 #29

Who here has claimed the world is black and white? nt ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #78

It's seen all the time on this board. GoneOffShore Jun 2013 #85

I have never seen anyone here say the world is black and white. ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #87

Whatever you say. GoneOffShore Jun 2013 #91

No room for nuance. Quantess Jun 2013 #98

Saying "no room for nuance" misses a lot of nuances in left leaning people's positions. Squinch Jun 2013 #102

Thanks for your nuanced response! Quantess Jun 2013 #111

True. Squinch Jun 2013 #112

In accordance with the law, a fourteen year old can not consent. Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #30

These laws have absolutely nothing to do with protecting the young. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #33

Having had 14 year old children, and recognizing that the 14 year old brain... Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #39

You don't have a monopoly on the mantra "we must protect the young." Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #41

I am not claiming a monopoly. That is my opinion based on being a father... Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #46

"Nowhere is it 14." False. At least 3 states have the age of consent pegged at 14. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #47

I accept the correction. thanks. Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #51

A relationship is a fluid concept. It can change based on one's capacity for complexity... Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #52

So at what age do you think a child is unequivocally NOT capable of consent in sexual relationships? Squinch Jun 2013 #101

Actually the human brain is not full mature until around 30. RC Jun 2013 #65

Protection from what? immoderate Jun 2013 #42

We have sex urges long before our bodies or mind are ready for it. The young are easily manipulated. Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #49

Concur that development varies and is individual. immoderate Jun 2013 #53

The 18 year old brain isn't fully formed, either. Occulus Jun 2013 #90

Till about 21. I've already said I think the punishment is wrong... Agnosticsherbet Jun 2013 #93

Sounds like this Michel guy supports pedophilia. zeemike Jun 2013 #50

“It is forbidden to kill; Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #55

Then sex between two fourteen year olds would be illegal treestar Jun 2013 #74

It is illegal in some places LadyHawkAZ Jun 2013 #110

The laws don't seem to be protecting the young. Maybe some common sense would work sabrina 1 Jun 2013 #109

why do you support rape culture? galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #35

It's actually statutory rape laws that perpetuate rape culture. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #37

that is oppressive male thinking galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #40

Your thinly veiled sarcasm chervilant Jun 2013 #66

I support no concocted faiths galileoreloaded Jun 2013 #69

Patriarchy is a damaging chervilant Jun 2013 #73

The "lock 'em all up" contingent... jberryhill Jun 2013 #36

Fuck! Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #56

IIRC, California law has a "sweetheart exception." Bette Noir Jun 2013 #43

So, over a week of posts like this... Scootaloo Jun 2013 #48

We have age of consent laws set at 18 the same reason we have the speed limit at, say, 55 Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #57

Putting it there doesn't make sense. And consent comes in a plethora of scenarios... Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #58

so DonCoquixote Jun 2013 #59

The line has to be *somewhere*, that's what the equivalency is. Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #60

Why not? AnalystInParadise Jun 2013 #95

Still there needs to be wiggle room treestar Jun 2013 #75

I agree, like I said, 18 and 16 isn't the same as 40 and 16. Warren DeMontague Jun 2013 #83

Back when I was in HS many years ago I turned 18 while in my Senior Year as did a few of my friends YeahSureRight Jun 2013 #62

Empathy applies both ways. A seduced 14 year old is a *victim*, not a lover, and deserves protection Donald Ian Rankin Jun 2013 #63

no, she shouldn't go to prison. yes, there should be some penalty. yes, the law should be more HiPointDem Jun 2013 #64

Well here's the thing. We have laws in this country, as fucked up as they may be. Avalux Jun 2013 #71

Unless you're rich and/or famous, then enforcing these laws is unthinkable. n/t Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #97

I really like my perception of the general gist of your OP. ZombieHorde Jun 2013 #77

what a terrible post Motown_Johnny Jun 2013 #80

I'm just going to assume you only read the OP title and didn't bother with anything else. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #81

I read the whole thing, it has no basis in reality. Motown_Johnny Jun 2013 #82

"There is a legal age of consent and 14 isn't it." - Wrong. Gravitycollapse Jun 2013 #84

In Florida, 14 isn't it. Motown_Johnny Jun 2013 #88

Which state has consent set at 14? tammywammy Jun 2013 #89

What no one here seems to be addressing is the fact that the age of adulthood used to be 21, period. RC Jun 2013 #86

But, in authoritarian crazy world it's perfectly OK to prosecute an 11 year old as an adult. Egalitarian Thug Jun 2013 #96

+1 Savannahmann Jun 2013 #99