Note that “harm” is a subjective term. One person’s “no harm” is another’s “harm”.
The “harm” may not be immediately present either. It could be harful to future relationships. It could be harmful later in life. It could screw them up to be confused about what gender they want to have sex with. It could push an already confused kid over the edge.
Adult men and adult women are just brazenly doing this more and more, and often from positions of authority over the kids. Kids can’t legally give consent anyway, regardless if they want to participate voluntarily. And the adults that just want it to happen, know this and simply do not care, because THEIR NEEDS come first.
Ultimately this is what it’s all about. The adults’ needs are above anything else. If they weren’t they’d exercise restraint because if they still had a working conscience, and many still do, they know what they are doing is wrong and not good for the kid they are PREYING upon to satisfy their sexual urges. If they just “loved” the kid they can love someone without having to have sex with them.
Not all 18 year olds are fit to run their lives. Some 13 year olds are perfectly capable of driving a car. Many 21 year olds should be nowhere near liquor.
Laws are intended for general application. There isn’t any way to legislate for perfect justice in every particular case. We ought to expect age of consent to be arbitrary.
I have no doubt various children are as capable or moreso of deciding when, how, and with whom to have sex as random adults. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have age of consent laws. It also isn’t anything to get all up in arms about.
I want to say you’re right, but then again where did we get these numbers from? For most of human history women were bearing children as soon as they could menstruate. And mist of human history was filled with misery, but I can’t say out of hand that 13 year olds can’t be as healthy and happy mothers as anyone else.
I’m not trying to use a “Hey, it’s all relative, man” argument. But maybe we’re distracted by the numbers 16 or 18 and trick ourselves into thinking they have cosmic significance. But I remember what it was like as a teenager, and, yes, we were morons. But we also weren’t sweet and innocent and delicate. Many of us were like Caligula at an orgy.
Again, not to say that the age if consent isn’t right where it should be. Just to say it is arbitrary, and kids are often disgusting degenerates all on their own, as well as mature and conscientious sometimes.