If it was up to you to set a new age of consent, what would the age be and why?

[SomewhereonNeptune]

Uh oh...here comes Neptune saying something controversial or prone to be downvoted. (Ahem)

Now this is a really good question. Years ago, I probably would have said 16. That was around the time of my first experience and the consenting age in my state. But by the same token, that also had the capacity to mess with my brain, my emotions, and my feelings, and at 16 the idea of sex versus love are still formative. 

11 hours ago, verbalBTTM said:

Once a young person, as in our case, reaches the age of maturity (18), they are better equipped to understand the consequences of their decisions. While we all develop at different rates, by 18, most have experienced enough of life to form a general understanding and are expected to take responsibility for their choices. Before this age, individuals are rightly viewed as children, as they lack the life experience to fully grasp the repercussions of their actions.

This. Plus, growing up I'd routinely watch a priest sit in his van at a park that was known for being a pedo cruising spot. And he had predilections for 13 and 14 year olds. Know any 13 year olds able to process the full impact and notions of sex? Didn't think so, though quite a few of us had those experiences and most of us survived intact.

Entering my seventh decade, rarely would I suggest 16 or younger. Unless this was something that truly came out of the thoughts and actions of the younger party doing so of free will. But even that is sketchy to me because (and this will be controversial but it needs to be said) we have kids who are not yet maturationally developed at 13 or even younger being supported through gender transition and sexual reassignment. Breasts or penis, something's being altered at an age where they are possibly not able to process the future ramifications of their decision. 

Yeah, maybe some folks have had gender dysphoria, and I have cousins and nephews who are going through it, but pulling hormone blockers or chemical castration or mastectomies at ages below 16 is...is...well, crazy. I've spoken to detransitioners who went through procedures before 18 who not only now regret it but are trying to return to their genetic state, which adds more complexities. And I'm not prudish about these things, but my heart breaks for them.

Leave it the way it is, or move it to 18 where it isn't. Let kids enjoy being kids before they do something that will put them in therapy for several years. 

Edited 11 hours ago by SomewhereonNeptune

[Iker80]

16 here and I think that's fine. The bigger problem is age gap, because it would be legal for an adult my age with a 16 year old and there's a lot of issues with that. Some countries manage this by having age of consents, potentially higher than 16 but add rules for people being close in age, so for example the age of consent is 18 but they're not going to get involved with a 17 and 19 year old, but they would not be ok with a 17 and 37 year old.

I recently had an experience with the youngest guy I've been with, he was 20. I am just old enough to be his dad. I asked extra questions and felt more comfortable that he actually wanted to be top. He wasn't my usual type to top me, but he was super keen to get his hands on a hairy guy old enough to be his dad and I was having a hard time to say no to that kind of energy, so we met up and was a good meet.