I think you misunderstand.
The damage people experience as a result of such relationships is largely an outcome of societal condemnation. If you remove a minor's agency and condemn their behaviors - even if they are not responsible for it - you will damage how they view themselves and relationships. That's right - WE are responsible more than the 'perpetrator' of the act for the damage caused by these relationships (in most cases, not all). The only reason I have a solid mental state and positive image of myself and relationships after coming out of that relationship is that I don't give a single fuck about what other people think. I used to, but not anymore after I realized how destructive other people can be just with their opinions, and especially to an underdeveloped mind as my own was when I had to think about these kinds of things at 15.
I want to reduce damage. I also want people to be able to acquire resources and stability if they so choose. Living in a society that condemns relationships with large age differentials and illegalizes them in some cases does neither.
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Yeah, it ended there for people who don't have the mental capacity to reason beyond law.
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As have I, and it's a sad and terrible thing that our culture does to these victims. Maybe if we empowered them to make their own decisions instead of protecting them from things that may or may not be damaging, we could save their futures.
It also ended for people who aren't interested in having sex with kids. An adolescent brain is unlikely to possess the capacity to think through their actions in a sufficient manner. (This means that some could, but most cannot. So stop with your BS drivel about "Well I was super mature when I was 15", we don't care.) There isn't a magic switch in the brain, nobody has claimed there to be. But the law must set a clear line, rather than saying "16 is the age of consent....unless they're super mature, then 14 is okay."
Because there is no reasoning beyond that point. You have too many issues then. How much influence did the adult have on the child's decision. The child can feel he/she wanted it, but the adult may still have used influence that lead them down that path. Teens being attracted to adults isn't a new thing, but the questions comes did the adult abuse that attraction.
Peace is a lie. There is only passion. Through passion I gain strength. Through strength I gain power.
Through power I gain victory. Through victory my chains are broken. The Force shall set me free.
–The Sith Code
I never said I was super mature at 15. I actually said I was underdeveloped, and I would embellish on this by saying that I developed much more slowly than my peers.
My argument is that state of development is irrelevant, and if anything is a point in favor of supporting relationships with fully developed individuals, as these kinds fo relationships can provide stability, guidance, and act as a general safety net.
I wouldn't recommend long term relationships of this sort, though. My argument is more compatible with mentoring relationships.
How does that work exactly? I think your idea here sounds reasonable on paper but I don't think it would be a major concern in practice. If someone goes into a situation they know little about, and it ends in a way they didn't like, the response is a learning response, not a feeling of being tricked. You can only feel as though you've been tricked if something that you are familiar with is being deliberately misrepresented.
In any case, this would be an extreme minority of cases. Manipulation is not a route to a successful relationship, and once these feelings arise they can just leave. In short, it's no different from anyone being in a relationship with anyone else; some people are manipulative, and even between two adults one can be much more powerful in this regard than the other.
Peace is a lie. There is only passion. Through passion I gain strength. Through strength I gain power.
Through power I gain victory. Through victory my chains are broken. The Force shall set me free.
–The Sith Code