Texas officials propose Sexting become a class A misdemeanor

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**Melissia**

Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:I know it could be dangerous in extreme situations, but is sexting even wrong? Maybe they're looking at this the wrong way.

yea its wrong. All those images of the girls can and are used against them for harassment purposes. Thats the real issue.

As a mature adult, if naked pics of me exist outside my own computer, it's because I either incredibly trust where they are or I'm prepared for the pics to "leak" so to speak. As a teenager, the same rules apply. It seems sexting education might be more in order here. "Responsibly" sharing pictures isn't wrong, and shouldn't be punished. I just see more of a "grr, sex is bad" slant coming out of this than anything.

Considering that this is the same state that produced George "Abstinance-Only Education" Bush? That's probably not far off.

**Kilkrazy**

Da Boss wrote:I think encouraging sexual activity in underage kids is really dumb, because in the end sex is for reproduction, not recreation. Modern contraceptives are really good at fooling us into thinking differently, but kids can't be relied upon to use contraception properly, or at all. And I DO think that pictures like that will encourage the behaviour. And result in highly negative social issues too- in fact I see that in my job at the moment. It's incredibly biased against girls too, because 95% of teenage boys are disgusting freaks.
Teenagers and sex isn't something I'm liberal about. Nor do I think there's any need for us to be liberal about it. I don't think all those people telling us sex is inherently healthy are correct.

Heaps of research shows that the UK/US method of sex education is a miserable failure.

We should adopt the Dutch system, and incorporate "sexting" and other such activities into the curriculum. This would reduce it without any recourse to putting children on the sex offenders' register.

**Frazzled**

Melissia wrote:
Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:I know it could be dangerous in extreme situations, but is sexting even wrong? Maybe they're looking at this the wrong way.

yea its wrong. All those images of the girls can and are used against them for harassment purposes. Thats the real issue.

As a mature adult, if naked pics of me exist outside my own computer, it's because I either incredibly trust where they are or I'm prepared for the pics to "leak" so to speak. As a teenager, the same rules apply. It seems sexting education might be more in order here. "Responsibly" sharing pictures isn't wrong, and shouldn't be punished. I just see more of a "grr, sex is bad" slant coming out of this than anything.
Considering that this is the same state that produced George "Abstinance-Only Education" Bush? That's probably not far off.

There's a world of difference between a "mature adult" and a 15 year old girl: socially, mentally, and experientially. After all, minors can't even contract under the law.

**Da Boss**

Perhaps I didn't word my initial post well. I don't think sex is evil, or dirty, I don't think there's much wrong with gay sex if it's done responsibly either- arguably, a lot less "wrong". I'm speaking from the experience of my little sister getting pregnant as a teenager, and seeing how that has limited her life and choices, and resulted in a much narrowed future for her, fraught with difficulties, which had a knock on effect on my parents which means instead of retiring comfortably very well off, they are both still working.
I am not putting forward the puritanical veiwpoint that sex is wrong or dirty, I am simply pointing out that sex is for reproduction. It is. That is what it is for. That is why people want to do it. That is why it feels good. For a lot of teenagers, reproducing is a bad idea, and is "unhealthy" if not physically, then socially, and financially, and in all sorts of other ways.
KK: I completely agree that kids need to be educated in these matters, but I also don't think that "sexting" is something that needs to be encouraged. Kids need to learn restraint.

**Ulver**

Kilkrazy wrote:
Da Boss wrote:I think encouraging sexual activity in underage kids is really dumb, because in the end sex is for reproduction, not recreation. Modern contraceptives are really good at fooling us into thinking differently, but kids can't be relied upon to use contraception properly, or at all. And I DO think that pictures like that will encourage the behaviour. And result in highly negative social issues too- in fact I see that in my job at the moment. It's incredibly biased against girls too, because 95% of teenage boys are disgusting freaks.
Teenagers and sex isn't something I'm liberal about. Nor do I think there's any need for us to be liberal about it. I don't think all those people telling us sex is inherently healthy are correct.

Heaps of research shows that the UK/US method of sex education is a miserable failure.

We should adopt the Dutch system, and incorporate "sexting" and other such activities into the curriculum. This would reduce it without any recourse to putting children on the sex offenders' register.

Getting a teacher to tell them how cool "sexting" is is a surefire way of stopping kids from doing it

**Frazzled**

Ulver wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:
Da Boss wrote:I think encouraging sexual activity in underage kids is really dumb, because in the end sex is for reproduction, not recreation. Modern contraceptives are really good at fooling us into thinking differently, but kids can't be relied upon to use contraception properly, or at all. And I DO think that pictures like that will encourage the behaviour. And result in highly negative social issues too- in fact I see that in my job at the moment. It's incredibly biased against girls too, because 95% of teenage boys are disgusting freaks.
Teenagers and sex isn't something I'm liberal about. Nor do I think there's any need for us to be liberal about it. I don't think all those people telling us sex is inherently healthy are correct.

Heaps of research shows that the UK/US method of sex education is a miserable failure.

We should adopt the Dutch system, and incorporate "sexting" and other such activities into the curriculum. This would reduce it without any recourse to putting children on the sex offenders' register.

Getting a teacher to tell them how cool "sexting" is is a surefire way of stopping kids from doing it

You really want to kill it, show examples of your parents sending them. Whenever we use some of the teenager's new lingo around the house, its instantly dropped.

**Ulver**

Frazzled wrote:You really want to kill it, show examples of your parents sending them. Whenever we use some of the teenager's new lingo around the house, its instantly dropped.

All sorts of awesome

**Kilkrazy**

There is a lot of biological evidence that sex in humans isn't just for reproduction.

**Mike Noble**

Kilkrazy wrote:There is a lot of biological evidence that sex in humans isn't just for reproduction.

Like what? I suck at biology.

**whatwhat**

Mike Noble wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:There is a lot of biological evidence that sex in humans isn't just for reproduction.

Like what? I suck at biology.

If you don't get it you lose your mojo.

**Cannerus_The_Unbearable**

Da Boss wrote:Perhaps I didn't word my initial post well. I don't think sex is evil, or dirty, I don't think there's much wrong with gay sex if it's done responsibly either- arguably, a lot less "wrong". I'm speaking from the experience of my little sister getting pregnant as a teenager, and seeing how that has limited her life and choices, and resulted in a much narrowed future for her, fraught with difficulties, which had a knock on effect on my parents which means instead of retiring comfortably very well off, they are both still working.
I am not putting forward the puritanical veiwpoint that sex is wrong or dirty, I am simply pointing out that sex is for reproduction. It is. That is what it is for. That is why people want to do it. That is why it feels good. For a lot of teenagers, reproducing is a bad idea, and is "unhealthy" if not physically, then socially, and financially, and in all sorts of other ways.
KK: I completely agree that kids need to be educated in these matters, but I also don't think that "sexting" is something that needs to be encouraged. Kids need to learn restraint.

I was using a little hyperbole, not aiming anything at you

To me sex and pregnancy are on completely different spectrums, and, on another note, I'm really irritated by anything that says birth control is "bad." That line of thought has absolutely no basis in reality. There are benefits other than reproduction to sex, and it really helps a person unwind in a way that doesn't have to be dangerous or harmful.

**Melissia**

Mike Noble wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:There is a lot of biological evidence that sex in humans isn't just for reproduction.

Like what? I suck at biology.

We humans are social creatures. Even the loners can't escape very well from this.

**Kilkrazy**

Mike Noble wrote:
Kilkrazy wrote:There is a lot of biological evidence that sex in humans isn't just for reproduction.

Like what? I suck at biology.

If you are interested in researching the topic, The Naked Ape (Desmond Morris) is a good starting place.

**DutchKillsRambo**

Melissia wrote:
Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:
Frazzled wrote:
Cannerus_The_Unbearable wrote:I know it could be dangerous in extreme situations, but is sexting even wrong? Maybe they're looking at this the wrong way.

yea its wrong. All those images of the girls can and are used against them for harassment purposes. Thats the real issue.

As a mature adult, if naked pics of me exist outside my own computer, it's because I either incredibly trust where they are or I'm prepared for the pics to "leak" so to speak. As a teenager, the same rules apply. It seems sexting education might be more in order here. "Responsibly" sharing pictures isn't wrong, and shouldn't be punished. I just see more of a "grr, sex is bad" slant coming out of this than anything.
Considering that this is the same state that produced George "Abstinance-Only Education" Bush? That's probably not far off.

You do know Bush isn't really from Texas right?

**Melissia**

Yes, I do. But he lives here, and was our governor for a while.

**ShumaGorath**

POLICE STATE POLICE STATE POLICE STATE
THOUGHT CRIME THOUGHT CRIME THOUGHT CRIME

**FITZZ**

ShumaGorath wrote:POLICE STATE POLICE STATE POLICE STATE
THOUGHT CRIME THOUGHT CRIME THOUGHT CRIME

" Thank you for your contribution Mr.Winston ,now...please return to your work station at the Ministry of Truth."

**Albatross**

ShumaGorath wrote:POLICE STATE POLICE STATE POLICE STATE
THOUGHT CRIME THOUGHT CRIME THOUGHT CRIME

Someone just got back from the cop-shop.

A word of advice: Before you hit 'send', just think 'is what I'm doing a good life choice?'.

You could even apply that to Dakka too, if you like.

**Lord-Loss**

FITZZ wrote:
ShumaGorath wrote:POLICE STATE POLICE STATE POLICE STATE
THOUGHT CRIME THOUGHT CRIME THOUGHT CRIME

" Thank you for your contribution Mr.Winston ,now...please return to your work station at the Ministry of Truth."

Am I the only one who didn't really like this book?

OT: I doubt this law will actually be effective, teenagers are pretty stupid in general and increasing the punishment to something which could well have effects on their entire life just sounds stupid to me.

**Kilkrazy**

1984 isn't a book you like, it's a book that has come to be seen as eerily prophetic of modern life.

**Cannerus_The_Unbearable**

We The Living > 1984. There, I said it.

**Albatross**

I prefer 'Down and Out in Paris and London'.

**Kilkrazy**

The Road to Wigan Pier.

**Frazzled**

This provides a little better color. The law is much more reasonable than first noted.
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/give-parents-authorities-teens-tools-to-deal-with-1243887.html

Teenagers and their parents beware. Sexting soon might be a criminal offense for minors in Texas. Parents, too, would be held accountable, if a bill proposed by state Sen. Kirk Watson passes the Legislature. The bill is tough but compassionate.

Under the measure, teens would face a Class C misdemeanor for their first conviction (a fine up to $500) and up to a Class A misdemeanor for multiple convictions of sexting — sending explicit or nude photos of themselves or others via cell phone. Penalities for Class A misdemeanors range from up to a year in jail and/or a fine of up to $4,000. But the measure also would allow for teens to have the sexting conviction expunged from their records if they don't repeat the offense. The measure also allows teenagers who receive such messages to escape prosecution if they report images to authorities within 48 hours. We hope that the final bill provides more time and flexibility for reporting images.
Watson, an Austin Democrat, has won the support of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott, a Republican, in addressing a growing problem among teens. A 2008 study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy reported that 22 percent of teenage girls said they had been texted or posed for nude or seminude photos.

If the Legislature does pass the bill, it is important to get the word out that sexting carries consequences. It's a good start that the measure requires school districts to educate students about the dangers of the practice. But parents, too, would be wise to make it their business to know what is going on with their children's cell phones. After all, they are the ones paying the bills for those phones in most cases. And under the measure they, too, can face legal consequences. Judges could order them and their teenagers to participate in educational programs regarding the detrimental aspects of texting explicit images. And parents are the ones who are likely to pay legal fees.

Sexting by teens might be an impulsive, juvenile act. But the consequences are lasting and very adult under current laws, which are aimed at adults.

"Prior to this proposed bill, prosecutors really only had two options for dealing with young people, teens who engaged in sexting," Watson said. "They could either prosecute them under our very strict adult pornography laws or do nothing."

Abbott said that being convicted of what is currently a felony can send youths to a state prison and force them to register as sex offenders for the rest of their lives. He said he was unaware of any Texas teenagers being prosecuted under that law. Nonetheless, the potential is there. Officials are right not to wait for that to happen.

Throughout history, teens have made poor choices as they navigate from childhood to adulthood. What is different now is that those choices are amplified by technology. Watson and Abbott, both parents, understand that. The bill is tough, but it does rightly offer teenagers a second chance.

We should not treat teens as we treat adults caught with pornography. But neither should we ignore a practice that threatens the welfare of youths because they are too immature to fully understand their actions.

The Legislature should create a separate legal category for minors who are caught sexting so that the legal system has the right tools to deal with it.

**Melissia**

Which means it's still overly harsh in my view, but as long as it doesnt' make them be labeled as sex offenders, it's at least a step forward.

**Kilkrazy**

Agreed.

I still think education would be a more effective solution than legal action.

**Ahtman**

Kilkrazy wrote:I still think education would be a more effective solution than legal action.

Agreed. Now if we could get the US to do more for education than toss out platitudes.

**Cannerus_The_Unbearable**

I'll take that as a compromise. Teens will simply need to e-mail one another nude or semi-nude pics instead.