I must confess that I'm a 28 year old man that looks at 16 year old girls.

[Cali_Democrat]

However, not in a sexual way. I look because I find some of them interesting.

I also look at newborn babies because I find them cute and adorable. I also look at 80 year old people because they've been through so much in life and I find it interesting! Someday I will be that old (hopefully :)).

Bottom line is that I look at different types of people from all different age groups and different genders and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

The notion that it's bad to even look at another person is insane. Not every man is like those idiots in "To Catch a Predator".

Just my two cents on this latest "outrage" created by the media.

[left coaster]

1. You wrote, "bottom line"

tee hee.

[Fozzledick]

41. Shuddup, Beavis!

[texasleo]

2. It's perfectly natural to be attracted to females of reproductive age.

People should stop pretending otherwise.

[Colobo]

4. People who are outraged by this

are people who probably have some issues.

[Yupster]

66. And that picture won't hurt Obama one bit

It just humanizes him.

Have a pretty young girl walk through a restaurant and every man will look, even the 83 year olds on oxygen. There's no offense meant by it.

[Iris]

113. except the picture is not real.

It was just an attempt to humiliate him. And does a nice job of humiliating the girl as well.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Yes, but are you a suave black man oogling the white wimmin?

Because that's the real undercurrent here.

[Colobo]

6. The girl is not even white.

She's got black blood in her by looking at her facial features.

[Cali_Democrat]

8. Excellent point. n/t

[vaberella]

17. Well the girl isn't white. However, the other women were and I remmeber the Sebelius kiss.

Woooh...did that build some drama.

[CTyankee]

99. What "Sebelius kiss"? What did I miss? Damn.

I always miss the good stuff. Do you have a link?

[ruggerson]

27. No, I think the real undercurrent

is the problem our society has with sexual issues. Frankly, if he was looking at her butt, that's a normal, healthy human response. SOme sixteen year olds have butts worth looking at. This country is extremely fucked up when it comes to anything related to sex. I could care less whether he was or wasn't scoping her out - if he was, it's a perfectly human response to attractive visual stimuli.

[frogcycle]

5. I'm glad I don't know what the 'outrage' is

whatever it is has to be mega-stupid

[tridim]

7. I agree, it's becoming a problem.

I remember when people watching was a wholesome activity, now it's almost considered rape. Equating human nature with sexual deviancy is incredibly dangerous.

[Colobo]

10. It's crazy.

[Jennicut]

12. If you have been raped or molested you might think differently

Then again, if you have you might overreact. :shrug:

[tridim]

16. Maybe, I'd like to hear the opinions of people who have.

That said, I would hate to think that a rape victim assumes I want to rape her because I give her a casual (or even more than casual) glance.

[Colobo]

19. Perhaps that's the case, but

how is one supposed to know?

[Jennicut]

21. Well, I was

I was molested by a family friend. I was 13. It kind of makes me sick to my stomach to read some of these comments. My sister in law was raped by a an ex boyfriend in college. I think she has had a harder time then me because I feel more confident and less afraid as an adult but the guy was the same age as her and it never really goes away.

[damonm]

25. True dat.

Because rape is NOT sexual - it's nothing less than murderous agression.

[Lilith Velkor]

32. I have, and looking is not even in the same ballpark.

Most men who do the up-and-down glance are interested in a consensual encounter.

Staring, however, is creepy. If it is combined with an invasion of personal space, it is grounds for a thorough ass-kicking, of which I have doled out quite a bit more than my fair share.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

23. People who've been raped would compare gettting looked at to being rape?

I'd think most of them would be rather upset at such a trivialization of rape.

[Lilith Velkor]

35. I am.

Hiding thread now.

[polmaven]

40. I don't think that is what the poster meant.

I think that post's meaning was to say that being ogled brings a fear of what may be in the mind of the man DOING the ogling. "Why is he looking at me that way?" What is he thinking?" "Will HE attack me too?"

Of course the poster was not comparing being "looked at" to being raped.

[DutchLiberal]

34. Well, I got accused of promoting childrape because I said I looked at girls.

Yes, this was on DU.

[gauguin57]

9. Hello? did you not see the video and frame analysis? Obama wasn't ogling.

He was turning to help another young woman down the steps.

[polmaven]

15. THANK YOU!

That is as clear as day! Even if you just look at the photo, it's obvious that his eyes are lookin PAST the young woman to the stairs below.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp=31849470�

Honest to God! Where are people's MINDS? Are we now going with NY Post and Drudge as TRUTH?

[emulatorloo]

39. Thanks for the link. Important to remember Freeps and GOOPS will say anything n/t

[WePurrsevere]

88. Exactly.. but honestly, even if he did glance at the girl, he's a DAD and

may have been simply thinking his DD would love that dress. I know my eldest would since she's here visiting and that was the first thing out of her mouth when she saw the pic. :)

I love my country but there are times when I really think too many of my fellow Americans have their minds in the gutter. :eyes: Heck, even my (54 y/o) DH's first reaction was.. "Pretty color dress but why is she barefoot?" :shrug:

[GodlessBiker]

11. J'accuse!

[zulchzulu]

13. I don't have the special Age Identification Filter available...so I'm not sure what...

... the age of that cute barrista at the local cafe is when I got my Ethiopian Fair Trade clipper of coffee this morning.

I'll try to be more puritanical.

:sarcasm:

[maxsolomon]

14. Dude, OWN IT - you're straight

i'm 45 and when i look at (some) teenage girls, it's in a sexual way. because i am a straight human male and they are beautiful, and i am genetically programmed to do so.

having that ass pass through his field of vision doesn't make him Steve McNair.

[Cali_Democrat]

20. Well, I've always been attracted to older women

But I definitely see your point!

[Colobo]

22. I'm 25 and I'm more into older women as well (30s and even 40s).

But I like women my age and a bit younger as well!

[Beacool]

30. I see, a "cougar" fan.............

}(

[Cali_Democrat]

37. ...

:blush:

[Beacool]

44. Et tu, Cali?

Men............

:eyes:


:7

[Solomon]

50. Me too! I keep wondering when I'm supposed to be attracted

to younger women but it ain't happening. And I'm getting old. LOL

[damonm]

28. VERY true -

I'm 47, and when I see an attractive teenager, I'll think "damn - where was THAT 30 years ago? Some boy doesn't know how lucky he is..."

[SoxFan]

89. uh-oh

:evilgrin:

[DutchLiberal]

36. Now you will be accused of being a perverted old child molester...

[maxsolomon]

42. except i don't DO anything about it - i'm lazy

and unlike Steve McNair, i realize that young girls and old men, within limits (your age/2 + 7 = minimum age it's ok to "date"), don't really belong together.

but i suppose you're right. i prefer Horny Old Goat, because it's getting worse as i age.

[DutchLiberal]

56. You don't have to *do* anything, you will get called names anyway, I found out.

Also, I haven't followed the (American) news so close last weeks. Who is Steve McNair?

[spoony]

58. An American Football player (retired) who was shot to death.

And I totally get what you're saying. It's amazing how fast people are to throw such evil, destructive labels around.

[maxsolomon]

61. a MARRIED FATHER OF 4 who was shot to death by his 20 year old girlfriend

who was a teenager when they started dating. it's a very sad story.

People always told me be careful of what you do
And don't go around breaking young girls' hearts
And mother always told me be careful of who you love
And be careful of what you do 'cause the lie becomes the truth
-Michael Jackson

[ecstatic]

75. As long as you don't make it too obvious or do it around your significant other

There's no problem. My SO knows better, but on the rare occasions when he is caught looking he tries to play it off by making a criticism of the woman. :eyes:

[greguganus]

92. That's why I always wear sunglasses. It's harder to get caught by the wife.

I have made those criticisms myself to cover my ass. "Would you look what she's barely wearing? That's disgusting!" (as I drool).

[JVS]

103. I've already commented on this issue. This is what I like to do.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x6919887#6919905

[redqueen]

117. Not all straight males are like that.

Just like not all straight females can't help being attracted to men with lots of money.

[bertman]

18. I must confess that I'm a 62 year-old man that looks at 16 year old girls, but in a sexual way.

Like it makes any difference to me or them.

:cry: :cry:

:rofl:

[JTFrog]

31. It makes a difference to her.

I used to throw up a little in my mouth when old men would openly check me out when I was a teen.

Almost as creepy as this:

[tridim]

33. That pic is still one of the best of all time

It always makes me laugh. :)

[bertman]

46. Just to clarifucate this misunderstandment: "looks at" NOT leers at, ogles, drools on, goes

into heavy breathing mode, etc.

Part of the problem these days is that you can't tell the 16 year-olds from the 24 year-olds, plus many of them are determined to expose their attributes to everyone within viewing distance.

That picture of McSame is a classic.

:hi:

(friendly wave. nothing more intended)

[JTFrog]

52. I must admit "looks at" is pretty unavoidable....

:hi:


It was the "in a sexual way" part that took me back a few years to my own experiences.

That and I'll make any excuse to post that pic :rofl:

[DutchLiberal]

57. Oh, you're *so* right about the age-thing. There's no telling anymore.

Not that it matters when all you do is look...

[Rob H.]

64. "...you can't tell the 16 year-olds from the 24 year-olds.."

Yep. I used to be pretty good at guessing ages, but anymore it's almost impossible for me to tell just by looking. All I can say for certain is "older than me" or "younger than me," so it's highly likely that some younger-than-me hottie who caught my eye was 16 or 17.

[Iris]

114. but we've already established here that what matters to her, well, doesn't really matter

right?

[Maru Kitteh]

81. It's repulsive and CREEPY to the poor girls

Edit. Ugh.

"in a sexual way" is CREEPY. It is gross, uncomfortable and even threatening to the young girls so just cut it out. Do you think they don't know or something? Just. Stop. Have some respect for yourself and if you can't do that please try to at least fake having respect for others.

[PavePusher]

94. If your ancestors...

...hadn't been looking at (and procreating with) females in that age range, YOU WOULD NOT BE HERE TODAY.

If you are an Evolutionist, 16 is right at the point we are genetically programmed to reproduce. Until historically recently, it was common to be married and have children by then. This is a result of natural selection from when dying of old age at 30 was the norm. Now that we have greatly extended our lifespans with better nutrition and medical care, we have invented artificial social taboos in many societies that are in conflict with this genetic drive.

If you are a Creationist, the common, average age of biblical wives also destroys your emotional ranting. And is still in line with much of the reasoning in the above paragraph.

As always, check your assumptions. In fact, check them at the door...

[redqueen]

115. And if one hadn't clobbered another over the head

and dragged her back to his cave... blah blah blah.

Perhaps we should think harder about things we say before saying them.

An action isn't 'good' and 'acceptable' just because it's worked out well evolutionarily speaking. Some (many) primitive behaviors are bad, and need to go. Fact.

[Iris]

118. Sure a 16 year old can get pregnant, but is that the so great?

So can some 12 year olds, but it is not the optimum situation physically for the mother or the baby. Even now, teenage pregnancies are considered higher risk than pregnancies occurring to women in their 20s and even early 30s.

I would further surmise that during Biblical times, people might have preferred to marry their daughters off at a young age so an out of wedlock birth would be less likely.

[anneboleyn]

84. I don't get it. My husband is 40 and couldn't give a crap less about teens -- he finds them annoying

actually, definitely not attractive (and no he is not "just telling" me this). Grownup women are attractive to him but not teenagers -- they don't have the bodies that he likes at all.

[Iris]

119. how dare you cast doubt on the current agreed-upon mindset!

Even Barbie has been redesigned to look like a 16 yr. old!

[MilesColtrane]

24. .

[GodlessBiker]

26. I'm 50 and gay. A teenage "young man" is of no interest to me. A guy in his 30s? That's prime.

[maxsolomon]

43. Your Age/2 + 7 = Acceptable

i.e., 50/2 + 7 = 32. so you're not thinking like a child molestor.

[Ter]

47. I don't like that ratio at all

I'm 36 and my g/f is 19, and I am no molester. At the time I met her (March of this year) I was single. She showed an interest, was beautiful, and had a great personality. I'd have been insane to brush her away.

[maxsolomon]

59. I'd imagine you wouldn't

but your relationship is the exact same age spread as Steve McNair and Sahel Kazadi's.

36/2 + 7 = 25. the formula's not fair when you're "younger". good rule of thumb though.

I don't consider you a child molestor if that means anything. I'd do it, too.

[Pushed To The Left]

83. Welcome to DU! As long as everybody's over 18, the only opinions on the age difference that matter

are yours and hers.

[DCBob]

53. Ha! Where did you come up with that?

It almost makes sense! :)

[maxsolomon]

60. I think I read it on thestranger.com

sex is a big topic there.

[Nailzberg]

77. That formula has been around a while, I first heard of it maybe 10 years ago.

[ruggerson]

100. I'm pretty much with you

When I was 20, I dated 20 somethings. Ditto in my 30's. As I've grown older, my tastes have grown older. I don't find 25 year olds emotionally attractive, much less anyone younger. Of course this is all academic, as I'm an old married guy who's been monogamous for 12 years. But I'm hitched, not blind. :)

[redqueen]

116. Men like you are awesome.

Just sayin.

[Beacool]

29. Well...................

Let me give you a woman's perspective. I developed young and by 13 I had a decent sized front and backside. It attracted attention and I found it uncomfortable. It still makes me uneasy sometimes, but I have learned to handle it better. I will now have no problem telling a guy that my face is not at chest level. Even at work men look at women, they are just more discreet about it. I clarify that I wear clothes that are appropriate to the situation and never cared for the "hooker" look.

As women we like to be appreciated and complimented, but most of us don't like to be ogled like a side of beef.


;)

[dolphindance]

55. This was Beacool's modest way of saying she is built like a brick house!!!! :)

So you're bad as hell. Nothing to be bashful about.

[Beacool]

71. That wasn't the point, Dolphin.

I was just saying that most women don't like to be ogled like they are a nice juicy steak.

;-)

[Jennicut]

65. Yes, I know how you felt. I was pretty ample on top by the time I was 14

I was like a 36 D already...I wore big shirts all the time, it was very uncomfortable. I still wanna get rid of these things, even at 33. LOL.

[Beacool]

69. Hey, I knew we had something in common.

We have the same boob size!!

Yeah, as a teenager I didn't know how to handle that kind of attention, particularly from older guys. What's funny is that men think they are slick and that we don't notice when they look. We may play dumb sometimes, but we always notice. Living in countries where it's customary to say things to women on the street didn't help either.

BTW, don't get rid of those "things", I bet your husband loves them.

:D

[Jennicut]

74. Yeah, he would kill me.

But I am a 38DD after having two kids. Uggg. I hate shopping for clothes with these things, I really do.

[Beacool]

76. I see your point.

Well, you can always get a reduction or a lift if they get too "droopy".

;)

[Jennicut]

82. Yeah, I have wanted a reduction for awhile.

And I am sick of buying huge extra large tops. The rest of me is quite normal, I swear. And I get sick of the looks too but oh well, I guess some people wish they had more on top. At least its easier to handle then when I was a teen and I guess we have to happy with how we look and accept our selves. Plus, I am scared of surgery and it costs to darn much. And my husband likes em. :)

[OhioBlue]

85. I understand. Nothing fits right. - and forget about a one

pc bathing suit ever fitting - or trying to buy a dress suit off the rack.

[Tutankhamun]

38. The Bible says, "Thou shall not check out hotties unless they be thine own spouse."

It also says, "Thou must marryeth without considering if thine partner is hot. Thou must blindly roll thine dice and hope thine spouse doesn't look like Newt Gingrich (in drag)."

"...for it is a sin to check out the opposite sex (or the same sex if that beith thine thing)."

[WI_DEM]

45. Oh come on!

[Brooklyns_Finest]

48. I am 30

We have this 19 year old hottie that is working with us for the summer. If she is not wearing a short summer dress she is wearing tight jeans and tops. I cannot wait for the summer to end because she is highly distracting. Oh, and I know my female boss who has been divorced 3 times and has a PHD in womens studies has it in for me! I don't want to give her any reason write me up.

What I find even funnier is that my female coworkers talk about the intern everyday. Their words about the girl are far more lewd than my eyes could ever be.

[Norrin Radd]

49. Quoting the character "Stuart" from "Spin City" (you know, the guy who played Cameron

in Ferris Bueller?)

"Stuart: Big 3-0, huh? It's the perfect age. You can date college girls and their mothers."

[Brooklyns_Finest]

54. Yup Yup!

My friend leases a house out to a mom and daughter in Las Vegas. Guess what their profession is? I'll make it easy for you, starts with the letters S T R I P.

The daughter is 19.

[Forkboy]

51. I'm a hardcore people watcher (it's one of the reasons I'm here).

But teenage girls are a totally different species and I avoid them at all costs. Probably the most vicious gender/age of all. I take a bus to my doctor and it goes to the High School before the hospital, and some of the things I hear would make a sailor blush, and many of them out vicious the Republicans.

What's funny is that I get along far better with women than men, but between the ages of 13 and 18 they scare the shit of me. :)

[democrat2thecore]

62. Once a girl develops nobody can deny they look....furthermore...

Of course the politically correct thing to say is that I would NEVER look at a 16 year old. NO WAY! But really, come on! Who are we kidding except ourselves? There's no way to "know" an age and check biology with whatever "age" the government has determined it's "OK" to ---- LOOK!?!?!? What kind of society have we created when we have to deny that a young girl of 16 can be beautiful? 16, 18, 25, 35, 45 55, 65.....A little honesty would go a long way here. Remember, at one time 16 year old girls were married, cooking meals, raising children and were considered every bit the "adult" as a 30 year old. "Adolescence" is a recent phenomenon within the last hundred and fifty years or so. Now, it's a "limbo" time that many countries don't recognize at all! We Americans can be so silly.

[dolphindance]

63. +1. We are hardwired in certain ways. Nothing wrong with this. (eom)

[Brooklyns_Finest]

67. You, Sir, are a sick man!

After this snafu, President Obama should sign a presidential proclamation ordering any man who looks at a woman of questionable age to have their eyes gouged out. That will stop this mental rape that is happening to our poor, young, helpless teenage girls.

[democrat2thecore]

68. I DO hope you are being funny. I need my eyes!!!! -nt

[fujiyama]

70. I don't think our sense of attraction

to another person can tell us what age that person is. Some people mature at an early age. If I find a woman attractive, well...shit I find her attractive. Some young women develop early on, and as males we're hardwired to look at certain anatomical features of the female body (especially if we're single).

As for the Obama photo, it's funny but not particularly telling of anything. The video shows the situation in context trying to help another young woman down a few steps. Even otherwise, who cares. He's a straight male and catching a quick glimpse of finely sculpted pair of buttocks does not make him the devil.

[CatWoman]

72. SLUT!!!

:)

[Beacool]

73. Yeah, how come men are never call sluts????

Women who sleep around are called, sluts, whores, trollops, etc., but guys are always thought of as being cool.

;(

[Forkboy]

79. It's our winning personalities.

[Beacool]

101. Yeah, right............

:eyes:

[StevieM]

86. I completely agree....it's a double standard. And I think women who sleep around are great!!! (eom)

[Beacool]

102. Hmmm, let me think about that one.

It's a double standard, but you're still thrilled that some women sleep around. Right?

Ahhhhh men, you're all a lost cause.

:evilgrin:

[StevieM]

109. What I'm saying is that I don't agree with the double standard.

Women shouldn't be called sluts if they have a healthy sexual appetite.

Steve

[Beacool]

110. No argument there!!!

:evilgrin:



:hi:

[TTUBatfan2008]

78. I must have completely missed the news...

WTF happened and what's the supposed outrage over? Thanks.

[WePurrsevere]

87. It's over a photo taken out of context... (w/link to video of what really happened)

Here's a link to the pic, the story and video of what really happened...
http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2009/07/when-in-rome.html

Much.ado.about.nothing. (Whether he did "look" or not. ;) Heck, he's a Dad... if he did glance he may have been thinking his DD would love that dress... I know mine would. :))

[TTUBatfan2008]

90. Bush did it at the 2008 Olympics with the USA Volleyball team and it was blatant...

Don't remember the media making a big deal about that. Typical racial stereotypes being thrown around.

[WinkyDink]

96. You mean THIS?-------->

[OswegoAtheist]

98. In GWB's defence...

..he's actually looking at the cribnote written on his hand that says "beach volleyball" so he doesn't forget what sport he's watching.

Oswego "Go Team...hold on, it's under the sleeve...USA!" Atheist

[Enthusiast]

80. I'm a 56 year old man

and I look at 16 year old girls in a sexual way.

[greguganus]

93. I refuse to agree with you on the grounds it may incriminate me. (^5). n/t

[Deja Q]

91. I saw the pic; it was really Geithner who was doing any major ogling...

[WinkyDink]

95. Well, at least you codgers here won't complain when old broads like me ogle young guys!

[demwing]

105. Not for a second WinkyDink. Ogle all you like.

Just stay away from my teenage boy you perv.

just kidding :)

But no, really. Stay away from my kid ;)

[Cobalt-60]

97. Of Course he looked , I know I checked her out in the pic.

And given the loook on Sarkozy's face I think she must have been working that package, too.
That gentleman in the blue turban also looked impressed.

[demwing]

104. I've always looked at 16 year olds. Even when I was 13

Unfortunatly, 16 year old girls stopped looking back about 25 years ago!I also look at 30-50 year old women, and am happy that some of those still look back. We look at beauty at any age, it's natural. And our beautiful looks age. That is also natural.

I find it both painful and humorous that a society that is so invested in advertising and promoting the 16 - 21 year old body as the ultimate measure of beauty, is also so invested in punishing those who respond to said advertising and promotion.

[LynneSin]

106. BUT HE WASN'T LOOKING AT THE 17 YEAR OLD KID

So isn't your point just moot?

He was trying to back up on the steps. If anything you just added to the outrage by buying into what the idiots on Fox tried to sell the rest of the world.

[Cali_Democrat]

107. You are correct. I looked at the video and it appears he wasn't even looking at her

I guess my point is that even if he was looking, who the hell cares.

It shouldn't matter. He can look at whoever he wants.

[LynneSin]

108. But the fact that we still had to start a thread saying it was ok for him to look

means we've bought into the story manufactured for us by Faux News and the right-wing screeds.

[chowder66]

111. In response to women being called sluts, etc.

Men are called dogs, players, womanizers, pigs, man-whores(relatively new), perverts, etc.

[Beacool]

112. Man-whores?

I think that I may know a few of those........

:eyes:


:7