Dana is so cute!!!!

I think he's older than 20... mid 20s. Either way, you'd have to be certain at this point in life, that the 20 year old mind is post-adolescent and markedly more adult than 16. I wouldn't let you or anyone else near my 16 year olds. End of story!

No, feelings do not make a bit of difference. It absolutely IS pedophilia. It most certainly is not common. It certainly happens, but it is not even remotely common and most of the time when it happens its an age gap between like for example 32 vs 44. Even in that example there are loads of differences, though two consenting adults can overcome difficulties like being a part of two different generations.

When you are 16, 12 years makes a world of difference. When you are 16 you cannot drink, you cannot smoke, you cannot vote, you likely cannot drive on your own, and you pretty well cant live on your own all under the law. Because of the structure of the modern world a 16 year old is not properly equipped or capable except in extremely extremely rare instances of a highly mature 16 year old, to handle the decision to engage in, or the consequences of a relationship. Sure, a century ago it was a different story, This is far from the same world as a century ago.

Furthermore, due to all the various difficulties and societal issues that having a relationship with a 16 year old presents, it typically points out something fundamentally flawed with someone who is in their 20s pursuing a 16 year old. It is the text book definition of being mentally unhealthy and abnormal.

I could go on about how wrong you are, but there is essentially no point. Not only is it unhealthy and inappropriate, It is unequivocally KNOWN to be pedophilia, as Even in areas where Age of consent is 16, That "consent" is not the 16 year olds. Its the consent of her parents as they are still a minor. Moreover, nearly every jurisdiction with an age of consent at 16 or in rare cases lower, there are also tightly defined laws addressing gaps, with most stating anything more than a 3-4 (again dependent on jurisdiction)is not only not allowed, it is typically seen as sexual assault.

Simple fact is that the laws prove you wrong. This is not some subjective matter open to interpretation. Now I know there are highly motivated, driven, educated teenagers out there, of which are capable of thinking long term and making rational decisions for themselves that consider the consequences of their actions. Ive known a few personally. But regardless of the fact that they do exist, they are, have been and always will be such a microscopic minority, that their numbers are basically incalculable. The laws exist, to protect the virtual entirety that ARE brash, immature, arrogant, ignorant, confused, and just do not know any better. This certainly is not the first time I have hear it posited that an adolescent is capable of making their own decisions and it does not matter what they chose. However any time I have seen someone utter it, they were WELL below the age of 25 and simply ignorant to just how ignorant such an assessment is. Not saying someone over 25 CANT say it. Only those who consistently have are either blatantly ignorant and delusional, Or have a very malicious ulterior motive. Virtually without fail, any time you ask someone who has a decade or better of being responsible for themselves, they all agree in resounding unison that looking back they understand just how monumentally ignorant and incapable of making good decisions for themselves they were when they were even in their early 20s, much less being a teenager wracked with all manner of physical, biochemical, psychological and emotional chaos that essentially all teenagers goes through.

So sorry to have to correct you, but your statements are so blatantly incorrect, and quite frankly irresponsibly dangerous, that to allow them to go uncontested would itself be a disservice to you, or anyone else that might be reading.

So to reaffirm... a 16 year old involved with a 28 year old is NOT normal, It is NOT healthy, for neither the Jr or Sr. It is in every sense of the word pedophilia, and serves as a case example as to WHY we have laws that PROTECT the minor. Typically from themselves and how they "Feel" when they do not yet understand how to process new and complex emotions. To suggest otherwise only serves to put children into harms way.

These are facts of general consensus that civilized societies have concluded and come to accept. So when an institution such as a media broadcast, such as a scripted tv show, makes it a point to write characters and then purposely pair a 16 year old with a 28 year old, AND choosing to portray it as something harmless, as well as something "acceptable" despite it being a gross violation of the morality of civilized peoples and rationalized under the guise of "But its the end of the world" shows a purposeful intention to defy the conventions of civilized consensus. More precisely defined as I originally did by calling it pedophilic propaganda.

It is what it is, and no amount of "feelings" will be able to normalize it, negate the inherent risks involved, change the reasons why people came to agree upon this fact or in any way shape or form make it acceptable.

So unless you are among the hyper technical types like myself who would nitpick it would technically be "ephebophilia" or unhealthy attraction to a post pubescent child, Then Once again I apologize but your position leave you without a leg to stand on.

None the less... I hope you learn something from this and otherwise I wish you well on the path. Peace be with you.