Allyson, I am not equating them. I am saying there are laws that state that certain people are unable to give consent.

I am 32 years old and the thought of telling my mother that I was a) pregnant and b) had an abortion BEFORE it was done with makes me sure that I, like Allyson, would try a coat hanger. My mom is a great person, and fair to middling parent, and completely non-abusive.

She also flips out into a dizzying mental spin, vocalizing ALL my inner worries over and over and over. She doesn't know I have a new job and won't until my first day in the office, because her response would be "What if your old boss sabotages you? remember, you won't be safe until you are in the new office. The new office could be just as bad as the old one. Aren't you worried?!?"

And she has always been like this-- about college, about wearing a bra, about taking the SAT's. The thought of someone else telling her and having to go through that while pregnant/deciding to abort... AARgh! So not abusive doesn't mean helpful in the least.

ETA: Also not a parent, because I would be like the above.

Also, on a lighter note-- Do Gale Harold and Nathon Fillion resemble each other in a weird way? I am attracted to Gale Harold (or rather Brian Kinney), but not so much to Mal, but in my head they look so similar!

I would NEVER think to report statutory rape. I know I need to report abuse, but I don't know where statutory rape is.

Never at all? What would you do if the situation was more worrisome than usual -- e.g., if the child was especially young, physically or emotionally, or you weren't sure that the relationship was consensual? I understand it's not your job to monitor the sex lives of every student in the high school -- the blanket "NEVER" just surprises me.

Is it statutory rape if both people are under the age of consent? Whose fault is it then? Just curious.

The same sex marriage bill in Canada has been given Royal Assent and now is law of the land:

[link]

The current discussion on parental notification is fascinating, with well thought-out and heartfelt opinions on both sides. I love that we can discuss a topic like this without all stomping off to our rooms. And if it does come to that, can come back the next day. I hate to just in with another topic, but am doing a quick post'n'run.

the assistant directer of my library claims that an MLS is the most expensive Union Card you'll ever buy.

Calli, and anyone else that expressed interest, I attended Syracuse about 6 years ago for my MLS, and it was the best decision I ever made. I learned a lot of helpful, practical stuff, even after having worked in libraries for years. I would love to talk further with anyone who wants to about library school, pros and cons of various schools, and librarianship once you have the degree. The money's not the best in librarianship, but it's a wonderful career. Fun, interesting and worthwhile.

Anyway, I'm already late, but feel free to email me.

The same sex marriage bill in Canada has been given Royal Assent and now is law of the land:

YAY Canadia!

If it is consensual, then no, I wouldn't report it to the state as abuse. If it were nonconsensual, then I would be required to report it as abuse anyhow.

Being a mandated reporter is very formalized. There's a set of forms and I have a 48 hour period in which to report things like suicide attempts, domestic violence and abuse. Interestingly, in cases where I am REQUIRED to report, I can't just report to people who actually could help. In fact, reporting is done by calling the CPS and the police.

Consensual sex between minors I woudn't report to the state (i.e., fill out paper work and call the cops). I would probably report them to the school psych or the social worker or the health worker and possibly their parents, which is NOT part of the mandated-reporter bit. But to the state as part of the abuse process, it would never occur to me to do so. And if every teacher did, the state would be fucked 2000 times over to deal with all the cases.

And, in the case where I suspected statutory rape 2 years ago (consensual sex between a minor and an 18 year old) I actually worked with the kid, as did the school psych and the health worker on campus. And I also eventually got her to break up with him. But I didn't report it and the school psych, who knows the ins and outs of reporting for mandated-reporter stuff, never mentioned that I should. So I guess statutory rape isn't mandated reporting.

YAY Canada!