This is the point that RMS is trying to make. His argument (iirc) is that "rape" might be an incorrect word used to describe what happened (was it proved to be rape? The only part proved iirc were the ages), and that immediately because the person was 17 instead of 18, that word is used to describe the situation without second thought. I don't think he was saying that there should be zero repercussions, or that we should forget all about it, or that we should condone relations with minors...
Just saying, when I was 17, I was well mature enough to make my own choices and to be aware of my actions. There's a HUGE difference between 17/18 and 14/15. I think this is the point he was trying to make.
This is essentially RMS' point, and it is pretty much a stupid technicality that even his deceitful 'I now know better' non-apology doesn't in fact contradict at all. Sure, the word 'rape' invites images of forcing yourself on someone through explicit violence, when what Minsky did is statutory rape, non-consensual sex with someone by virtue of them being unable to consent (since she was a minor).
But it misses the point that Minsky was an old, intelligent, somehwat rich and powerful man (in his 70s? 80s?) having sex with a sex worker 60 years his junior. That he might not have known she was technically a minor and forced into sex work against her will doesn't entirely excuse his behavior, and his reputation is worth almost nothing compared to the hurt that he caused her, even if unkowingly.
The fact that we don't (and won't ever) know for sure whether he had in fact been aware that she was a minor forced into this situation against her will makes the situation even worse.
> The only part proved iirc were the ages), and that immediately because the person was 17 instead of 18, that word is used to describe the situation without second thought.
The age of consent there at the time was 16. It was later raised to 18 by the Child Protection Act of 2002.
This will probably come as a surprise to many people, but 16 is also the current age of consent in a majority of US states. It is 16 in 33 states and in DC.
It is 17 in six states, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, and Texas.
It is 18 in only 11 states, Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, North Dakota, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.
He was 73 and she was 17. Are we supposed to believe he thought she thought he was cute? It’s unreasonable to imagine he thought sex was something she wanted
This is a silly question, because you're not even bringing jurisdictions into it. In much of the US, this is perfectly legal and is neither rape nor statutory rape.
