::Society is very confused about this. For instance, if you sleep with a fifteen year old on the night before his/her sixteenth birthday, he/she is a "child" and you are considered a pedophile. If you wait a few seconds for the clock to tick into place at midnight, he/she is now no longer considered a child and you are no longer a pedophile. 

 ::What has changed in those few seconds or days to the fifteen year old that he is "suddenly" mature enough to partake of sexual affection? 

 ::The whole thing is just daft. I know thirteen year olds who, in terms of their mentaility/intellect/groudedness are far more mature than some 40 year olds. This is more related to society trying to promote the myth of the asexual child, I believe. Please see the child sexuality article. 

 ::Pedophiles are merely the last remaining acceptable scapegoats in our "politically correct" western societies. Pedophiles now fill the role that homosexuals used to fill, as victims for "the mob." 

 ::And may Big Brother strike me down if I'm wrong about this. (lol *tempts fate*)