Was Nick such an innocent victim?

Well, he went into the closet to avoid being detected. He had broken into the home, not knowing she was there. He wanted to find proof that she stole his picture and was obsessed with him. He heard her and the bathtub, and hid in the closet.

However, he stood there staring while she undressed. If he was so damn innocent, he would've turned his head or closed his eyes. So while it wasn't his initial intent to see her naked, he clearly didn't mind one bit (she was rather attractive, but still...she was 14...and he was a hypocrite.)

The last post doesn't add much to the debate. I thought Nick felt caught between a number of stools. She was too young for him (she was) and she was making all the advances (he didn't appreciate that). But there was little doubt that when he found himself in her bedroom with her naked it wouldn't have taken much for him to make a move. I thought that all that prevented him at that stage was the thought that he would get caught.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

" they always stick together and defend each other against everything, even things that are definitely wrong. Or, perhaps they just don't understand why things are wrong (what Nick did). It's part of the male ego, they always think women are hitting on them and interested in them, even when they're not. Just ignore them altogether, and after a few months of only getting attention from their male buddies, they'll change their tune."

Women like you are the reason some of my better looking guy friends are either dating a fat chick or chronic masturbators. Thanks for the "ignore them" advice, because, really, it's not like girls do that all the time already...

"You can't really ask Men this question (whether Nick is equally to blame), because they always stick together and defend each other against everything, even things that are definitely wrong."

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As do women. The phrase "pot calling the kettle black" comes to mind

It's part of the male ego, they always think women are hitting on them and interested in them, even when they're not. Just ignore them altogether, and after a few months of only getting attention from their male buddies, they'll change their tune.

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The same is equally true of women as well - women are just as big egotists as men. Contrary to popular belief, not all chauvinists are male

You can't really ask Men this question (whether Nick is equally to blame), because they always stick together and defend each other against everything, even things that are definitely wrong. Or, perhaps they just don't understand why things are wrong (what Nick did). It's part of the male ego, they always think women are hitting on them and interested in them, even when they're not. Just ignore them altogether, and after a few months of only getting attention from their male buddies, they'll change their tune.

Yeah this is so true. They always say women bring it on themselves. Men have no sexual self-control.

http://www.imageupload.org/?d=087783331

I agree it is a toughie and the example you listed makes it even tougher! But, essentially, I think there would be little argument with your "treatment" of a 24 yr old who encouraged your 14 yr old child to undress; and it should not matter at all whether your child is a boy or girl - they are both adolescent and equally vulnerable.
As for your example, I'm not sure that I agree entirely with your conclusions as to why the teacher responded as he did. As someone in the same general age bracket of the teacher you referred to and someone who taught for a short while before moving on to something else, I actually see nothing wrong in his response. A teacher of 25, as in your story, is not that much older, relatively speaking, than a high school junior/senior. In addition, and depending on the level of maturity of the student, they could in fact be even more compatible. But there is a golden rule; it is not permitted for a teacher at any level (up to and including University) to engage in a relationship with one of his students, and could and probably would lead to his dismissal. This is to protect both teacher and student. Consequently, the response the teacher made is exactly what I would have expected, she was a student and therefore off-limits. In saying what he said he was letting her down as kindly as he could, he was saying that his refusal was not personal but due to school laws. Maybe he actually wasn't attracted to her but just didn't want to hurt her. Should he just have said "NO?" Why not tell the truth; she was a student, he was not permitted to date students and the sooner this became known the better.
But, despite this, I agree with your closing sentence with possibly one small amendment. You say your friend was very bright and mature for her age and, at seventeen, I suppose it is fair to say that most girls have reached or are very close to womanhood. So .. if something is dangled in front of someone long enough, sometimes even good people might find it difficult to resist taking the bait. That is why the rule is there and is strictly enforced. The teacher is an adult and the student is probably underage - he must wait until she graduates and then if they still feel attracted to one another .... well, I suppose they'd have her parents to deal with!

Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there. I did not die.

@vallester

It's very easy to entertain the thought of bedding down a 17 year old girl regardless if he's a good teacher/person or not.

yeah i agree, he was aware she was in the next room and he was naked in the bathroom with the door opened. :/

Agreeable that Adriane was not mentally all together. Nick had not been as responsible with dealing with the situation, had it heled if he resisted more? Probably not becasue she was determined to get him. It's easy for me to feel sympathetic to Adraine because im 15 and i have actually ended up fooling around and sleeping with a man in his 30's, granted I never stalked this guyu or anything as line crossing as what Adraine does to Nick I think its hard when your so young and you feel that an older guy likes then without warning he stops. It doesn't excuse her behavior but just look at it from her point of veiw.