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at what age should teenagers be considered adult ?

the age of consent

  • the ones under 18 should be considered child

    Votes: 20 37.7%

  • the ones under 14 should be considered child

    Votes: 4 7.5%

  • the ones under 21 should be coınsidered child

    Votes: 6 11.3%

  • the ones over 14 should be allowed to marry too

    Votes: 1 1.9%

  • the ones under 14 or 15 shouldnt be allowed to have sex if they are child

    Votes: 2 3.8%

  • they are not child if they have physical maturity

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • they need both emotional and physical maturity to have sex

    Votes: 7 13.2%

  • it depends on individual differences

    Votes: 8 15.1%

  • l dont care

    Votes: 1 1.9%

  • others

    Votes: 12 22.6%
  • Total voters
    53
Just like with the gestational limits on abortion, there cannot be a perfect answer. We all understand that some people become mature and responsible at 13, and some - well, never. Whatever is the current cultural consensus if fine with me.

But the current American laws regarding the matter are not fine at all. How come a person is trusted to make super-serious decisions like joining the military (risk killing and being killed!), and to vote, and to marry, etc by 18, but cannot smoke or drink until 21? Having a glass of wine requires more maturity than combat duty?
 
Goshin said:
You mistake me, but I knew that was going to happen.

I didn't say it was wise to have sex at 16, let alone with an older man.

However I did say that once a person is post-adolescent, they are no longer a child strictly speaking... and I stand by that. There is a WORLD of difference between a 10yo and a 15yo in terms of sexuality. I don't think making someone a "Sexual predator" for life for having sex with a willing 15yo that is sexually mature is reasonable. Contrariwise I think any adult that abuses a pre-adolescent should be executed.

There is no "magic number" in terms of age where we suddenly become capable of making good decisions about sex... people in their 20s and 30s (and yes even older) pretty regularly make bad decisions about sex.

WE have to draw the line somewhere I suppose... but we ought to consider that since maturity is a gradual process, maybe there ought to be some graduated levels of legal maturity as well. In a sense we already do this.... you can marry and contract at 18, but you can't drink or buy a handgun until you're 21, for instance.

I'm just suggesting putting some thought into this instead of knee-jerk reactions. The idea of an extended childhood lasting until one is 18 or 21 is a relatively recent societal phenomenon... in ancient times a 14yo was considered an adult in many ways, albeit generally under the guidance and mentoring of a mature adult (parent, master-apprentice, or military officers, etc) until he was considerably older.

In a lot of ways I think our children are still "children" at 18 because we don't require them to be more responsible and mature, because we LET them continue to be dependent children and act irresponsibly well past the point where they should be operating in a more-or-less adult fashion.
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Also, I have to add. If they DON'T want to be labelled as a sexual predator, then DON'T have sex with underage people. :shrug: It's very simple.
 
Cyrylek said:
Just like with the gestational limits on abortion, there cannot be a perfect answer. We all understand that some people become mature and responsible at 13, and some - well, never. Whatever is the current cultural consensus if fine with me.

But the current American laws regarding the matter are not fine at all. How come a person is trusted to make super-serious decisions like joining the military (risk killing and being killed!), and to vote, and to marry, etc by 18, but cannot smoke or drink until 21? Having a glass of wine requires more maturity than combat duty?
Click to expand...

I have YET to meet a 13-year-old who is responsible enough to be married and raise a family. They might be mature "for their age." If they are out there, they are the exception and not the rule.
 
I like 16 as a dividing line.

If they can drive a car legally, which means they can kill me or my family, they should be considered adults.

That being said, I can live with 18 as the age too.
 
Dragonfly said:
I like 16 as a dividing line.

If they can drive a car legally, which means they can kill me or my family, they should be considered adults.

That being said, I can live with 18 as the age too.
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At least 30% of all traffic accidents are caused by teen drivers, who only make up about 10% of all drivers. Now those are some sobering statistics.
 
ChrisL said:
Also, I have to add. If they DON'T want to be labelled as a sexual predator, then DON'T have sex with underage people. :shrug: It's very simple.
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So you'd favor severe punishment for a 16yo girl having sex with a willing 15yo boy, since she's of legal age in my state and he isn't? She should be charged with statutory rape and be a "convicted sex offender" for life?
 
Goshin said:
So you'd favor severe punishment for a 16yo girl having sex with a willing 15yo boy, since she's of legal age in my state and he isn't? She should be charged with statutory rape and be a "convicted sex offender" for life?
Click to expand...

No, I said I would support age gap restrictions as well. However for marriage, I think it should be 18, unless there some kind of extenuating circumstances.
 
ChrisL said:
I have YET to meet a 13-year-old who is responsible enough to be married and raise a family. They might be mature "for their age." If they are out there, they are the exception and not the rule.
Click to expand...

Of course - I gave the extreme outliers, intentionally.

But we also should consider how the modern culture and educational system lead to infantilization of the young. "Back in the day", a person at 20 was expected to be a hard-working head of a family and a reliable member of his village community. "Dude, where's my horse buggy" types hardly existed.
 
ttwtt78640 said:
OK. But neither do I have to agree with you. ;)
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What is it that I said that you don't agree with and why? I think my proposal makes perfect sense.
 
A comprimise....19.5
IMO, the emotional development varies so....some never mature, I think
The physical development matters NOT
The vote ? "other", thank you.
 
Cyrylek said:
Of course - I gave the extreme outliers, intentionally.

But we also should consider how the modern culture and eductaional system lead to infnatilization of the young. "Back in the day", a person at 20 was expected to be a hard-working head of a family and a reliable member of his village community. "Dude, where's my horse buggy" types hardly existed.
Click to expand...

Yes, but as you noted, times have changed. Also, we have learned much more about children and teenagers than we ever knew in the past. Should we just ignore those scientific advances and go back to our old ignorant times when we treated children as miniature adults?
 
ChrisL said:
Also, I have to add. If they DON'T want to be labelled as a sexual predator, then DON'T have sex with underage people. :shrug: It's very simple.
Click to expand...

who decides it ?

laws

but laws can be changed according to the realities and the demands of the society ?

as in polygamy..:lol:
 
Gipper said:
25, when the brain fully develops.

Teenagers don't have a fully developed sense of reasoning or an ability to accurately weigh consequences for poor decisions.
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This.
 
Medusa said:
who decides it ?

laws

but laws can be changed according to the realities and the demands of the society ?

as in polygamy..:lol:
Click to expand...

Right. Because we know things about children and teenagers that we didn't used to know, the general consensus is that having sex and/or marrying young children and teens is not a wise nor very acceptable practice. Hence, age of consent laws.
 
ChrisL said:
No, I said I would support age gap restrictions as well. However for marriage, I think it should be 18, unless there some kind of extenuating circumstances.
Click to expand...


Well, all I've been saying is the age gap needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis, as well as any extenuating circumstances that exist, with an awareness of how things have changed, like puberty coming earlier and the way our society sexualizes people at a younger age.

Never said I was okay with 20somethings having sex with teenagers... just that I don't think it is the same crime or warrants the same punishment as an adult raping a 10yo.
 
Medusa said:
should a man age of 21 be charged with pedohilia and convicted of having sex with a child age of 14 15 0r 16 ?

when should a person be considered adult ?

my purpose in starting this thread is not to justify this action

l just wonder why a person has to be accused of being a pedohilie although he is not sexually interested in little children

many of the teenagers have the physical maturity to have sex and give birth although not all of them can be emotionally mature to marry and raise their babies.

if 3 or more adults over 18 can have sex together or marry if polygamy is legalized , why is a person considered pervert pedohilie only because he had sex with a girl who is mature enough to menstruate ?

if both of them are consent to have sex ,what is teh problem ?

they dont seem more disturbing than polygamic lovers
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I believe it should be 18.
 
Goshin said:
Well, all I've been saying is the age gap needs to be considered on a case-by-case basis, as well as any extenuating circumstances that exist, with an awareness of how things have changed, like puberty coming earlier and the way our society sexualizes people at a younger age.

Never said I was okay with 20somethings having sex with teenagers... just that I don't think it is the same crime or warrants the same punishment as an adult raping a 10yo.
Click to expand...

That depends upon the mentality of the child involved. It would be NEARLY impossible to figure that out without extensive psychiatric evaluations. Therefore, we go by our age of consent laws.

Men (and women at times) can avoid being labelled as sexual predator by simply avoiding those types of relationships. It is personal responsibility for yourself and your freedom. Just like any laws, if you break them you should expect to pay the price. If you are unwilling to accept the penalty, then don't commit the crime.
 
ChrisL said:
Yes, but as you noted, times have changed. Also, we have learned much more about children and teenagers than we ever knew in the past. Should we just ignore those scientific advances and go back to our old ignorant times when we treated children as miniature adults?
Click to expand...

Nope. The infantilization is, after all, mostly a sad side effect of the need for longer schooling period.

As I said, whatever is the current consensus is OK. 18? So be it. It is a somewhat arbitrary number, but some number is necessary. 21 would be OK as well.
But let's not insult common sense by banning cigarette sales to people who are "mature" enough to be voters, parents and soldiers.
 
ChrisL said:
Right. Because we know things about children and teenagers that we didn't used to know, the general consensus is that having sex and/or marrying young children and teens is not a wise nor very acceptable practice. Hence, age of consent laws.
Click to expand...

polygamy is not acceptable either
 
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