An adult at 18? Not any more - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Honus · #16 09-25-2013, 11:55 AM

When I turned 18, I was a high school senior and far from being an adult. My amateur's theory is that people used to mature faster because they had to. Thomas Jefferson was 33 when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. You don't see 33-year-olds doing that sort of thing now.

aklim · #17 09-25-2013, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Honus

When I turned 18, I was a high school senior and far from being an adult. My amateur's theory is that people used to mature faster because they had to. Thomas Jefferson was 33 when he wrote the Declaration of Independence. You don't see 33-year-olds doing that sort of thing now.

Back then you didn't usually live that long either. You HAD TO grow up fast. Today, well, not so. Someone will have your back so why would you bother with the nastiness of growing up as long as you got the benefits?

oldsinner111 · #18 09-25-2013, 11:58 AM

If you can die at 18 for your country,you should be called a man,and alot were.

davidmash · #19 09-25-2013, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strelnik

I think it really depends, within reason, on circumstances.

We all know about farmers' kids who were raised to start working when they were 12, we know about kids on the street who survive on their own at 13, and we know about others who never get it, no matter how old they are.

A lot of self-reliance is based on just that: knowing you have to rely on yourself, that maybe no one else cares as much about you, as you do.

So you must shift for yourself, because the entitlement fairy will not carry you from cradle to grave.

I think there is a difference between physical acts and survival and that of thinking like an adult.

I know that I think quite a bit differently now as an adult than I did as an adolescent.

Air&Road · #20 09-25-2013, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldsinner111

If you can die at 18 for your country,you should be called a man,and alot were.

Agreed, except during my military days, there were 17 year olds in that category.

aklim · #21 09-25-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

Agreed, except during my military days, there were 17 year olds in that category.

Slipped in or let in through the back door?

dynalow · #22 09-25-2013, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

Agreed, except during my military days, there were 17 year olds in that category.

...and in WWII, there were 14 yr olds. Jack Lucas for one.

Jack Lucas, Medal of Honor, WWII - YouTube

Air&Road · #23 09-25-2013, 01:52 PM

I'm talking about the legal ones. In the late sixties, a 17 year old could LEGALLY join the Army. Throughout history, there have always been those who lied about their age.

Simpler=Better · #24 09-25-2013, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

I'm talking about the legal ones. In the late sixties, a 17 year old could LEGALLY join the Army. Throughout history, there have always been those who lied about their age.

I'm pretty sure you can sign up at 17 with parental consent. IIRC 16 is the age for being allowed to drop out of school.

Txjake · #25 09-25-2013, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MTI

There is no apparent rational reason for assigning the label "adult" at a fixed age of 18 years.

nor at age 25.............

Txjake · #26 09-25-2013, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Air&Road

I'm talking about the legal ones. In the late sixties, a 17 year old could LEGALLY join the Army. Throughout history, there have always been those who lied about their age.

My father was 15 when he joined the Marine Corps right after Pearl Harbor. He did not lie about his age, either.

Skid Row Joe · #27 09-25-2013, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

All this does is give child psychologists 7 more years of potential business per person....follow the money

Sounds like that creepy azz Obamacare at work to me.

aklim · #28 09-25-2013, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Txjake

My father was 15 when he joined the Marine Corps right after Pearl Harbor. He did not lie about his age, either.

Not sure but we don't live in those times so while it is fascinating, fortunately or unfortunately, it doesn't matter. What does the current regulation say?

Skippy · #29 09-25-2013, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

Because Congress voted to blackmail states into raising it back to 21 after a bunch of (supposed) accidents involving drunken 18-year-olds. What they should have done is raise the unsupervised DRIVING age to 19 or 20.

Permit at 17, license for 125cc motorcycle at age 18, full driving permit at age 19 or 20. Typical Puritanical thinking.

No. Starting them later just means we get a slightly older crop of inexperienced and consequently bad drivers. Experience (preferably with feedback and work toward improvement) produces better drivers, not age. Early starts appear to produce the very best. Schumacher started racing carts at age 6. Ayrton Senna was driving around the family farm at 7. Sebastian Vettel was messing around in carts at 3 1/2 and racing by the time he was 8.

panZZer · #30 09-25-2013, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spdrun

Because Congress voted to blackmail states into raising it back to 21 after a bunch of (supposed) accidents involving drunken 18-year-olds. What they should have done is raise the unsupervised DRIVING age to 19 or 20.

Permit at 17, license for 125cc motorcycle at age 18, full driving permit at age 19 or 20. Typical Puritanical thinking.

these days it will take them a few extra yrs to save up for the insurance tires and a new battery anyway, no wonder the typical 16 yr old isn't chomping to get his DL - it cant be afforded.