I don't like age being used to determine maturity

77% Normal

I'm sure you know about how these days 18 is considered an adult and anything under is considered a minor. Personally, I do not like this system. I know that the brains of say a 14 year old is not as physically developed as that of a 30 year old, but even then, I don't think that age should be the sole determining factor on how ready someone is for the adult world. I've heard of teens under 18 who are mature and leading responsible and mature lives, and there are emotionally immature 30-year olds who live in their mother's basements. I myself am 20 and I do not think I am 100% ready for the adult world either.

Am I saying that age doesn't play a factor? No. Recent studies show that our brains continue developing well into our 40s. Our brains develop gradually, and obviously a 10-year old isn't going to be as mature as a 19-year old. But I don't like how society puts so much emphasis on how old someone is to determine how mature they are. Personally, I think that restrictions based on age should end at age 16 and from that point on one should be forced to take a series of tests before being legally considered an adult. If a 17-year old passes all the tests with flying colours, then he/she should be considered an adult and given age of majority rights. If a 30-year old repeatedly fails, too bad, still a minor.

Is this view normal?

Voting Results

77% Normal

Based on 73 votes (56 yes)

Help us keep this site organized and clean. Thanks!

[ Report Post ]

Comments ( 18 )

Dulse.

9 years ago

Maturity isn't really related to age much, I agree. People like to have a solid standard which they can judge when one is adult or not, it makes things simpler.

What makes one mature or not is subjective, slapping an age on maturity instead takes away that subjectivity.

Comment Hidden ( show )

4

4
[Old Memory]

9 years ago

How would these tests work? Everybody is good and bad at different things. They already have laws for adults who aren't allowed certain adult rights such as having things in their name. They're classified as disabled adult children and I think it's discriminating.

Comment Hidden ( show )

2

2
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  9 years ago
  
  My proposal is that at age 16, one will receive an ID card with certain blank spaces that can be stamped later. The stamps would allow such people to legally carry out the few basic "adult" activities of drinking, driving, marriage, emancipation, foster care, etc. and you would need to take a test to qualify for such stamps, much like how our current driver's license system works. Such stamps can be voided if one is no longer able to carry out such activities responsibly. One would need to take an assessment to be legally permitted to do such activities, and such people may be required to repeat the tests once in a while so that they don't forget.
  
  The reason why I propose this is because not everyone develops adult skills at once when they hit 21. I am 20 and I can drink responsibly (where I am the drinking age is 19), drive decently, but I am utterly clueless when it comes to voting and have no economic experience.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - [Old Memory]
    
    9 years ago
    
    There are quite a few problems with that idea.
    You can't test somebody to be able to tell if they are a responsible drinker or not. You will only know once they fuck up.
    With voting I do think they should test people to make sure they understand what they are voting for to prevent people from voting randomly.
    I could see giving people equal rights unless they have their rights taken away, for example get a dui and receive a mark on your id that says no alcohol purchase.
    Many of those things cannot easily be measured with a test.
    Somebody may have the social maturity of a 10 year old when they're 40 but are otherwise high functioning in other areas. It wouldn't be fair to deprive someones rights just because they aren't like everybody else.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    1
    
    1
MangoTango

9 years ago

TRUE! Lots of adults of all ages do not seem to reach the formal operational stage of cognitive development, if ya wanna look that up, lol. There's geniuses that are like what? Under the age of 12? Of course, they're typically still kids right? I mean they may be super smart about something but still very much childlike in their minds. Oh, and there are plenty of physically-developed adults that are immature morons. There are teens that have more brains than some adults over 30. I agree.

You're not normal to have this kind of uncommon great insight.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
flailyhailey

9 years ago

I totally agree. Ageism is definitely real. I remember being fairly eloquent and reasonable in arguments, but I was never allowed to win, being a young girl. I promised myself I would never forget that, and be sure to keep that in mind when I raise my own children.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
Nokiot9

9 years ago

Same here. Some 25 yo have the maturity level of a 11 yo. And some 13 year olds are more mature than some 20 year olds. It's a very flawed system.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
canihelpit

9 years ago

This is silly. In the words of SZA "I feel like maturity is overrated. "

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  9 years ago
  
  What?
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
davesumba

9 years ago

You can't measure someone's social "maturity level." You can however measure a brain's maturity level. That's the only way you are going to get anywhere in court. And for good reason.
I don't really understand what you have a problem with where a "mature" minor can't do something that "immature" adults can.
There's an age restriction on stuff like alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana because of it's effects on someone whose body hasn't fully developed/matured yet.
Not entirely sure the reason on a driving restriction, but even with one, some parents don't even let their kid get a license until they decide it's time.
And being prosecuted as a minor is completely different than an adult, because their brain hasn't matured, and most of the time, they don't know exactly what they've done and how bad it was. I know that I did all kinds of things I saw nothing wrong with, but my parents felt the need to abuse me for it afterwards. And in the cases where a minor does know exactly what they are doing and how bad it is, they can get tried as an adult if the court can prove your theory that younger people can be more mature than their 'age.'
And minor's can't have sex with adults, because they are too damn young to understand the consequences of sex, or what "love" is, and can easily get taken advantage of, no matter how sure of themselves a minor is with their decision.
And then a lot of things have to do with a parent having all the rights in choosing everything you do before 18, because it is their job as a parent, and know a lot more than you.

Also, like most rules and laws, the majority of the population has to go along with it, even if they can responsibly do some 'illegal' things, because of one person or group of people who ruined for everyone else. That's how life works.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  9 years ago
  
  That's why I said in my post that age DOES matter up to a point. It had to do with how the brain matures and how people learn. The brain can take up into ones 40s to fully mature, and obviously an 11-year old isn't going to be mature enough to successfully live on his/her own and make his/her own decisions. The point is that I don't think age should be the sole factor in assessing one's maturity.
  
  Also, I'm pretty sure that minors can understand what love is. The problem is that they're more often than not inexperienced in that field, so that they misinterpret their raging sex hormones as love, which is what makes adult-teenage relationships very risky.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
Darkoil

9 years ago

I was just as mature at 15 as I am now at 25. I knew exactly who I was and didn't take shit from anyone. I'd have sex and go to the pub and I'd come in at what ever time I would like and my Mum was cool with it, she let me make my own choices whether they were good or bad and then live with the consequences.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
seekelp

9 years ago

This is an interesting article on a similar subject: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200703/trashing-teens?page=2

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
DarQness

9 years ago

being you are 20 you really don't have to worry about that unless you like someone younger than you.

to me most of the time people don't care about anything unless its personal.

Comment Hidden ( show )

0

0
- Anonymous Post Author
  
  9 years ago
  
  I'm still a virgin and have never been in a relationship.
  
  Comment Hidden ( show )
  
  0
  
  0
  - DarQness
    
    9 years ago
    
    okay, i got no reason to not believe you.
    
    Comment Hidden ( show )
    
    0
    
    0
    - Anonymous Post Author
      
      9 years ago
      
      Was that sarcasm?
      
      Comment Hidden ( show )
      
      0
      
      0
      - DarQness
        
        9 years ago
        
        No.
        
        Comment Hidden ( show )
        
        0
        
        0

Are You Normal?

I don't like age being used to determine maturity