When do you become an adult?

[Joshua Farrell]

There is an array of opinions as to when a person fully matures. Should the legal age of adulthood be lowered or raised? At what age do you think you are an adult?

I personally think that for the average person, age 21 in the U.S. is a good starting point. Some can act as adults at the age of 18, but I don't think that many are ready to act like adults until they have been out in the world away from partying all the time with friends, and involved with working to earn ones passage.

 

[The Governor]

Twenty one is perfect. It doesn't make any sense to me how someone who just got out of high school a year ago could be considered an adult simply because of an age. On top of that, in the US, you have to be 21 to even purchase/consume alcohol. How are you an adult if you can't even legally drink?

I've also noticed that eighteen-nineteen year olds, despite being considered "adults", are still referred to as teens, which I agree with. They're still kids, they're still immature (most, anyway). I feel like there's a lot of pressure on eighteen year olds to suddenly drop their school behavior/juvenile behavior and act like adults the second they turn eighteen. Let them be kids for a little longer and enjoy life.

When they turn twenty one, then it's time for seriousness and adulthood to kick in. Plus, I feel that having the extra three years to wind down would be beneficial.

 

[ForumSource]

As an 18 year old I think that certain things like the voting age, purchasing tobacco and what not should all be raised to 21 if we're not allowed to do things like drink alcohol or whatever else you're required to be 21 to do. Why can I vote for our next president or be drafted but not even drink a beer?

I understand that a lot of individuals, especially these days, are not really mature at 18 though so I see where you're coming from. I like to think I'm mature enough to handle being an adult at 18 though... Now I have to wait 3 more years... 😛

 

[Jake]

In my opinion, you're an adult when you have the ability to take care of others because the "adults" in the situation are sleeping or drunk or otherwise incapacitated.

 

[The Governor]

In my opinion, you're an adult when you have the ability to take care of others because the "adults" in the situation are sleeping or drunk or otherwise incapacitated.

You're delving into a whole 'nother realm there. There have been plenty of kids/teenagers who have been forced to mature early and take care of themselves or their siblings because of bad parents. Mental maturity doesn't mean they're adults, or that they should be treated as such.

If that was the case, I'd of been voting, going to strip clubs, drinking, smoking, etc by the age of 14.

 

[Jake]

In my opinion, you're an adult when you have the ability to take care of others because the "adults" in the situation are sleeping or drunk or otherwise incapacitated.

You're delving into a whole 'nother realm there. There have been plenty of kids/teenagers who have been forced to mature early and take care of themselves or their siblings because of bad parents. Mental maturity doesn't mean they're adults, or that they should be treated as such.

If that was the case, I'd of been voting, going to strip clubs, drinking, smoking, etc by the age of 14.

Same, but the title didn't necessarily show the type of maturity, so I thought I'd throw it in.

Why do you think having a mental maturity shouldn't have them treated as such? (I don't condone drinking or smoking, but they should still be treated as an adult.)

 

[The Governor]

In my opinion, you're an adult when you have the ability to take care of others because the "adults" in the situation are sleeping or drunk or otherwise incapacitated.

You're delving into a whole 'nother realm there. There have been plenty of kids/teenagers who have been forced to mature early and take care of themselves or their siblings because of bad parents. Mental maturity doesn't mean they're adults, or that they should be treated as such.

If that was the case, I'd of been voting, going to strip clubs, drinking, smoking, etc by the age of 14.

Same, but the title didn't necessarily show the type of maturity, so I thought I'd throw it in.

Why do you think having a mental maturity shouldn't have them treated as such? (I don't condone drinking or smoking, but they should still be treated as an adult.)

Smoking and drinking were mainly just examples since they are adult things. I'm pretty strict on age. If someone is under 18, I don't care how mature they are, they're still legally a kid. In reality, it doesn't matter how mature a kid is. They still won't be able to do anything adults can simply because of the law.

 

[Atrox]

Well I thought that in society at the age of 18 you are considered as a "Young Adult". 😛

 

[Jake]

In my opinion, you're an adult when you have the ability to take care of others because the "adults" in the situation are sleeping or drunk or otherwise incapacitated.

You're delving into a whole 'nother realm there. There have been plenty of kids/teenagers who have been forced to mature early and take care of themselves or their siblings because of bad parents. Mental maturity doesn't mean they're adults, or that they should be treated as such.

If that was the case, I'd of been voting, going to strip clubs, drinking, smoking, etc by the age of 14.

Same, but the title didn't necessarily show the type of maturity, so I thought I'd throw it in.

Why do you think having a mental maturity shouldn't have them treated as such? (I don't condone drinking or smoking, but they should still be treated as an adult.)

Smoking and drinking were mainly just examples since they are adult things. I'm pretty strict on age. If someone is under 18, I don't care how mature they are, they're still legally a kid. In reality, it doesn't matter how mature a kid is. They still won't be able to do anything adults can simply because of the law.

Fair enough, but removing the law from the situation, do you believe that maturity can constitute a certain adulthood? Remember 18 isn't the age of majority in some countries (it still goes down to 15 in some places (maybe lower in others?))

 

[Joshua Farrell]

Well I thought that in society at the age of 18 you are considered as a "Young Adult". 😛

In my mind, a "Young Adult" is between the ages of 18-30. Anyone else that is older than that fits into the category of being an adult who is in the midst of raising children that is getting around the age of being a teen.

So by then, atleast I hope that the person no longer has the teen mentality. Though I have seen some adults who are 30 and older who acts as a teenager, in dress or the way they act.

 

[Nebulous]

age 21

So, when I was 19 years old and I had a full time job, a new born baby and my own apartment, I was not an adult? I sure felt like one. 😛

 

[The Governor]

In my opinion, you're an adult when you have the ability to take care of others because the "adults" in the situation are sleeping or drunk or otherwise incapacitated.

You're delving into a whole 'nother realm there. There have been plenty of kids/teenagers who have been forced to mature early and take care of themselves or their siblings because of bad parents. Mental maturity doesn't mean they're adults, or that they should be treated as such.

If that was the case, I'd of been voting, going to strip clubs, drinking, smoking, etc by the age of 14.

Same, but the title didn't necessarily show the type of maturity, so I thought I'd throw it in.

Why do you think having a mental maturity shouldn't have them treated as such? (I don't condone drinking or smoking, but they should still be treated as an adult.)

Smoking and drinking were mainly just examples since they are adult things. I'm pretty strict on age. If someone is under 18, I don't care how mature they are, they're still legally a kid. In reality, it doesn't matter how mature a kid is. They still won't be able to do anything adults can simply because of the law.

Fair enough, but removing the law from the situation, do you believe that maturity can constitute a certain adulthood? Remember 18 isn't the age of majority in some countries (it still goes down to 15 in some places (maybe lower in others?))

No. Even if the law is removed, if you're under 18, you're still a kid regardless of the situation.

 

[Jake]

In my opinion, you're an adult when you have the ability to take care of others because the "adults" in the situation are sleeping or drunk or otherwise incapacitated.

You're delving into a whole 'nother realm there. There have been plenty of kids/teenagers who have been forced to mature early and take care of themselves or their siblings because of bad parents. Mental maturity doesn't mean they're adults, or that they should be treated as such.

If that was the case, I'd of been voting, going to strip clubs, drinking, smoking, etc by the age of 14.

Same, but the title didn't necessarily show the type of maturity, so I thought I'd throw it in.

Why do you think having a mental maturity shouldn't have them treated as such? (I don't condone drinking or smoking, but they should still be treated as an adult.)

Smoking and drinking were mainly just examples since they are adult things. I'm pretty strict on age. If someone is under 18, I don't care how mature they are, they're still legally a kid. In reality, it doesn't matter how mature a kid is. They still won't be able to do anything adults can simply because of the law.

Fair enough, but removing the law from the situation, do you believe that maturity can constitute a certain adulthood? Remember 18 isn't the age of majority in some countries (it still goes down to 15 in some places (maybe lower in others?))

No. Even if the law is removed, if you're under 18, you're still a kid regardless of the situation.

In the US and other countries where that's enforced.

I, however, respectfully disagree with you.

 

[matt1wt]

When you stop growing

 

[Yoda]

I think it depends on the maturity of a person on whether they could be classed as an 'adult' because nowadays age really is just a number! I've seen more mature 16 year olds than 30 year olds.

 

[The Governor]

I think it depends on the maturity of a person on whether they could be classed as an 'adult' because nowadays age really is just a number! I've seen more mature 16 year olds than 30 year olds.

The thing is, it really doesn't matter how mature they are. Legally, they are still a child. Legally, they won't be able to do anything an adult can, even if they were to be smarter than their own parents.

 

[Yoda]

I think it depends on the maturity of a person on whether they could be classed as an 'adult' because nowadays age really is just a number! I've seen more mature 16 year olds than 30 year olds.

The thing is, it really doesn't matter how mature they are. Legally, they are still a child. Legally, they won't be able to do anything an adult can, even if they were to be smarter than their own parents.

This is true and I'm not disputing that, just like a 30 year old is an adult whether they like it or not, but some people just act like children all their life!

 

[The Governor]

but some people just act like children all their life!

I actually used to have a friend who was like that. He continued to act like a 13 year old despite being in his 30s. He refused to get a job, refused to do anything or have responsibility. Last I heard, he still lived with his parents.

 

[Yoda]

Ok. That's bad! How could you have no life aspirations or even want to live with your parents when you are 30!!

 

[The Governor]

Ok. That's bad! How could you have no life aspirations or even want to live with your parents when you are 30!!

No idea. He doesn't have any mental problems, he's just stuck in the "I want to be a kid forever" mind set.