Why can 18-year-olds go to war and vote but still be treated like kids?

[Badtobad]

We send 18 year olds to war and let them vote, yet call them children and little girls and boys.

This society is truly fucked up.

[Zack-Bann]

Going to war 3 years before you’re allowed to drink alcohol is the first sign that something’s off.


But I agree it should be all or nothing.
Either an 18 year old is a child or an adult.
Can’t have it both ways

[strateguy632]

not in u. s. they are not little nor children. adult starts at 18. they are adults not children.

[OlderAndWiser]

Is there a set age at which kids wake up and are suddenly adults with mature judgment?

[Badtobad]

If they can do those things they have to be mature and know what to do

[OlderAndWiser]

No; to go to war, you must be physically fit and know how to follow orders. And that is a purely voluntary activity that is not forced upon anyone.

[Badtobad]

You have to be mentally prepared to be in the army, it's a big decision to make, if you can do that and vote to decide people's future, you are not a child. Anyone claiming so is ridiculous.

[OlderAndWiser]

Maturity is not something that happens to anyone suddenly. It is a process which takes time, and there is a period of transition. That is reality.

[Badtobad]

So? 18 year old is mature enough, if they are mature enough for the army and to vote.

[OlderAndWiser]

Mature enough for what, and why are you so triggered?

[Badtobad]

I am not triggered

Mature enough to be adults

[OlderAndWiser]

Okay. On what date does a child automatically become an adult in all respects?

[Badtobad]

18 because that's what law says

[OlderAndWiser]

1. If you accept "what the law says" as ultimate authority on this subject, then what is the problem?

2. by the way, that is NOT what the law says for all issues.

3. What is the difference between a person who is 18 and one who is 17 years, 364 days old?

[Badtobad]

I put lot of faith in the law. It doesn't make sense but there has to be a boundary

[OlderAndWiser]

So what is the problem?

[Badtobad]

People infantalise adults especially women

[OlderAndWiser]

So you want to force other people to think like you?

[Badtobad]

No just pointing out it's ridiculous

[OlderAndWiser]

There are many things in the world that seem silly to me, but other people feel passionate about those same things. Maybe it's not a matter of somebody is right and somebody is wrong; maybe these are just opinions: nobody is right and nobody is wrong.

[Badtobad]

This is factual though

[OlderAndWiser]

No, it isn't. The only "fact" is that you firmly believe it is absolute truth. However, believing something doesn't make it true and really, really believing something doesn't make it really, really true.

[Badtobad]

Law is fact

[OlderAndWiser]

Law states what rights you have at age 18. Law does not dictate what other people think about you.

[lightbulb27]

seems crazy doesn't it?

Because they are easily controlled, they are high energy and strong and dumb. They will do what they are toled when threatened and they have little power.

It has nothing to do with common sense, don't try to use it. Like... they aren't responsible to drink but are responsible to use a machine gun in combat? Yes... they get trained and disciplined.

That's the problem in our society... lack of training and discipline and consequences.

[Badtobad]

Even worse when people support these boys dating old women then say they are kids. Just ridiculous and shows how people are full of shit

[lightbulb27]

if they date an 18 yr old they are nuts, but there's a lot of nuts out there. I didn't even date anyone under 19 even when I was that age. But other cultures and people have their rules and values. Definitely stay out of Arabia...
There may be a factor where the hormones turn on earlier now due to... environment? People mature physically sooner but not so emotionally or financially.

[Badtobad]

The only reason she would date an 18 year old is because she wants to control him.

They are a sex predator and a potential pedo. No different if they were men.

[lightbulb27]

I've never met one that I know of (that I know of), but I met many controlling females and plenty of desperate ones. There's no escaping the hormonal life reality they face and they can get desperate around those ages. So you may be right. Whats that really mean... we can only have over 60 female teachers in school... the other ones can't control themselves?

Our society is mis-programmed and hormonally disrupted. Time to turn off the junk media and eat a better diet and repair the social structure.
Sadly we won't, so build more prisons, or cheaper, just beat them til they scream they won't do that again.

[Badtobad]

I agree!

[Lliam]

They are kids. 18 year olds are dumb asses. I say that in retrospect from experience.

But what are they not allowed to do besides buy alcohol and tobacco?

If they commit a crime, they are treated as an adult, not a juvenile.

So how are they treated as kids?

[Badtobad]

By people like you. If they are kids, why Is it ok for them to fuck old people?

[Lliam]

I didn't say it wasn't.

When I was16, my first girlfriend was 15. She had been in one, previous, snort-lived relationship and had a pregnancy scares, so she was on the pill when we net. She was also fully physically mature and a really good person.
That was 1970, around the time of Woodstock, when society was in the midst of major changes.

When I turned 18, my other girlfriend wasn't yet 17.

We didn't care about age of consent laws.

I started driving when I was 16 and went on all kinds of trips with my friends.

We used to party with booze and weed.

So yeah, I was 18 once. Mentally, I am still every age I have ever experienced.

And, as far as treating 18 year olds like kids, it cuts both ways. Some young people automatically think they are sooo smart and cool and treat older people like a joke. That is actually kind of funny.

[Badtobad]

So why do people support 18 year old boys dating 40 year old woman if they are kids?

Makes no sense, and it shows people are full of shit

[MicroJ]

I've always wondered why they can join the military, and vote, but they can't drink alcohol, smoke tobacco, vape or use marijuana based products.

[Badtobad]

Exactly or sleep with much older people

[MicroJ]

@badtobad True

[loveslongnails]

What's even MORE fucked up is they're of age to be killed so billionaires can make money under the guise of ´´ a national threat´´, but when they get back home, IF they get back home and they're only 20 years old, they can't legally buy an alcoholic beverage in their country. How fucking stupid is that? It's ok if you die for the USA, but a beer? Forget about it !!!

[exitseven]

Back in the 70s people said that if somebody is old enough to go to Vietnam and get killed he is old enough to buy alcohol So the drinking age was lowered to 18. Suddenly death from car wrecks increased and soon it was raised again to 21.

[Badtobad]

That's only in the USA

[exitseven]

yes, but it really did happen. i guess what also happened was that it was easier for high school kids to get alcohol because many had siblings or friends that were over 18.

[OlderAndWiser]

@exitseven Bingo!

[sage2021]

Because back in the way back days, 18 year olds were a lot more mature back then. Not like now.

The drafted 18 year old young men off to fight the wars.

[Badtobad]

And voting? Girls can go to war too now

[ohsheeT]

Because war only happens to make money and when big business are trying to do something that's is wrong who do want to get rid of so they don't come back and bite you in the ass

Our teen boys

[Just_Ken]

How so? 18 year olds today are deliberately staying kids.

[Badtobad]

Yet they are adults when it suits people

[jahaims]

Because kids at that age are easier to manipulate and we need a military. Young voters are easier to manipulate as well.

[Badtobad]

That's truly horrible and toxic

[slatyb]

Yes, we should not send 18-year-olds to war. We should send the old men who vote for it.

[AgentG111]

Because the wrong people are in office and those who voted them in believe the government is here to help.

[msc545]

I've never heard soldiers being called children except in Western South Africa, in which case they actually might really be children.

[canamlusciouslad73]

As John Goober Mellencamp sang,"Ain't That America !!!"

[_Jenny_]

@badtobad they are legally adults

[Badtobad]

Yet treated like kids, makes no sense

[_Jenny_]

@badtobad I agree

[Paige2006]

Because basically they are

[Badtobad]

So kids go to war and vote? Lol you are crazy