Thread: Being under 18 shouldn't make you a slave

In the US, we have an age of majority/consent of 18, under this and your human rights are severely limited.

Why should anyone be forced to live with someone else and basically be their parents property? If a child or a teenager wants to be economically self sufficient, why shouldn't they have the right to? You can't give people rights based on their age, everyone matures differently.

This wouldn't be taking away parents rights either, if a child wants to live and be supported by their parents or guardians, he or she has to follow their rules. You don't need a law for that, it's just common sense. Not everyone wants to do that, people of any age should be able to go look for work, have sex, and make decisions like everybody else.

Before you go saying, well then a five year old is going to run away and work in a factory, use a little common sense. Children don't stay with their parents because their is a law saying they have to, many kids run away in spite of the law. It's the need for economic support that keeps them under their parent's rule.

The same can be said about anyone, if you want to live somewhere and be financially supported, you'll have to follow the rules of the person supporting you; no laws needed, it just is.

Originally Posted by Sonofodin

In the US, we have an age of majority/consent of 18, under this and your human rights are severely limited.

Why should anyone be forced to live with someone else and basically be their parents property? If a child or a teenager wants to be economically self sufficient, why shouldn't they have the right to? You can't give people rights based on their age, everyone matures differently.

Have yourself emancipated. The thing is, observations have shown us that most under 18 yr olds do not have the mental capacity to do such a thing.

Originally Posted by Sonofodin

This wouldn't be taking away parents rights either, if a child wants to live and be supported by their parents or guardians, he or she has to follow their rules. You don't need a law for that, it's just common sense. Not everyone wants to do that, people of any age should be able to go look for work, have sex, and make decisions like everybody else.

Before you go saying, well then a five year old is going to run away and work in a factory, use a little common sense. Children don't stay with their parents because their is a law saying they have to, many kids run away in spite of the law. It's the need for economic support that keeps them under their parent's rule.

The same can be said about anyone, if you want to live somewhere and be financially supported, you'll have to follow the rules of the person supporting you; no laws needed, it just is.

If you believe all that have yourself emancipated as a minor. Contact somebody with family services, etc., and see what they can do. The thing is, it's hard for the typical 16 yr old to get a job that will allow them to be economically self sufficient.

Originally Posted by perdidochas

Have yourself emancipated. The thing is, observations have shown us that most under 18 yr olds do not have the mental capacity to do such a thing

What observations? What are you basing this on? IQ? What?

Originally Posted by perdidochas

If you believe all that have yourself emancipated as a minor. Contact somebody with family services, etc., and see what they can do. The thing is, it's hard for the typical 16 yr old to get a job that will allow them to be economically self sufficient.

Firstly, you shouldn't have to get permission from someone else to have basic human rights.

Secondly, getting emancipated isn't easy and you need your parents permission.

Third, it's harder for a child to get a job because of the laws in place. Child labor laws, make it much more difficult for a child to get a job, only some places hire you at 16 or so. Most places only hire workers 18 and up.

Originally Posted by Sonofodin

What observations? What are you basing this on? IQ? What?

People have been watching people for history. Those observations make us realize that the great majority of under 18 yr olds do not have the capacity to care for themselves. We also look back at our own lives, and realize how unready for life we were at 18.

Originally Posted by Sonofodin

Firstly, you shouldn't have to get permission from someone else to have basic human rights.

Secondly, getting emancipated isn't easy and you need your parents permission.

Not easy, but it doesn't need parental permission.

Originally Posted by Sonofodin

Third, it's harder for a child to get a job because of the laws in place. Child labor laws, make it much more difficult for a child to get a job, only some places hire you at 16 or so. Most places only hire workers 18 and up.

I wouldn't hire an under 18 yr old for some things. It is the right of a company to hire who they want.


The other side to this is that your parents are slaves to you. They are required to provide you with food, shelter, healthcare, etc. It's a two way street.

So what's the problem? Tired of curfews, or that your parents have taken porn off the internet?

Originally Posted by perdidochas

People have been watching people for history. Those observations make us realize that the great majority of under 18 yr olds do not have the capacity to care for themselves. We also look back at our own lives, and realize how unready for life we were at 18.

Where are you getting this from? You're just making sweeping generalizations about a population of people without anything to back it up. Who is we? Everyone isn't the same, maybe you weren't ready but some people might be.

Originally Posted by perdidochas

Not easy, but it doesn't need parental permission.

You're wrong. In New Jersey, without a parents permission and a means of supporting yourself, you cannot be emancipated.

Originally Posted by perdidochas

I wouldn't hire an under 18 yr old for some things. It is the right of a company to hire who they want.

I agree, but when their are laws in place barring a company from hiring whoever they want(ie: people considered children) it makes it harder for children to find jobs.

Originally Posted by perdidochas

The other side to this is that your parents are slaves to you. They are required to provide you with food, shelter, healthcare, etc. It's a two way street.

You're missing the point, they are only slaves because they want to be. The mother chose to have a child or made choices that led to the child being born, it isn't the same thing.

Originally Posted by perdidochas

So what's the problem? Tired of curfews, or that your parents have taken porn off the internet?

First of all, I'm not a minor, so stop trying to attack my character and just address the points of the discussion.

Someone obviously isn't clear on the concept of slavery. Maturity is not synomymous with whining for men.

Originally Posted by Sonofodin

Where are you getting this from? You're just making sweeping generalizations about a population of people without anything to back it up. Who is we? Everyone isn't the same, maybe you weren't ready but some people might be.

Very few.

Originally Posted by Sonofodin

You're wrong. In New Jersey, without a parents permission and a means of supporting yourself, you cannot be emancipated.

States differ. The means of supporting yourself makes sense, though.

Originally Posted by Sonofodin

I agree, but when their are laws in place barring a company from hiring whoever they want(ie: people considered children) it makes it harder for children to find jobs.


You're missing the point, they are only slaves because they want to be. The mother chose to have a child or made choices that led to the child being born, it isn't the same thing.



First of all, I'm not a minor, so stop trying to attack my character and just address the points of the discussion.

Well, your post reads like a typical high school student who doesn't like his curfew.

Regardless, most Western societies have decided that around 18 is the demarcation between childhood dependence and adulthood. There is a reason for that--18 is the age at which most people are minimally capable of adult decisions. yes, there are some people that can do that at 14, and there are others not capable at 40. 18 is a pretty good guess for when most are capable. Again, it's not just the U.S., but most of the Western World.

In Texas, the age of consent is 17. You can quit school, move outta your parents home, live under a bridge and basically screw up the rest of your life if you're so inclined.

Enough kids actually take that route that I believe the legal age should be 21... maybe even 25.

Originally Posted by perdidochas

Well, your post reads like a typical high school student who doesn't like his curfew.

Well, the constant ad hominem attacks make you sound like an ass, knock it off.

Originally Posted by perdidochas

Regardless, most Western societies have decided that around 18 is the demarcation between childhood dependence and adulthood. There is a reason for that--18 is the age at which most people are minimally capable of adult decisions. yes, there are some people that can do that at 14, and there are others not capable at 40. 18 is a pretty good guess for when most are capable. Again, it's not just the U.S., but most of the Western World.

I'm aware that they have made that the age.

The point is, you have no right to tell someone else when they're capable of "adulthood". Maybe I should have the right to put you up for adoption if I deem you unfit to be an adult, would you think that's okay?

Originally Posted by Sonofodin

I'm aware that they have made that the age.

The point is, you have no right to tell someone else when they're capable of "adulthood". Maybe I should have the right to put you up for adoption if I deem you unfit to be an adult, would you think that's okay?

I don't, but the government and society does have that right. I do agree with you that this isn't a perfect way to do it. There is no perfect way to do it. Western society has pretty much agreed that 18 is adulthood. It's a pretty good guess for the majority of people. This is a spectrum argument. On one end of the developmental spectrum, a 3 yr old can definitely not go out on their own. I would say the same up to about 9 or 10. After that, it gets arbitrary. I've met 11 yr olds who could survive on their own. I've met 11 yr olds (intelligent ones at that) who could barely tie their shoes. So, what is your suggestion? Do we throw all age criteria out, and allow 3 yr old runaways to move out on their own? How about 10 yr olds?

Also, based on common law from probably the 1400s on, I do have the right to determine that with my two sons (aka the slaves). I can make them get up in the morning. I can tell them when to go to bed at night. I can make them take out the garbage. I can feed them brussel sprouts for dinner. It's the only practical way to do it. They don't have the skills or abilities to live on their own. Hence, they haven't earned the right to do so. Now, will this change somewhat over the years? Yes, when they are 18 they can refuse to do the above. However, at that point, they will be booted out of the house with the clothes on their back, and whatever they have gotten as presents or have earned with their own money.