Son of Durin
Engaged Member
- Jul 5, 2021
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I don't know how much science/psychology is behind it, but the school aspect of it probably has something to do with it to some degree and life expectancy increases has certainly played a role. Anyone not mature enough to be considered an adult at 21 will never be mature enough to be an adult; people thought I was mature enough in my mid teens. Every human is a little different, but innate intelligence and nurture play a significant role.Well, 18 is, by the way, a totally arbitrary age. I presume it was set in accordance with the school cycles. In the 70's in italy adult age was still 21, just to say. In ancient Rome the age in which a girl could get married away was 12, if i don't recall wrong and even today in Rom culture (romenian nomads) the usually marry at 14.
It's curious how it became some sort of sacred unquestionable legal age in wester world. I, for once, since life expectance grew and dumb kids age stretched quite a lot, i would be in favor of setting it back to 21.
As for age of consent and other things, I know that has had the biggest changes in the last 50ish years. As recently as 1957 Jerry Lee Lewis legally married his 13 year old cousin. It didn't go over well for him career-wise, but it wasn't uncommon to marry that young in certain parts of the US at that time, but it also wasn't exactly encouraged. There are still states where you can marry in your mid-teens with parental consent.