Theoretically, do you think of 18 year old's as babies? We've all heard very grown adults referring to an 18 or 19 year old as being "just a baby." Is that how you view people that age? Do you consider them adults, or still just kids?

Nah. Try 'em as adults.

It depends on the individuals and how mature they are. I know some 18 year old's that might as well be 35. I know 22 year old's who still look and act 15. Not everyone matures are the same rate. There is no magical number at which someone goes from being a child to an adult. Chronological age is largely irrelevant! Genetics, personality, and personal experiences all combine to determine the individual's level of maturity.

I think they are still teenagers. Not a whole lot different than those teenages who are not yet legally adults.

captainbryce wrote:

It depends on the individuals and how mature they are. I know some 18 year old's that might as well be 35. I know 22 year old's who still look and act 15. Not everyone matures are the same rate. There is no magical number at which someone goes from being a child to an adult. Chronological age is largely irrelevant! Genetics, personality, and personal experiences all combine to determine the individual's level of maturity.

Unfortunately, none of that reality matters with "legal age." Back when I was 18 there was the draft and I had a card with 1A on it. Legally I was too young to buy booze but old enuf to be sent to war (and there were boys were being sent to war).

I went into the air force at 18 and did alright as a man. But here is a secret. At night in basic training in the large open bay barracks you could here some of these men crying in the dark.

Depends on what the situation is when I was say it. An 18 year old who murdered someone isn't a "baby." But an 18 year old with no hope for the future or who passed away is.

In terms of dating, YES!

Basically.
What does the average 18 year old know about life? By and large, the common kid that age hasn't yet carved out their niche, has little to no independence and still depends heavily on his parents.

I'd give an 18 year old a break I suppose, but if they aren't an adult by 20 they probably will never be.

In theory, I kind of do. Yeah.

I think 18 of today is much younger and more "babyish" than 18 of 50yrs ago. Our laws are discriminatory against them, and society does not consider them responsible. You must be 25yrs old to rent a room, 26 to qualify for college financial aid without submitting your parent's income (regardless of whether they are helping you pay for school or not), 21 to rent a hotel room (i found this out today), 21 to drink, and in the state of NJ... if you are an unmarried male, you will most likely pay $4000 per year for car insurance until your 26th birthday (much more if you have tickets).

BUT ---- as shale pointed out-- they only have to be 18 to go die for our country. Since there is no draft anymore, that is not exactly on the forefront of most 18yr old's minds either (as it was in previous generations).

I personally do not think anyone should marry or have a child until they are 30. By that time, they have grown up, hopefully had the chance to educate themselves and see some of the world. To discover their likes/dislikes.

captainbryce wrote:

It depends on the individuals and how mature they are. I know some 18 year old's that might as well be 35. I know 22 year old's who still look and act 15. Not everyone matures are the same rate. There is no magical number at which someone goes from being a child to an adult. Chronological age is largely irrelevant! Genetics, personality, and personal experiences all combine to determine the individual's level of maturity.

I agree with this. When my son was 18 he was still my baby boy, but in reality he was man. He was much more mature than my 18 year old nephew is now, so I agree, it depends on the individual.

wants2laugh wrote:

I personally do not think anyone should marry or have a child until they are 30. By that time, they have grown up, hopefully had the chance to educate themselves and see some of the world. To discover their likes/dislikes.

By the time my husband and I were 25 we had 4 kids. By 30 the oldest was nearly a teenager. Believe me to deal with teenagers one needs to be at their peak. We were 17 and 19 when we got married in 1957, we are still married , however the only regret and it turned out to be not as important as it might have seemed was that the kids started arriving so soon that he never got the education he wanted. I never had to work while the kids were at home, so while we didn't get rich we didn't lack for necessities. I don't suggest that 17 year olds today get married, frankly they have been babied so long that they aren't old enough, but for gawd's sake one hopes by 20 they are! Then again the divorce rates suggest that people are never old enough.

Technically they are full grown adults but today's 18 year olds might as well be 12 year olds.

I recognize that it's not supposed to be taken literally so in keeping with that, I can co-sign the figurative. 18 year olds are babies or kids.