Do you think the world is ageist?

Question

I'm not talking about old people, I'm basically talking about anyone under 18 or 21 pretty much.
Especially with the drinking age. At 18 you're appearantly old enough to be an adult, live on your own, join the military, but you're too dumb and immature to have a drink?
And at 18 too, what is it about that age that magically makes everyone responsible, smart, and mature?
Sure there are plenty of ppl at that age who are idiots, but there are plenty of people over 18 who are just as dumb..
Shouldn't what you're allowed to do be a case by case situation?
And anyways people will always find ways to break the rules, think of prohibition, why make something illegal that you can't really stop, and the only thing that it really affects, (since younger people can always get drunk, etc. at parties), is the persons social status.

I just think it's an insult to generalize everyone because of their age.

Ok that was my rant(I'm 17 in less than a week)

what do you personally think?

hey, the drinking age in Germany is like early teens or something, and they haven't gone down the drain =P

Answer 1

yeh i agree. i'm 30 and in a position of authority at my job and i found that if i don't shave (thereby looking much older) i get far more respect out of the people who work for me so there's your proof. it's not fair since i'm the same person whether or not i look my age!

Answer 2

You asked a very good question so I hope you are mature enough and wise enoug not to take answers from an older person personally.

You are now 17 and I am sure you KNOW you are older AND wiser than when you are 15. So, being 21 will give you that extra edge of maturity to deal with life better than 17. Being an adult is governed by culture NOT age. In western culture, certain "rites of passages" are to be met. NO ONE is saying that 18 is "too dumb" or "immature" to drink. But there ae reasons why these laws are made. If you consider the statistics of young peple hurting themselves from alcohol, there are good reasons why they made those laws.

There are some studies that support the theory that the brain does not mature until a person is about 21 years old. That could be a good thing. Older person likely won't be as reckless and take greater risks. I saw this in myself, my brother and all of our friends. Our perpective and view of life changed dramatically when we were about 21 -22 years old.

"case by case" is not going to work. What if you are considered NOT mature enough but your best friend is - you will find that VERY unfair to you!

In Australia, the drinking age is 18, but that does not mean it is all good. If you only see the damage that is done by young people with alcohol. Health problems, social behaviour, car accidents - the statistcs is not good.

And if you lower drinking age - what then? A few years later, the ones JUST below that age will say exactly the same thing as you are now - that it is unfair. The law has to draw the line somewhere.
Please think about it

I am over 40 - been there, done that, seen it - exactly the same as you are saying now. Give yourself a few more years. I am sure you will see it the same way as we (older people) do

Answer 3

Actually we're waiting for you all to grow up and stop acting selfish and silly. Problem is there's always another crop behind you every time you do. lol.

The drinking age used to be 21 in most places but was raised becaused under 21's had the highest rate of deaths (and killings!), so that definately proved something to the rest of us, even if you don't get it.
Under 30's still have the highest deaths and killings from drinking, with or without driving. And it made more sense to allow teens to drive than to drink so the drinking age was raised.
Personally I think the drinking age should be raised to 30 but I'm not having much luck getting that one passed.

Drinking isn't a real good idea anyway. except that kids think its cool. And the last thing we need is even more morose kids hanging around the dance bars, as if the 20-something-year olds weren't bad enough already. lol.

It was Nixon who lowered the voting age to 18 and it was probably another mistake, but lets let that one go. You used to be able to join the army at 14, then 16 but that's gone now too. Now I think its 18. If its any consolation, in the 1800's you could join armys at 12. Or your parents could give you to the army. that went on even seventy years ago.

And the law treats you differently if you commit a crime: As a teen most crimes against property are dismissed with probation or a few weeks in the reformatory, as an adult you get sent to asspounging prison, measured in years. Hope you weren't planning on committing any crimes!

Physiologicly, you don't really become an adult until about 25 or so, that's when your brain chemistry changes and you start interpreting your emotions through your cerebrum instead of your medula as you do now.
That is a very big difference that you won't expect, but you will start changing mentally about that age. In retrospect most people feel they became adults at about 25 or so. It was about 25-26 for me.

By the time you're 27-30 you will have changed completely. For one thing you'll stop argueing with yourself about whether you are an adult or not. lol. Its a slow subtle change but very real.

The fact that you become of legal majority at 21 has less to do with whether you are adult or not, but more to do with praticalities and legalities and statistical norms. That's also why girls can legally marry two years younger then guys in many states.

So you may be insulted, but that's childish since there's nothing you can do about your own physiology except wait it out. The best advice I can give you is to enjoy what you are while you are, because in a few years it will be gone and you'll never get there again.

Well, I'ld like to think that this little talk has helped you some, so please lie to me and tell me that it did. :)

Cheers and good luck.

Answer 4

You have to draw a line at some age.
Do you prefer 21?
Or 30 as it was in old Israel?

I think 18 is ideal.
Finishing school and in the same time in every way giving legal maturity.

Yes, I know that there are people mature enough to be called and admitted that even if they are 16 or 15 (I have met 14 y/o, only once) and I know that there are people of 35 that shouldn't be called mature.

But you have to have age limit somewhere.
It is adopted in most of the countries that under some age person isn't allowed to drink, or buy cigarettes, or watch adult movies in cinema. So, simply accept it.

It is not insult.
Most of the parent wouldn't allowed their kids to drink or get drunk. So, until 18 person is under their authority.

I was often thinking that there should be personal status for speed limits. I so hate to drive 40 when I can handle 70 or 90. But those are regulations.

Nothing that I would say or you would say will change that.

Cheers!

Answer 5

why not legalize murder rape and robbery also since you know we can't stop it anyway lol but seriously i'm young too and i drink here in again and so do a lt of my friends and it his hardly ever responsibly granted you can be any age and still be an idiot and get drunk and act a fool but for the most part your much more responsible at 21 than you are at 18

Answer 6

It would be smart and a good idea to go case by case but when ya talk about millions of people it's just not possible and about the rules yes ya do get a lot that break them but you get some that don't

Answer 7

I know most people are murdered in car accidents by underage drunk drivers.

Answer 8

I think they should treat everyone well regardless of their age.

Answer 9

I feel the same way .




Beer for the children ! Beer for the children ! Beer for the children !

Answer 10

idiots..?