National Youth Rights Association

For your information, and so that you can make an informed decision on this matter, I want to explain to you how mental maturity works. Until age 12 the mind forms thousands of connections. This process is known as proliferation. At age 12 the mind starts to cut many of these connections. This process is known as pruning. Gray matter in the brain is thinned out, while white matter thickens. The white matter is the myelin the insulates axons. It's purpose is to make neural transmissions faster. The brain develops from back to front. The last part of the brain to develop is the prefrontal cortex. This area is where the executive functions such as planning, setting priorities, organizing thoughts, and suppressing impulses, and weighing the consequence of one's actions occur. Since the prefrontal cortex has not yet fully developed, teens rely more heavily on the amygdala (the emotional center of the brain), in processing emotional information. This explains why adolescents often react more impulsively than adults. Hormones also have an effect on emotions. They intensify them. The hormones are activating parts of the brain responsible for sensation seeking, while the parts of the brain responsible for exercising judgment are still developing. This time lapse between the production of hormones and the completion of the prefrontal cortex causes an increased propensity towards taking risks. Mental development is completed at age 20
(Source: Time Magazine 5/10/04- What makes teens tick, P. 56-65)

I say let kids move out and try to wing it on their own at about 14 or so. Some will make it, some will crash and burn. Survival of the fittest.

That is a not a good idea idea. You cannot even get a job or an apartment at that age. Of course your parents can sign the lease and pay for all your expenses, but it seems highly unlikely that any parent would do that. I personally don't think that any 14 year old is not even ready for living independently. Well of course if your 14 and your a child actor or something than living alone is a possibility.
Listen I understand where your coming from. When I was 14 I myself wanted to move out. I got into so many fights with my mother. I decided to move out at that age, but only partially. I lived with my grandma during from Sunday to Friday, and then I went back home for the rest of the week. I wanted to make a complete move, but my mother kept cajoling me into staying with her. So I stuck it out. So from my experiences I know what adolescents are going through at home. I know it can be tough. If anyone out there is having trouble with their family they ought to go for counseling or try to find another family member to stay with.

I think they're advocating a change in those laws, as well.

I think it makes more sense to focus on optional independence at 16 (like they already have in Canada) and stronger emancipation laws for those under 16 who can show they would be better off not living with their family.

What we need is to help those who would choose to live on their own at 16 to learn what it takes to fend for themselves. What would it take for a 16 year old to live on their own?

The first things that come to mind for me are contract law, employement, voting rights, medical decisions, legal status w/ police encounters, and education. Also, if we were to seriously support changes in the laws and other social structures relating to this then we've got to also ask what can be done to promote healthier families and foster systems so that going independent at 16 or pursuing emancipation before then is a choice, not something forced on them.

Revere wrote: First things first. 16 to 17 year olds need to have a voice in our government before any major changes can occur.

On the issue of adolescents living independently:

1. Parents should be able to decide whether or not their children are ready to go it alone.

This is wrong on so many levels.. What about those fucked up abusive parents?

Revere wrote:

2. The ideal age for living independently is 16. That is the age when you can start driving, allowing for more independence

Why not let us drive when we can drive instead of having an age? You have to realise who you're arguing with here. We're against age based restrictions. You can't use them to argue against us.

Revere wrote:

3. It is better for adolescents to live with their parents. Adolescence can be a confusing age, and it is important for teens to have a strong support system that only a family can provide.

Define family. A close group of friends could very well work nicely as a family. A family doesn't have to be a mother father brother and sister that live with you. It may be generally better, but it's a matter of choice.

Revere wrote:

4. If youth live independently they will need various services such as insurance, bank accounts and phone service. They cannot obtain these on their own, because they can not enter into contracts. With services that require contracts, you can have the parent sign for them, so that is not a problem.

See #2

Revere wrote:

The only impediment to youth living independently, that you cannot overcome, is medical care. If you are underage you cannot be seen by a doctor without a parent present. Now I can understand why youth cannot enter into a contract, but not being able to see a doctor by yourself? Come on!

When I was 17, I got into a fight in school. I had a wound on my forehead so I had to go to the hospital. I came into the hospital with my grandma. I went to the desk, and showed them my insurance card. They said that they would not be able to see me until they got permission from one of my parents because I was underage. I had to wait 2-3 hours until they finally got hold of my mother and got permission from her. Now this is absolutely absurd. I don't know what they are afraid of, the possibility of a lawsuit or that the doctor might take advantage of me? Oh my G-d! What kind of world do we live in where a person is considered to young to get medical treatment. I could have bled to death and they wouldn't have given a damn. They would have said sorry, even though you may die, we cannot care for you until we got your parent's consent. Fuck the hospital for being so callous!! Doctors: I hope that one day this happens to one of your kids, so can see how abhorrent this policy is. I should have sued them for what those bastards did. I am a person not property.

My little sister cracked her forehead open and my grandpa had to drive to one hospital where he argued with them for a half an hour because they refused to treat her until my parents (3 hours away) came. He drove an hour and a half away to get her to a hospital that would stitch her up.

On the issue of Maturity:
Maturity is a very important issue. We cannot just allow anyone of any age to do whatever they want. Imagine a society with no age laws. Ten year olds who are not tall enough to see over the dashboard of a car could drive. A fourteen year old who lacks mature judgement could buy a gun and shoot up their school. A twelve year old could drink themselves to death. You see our society needs these laws in order to protect our children and ensure our survival. If society had no age laws, it would not fare well.
I admit that some youth laws are wrong. I know that laws against anyone 18+ are wrong. I know that the curfew laws are unconstitutional. I know that teenage taxation without teenage representation is wrong. I know that our society treats youth unfairly. Though there are some youth restrictions such as the law banning the sale of weapons to children that benefit society. Why would you want a deadly weapon in the hands of someone who may not have enough control, to prevent himself from shooting someone who did wrong to him. Sure an adult may have impulse control problems as well, but usually adults are better at deciding when it is necessary to pull the trigger than a child.
What you all have to understand is that the mind of a twelve year old is different than the mind of a fifteen year old, which differs from that of a twenty year old. Just read the neuroscience article that I wrote. A twenty year olds mind is fully developed, whereas a twelve year old mind has not fully developed. Their judgement is quite different. I am not being ageist by telling you this. That is the truth.

enteroneness

The concept of maturity is null because it endorses the idea that ones behavior….

1. You are absolutely right you do not have to conform to society. You have the right to live your life as you wish.

2. In order to identify criminal behavior, people need to be judged according to a defined set of social norms. In other words, if their were no limits imposed on society, then what you would have is complete anarchy.

Response from XavierAkadafi to statemet #1:
This is wrong on so many levels.. What about those fucked up abusive parents?

My reply:
What I mean is that this is an important decision that needs to be discussed by the family along with a social worker. If there is abuse going on then the child should be able to leave without consulting the parents.

Response from XavierAkadafi to statement #2:
Why not let us drive when we can drive instead of having an age? You have to realise who you're arguing with here. We're against age based restrictions. You can't use them to argue against us.

My reply:
I'm talking about the law as it currently is. Not as you or I would like it to be.

Response from Kev to statement # 3

What about the adolecents who aren't confused and are very responsible, and what about the horney adocelentlike 40 year old men who live in thier parents basement: are they ready to leave? Who can decide how someone else runs thier life?

My Reply:
The forty year old has to be forced out of his home.
You are ultimately in charge of your own life. Whether you are fifteen or fifty, you take responsibility for your own actions.

Response from Xavier Akadafi to statement #4
Why not let us drive when we can drive instead of having an age? You have to realise who you're arguing with here. We're against age based restrictions. You can't use them to argue against us.

My Reply:
I'm talking about the law as it currently is. Not as you or I would like it to be.

Kev:
Originally Posted by Revere
I'm wrong, I admit it

My reply:
I never said that and why would I, so don't go around quoting me on something that I did not say. If you think I'm wrong just tell me how I'm wrong instead of lying about me.

You have to realize your limits when it comes to youth rights issues. You have to be more moderate on age related issues or you'll get no where fast. You can have a stance that all age laws are wrong. You shouldn't act as those advocating gay marriage and force change upon society. You have to more gradual. Right now you should focus on attaining basic civil rights, such as the right to vote. Then we will take it from there.

We're not advocating a change in one law. We're advocating a change in all laws.

Your driving thing.. if a 10 year old can drive, LET HIM! 'Well he can't see over the dash board.' How can you drive without being able to see over the dash board let alone pass a driving test. Oh wait, you can't. Guess what? that eliminated that bullshit.

a 12 year old is not going to drink himself to death. It is NOT going to happen. Stop feeding on madd propaganda.

a 14 year old with a gun isn't necessarily a bad thing, but why not require a license, a permit, and etc. to own a gun?

Your bullshit brain numbers are on average, and I'm just going to shut up because most of what you're saying is bullshit.

Revere wrote:

On alcohol consumption:
You are correct that a 12 year old would probably know their limits. Though people of any age may abuse alcohol and OD on it. The fact is that alcohol has a greater detrimental effect on the developing mind, than on the adult mind. However with the drinking age, it would be enough for them to just lower it to 18.

The effect you're talking about comes from studies based on absurdly large numbers of alchohol consumption. chugging 24 beers a day.

And, yes, I am going to scold you for what you disagree with. Why commend you for the very little you agree with when you insult me with false claims of a false state called immaturity.

I'm advocating no laws that are based on age. Not no law what-so-ever. I'm not saying that we jump directly to that, but that is what we SHOULD get to.

Some proof on your guns?

And, please note that I don't hate you, nor am I angry with you. This is a common theme for people that argue or debate with me to assume I'm hysterical and pissy. I'm not..

I do thank you for supporting the lowered drinking age/voting age/abolished driving age, but you're not gonna slip by on just those.