I agree with you. They were letting this guy live in their home and “sleep” with their daughter. If they were letting her marry him that would be different. Although I wouldn’t approve of that either.
“Although I wouldn’t approve of that either.”
Eggzackly. And why wouldn’t you approve of letting her marry him at 15? Because (tell me if I’m wrong), you figure that at 15, esp. with a 21-year old, she’s probably not really making a level-headed, mature decision. But we know, instinctively, that marriage is a major decision, one not to be taken lightly, one that requires maturity.
But screwing each other? No big deal. Nothing to see here. No consequences—they can screw for a while than split up and then come back and screw some more and who cars? No legal consequences, no financial consequences, no social consequences. Paradise for the young man.
Of course there are moral, pyschological and other consequences for screwing around outside of marriage, but our society claims they don’t exist, that marriage is just a piece of paper.
So, precisely because marriage really meant something back when the grandparents and aunts and cousins mentioned upthread got married at age 13 or 15, it was scrutinized carefully and marriage that young was the exception, not the norm.
Now screwing is normal from age 7 onward and who cares? Just having fun. Nothing more.
Ain’t it wunnerful?