[JRandomFreeper]

I question if parents should allow a child to make that decision.

She's old enough to get married in most states. Once upon a time, in a more self-sufficient era, 16 was NOT a child.

/johnny

[DJ MacWoW]

Once upon a time, in a more self-sufficient era, 16 was NOT a child.

That's because their life expectancy in 1850 was 40 years old. The only thing they dreamed of was that their children survived infancy. 16 year olds now can expect to live to 77.7 and sail the world alone on someone elses dime. That's not progress.

[6SJ7]

She's old enough to get married in most states. Once upon a time, in a more self-sufficient era, 16 was NOT a child.

How true. Alexander the Great commanded troops at 16. There were emperors of Rome who assumed power at 16 (unfortunately, one of them was Nero!). The British Navy in the 19th century had young boys serving as officers and enlisted. Many of them joined the Navy at 10 or 12 years of age.