[Bigg Red]

People at the age of 24 simply do not have the life experiences that older folks do.

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That is quite true, but it does not mean that they are incapable of investing themselves in a true, meaningful marriage, with all of that committment that it demands. For our society to tell young people that they are incapable of such honorable behavior is insulting and damaging. Our modern culture actively encourages young people to be juveniles for far too long instead of encouraging them to step up to the plate.

[JamesP81]

Our modern culture actively encourages young people to be juveniles for far too long instead of encouraging them to step up to the plate.

Quite true. The sooner we start expecting adult behavior, the sooner we'll see it.

[misterrob]

I have seen far too many people get married for reasons that are rather immature:

1) Being in love (illusion)

2) Having found my soul mate (another romantic notion)

3) They just complete me (incomplete people don't become whole through marriage)

4) Programming or societal pressure (everyone else is doing it)

There are no do overs in this situation. Young people are most often (not always mind you) not developed enough at an earlier age to do the marriage and parenting thing. There are some that are capable of putting it together emotionally but there are other details around life that have to be accounted for as well.