[Gay State Conservative]

She should have been forced to sit home by the fireplace and read the bible until mama could finally stomach cutting the cord and letting her precious baby take a risk.

So those are the only options open to the typical American 16 year old? Sit by the fireplace and read the Bible or circumnavigate the earth...ALONE? How about a first date and taking driving lessons as acceptable risks for such kids.

[Thurston_Howell_III]

We should be delighted theres still Americans being born with backbone instead of hiding under mama’s skirt and shirking outside play to instead sit at the computer and play “world of warcraft.”

[Vendome]

I was cutting wood and topping trees at 14.

For the uninitiated, topping trees requires climbing to a point where the tree will be well... topped.

Secure yourself in and get to work with a chainsaw 30-50+ above ground.

And the reason you top it is because there is not enough room for the tree to fall, which is even more dangerous.

[Vendome]

Ooops, meant for Thurston Howell to be included.

I was cutting wood and topping trees at 14.

For the uninitiated, topping trees requires climbing to a point where the tree will be well... topped.

Secure yourself in and get to work with a chainsaw 30-50+ above ground.

And the reason you top it is because there is not enough room for the tree to fall, which is even more dangerous.

[sam_paine]

How about a first date and taking driving lessons as acceptable risks for such kids.

In 2008, 60 percent of deaths among passenger vehicle occupants ages 16-19 were drivers.

Passenger vehicle teenage occupant deaths by age and seating position, 2008
Age	Driver		Passenger		Total*
	Num	%	Num	%	Num
13	3	5	56	95	59
14	10	8	110	92	120
15	34	17	162	83	196
16	230	50	229	50	460
17	347	54	294	46	645
18	590	64	332	36	928
19	577	67	281	33	861
Total	1,791	55	1,464	45	3,269
*Total includes other and/or unknowns