[Fiji Hill]

It bemuses me that George Zimmerman’s detractors keep referring to Trayvon Martin as a “child.” He was 17—old enough to join the Armed Forces.

When I was seventeen, I graduated from high school and was accepted into college. In those days, no one referred to 17-year-olds as children.

[BOBWADE]

Government bean counters will statistically tally trademark as a child lost to gun violence instead of tallying George as a victim saved from a violent death.

[Kaslin]

A 4 year old is a child, so is a 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 year old, but a 17 year old is not a child.

Also a 10 year old and up should know right from wrong. Perhaps even a 7 or 8 year old.

[oh8eleven]

In those days, no one referred to 17-year-olds as children.
Today, 26 year olds are referred to as children so they can be included on mommy and daddy's health insurance.

[SoCal Pubbie]

For the first two months of college I was still 17. I turned 18 as a Freshman.

[The_Reader_David]

Unfortunately that’s how a lot of folks think (or rather don’t): everyone’s a child until the magical day when they’ve been breathing outside the womb for 18 years, when suddenly they’re an “adult” (well, except as regards drinking alcohol).