[Chancellor Palpatine]

The reality of it is that up until the start of the 20th century, girls who were 14 and 15 were getting married, and using their learned household skills to plant gardens, prepare meals, keep house and care for their children - frequently in the homes of their parents.

Somewhere along the way, some people decided to impede that natural maturation process by valuing academic pursuits above and beyond apprenticeship for boys and girls - and we wound up with the 20th century's model of how teens were raised, and in how to deal with the glut of leisure time due to technology.

Its never perfect, and frankly, it doesn't make these girls evil, or sluts, or whatever pejorative we can come up with to describe them.

[TaxRelief]

Did anyone see the show on TV last night bashing the Traveler's tradition of arranged marriages? Was it on CSI?

[JmyBryan]

Cogent and pithy!

[GraniteStateConservative]

We are mammals, and girls and boys during puberty have bodies and minds that react much the same way that other mammals' bodies and minds react during puberty. As you said, ages ago, teenagers acted as adults. Hell, look at the founding fathers. John Quincy Adams was serving as a secretary and translator to the first US ambassador to Russia at age 14.

[KantianBurke]

I never said they were evil or sluts. Quit putting words in my mouth. Besides my point was simply how sad it was that kids aren't allowed to have much innocence anymore be it due to TV, school or parental influence.

[Nowhere Man]

The reality of it is that up until the start of the 20th century, girls who were 14 and 15 were getting married, and using their learned household skills to plant gardens, prepare meals, keep house and care for their children - frequently in the homes of their parents.

Somewhere along the way, some people decided to impede that natural maturation process by valuing academic pursuits above and beyond apprenticeship for boys and girls - and we wound up with the 20th century's model of how teens were raised, and in how to deal with the glut of leisure time due to technology.

Sometimes, I wonder if we are better off socially today than we were then. Yeah the high-tech and medicine are excellent today, I'd never trade them in but it seems socially we were on a better level 100 years ago. I don't know, I guess in some ways you can call me a "Neo-Victorian." B-) I know "hanky-panky" has been going on since day-one and still would go on, but deep down, I'm not really shocked by these stories anymore, but it really depresses me.

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Its never perfect, and frankly, it doesn't make these girls evil, or sluts, or whatever pejorative we can come up with to describe them.

I just wonder if there are any perjoratives to describe the boys. ; )

But seriously, are there? (I'm not asking 'cause I want to use them. I'm just asking 'cause I can't think of one.) Most people who read this will probably think the girls are "sluts", but they'll be "concerned" about the boys, I'm guessing.

[Yeti]

Its never perfect, and frankly, it doesn't make these girls evil, or sluts, or whatever pejorative

I see your point. They're just "adapted."