[Stepan12]

Isn't that partially due to the idea of public schools? I know one psychologist, much hated by the homosexual activists, who states that adolescence is an arbitrary and useless concept.

In the olden days, people older than 14 or 14 were adults and got married.

Isaac Newton invented calculus at age 20.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

Well, there has been some discussion that in the US, people postpone transisitoning to adulthood by going to college. If you consider the ages of those who founded the country, you might be on to something. As johnny7 says, America is full of Peter Pan want to be’s. But check out part two where Diana takes Bush to task for backing away from the word “crusade”.

[Wuli]

Some of the problems are:

1. Children are too often denied opportunities for real responsibilities - work - even to a very late “teenage”. In that respect they are treated like infants, babies long after being productive could have already been instilled in them.

2. But when it comes to sexual morality, children are sexualized throughout the advertising, TV, print and film media at younger and younger ages - sexualized toward situations they have neither the mental or emotional maturity to handle. In that respect they are treated like “adults”; when they in fact are not.

So, what is a sexualized adult with no sense of personal responsibility - a narcissist.

[Yardstick]

Isaac Newton invented calculus at age 20.

Seems like some of our Founding Fathers were only in their thirties -- Thomas Jefferson for one.

[ReignOfError]

Isn't that partially due to the idea of public schools? I know one psychologist, much hated by the homosexual activists, who states that adolescence is an arbitrary and useless concept.

I don't get the connection. I would think that at least some homosexual activists -- the ones in NAMBLA -- would embrace that position.

I wouldn't state in broad terms that it's an "arbitrary and useless concept." A six-year-old should not be engaged in sexual activity, driving a car, buying liquor, working full time or signing contracts. Puberty happens, and children gain maturity and wisdom with time.

The ages -- age of consent, 16 to drive, 18 for most definitions of adulthood, 21 to drink -- are wholly arbitrary. There re certainly some 16-year-olds who are more mature and ready for responsibility than some 26-year-olds. But when it becomes a matter of law, there needs to be a clear enough line that folks can understand the law and obey it.

In the olden days, people older than 14 or 14 were adults and got married.

And children under 6 worked in sweatshops and were basically bought and sold; sexual exploitation of children was rarely if ever reported; most people were illiterate; and the life expectancy was about 30.

[xc1427]

Adolescence is a very useful concept; however, the span of time from commencement to fulfillment is arbitrary. Simply put, it takes too long!!!