When is a kid a child - and not an adult?

Biggins

When is a kid a child - and not an adult?

As we have seen by the Scottish train incident where a 19 year old was removed from a train - some refered to him as "a kid", others refered to him (including I) as an adult.

So in general, what is the appropriate age that a kid is no longer just a kid but considered to be a physical adult and treated as such?

I say its 18 approx' onwards. Would anyone agree?

Ponster

> what is the appropriate age...

Do you mean legal age?

Biggins

Ponster wrote: »

> what is the appropriate age...

Do you mean legal age?

No, NOT in regards just to sexual matters.
In general, I'd like to hear others thoughts of when a person should stop being called "a kid" and start being seen as possibly the adult they now are!

MagicMarker

There is no exact age tbh, legally we have to define an age but in reality there are many factors to consider.

Ghandee

Its all to do with maturity.

I know 16 year olds who are more responsible and sensible than 36 year olds.

Snakeblood

Biggins wrote: »

No, NOT in regards just to sexual matters.
In general, I'd like to hear others thoughts of when a person should stop being called "a kid" and start being seen as possibly the adult they now are!

Personally, I think around 20-21. People are ****ing idiots until at least past then. There was a report the other day which said their brains are still developing at that age, which leads to poor risk judgements.

It depends on the age of the person saying it!

jonnyfingers

It's a tough one. Because physically I've seen 13 year olds that are over 6 foot tall and effectively fully grown.

Mentally how do you measure what it is to be an adult? Some people begin work at 15 and seem to be clued into the way the world works. Others seem to have no cop on until they're well into their 20s.

So with all those unknowns I'd have to say on average between 16-18 you become an adult. You should be fairly developed physically and mentally as well as legally being classed as an adult for various activities.

DirtyBollox

in relation to the person in the OP i'd say adult, for me its:

Newborn > 12 is a kid
12 > 18 is a teenager
18+ is an adult.

so a 19 year old is an adult. what defines it for me is that once you hit 18 you are allowed vote and drink and drive and all that shenanigans so you're an adult.

Oranage2

I'd consider somebody an adult when their parents stop supporting them -

Biggins

MagicMarker wrote: »

There is no exact age tbh, legally we have to define an age but in reality there are many factors to consider.

I hear you.
I wouldn't call a 20 year old "a kid" nor a 19 year old, some-however still see 19 year olds as "kids".
Mentally I can accept that some with stupidity in behaviour, that they really have the mentality of a kid still, but in general I think we should start more accepting that once they to reach a certain age, we should stop treating them as such and refer to them as a legal adult instead.

Frankly, when I was 19. if anyone called me "a kid" I'd feel a bit insulted.

Seachmall

I'm 20, I'd still consider myself and my friends kids.

Maturity is the defining factor for me.

Sindri

When the priests get to him.

Sindri

But really legally we all know in the west usually it's 18.

On top of that though girls mature younger than that and boys usually later.

Sindri

.

Immaculate Pasta

65 :cool:

im invisible

If theres grass on the pitch, shes bleedin old enough

Snakeblood

OSI wrote: »

Pretty much once you leave school. If you're old enough to get a job, drink, smoke, have sex etc, you're an adult.

The reason they are allowed do those things is because they're considered an adult. It's a circular argument that they are an adult because they do those things.

Ghandee

In some states in USA its illegal to have a drink of alcohol until you are 21, yet you can join the army, and die for your country at 16?


How does that make sense?

Biggins

Ghandee wrote: »

In some states in USA its illegal to have a drink of alcohol until you are 21, yet you can join the army, and die for your country at 16?

How does that make sense?

To me it doesn't, its screwy!

Your an adult so that they can use you for state wars but your a kid otherwise!
Its a bit hypocritical I feel.

seamus

Someone is "only a kid" when their age is less than or equal to (My current age) - (my current age * 30%)

doyle61

I'm 33 now but when I look back to when I was 18,19 or even 20 I realise that I was only a kid. Ye I was seen as an adult and back then I THOUGHT I was an adult, but let's be real........... I was only a kid trying to be an adult. I think there's a big difference between boys and girls though. Girls are practically adults when their 16 where's us lads well..........
When you think of it though, it's unfair when each and every year society has the big compare off between boys and girls leaving cert results when you look at the difference in maturity levels at that age..........just throwing that in there

Amirani

16 - sure that's when you have to pay adult fares on public transport. Can't understand the sense in that. A 16 year old who is still in school and jobless pays the same as a fully grown adult and far more than an OAP who has a guaranteed pension every week yet has free travel.

In reality it's 18, obviously there will be outliers in terms of mental and physical development but that it probably the correct age.

I think you're an adult when you're given the responsibilities of an adult.. For me, that would be my first job after university. Before that, I still acted like a kid. Of course, legally it's 18 and that's when you get all the benefits of being an adult.

stovelid

The 'kid' in that clip is old enough to suffer the consequences of his actions, whether it's a fine or a clatter or being chucked out on his arse.

End of.

smash

Any jokes about grass on the pitch yet?

Teyla Emmagan

You're an adult in the eyes of the law once you turn 18. At that age you can drink, vote and be tried for murder.

That's clear enough I think?

Black Cow

DirtyBollox wrote: »

in relation to the person in the OP i'd say adult, for me its:

Newborn > 12 is a kid
12 > 18 is a teenager
18+ is an adult.

so a 19 year old is an adult. what defines it for me is that once you hit 18 you are allowed vote and drink and drive and all that shenanigans so you're an adult.

So you define the word "teenager" to be something different than it's actual definition? Nineteen is still a teenager.