At 16
You can have a full time job if you have officially left school. You need to remember that you can't work full time until the last Friday in June - even if you have turned 16 before this.
You can live independently, subject to certain conditions being met.
You can get married with your parents' or guardians' consent.
You can ride a moped of up to 50ccs.
You can pilot a glider.
You must be 16 before you can legally have sex, whether that's with someone of the same sex or opposite sex.
You can have an abortion without your parents consent.
A boy can join the armed forces with his parents' or carers' consent.
You can apply for your own passport.
You can have beer or cider whilst eating a meal in a restaurant or an eating area of a pub, but not in the bar.
At 17
You can hold a licence to drive most vehicles.
You can pilot a plane.
You can emigrate.
A care order can no longer be made on you.
At 18
You are legally seen as an adult in the eyes of the law.
You can vote in general and local elections.
You can get married.
You can buy cigarettes and tobacco.
You can open a bank account in your name without a parent or carer's signature.
You can buy and drink alcohol in a bar.
You can ask to see your birth certificate if you are adopted.
You can change your name.
You can be called to serve on a jury.
You can sue or be sued.
You can make a will.
You can place a bet.
You can have a tattoo.
You can buy fireworks and sparklers.
You can't drink here at 18. Have to be 21.
Here's a good sticky as well. You can fight in the US for your country but can't buy a drink at 18.
I think politicians are hypocrits.
and at 17 girls can join the army with parents consent. (in the UK). Which is also stupid boys can be 16 and girls have to be 17....
but yeah I don't get it. If people can be having sex and therefore children legally at 16, then why not be able to view adult sites.....?
Well, guys, I agree with Nicola on this one. One example happend to me the other day, no joke. My best friend (16) is being charged as adult in court for a crime. But me, (this is why I won't be here for another year after this) 17, a minor, cannot be around my best friend in the court because of his bail restrictions. Anyways, Ta Ta For Now folks! I'll be back in one year!
Actually Nic in the USA you can get a limited drivers license at 16, at least where i live. Because you can take driver's ed at 14 and 1/2 then get your permit when immediately afterward (or when you're 15 I forget). Then after ayear of having a permit you can take the test for a limited license.
Forget who you thought I was, I'm The Chris J bitch!
Defending the driver’s age is the easiest one to do. Statically the younger age drivers pose the highest risk group on the road. Since insurance is required on every vehicle driven on public roads, they become the greatest risk in the insurance pool. Every digression they get involved in we all pay; it is figured into our rates.
Drinking is also factored in, again statistically. The younger less experienced driver group has the highest alcohol. Related fatality percentages. We tried lowering the drinking age at one point to 18 and alcohol related incidents increased in that age group.
Ie don’t drink and drive. It is hoped at age 21, the younger drivers are now more mature and more experienced.
So what is so magical about the age of 18?
Well for most they are attending high school graduation parties and receiving a diploma.
Hopefully they have been educated to a point, to have learned a maturity level and join society. In USA they are required to pass US history, giving them a basic understanding how government works and the knowledge to vote, also to joint the military services
The emphasis here, is to have all successfully graduate. The system is not designed to accommodate high school dropouts, but to encourage them to stay in school mature and continue their education.
Note the reoccurring theme here, 18 equates to the educational requirements to make mature decisions. The premises at 18, they will make wise choices concerning pornography as well. Also a smarter approach to family planning and safe sex..
Again in this computer age, there is staticall data, that points to the age of 18 as being more mature to make decisions that blend into societies way of thinking, Than those of younger ages
In reality who determines this magical age? We all do. We vote or appoint the people that pass these laws. If the laws are unjust, there is a process to amend them. Or to vote or not to vote, the representatives that approve them.
How does this apply to lush?
I believe Lush’s servers are located in USA in TX, Therefore they have to abide by the current pornographic laws of TX and USA. They have to include the 18year old content disclaimer statement and adhere to enforcement as such
We can debate whether it is right and wrong for ages, as it has been done. I’m not debating it, but trying to provide background and the ideology behind it
Well reasoned, Pam. Aside from the moral issues, Lush certainly needs to protect itself legally, or no one will benefit.
About the drinking and driving ages (even though this was not exactly the initial subject here) - here in Israel, kids can drive at 17, and drink beer (not hard liquor) at 18. They are also drafted at 18, and serve for a minimum of three years (two for women). The worst road accidents occur after midnite on weekends, generally boys home on weekend leave, driving way too fast after drinking too much beer. It is a serious problem.
You can argue the merits of handing an 18 year old a gun, although this does NOT seem to be a significant problem - the army successfully manages to inculcate in them the necessary training for safe handling of weapons and there are few accidents or incidents of misuse. Drinking and driving, however, seems to be another story, despite all the efforts to educate.
Pornography does not kill. But the combination of alcohol and automobiles certainly does. As far as allowing under-18 kids free reign at a site like this - I have my hesitations as well. There are some truly nice people here, but there is also plenty of opportunity for misuse.
