We humans are more or less obsessed with setting age limits on various things. Alcohol. Driving various vehicles. Vote. Carry gun, gambling (if allowed at all), use snuff, smoke, marriage and having sex and the list goes on and on for things we supposedly can't deal with until we have circulated the sun enough number of times.
What we don't know of course is what actually happens in our brains during these circles. We just think we do, but reality is - we have no clue. No clue at all. As a matter of fact, logically - they have no common sense. I explain.DRIVING IS BASED ON A TEST
In Sweden, you need to be 15, 18, 21 to drive small motorcycle, car and large vehicle such as truck or bus respectively.
Now, could a 5 year old drive a truck? I don't know, but most wouldn't. Can a 30 year old drive a bus? I don't know that either. To answer both, we have to test them. Such tests exists, which I think is great. This creates a standard for driving among multiple drivers on the same strip of road, preventing accidents where they for example - drive on the same side of the road.
ALCOHOL IS NOT
Drinking however, is NOT based on a test. We don't even assume they can handle it as millions and millions of alcohol-related "accidents" already happened. The statistics isn't even necessary to indulge- it is THAT obvious (that we can't handle it).
In fact - there is not even a system where we prevent people from drinking again, even if they drink and drive, rape, or even kill someone - during influence. We ignore this.
But what does that has to do with age? It has everything to do with age. Because we connect age and common sense. They don't come together. Each and every thing that has an age restriction should be based on a TEST or be eliminated all together.
People of ALL ages lose their ability to thinking clear with alcohol. Small people can't drink the same volume as larger people, but again - This is not the point - It's like arguing that young people should also have small glasses of water because they can't drink the same amount as an adult.
Alcohol is bad for everyone. But I bet - that if we had a drinking test - we would eliminate most of the people that tends to get aggressive rather than sleepy of alcohol.
SEX
How about sex? If we don't have age restrictions for sex, we promote pedophilia, are we not? No we aren't. Here is why:
First of all, sex is a godsend. We should embrace it. Secondly, it must be based on free will, meaning - that having sex against someones will, is still wrong. It is wrong if the victim is 5, 10 or 100. This is common sense. Putting other words to it doesn't change this. It must be consensual. Like everything. But we can't say a 30 year old can't be together with a 15 year old. One could argue that an older person can subdue or convince or play a younger person to do things that they don't want to do.
Todays wake up call - Anyone can be fooled, disregarding age. In fact, have you tried to force your 5 year old to eat something they don't want to eat? You won't succeed even with the threat of violence and even so, you will get heavy resistance.
This is not really about kids - I don't say - "Hey, we should have start to have sex earlier." No, but what I do say is that it is a personal matter. No rule should limit us. We think we can set limits to nature, but nature doesn't care. It is pointless to fight nature.
A side note: Isn't it interesting how government can argue for the existence of Nuclear Weapons, but care for the sex-age? There simply is no proportions. It's frankly ludicrous.
VOTING
But how about voting, should anyone be able to vote? No, of course not, but not because of age, but of understanding. Voting should be a string of questions, designed to pinpoint your opinions of things. First 5 questions should be a general test of understanding of current society. If you pass the test, you can vote. I'm dead sure, some 60 year olds, wouldn't pass. Voting is not about age, it is about understanding and knowing what direction you want the society to move towards. In general, I don't like the voting system at all. It is plain and simple stupid. So I don't even vote. Why? Politicans can't affect my life more than the dust in my room. And their powers is diminishing as well. Don't bother. But the point is - AGE should not be a limiting factor, because we look at age in the wrong way.
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There is nothing that should have an age restriction. Nothing. It must be looked at in a deeper profound way that exposes what true values we want to promote. Testing is a good example on how to standardize something disregarding age. Age simply is - just a number.
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