The problem is that in our "post-modern" world we have radically devolved the role of adolescence and basically replaced the ages 13-18 from a responsible transition into adulthood into an extended childhood. Instead of allowing for our young people the opportunity to mature, we intentionally stunt their emotional, psychological, and spiritual growth. We have CREATED this weird teenage phase. Teenagers have the potential to be mature, accountable, progressing young adults, but instead our society and system is designed to coddle them. UNFORTUNATELY THE ONLY TIME WE AFFORD TEENAGERS WITH ADULT OPPORTUNITY IS WHEN WE CONVICT THEM AS ADULTS FOR CRIMES
So in a biological sense, there is indeed not to much distancing 18 to 15, but in the pseudo-teenage world we've created for them, these folks are extended children. However, by 18 folks have been driving, working, paying bills (hopefully), more extended dating, maybe been to a funeral, have explored or applied to a college, been to a wedding more likely, and all kinds of other adult shit. At 15? Not so much. See the experience of the 18 years helps build greater maturity even if they don't want or realize it, and 15 while physically mature is more childish than they know. From my experience, freshman can almost be MORE mature than sophmores, because at 14 they are very eager to LEARN how to be older, and at 15-16 they get that cocky teenage swagger as if they had in that short learn learned it all. Then at 17 they get stressed by the onslaught of increasingly adult experiences and responsibilities so they mellow out, and by 18-19 I expect them to be adults. If they don't ACT like adults, that doesn't change the expectation. At college? It is a joke. ALL those fuckers KNOW better, but again, our society and the system coddles them. I say FUCK IT, make a lot of these fuckers PAY more themselves out the pocket, they will wise up and act their age REAL FUCKING QUICK
