Old people: Dont be ageist, you shouldnt assume someones abilies based on age!

Also old people: 17 year olds shouldn't have the right to vote, drink, live on their own or have any of the rights of an adult because they having matured mentally yet...

@freemo I will prove my young age by engaging in this futile debate πŸ˜‚

@mjambon Hahaha carry on.

When i was young i was very mature and ahead for my time (Grew up int he ghetto on welfare but by 15 had enough income to rent my own home and move, making 100K at 15).. I always resented how adults, who clearly were sometimes less mature than me and I had my life together more, would try to tell me they had a right to control me because im not old enough yet..

I mean legally true of course, but ever since I was very yougn this felt like an unjustice... As an adult now my views are we shouldnt judge anyone by age, but rather ability, and even children should have autonomy so long as they can prove they are capable.

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@freemo I was mostly joking. If I were to debate these issues, I would make the distinction between situations where equality of rights is essential and others where skill-based permission is preferable.

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@mjambon

That sounds like a lot of work... good thing you arent debating the issue then huh? :)

@freemo well, to simplify things, we can make general assumptions such as "everyone's opinion matters equally until they screw up" (equality of rights, jail) and "there exists a practical measure of the amount of screwing up per individual that was adopted by our society" (a judicial system). This clears the ground for issues like "what should be the requirements to consume alcohol?" or "should random morons be allowed and encouraged to vote on tax issues?"

@mjambon Ok, so how would we apply that to a 2 year old who wants to drink alcohol and who doesnt have a track record of screwing up?

@freemo I haven't met a two-year-old who wants to drink alcohol. Assuming that's the case, I would make them take the standard test for deeming someone fit to drink alcohol. They would fail because they can't read or can't understand the questions.

@mjambon While certasinly not the norm gifted children are able to read as early as 2 years old. My mom often brags how I was able to read at 2 years old... I was also fully capable of holding a conversation at that age...

Should I and children like me, be allowed alcohol? I dont know if at 2 i actually asked but it would not surprise me if i saw my grandfather drinking one that at 2 I might ask to have some also.

@freemo ok, you might pass the test. The test would check that you understand that it might fry some neurons (I actually don't know how bad alcohol is on brain development at this age) and leave you somewhat disabled compared to another kid who hasn't had alcohol until a certain age. There would also be a test that determines whether you need parental supervision to do various kinds of things, including taking drinking-ability tests. So I think there would be a way for some gifted kids to gain more freedom from the law or from their oppressive parents but it would be rare.

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