do you argree with me that a 17 is loads older than a 15 year old

[leah8001996]

a 15 year is a child and a 17 year is an adult

[AtYourCervix]

Leah, do you have issues with being 17?

[Floralnomad]

Are you on a mission to see how many threads you can start about 17 year olds ?

[Gunznroses]

Has the law changed? I though 18 was the age you become an adult and as for loads older...2yrs older infact

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

I'd say the 17 years old would be a maximum of 2 years older than the 15 year old so not loads older at all

[OldLadyKnowsNothing]

Leah, you're not an adult, you're sixteen and self-harming. You need help.

[ImTooHecsyForYourParty]

no a 17 year old is not an adult legally or emotionally.
tbh many 18 yr olds are adults legally but not emotionally.

[Sparklingbrook]

Depends on the 17 year old and the 15 year old TBH.

[burberryqueen]

leah this is getting boring.......

[TheFallenNinja]

No, 17 is not an adult. Why the rush? I'm 44 and still don't consider myself Adult.

[Trills]

A 17 year old is not an adult. Not even close.

"Loads" is not really a measurable amount.

If you are 15 or 17 then 2 years makes a lot of difference.

From the perspective of a 40 year old, they are pretty much the same.

[thecatfromjapan]

Leaving legal definitions aside ...

Maturity is a very individual thing. Nelson went to sea at 12 but, with hindsight, I didn't reach maturity until my 40s.

Also, the informal rules of being polite and being a decent sort of person dictate that, if you are 17 and still living with your parents, they do get a Very Big say so in what is appropriate behaviour for 17 year olds. Partly because they often act/speak from a position of caring for the 17 year old, and partly because they genuinely have clocked up a bit of experience, which (hopefully) informs that opinion. It goes with the loss of muscle tone and the acquisition of body fat and wrinkles.

Obviously, there are all sorts of situations that negate the above. But it's often true.

[TeenAndTween]

It really is not as black and white as you are trying to make out.
You don't magically turn into an adult overnight when you reach a specific age.

Yes, an average 17yr olds is more mature than an average 15yr old. but adult? No, I don't think so.

An adult has generally completed their initial education.
An adult has an awareness of life including most of, but not limited to

• living alone, or without older people at least
  
• budgetting
  
• holding down a job
  
• understanding politics, legal issues such as wills etc
  
• understanding that 17 is not an adult
  
• organising own holidays, and saving up for them
  

By this list I was not fully adult until I was 23 or so.

Instead of all these separate posts, why don't you post what is really bothering you (ie show you are mature enough to do that), and you might get more insightful answers.

e.g.
I'm really fed up. My Mum insists on knowing when i'll be home, and doesn't like my BF staying overnight. I'm upset because I've been held back a year, and have no friends. i'm self harming (because my step dad abused me when I was 12 and I feel guilty about it) and the school told my Mum. We are arguing all the time. I'll be an adult next month when I'm 17 and wish they would all leave me alone. I want to move out and live on my own (I'm sure I'll get benefits to help me). How can i explain all this?

Say what's really bugging you and you may get some help.

[Kerryblue]

yawn............

[musicposy]

No, it's not "loads older". It's a continuum. My 13 year old is more mature than when she was 11. My 17 year old is more mature than my 13 year old. But she is not loads older, just a little further along in the maturing process. But not entirely there yet.
I suspect you are asking to back up something else you want. Why not post about that instead? You can't prove you are old enough for something by the number of your age as everyone matures differently.

[ussurg]

2 year gap doesn't make alot of differences

15 and 17 not quite different