Who's accountable for your actions?, ... Options

[Melissa]

Before you turn 18, who is accountable for your actions. Yeah, I know the obvious answer is "YOSELF" but ... is that really the case? Because if you think about it, you're still a minor if you're not 18, therefore your parents are supposed to have responsibility over you. If you take the car out and hit someone else, it's THEIR insurance that goes up; they're the ones to suffer from the consequences whereas you'll get, what, grounded? yelled at? Everything you do until you're 18 is reported back to your parents. Your grades usually aren't even addressed to you, but rather "To the parents of:"

So basically, you're your parent's liability, are you not?

Therefore, if your mom tells you that she doesn't want you having sex at the age of fifteen, you should listen to her and stop complaining that she's unfair and unreasonable.

I really don't know what brought this on. I'm so sick of little kids that still live under their parents roof complain about their parents and the "omg, strict rules" they set on them. "Omg, my mom wont let me date until I'm 18, HOW STUPID IS THAT?", "OMG MY PARENTS DONT TRUST ME," "OMG I'm so sick of them!"

You're eating your parents food, using their money, living in their house... if you want all that freedom, then move out. Get a job. Start supporting yourself.

But... that's just how I see it.

Maybe this should go in relationships or even possibly debate.

Your views?

[illriginal]

You and your parents, before the age of 18.

[S-Majere]

You and your parents, before the age of 18.

That's actually a pretty fair answer; but in practise I think it's more complicated.

There are laws here in the UK regarding truancy at school - I'm not sure if this is the same in the US but I'll assume it's not - whereby if your child misses school than you, the parent, are fined and/or investigated.

It irks me to think that a parent takes the flak for their child when the child itself is the one that needs the disipline.