[Niamh.]

Originally Posted by Jack_

Of course I do...it's outstanding that you can sit there and criticise the way I conduct myself in arguments, when you're the worst at it anyway...

If the parents aren't willing to take on the child, and the child themselves can't provide for their child (that's a bit confusing), then social services would have to step in and have it put up for adoption, as if not the newborn could face being neglected - and in any case that's a situation where someone should step in. Might be sad, but again - maybe that's something else that should be drilled into the mind's of children during their education.

And I'm sorry but if you really think you're mature when you constantly ignore points and then attempt to bait the person you're arguing with, as well as falsely claiming you're 'bored' amongst other fantastic lines, then well...no words.



But that's precisely the point I brought up at the start of the thread. You think they are children, as do many other people. But in other nations they aren't considered children. Childhood isn't a concept that is set in stone - it's conjured up and varies in different parts of the world. I'm not saying our concept of childhood is 'wrong' as such...it's just an interesting thing to point out.

And well I don't really believe I'll change my mind on this issue. If and when I have children, I'll ensure that they receive all the necessary education regarding sex, and are told about possible consequences and to avoid them at all costs. So long as they are safe, happy and ready, and physically and mentally mature enough to cope - I believe it will be their decision.

Perhaps I've taken the point of this thread a bit too far on reflection. But my original point which I still stand by is that I don't believe it's the business of any parent to know whether or not their child is having certain check-ups and things like this article in question, if I've understood the story right. As with all things surrounding medical advice and help - a lot of it, if not all of it is confidential, and so long as the child is receiving any required treatment or advice, then I don't feel that the parent needs to know.

I do happen to agree that our society have it right about which ages are considered children. I'm basing that on both my own experience of being that age and seeing the differences in my friends now and then and also from my own children/step children.

The point I'm making is, parents are legally and morally responsible for the welfare of their children till they're 16/18 which makes it (imo and in how I personally practise my parental duties) our business because in most cases, we'll be the ones left picking up the pieces if it all goes pear shaped.

Again, I do want to stress, I really don't mean to sound patronising when I say I think it's hard for you to be objective about it when you are still a teenager but it is true that peoples opinions on this do change drastically in later years and when they look back.