Wow, you can legally have sex and buy a lotto ticket and everything when yer 16?! That's crazy. Here, the only special thing about being 16 is that you can get your driver's licence. Then at 17 yu can legally see rated "R" movies, and then at 18 you can do basically everything else, then at 21 you can drink, and gamble.

Our country sucks compared to yours!

-- Jessica (essicaj@pacbell.net), October 19, 2000

Answers

We can't drive until 17. The gay age of consent is set at 18 (how ever unfair *that* is!). You can't see the equivilent of "R" rated movies here until your 18. I think normal, non lotto gambling is 18 here, and drinking is 18.

Ahh! But what age can you go on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?!

-- Tim (tim@almighty.co.uk), October 21, 2000.

Hello, well although USA may suck at age issues, it beats the UK at just about everything else. Bear that in mind, baby!

-- Sean (sean.c@fatal.co.uk), October 21, 2000.

Just a sec Sean, shouldn't you be on a plane to Spain?

-- Tim (tim@almighty.co.uk), October 21, 2000.

The age of consent for gay sex is actually 21, not 18...there are currently bills going through parliament to bring it down to 18, but they haven't got through and probably won't.

-- Helen (breathe@oceanic.nu), October 22, 2000.

I'm almost certain the age of concent for gay sex is 18 and there are calls to bring it into line with hetrosexual sex at 16. In fact, I'd be willing to bet a bit of nookie on it!

-- Tim (tim@almighty.co.uk), October 22, 2000.

tim is correct, it got lowered to 18 but the bill to lower it to 16 didn't get passed. I'm sure that the bill will be put forward again though.

-- smallkat (smallkat@hotmail.com), October 24, 2000.

Question: why do we all know so much about the age of consent for gay sex?

-- Zed (zed@swansongs.net), October 24, 2000.

Hmm... Can we knock off the "on age issue" bit and make this a US vs UK thread? Or start a separate one? 'Twould be interesing... Especially after Sean's comment... Hmm...

Anyvague, about the age issues... It's a different culture, which gives some reasons why having different ages is good. I mean, people can drive at some ridiculous age in deserted places like Saskatchewan because there are fewer busy roads. I'm generally for age limits, though. As my boyfriend has just pointed out, it gets complicated because everyone's different and therefore some people should be allowed to do certain things (ie seeing a rated R movie) earlier than others. But really, can those who are mature not wait a little bit? Better than having people who aren't ready to drive, say, doing it anyway, and there isn't really any other way around that without bringing up all sorts of discrimination cases.

-- Sarah Joy (sarahjoy@squirrel-net.co.uk), October 25, 2000.

If they can't bare to wait, i would suggest that they aren't actually that mature!

-- smallkat (smallkat@hotmail.com), October 27, 2000.

Go ahead Yoj, take over the thread! General comparisons between the UK and the USA at the ready...

-- Tim (tim@almighty.co.uk), October 27, 2000.

Um, yeah, this isn't a very exciting first post (I meandered over from Katie's or Greg's page; I've been reading their journals for a while), I just wanted to point out that 17 isn't actually the age when one can legally see R movies as there are no laws concerning that issue, only a recommendation made by the association that rates movies (MPAA, I believe?) and each cinema or chain can choose whether they want to abide by it and, if so, how strictly (some card everyond who looks under 25, others just won't sell tickets to those who are obviously very very young [lik

-- James. (z@eristocracy.net), October 30, 2000.

despite my email address, i live in the u.s... but i have a question: what is the logic behind having diffrent ages of consent for different sexual orientations? odd......and the u.k. beats the u.s. easily in culture (afterall, mcdonalds and disney are from the u.s.)

-- emily (em.dork@another.co.uk), November 03, 2000.

The UK has most of my favorite Television shows. I'm from the US but planning to move to Canada as soon as the country will let me.

-- Brian C. Williams (seaofcanada@canada.com), November 03, 2000.

it's hard to say that the US or the UK is better than the other, but I can certainly pick out somethings that bother me about the US. For instance, our country has so much nationalism and pride yet we must have one of the most close-minded western cultures. Our country was founded by people escaping persecution, but what have we been doing since then...yes, the same freakin' thing. And my experiences with European countries (generally speaking) has been quite the opposite, people don't seem to be attacked - both physically and verbally- as much for their race, religion or sexual preference. Yepsiree, if we can't even grant homosexuals the same rights as any other person in some states, how great are we really? uck, makes me rather bitter.

also we have scary religious groups, george w. bush, the family circus cartoon, and other things setting out to destroy all things good. damn straight.

-- Lil (teenagemutantninjaturtles@hotmail.com), December 29, 2000.

Clearly its all just red tape any way and is a complete waste of time. i might be being very conravertial here but both Tony Blair and George Bush are complete plonkers, in fact the whole of polotics sucks. Its not as if any of them actually have a clue whats going on half the time. So them passing laws on ages and all that sort of stuff or what ever i think is really none of their buisness. I'm not exactially clear on how the US system works but over here every one involved in running the country seems to be over 50 and there for our of touch with 60% of the population.

-- charlie shoragan (chasdarby@hotmail.com), May 12, 2002.

The big problem with the US is that we seem to have a sense of pride in our country that is so big, we see anyone of a different culture, or who doesn't look like the "traditional American" as a threat. That is what leads to forms of prejudice and racism. My experiences in the UK seem to be quite different. It appears that they tend to accept a more culturally diverse society. In general, they seems that they don't have to defend their way of life because they are more confident in it than the US. As for the age issue, age regulations are made because of a reason. This reason is determined by either its society or government officials who do research and make the best decision depending on the situation.

-- (stateq2@hotmail.com), December 05, 2002.

The thing about legal ages is that noone gives a shit about them! They are even seen as an obstacle for which breaking them gives increased status. I.e things are more appealling to people when they're considered "wrong". But if you bring them down and liberate young people, such as in Holland, you get fewer social problems.

It's surprising that the american public put up with such a restrictive society. Even though people between 18 and 21 can vote they still have fewer priveledges. Amazing.

The UK is better than the US in that .....well in just about every way except the cost of living and weather.

-- Jon (jonnybox@theorgy.freeserve.co.uk), December 20, 2002.

What the hell? Deserted place like Saskatchewan? Hey! I'm from Saskatchewan! I guess its not so deserted. Oh by the way, 16 isn't that young by comparisson to some places.

-- Hardon (ParkChild@Hotmail.Com), February 23, 2003.

Whoa I'm seeing alot of ppl from america talkin bad about america. What's the deal with that? And what's wrong with american pride? Just because everyone else hates us doesn't mean we have to hate our own country. And over here bein 21 means you get to do everything you were doing since you were 13 anyway. The only thing i got beef with is that if you're 18 you can die for your country but you can't get have a beer after you vote and pay taxes.

-- Taylor (Tank_6603@yahoo.com), May 24, 2003.