Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site whuxlb.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!wivax!decvax!harpo!floyd!whuxlb!eric From: eric@whuxlb.UUCP Newsgroups: net.flame Subject: Re: 55mph aint the answer - (nf) Message-ID: <1162@whuxlb.UUCP> Date: Wed, 15-Jun-83 22:49:30 EDT Article-I.D.: whuxlb.1162 Posted: Wed Jun 15 22:49:30 1983 Date-Received: Thu, 16-Jun-83 14:48:16 EDT Sender: eric@whuxlb.UUCP Organization: Bell Labs, Whippany Lines: 54 #R:mcnc:-169400:whuxlb:3800005:000:1918 whuxlb!eric Jun 15 22:49:00 1983 this is in reply to all you people who wish to crank that ole' driving age up to 21. I even saw 26 mentioned. << LIGHT BURNERS >> Being 16 myself, and eligible for my license in a scant five weeks, I really don't care what NJ does now, because i would keep my license (grandfather clause...). However, I would like to comment on a more general trend that seems to be occuring, and that is discrimination against teenagers because of a bad few. POINT ONE: Driving. I have had a permit for 6 months. I consider myself a safe, if not exactly expert driver. Why should I wait 10 more years just because some other 16 year old jerk buys the farm on Rt. 287?? POINT TWO: Teenagers are eternally victimized by bad press. If you don't believe this, just think a moment. Every big holiday, the newspapers print the death toll on the highway. The papers make no huff over 200 or so people getting killed. HOWEVER, if even 1 TEENAGER get it, he/she makes the front page. Papers label it a tragedy. I know, I know, teenagers DO have a dispro- portional amount of accidents, but this imbalance is massively blown up by the press. POINT THREE: I am damned tired of society's double standards of "adulthood." Suppose the ole' U.S. is being overrun by Iranians. The government grabs the 18 year olds first. However, when it comes to DRINKING, in New Jersey, I have to wait until I'm 21. Why is that???? Next double standard, the old movie ratings bit. I wouldn't mind not being able to see R rated films (legally) until I was an adult except that I must pay adult prices when I turn 13. That really hurts. I am old enough in the ticket line to be considered an "adult", but when I hit the entrance, I've got to be 17. That really sucks.... I welcome replies to this little bit of flaming. But, first I demand that you do one thing... Remember, you were once my age too..... Eric Holtman harpo!whuxlb!eric