The current "Age" that we currently consider people to be consenting adults here in the USA is not based on any actual science or logic.
It is actually fairly old not only by the standard of other countries, but even by what history here was like 100 years ago.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_Europe
Legal and Illegal is pretty much just what some group of people decide to demand people do, once you get outside of the actual basics of Don't kill people that don't deserve it, Don't steal people's stuff, don't threaten or endanger your society & don't go around having unwanted sex with strangers. (Then of course people make "laws" so they can kill people who don't deserve it, take people's stuff by force etc.)
The whole heterosexual monogamous family unit was decided thousands of years ago, not because of religion, but because that was the most efficient arrangement to get the maximum participation value & efficiency for breeding new members of society & expanding the society with as many new workers as possible. Religion then helped give legitimacy to the dictates of social order as it always has. It was your responsibility to raise a good family of Children that would be productive members of society & care for your parents in their old age.
Previously everybody was told they were another Brick in the wall, cog in the machine & they had to follow the rules that were best for society in general. Now stupid people are told they are special wonderful unique little snowflakes who should float about endlessly wafting on the breezes caring only about what they "feel" in the moment. Fine for a holiday or vacation, but the end of a civilization if everybody takes it up as a mantra.
To play the Devil's advocate, what gives society the right to survive. If you look around the world, its pretty fucked up. Wars that kill millions over stupid shit, The massive, perhaps irreversible pollution of our home, our planet, even what we like to believe is the best system on the planet, our republic, has in oly 250 years degenerated into a 'us and them' pissing contest,,...what right do we have to survive? Maybe nature needs to hit the reset button and start over.
Lets consider your last paragraph. Up to there Im good with it.
Which is preferable...to be just another brick in the wall, or to be told that you have the right to choose something different if that suits you. Walls are solid, generally inflexible structures. My grandfather was the perfect example. Worked at the same job, in the same room, in the same factory, in the same town, for 45 years. Is that what you really want in your life, to stand at the same table, in the same building, in the same factory, in the same state, and do the same thing, for 40, 50 years or so until your worn out then die? North Korea welcomes you. Or would you prefer to have the right to make your own choices even if you make mistakes. Servitude or slavery? I think we both know the answer to that one.
The other side of the coin, as you suggest, is a world of worthless snowflakes afraid of their own shadow because theyve never been given a set of 'CORE VALUES'. What is a core value? That takes us to your 1st paragraph. Boil all or it down into "Treat others as you want to be treated." Why? Simple. Because "Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.? Because "You reap as you sow." because "What goes around comes around." Nothing religiou, or altruistic, about it, pure logic. What you put out returns.
The early Greek Philosopher Plato wrote about your next statements, society developing from hunter gathers to the 'Polis' the eity. Yes, the heterosexual, not necessarily monagomous, family unit was necessary for the survival and expansion of the species. But as Plato suggests, once a certain point is reached, the point of having a bit extra at the end of you labors, something changes. It allows time to pursue other less vital pursuits like music and art.. And with thime to reflect, rather than slave away just to survive), we have more 'choices'. More freedom, More liberty, thats a good thing. Where it fails is if that basic core value isnt there and one uses his or her freedom and choices to harmful ends.
Its all about understanding one thing, and understanding at the deepestmost absolute of levels.
What goes around comes around.
Well the red wine has fully kicked in so I think I will 'choose' to go 'pursue' something else, like listen to some good 'jazz'.
McMaggot McOut
