ok like.........i think it is ALL maturity. but you should be at LEAST 13. i think it is sorta healthy to date while you are younger. in a way it will help you avoid future mistakes. you will learn what you like in a guy/girl early on.

QUOTE (Punkette @ Nov 28 2004, 04:41 PM)

i think it is sorta healthy to date while you are younger. in a way it will help you avoid future mistakes. you will learn what you like in a guy/girl early on.

true but you don't necessarily have to date to figure that out. i mean its like saying you have to go do drugs to know they're bad for you...kind of a weird/bad analogy but I think you know what I mean. When you're younger you just have to get to know people and make good friends and eventually you'll figure out things you like/dislike in the opposite sex

yes, but having friends isn't the same thing as learning how to handle yourself in a one on one relationship and to work out the kinks.

I can read all the music theory and songbooks in the world, but i'm not going to be able play the music till after i've practiced a bit.

i'm not even talking about sex here. Just on a relationship level I think people need practice. I was stupid stupid stupid with my first two GFs...my third one was a bit crazy (lesson learned) and my fourth and final one is perfect! I learned my lessons and i found a great partner.

For the record i was friends with my first GF for over a year before we started "dating" and lemme tell ya...the rules change. it's NOT the same thing as just being friends. I screwed up, she screwed up it was three degrees of messed up but we learned from that and I know at least myself, i took that knowledge and was able to apply it in other areas.

dating, or courtship, however you label it is a good thing I guess...unless you dig arranged marriages

lol trust me I know it's different, but I was speaking in terms of like a 13 year old trying to seriously date, but say like 16 or older (even though it really is based on maturity) it is better to actually date to figure out what you like/dislike and make mistakes so you can learn from them

ahh, okay. i get it. yeah....13 year old kids really don't need to be dating. Maybe supervised visits (parents getting together and such) could be healthy but i dunno...my kid is only 2 so i got a little ways to make that call.

yea and your son is cute btw . but um supverised visits?It would probably be a good thing to do but honestly how many people have already said their parents dont even know about who they're dating ...

that's because they're all sneaky about it. It's kind of like the condom rule. if you're too ashamed to buy condoms then you're not mature enough for sex.

likewise, if you're ashamed to tell your parents you're into girls/guys and try to do it behind thier back...you're prolly not ready to date anyways.

ooo I agree and disagree with you on that but I won't go into why I disagree cause that's a whole different debate. good point though

i think they shouldnt even think about it until 14 and then the parents should decide based on their kids behavior should make a decision.

well...the problem is that you really can't stop a kid from thinking about dating. I think once they bring it up or the parents think something is up, the parents need to sit down and have the birds and bees talk and make sure theres an understanding. If the parents don't want thier kid dating, they should make sure the kid understands the reasons

is any 1 still here?

good point atheist

by the way Atheist r u an atheist?

is any 1 still here

I think that is up to the parents & the kids. I noticed nobody stopped to consider praying first. I won't go out with a guy unless I &/or my parents pray about it first.

This post has been edited by tarhead: Nov 28 2004, 08:27 PM

im vry sry if i offended u w/ my question atheist. ) ;

I doubt you did.

yeah, we don't offend by that junk really.

Umm...i answered this in a topic under general title Atheist...why???

I might get to post a topic called "ask the atheist" so that could be fun times.

WE who is WE?

atheists, brights, freethinkers, humanists, agnostics and so on

I'm allowed to date when I turn 16. Really I don't want to date yet anyway.
My focus right now is pleasing God.

I didn't read all of this but i'm just going to throw out my opinion

I don't think dating should be done before you graduate, I mean, SOMETIMES, very rarely, a person will actually marry their highschool bf/gf, but more often than not, it just ruins a persons view on a relationship (in my experience) Ex. In my school, guys and girls change dates approximately every month, this doesn't get anyone ready for marriage, (which is what dating is intended to do)

So, I think it should wait until the person is mature enough to handle a steady relationship, and is also at the point where they are ready to get married

1. Spiritually
2. Physically
3. Financially

Are you saying that's your personal view or how everyone should have to do it?

I guess i'm confused how you worded it.

I did word that kind of weird, but thats my personal view and what I will follow and have my kids follow.

got it, thanks for clearing it up