teenage pregnancies

[Baby Tea]

Personally, it sickens me. Hmph. Kids being parents at such an early age? Not a good thing. Not good at all.

Agreed. They can barely take care of themselves and they think they can take care of an infant? Oy vey.

Why do kids want to grow up so fast? Even 16 and 17 year olds (Yeah, that's still young)! Don't they have ANY idea how good they have it? No, of course not, because so many (Not all, please read carefully) think they know it all because they hit 9th grade.

Can we please improve our education system?

 

[Aloran]

Personally, it sickens me. Hmph. Kids being parents at such an early age? Not a good thing. Not good at all.

Welcome, by the way. As a helpful note, I'd recommend that you capitalise and punctuate as much as you can and try to be friendly. Not trying to insult or annoy you, just trying to be helpful. Again, Welcome to the Escapist.

I've been born and bred doing the whole punctuate and capitalise thing. If I didn't I'd be letting my A* at English Language GCSE go to waste wouldn't I?

Incidentally, I agree- it seems to be the "best" countries that have the highest teenage pregnancy ratings.
There'll be a competition soon...just you wait

 

[TheDean]

right
well, first topic here, thought it'd be a good one
Here in the UK, we (as a country) supposedly have one of the highest teenage pregnancy and abortion rates in the world- compared to the other "More Economically Developed Countries"
Here is such an example of this taken to the extreme:

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090216/NEWS02/702169940

13 years old, and a father...
I'm not alone in thinking something is seriously ****ed up with that am I?
I'm only 17, and I already do not like the thought of basically having to pay for that kid to go through the educational system- which I will be doing in about 6 years when I can start earning my own income.
So, discussions on this topic?
I'm curious to see what the view is from other parts of ye world

Well, i live in the UK, and to be honest i see no prblem with it. Now, don't instantly form a negative opinion of me and think i'm someone going around having underage sex and getting girls pregnant so we can as many of those lovely abortions as possible, that's not true at all. It's just that i think the issue here is free will.
If teens want to go around getting pregnant that's their right. If they want to have an abortion, that's also their right. I see no problem with it.
What exactly do you, assming you do see a problem here, propose is done about this?
I'm not saying i think a 13 year old is ready to be a father, because that's not very plausible, but nevertheless he should have the right to be one. And he certianly shouldn't have his personal business discussed in newspapers.

 

[Nurofen]

I heard about this a while ago. What I don't get is how that girl could find the 12 year old attractive enough to have sex with...he looks about 8.

Come to think of it, how could he get her pregnant at that age anyway? He definately doesn't look/sound like he's gone/going through puberty...

 

[Rhaisington]

Other than the whole "Father finishing high school about the same time the kid starts Kindergarten. Or rather, however its done in the UK. I can see a lot of awkward moments and possible counseling due to the whole, "My father is only 13 years older than I am." thing.

Except for the fact that the 13 year old boy and 15 year old girl have parents of there own who would probably be willing to help raise the kid(s).

Like I said, there are some problems, but it's not an end of the world thing.

Not end of the world...no, takes more than teenage parents to do that....as it turns out. Sorry, I'm new here, and just trying to get into the forums. You know.

 

[gremily]

I think underage sex is stupid for obvious reasons.

-U.S.A-

 

[Nikajo]

Actually, they think he might not be the father...

Yeah theres 3 or 4 saying it could be theirs. funny stuff.

Wouldn't say it was particularly funny for the baby. I just don't understand why people are so incapable of using protection, it's not rocket science. No to mention the fact that they are way too young. But I guess it's easy to take the moral high ground with situations like these.

EDIT : perhaps this shows that sex Ed should be taught younger, but the girl was 15 so she doesn't really have an excuse.

 

[Rhaisington]

Thanks I do have to say though, It is going to be rough for the kid. I've seen similar situations, though not quite as young, where things just turn out quite rough for the kid.

 

[Fronken]

Underage sex is very stupid for loads of reason, so they have no one but themselfs to blaim, i say make abortions illegal for underage people, if they are mature enough to have sex then they are mature enough to know what can happen, so i say let them live with their misstakes.

And just to proove that im not just a bitter old bloke who dont know what im talking about, my sister got pregnant when she had recently turned 17, and she stuck it out, our entire family suffered for it cause the swedish government fucking sucks, So yes, i have been a victim of what teenage pregnancy can bring, and i still say its their own faults.

 

[Nikajo]

Underage sex is very stupid for loads of reason, so they have no one but themselfs to blaim, i say make abortions illegal for underage people, if they are mature enough to have sex then they are mature enough to know what can happen, so i say let them live with their misstakes.

Abortion is a very...tricky subject. I see what your saying but that in turn means the baby may suffer and it's not really fair to bring a new life into a messed up situation. On the other hand is it fair to terminate a life because it's inconvenient? I don't know....just thinking about that kind of thing depresses me and makes my brain hurt.

 

[Calax]

Teenagers have been getting knocked up since the dawn of man, its nothing new, in fact 18 is such an arbitary age to pick out of the blue to make some one an adult.

Most kids in the first world don't really become "adults" till I'd say about the mid-20's. (Me being 21, I wouldn't even dare call myself a full fledge adult, I manage on my own my not exactly good at it, and let a lone be a father)

While you've got 14/15 year olds in third world countries support house holds. A lot of things depend on enviorment, nuture, and sometimes just plain luck.

I think it would be less of an issue if there was more education about sex in school. Instead most kids learn from of all places the "internet" and its created a lot of issues. Oh and contraceptives should be made available, because teenagers are horney creatures, if their going to do it... they're going to do it. Called nature, at lest with education and providing the means to safe sex we prevent any of the side effects like STD's and children. (not that children are a nasty side effect...)

Learning to couple from the internet will probably lead to some... interesting situations to say the least. I agree with you entirely (even with the part of the post I removed). I know that some schools in America have certain programs that hand out condoms to the student population. The problem with this is that the students only get one and it's only on a certain day. If you could go to the nurses office and get condoms for free, and without repercussions you might see more kids having protected rather than unprotected sex.

On a couple of side notes, the youngest ever recorded pregnancy was a peruvian girl at age 5. Also I was creeped out by the girlfriend more than the father (she looks like she's a zombie in the picture in the article.

 

[Baby Tea]

I'm not saying i think a 13 year old is ready to be a father, because that's not very plausible, but nevertheless he should have the right to be one.

Are you honestly saying a 13 year old boy has the RIGHT to be a father?
Seriously?

He isn't old enough to drive, or hold down anything resembling a supporting job. So, do tell: How would he take care of the baby? How would he support the baby? Who would pay for the needs of the baby?

No.
A 13 year old, who can't take care of himself, has no right being a father. He's freaking 13. Sorry, rescuing the princess and just learning long division aren't skills usable in the raising of ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. I don't care how 'mature' a 13 year old is, it's crazy.

 

[Legion]

Well, i live in the UK, and to be honest i see no prblem with it. Now, don't instantly form a negative opinion of me and think i'm someone going around having underage sex and getting girls pregnant so we can as many of those lovely abortions as possible, that's not true at all. It's just that i think the issue here is free will.
If teens want to go around getting pregnant that's their right. If they want to have an abortion, that's also their right. I see no problem with it.
What exactly do you, assming you do see a problem here, propose is done about this?
I'm not saying i think a 13 year old is ready to be a father, because that's not very plausible, but nevertheless he should have the right to be one. And he certainly shouldn't have his personal business discussed in newspapers.

I agree with you about free will in principle, however here is a few things I do not believe you have taken into consideration:

The first is that he is at the age where he is still being looked after himself, this means his parents will be paying to look after him and his baby as he has no income, so no, teenagers should not be having children because their free will is infringing on their parents. What you are saying in other words is that if a teenager wanted to invite their girlfriend to live with them and their parents then, they have the right to do so. I can't see anyone agreeing with that, and this is even worse.

The second is that he would have had to give permission for the papers to interview him in a maternity ward. I would imagine that hospitals would have some kind of privacy policy.

 

[Legion]

Are you honestly saying a 13 year old boy has the RIGHT to be a father?
Seriously?

He isn't old enough to drive, or hold down anything resembling a supporting job. So, do tell: How would he take care of the baby? How would he support the baby? Who would pay for the needs of the baby?

No.
A 13 year old, who can't take care of himself, has no right being a father. He's freaking 13. Sorry, rescuing the princess and just learning long division aren't skills usable in the raising of ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. I don't care how 'mature' a 13 year old is, it's crazy.

As much as I understand where you're coming from, the parents of the boy and girl can help take care of this baby as well you know.

This sort of issue is very circumstancial.

Exactly my point. Kids have no right to shove that kind of responsibility on somebody else, which is what is really the case when they are still in compulsory education.

If the parents on the other hand, were ok with it (they knew the kids were planning on having a baby), well then that's completely different.

 

[Baby Tea]

Are you honestly saying a 13 year old boy has the RIGHT to be a father?
Seriously?

He isn't old enough to drive, or hold down anything resembling a supporting job. So, do tell: How would he take care of the baby? How would he support the baby? Who would pay for the needs of the baby?

No.
A 13 year old, who can't take care of himself, has no right being a father. He's freaking 13. Sorry, rescuing the princess and just learning long division aren't skills usable in the raising of ANOTHER HUMAN BEING. I don't care how 'mature' a 13 year old is, it's crazy.

As much as I understand where you're coming from, the parents of the boy and girl can help take care of this baby as well you know.

And I would argue that, in the consideration of the well-being of the newborn, 'help from mom and dad' should NEVER be assumed. Some families would be more then willing to offer help, sure. But certainly not all.
Never assume that you'll get the help, because when you don't...it isn't just you who suffers for it. There is a helpless baby involved now, and they need serious care.

 

[Fronken]

Underage sex is very stupid for loads of reason, so they have no one but themselfs to blaim, i say make abortions illegal for underage people, if they are mature enough to have sex then they are mature enough to know what can happen, so i say let them live with their misstakes.

Abortion is a very...tricky subject. I see what your saying but that in turn means the baby may suffer and it's not really fair to bring a new life into a messed up situation. On the other hand is it fair to terminate a life because it's inconvenient? I don't know....just thinking about that kind of thing depresses me and makes my brain hurt.

It is indeed a very tricky subject, which is why safe sex is such an important part of the educational plan, cause whatever grown-ups say kids will keep fucking around cause they arent smart enough to realise that having sex is the actual way babies are made.

Which is why i say its their own fault, they learn about the hazzards of it in school yet they still choose to keep doing it, so they(the teenagers) deserve all they get, be it STD's or teenage pregnancy.

So when it comes to how to deal with them its not a problem, the problem comes with the child being brought into the world, which the only reasonable solution to is Adoption, atleast according to me.

 

[Legion]

Exactly my point. Kids have no right to shove that kind of responsibility on somebody else, which is what is really the case when they are still in compulsory education.

If the parents on the other hand, were ok with it, well then that's completely different.

Like I said, it's a very circumstancial issue. I wasn't saying we should encourage kids or tell them it's okay, I was just saying, it's not as huge of a deal as it's made out to be. In this specific case at least.

Keyword: Circumstancial.

Conclusion: Get a better Sex Ed system.

I got the keyword, hence my 2nd paragraph. ^.^

Considering that the kid is not even definitely the father (others are claiming paternity) it is a lot more serious than it was when first announced.