# What do you think when you think of the word "child"? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 12, 2012, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-when-you-think-of-the-word-child/643827 "2012-12-12T14:36:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2012, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-when-you-think-of-the-word-child/643827/41 "2012-12-13T23:45:58Z")
> [@](#): > > **What do you think when you think of the word “child”?** “Under 13-14”, and “someone who’ll be used as an excuse to censor things and otherwise restrict people’s rights”. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-when-you-think-of-the-word-child/643827/42 "2012-12-14T00:51:42Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > “someone who’ll be used as an excuse to censor things and otherwise restrict people’s rights”. Why yes, that is actually the real purpose of children. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-when-you-think-of-the-word-child/643827/43 "2012-12-14T01:02:51Z")
“child” = pre-adolescent person “kid” is a bit more complicated. to me, “kid” generally means “anyone under the age of majority.” Colloquially, “kid” seems to mean “anyone significantly younger than me,” e.g. a college football coach referring to the players as “these kids”. where I really get my hackles up is when people refer to people over the age of 18 who have committed violent crimes as “kids” who “just made a mistake.” ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-when-you-think-of-the-word-child/643827/44 "2012-12-14T01:05:58Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Why yes, that is actually the real purpose of children. Politically, at least. ---
**Author:** ![Lucky\_13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucky_13/32/13209_2.png) [@Lucky\_13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucky_13)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 4:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-when-you-think-of-the-word-child/643827/45 "2012-12-14T04:38:58Z")
Someone about 8 years old. I have a mental picture of said young person in a red sweatshirt, not sure if it’s a male or female child. ---
**Author:** ![Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spectre_of_pithecanthropus/32/12343_2.png) [@Spectre\_of\_Pithecanthropus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spectre_of_Pithecanthropus)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-when-you-think-of-the-word-child/643827/46 "2012-12-14T07:14:12Z")
My mental picture is of anyone from 0 - 12, particularly when engaged in childlike activities or behaviors typical of their age. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-when-you-think-of-the-word-child/643827.md?page=2)