Quote Originally Posted by 'Zaelar',index.php?page=Thread&postID=59658#post59 658
How can you say something isn't suitable for anyone under 18? What about one day under? If yes, two days? Keep going until you stop saying yes, and then what is so magical about that particular age? It should be 18 and one week. It takes a week of maturity to actually be mature, but that means that you aren't mature during that week so it would have to be another week to get used to it...

And before you post that being 18 is a rough idea, so is every other generalization. 18 isn't the age used everywhere in the world, so someone has to be wrong.
As Vyn said, the 18 rule is all about being officially classed as an adult. That means rights to just about everything (except what is illegal ofc), but also subject to all laws without leniency (which you are entitled to as a minor).
Whilst for many things it may be seen as unfair and unjust (I myself felt that when I was a teenager - oh god I sound old now), It is that official classification, that defines the 18+ rule. It wouldn't matter officially if you were 1 day shy of 18, you would still be treated as a minor (or should at least, altho it is often partially down to the judge in question).

When looking at the vast mix of players on the EU servers, where this ages changes vastly from country to country, it is often generally accepted that 18 is the standard entry age into adulthood.

There is something we need to distinguish here btw. the 18+ rule does not apply to mental maturity, simply maturity.
There are many under 18s way, way more mature mentally, then some adults. You know, the whole scenario where kids are nearly forced to grow up fast in order to cope and face the situations they are in. and then the opposite Big Kid scenario where you have immature adults all the way to 80/90 years of age. And yet the age restriction should apply in all cases (except in cases where this restriction detrimentally impacts that person’s life and where it would not simply be a denial of a luxury).

It is unfortunate (as I felt when I was 17) that for instance, that last year I still was excluded from so many things, even tho I felt "Adults" around me were so childish in comparison. It is only now, ironically, that I am an "adult" that I realise it has nothing to do with mental maturity.

When it comes to guilds adopting this rule, as stated before it is for the protection of those under 18 and their guild members.
It is however regrettable that mental maturity is quite strongly tied to actual age (not entirely I might add), and is therefore used as a simultaneous filter do avoid it.