Is Heather a delinquent?

[Foxhound3857]

Serious post: I wouldn't say that Heather is a delinquent, but there are clues throughout the game that hint at what kind of a person she is.

-Examining the ring tray in the Alternate Shopping Mall (where you get the Walnut) reveals that Heather has a taste for certain kinds of jewelry.

-Examining the ash tray in Alternate Office Building (the room where you get the matchbook) reveals that Heather used to be a smoker.

-Examining the candy in the Amusement Park Souvenier Shop reveals that Heather has a sweet tooth.

-Heather used to like playing with dolls in her childhood, like most normal girls.

Of course, who could forget her "Blonde" comment at the end of the game, either?

[Wren]

Blonds. We have more fun.
So says Heather.
/comedy

Yes, all those things and more point to Heather's personality. That was a very nice overview, I'd forgotten about some of those.
All things considered, Heather seemed like a pretty normal & sweet teenager to me. I liked her just fine, too. <3

[hairymason]

And as I said before, being normal in America means you are a delinquent. She's totally delinquent. j.k

[Foxhound3857]

Interestingly enough, I think the Insane Cancer monster represents Heather's former smoking habit. I can think of no other significance of this monster. A further testament to her character, if that is indeed the case.

[nur_ein_tier]

If you've played the game before, you'll know that Heather Mason is 17, a minor. Yet, in the office building, if you interact with an ash tray she says she quit smoking for good. Last I checked you had to be 18 to smoke legally. Not only that, but if you interact with the bottles in certain cafes or wine bottles she says "Now's not the time." To me this implies that she either has consumed alcohol, or wouldn't mind doing so. Does Japan know about the laws in the US, or did they intend her to be a delinquent? And before we get into this debate about location, the game definitely takes place in North America. The climate, the side of the road they drive on, the side of the car the driver's seat is on, the accents, everything suggests it's either in US or Canada, and both of those nations have laws saying you gotta be older.

I'm sure Japan is aware of the laws. You don't have to be 18 to smoke, you have to be 18 to legally PURCHASE cigarettes. And while you have to be 21 in most places to buy or legally consume alcohol, that certainly doesn't mean minors can't obtain it or that they don't drink it. I'm sure most minors have either consumed alcohol at some point or at least had the opportunity to do so if they'd wanted to. I don't think smoking or drinking necessarily makes a person a delinquent.

[Hannah]

Does it really matter if she is a delinquent?

[Wren]

Does it really matter if she is a delinquent?

You know this fandom. Everything matters.

[Damian]

In my opinion, I do not believe that Heather is truly a delinquent becuase many things such as underaged drinking and smoking are quite common among teenagers today. Plus, the reason that Heather carried a knife/boxcutter is for protection. So in my eyes, Heather is just a normal teen. Although I will say that that falling asleep at the mall is a bit sketchy( even though its happened to me before)

[Mercury]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGmXb1xenrQ

[NarooN]

I doubt she's a delinquent, but I don't see why it'd matter if she was anyway.

What's so "not normal" about a teen carrying around protection? I'm 19 and I frequently carry around a small blade in my pocket when walking places. I also don't see what's so immoral about a teen smoking or drinking. Tons of teens do that crap, so it's not like the law is stopping anyone. I'm not saying I think everyone should get ripped out of their minds and then go drive or brandish a gun or anything, but I think after a certain age, humans are perfectly capable of making their own decisions.

[Wren]

What ^ said.

That, and the younger you are when you make certain mistakes, the gentler the punishment is. Childhood and young adulthood are times for "screwing up" so you don't make more major mistakes as an adult (when it "counts.")
I kinda agree with the Amish on this one.

I know it seems like the old "Sure! It's easy to be mellow after you've already had your fun!" But unfortunately, that's just the way people are. There's certain things you have to get out of your system so you don't spend all your time wondering "what would've been."

[voodoohandbag]

Sorry to bump an old thread (again), but I think something has been missed from this conversation - yes, Heather is supposed to be an American girl, but she was written by Japanese developers. What is the legal age in Japan? Here in the UK, when this game came out (it's got a bit weird recently), it was legal to smoke and have sex at 16, and legal to drink at 18. So Heather smoking and/or drinking would not be such a big deal.

[Shadedarkan]

Views of American teenagers in general are that they smoke, drink, behave in a rowdy manner and are on the rude side with little manners. If that is the public image people are seeing then that is the 'norm'. Heather is certainly not a delinquent. She's not getting into trouble, being a nuisance or anything like that. She smoked for a time and quit, most teenagers have. I started smoking when I was eight and just quit this year and all my brothers smoked for a time in their teens as well as most of the people I ever saw who were in their teens while I was growing up. Drinking is just drinking. She could easily have just gotten smashed and ran through Hell, but she refrained and showed us she has a mature side behind that sharp tongue.