>Consider the South Korean rate of 1.8 per 1000 teens in 2009. Clearly culture and ethnicity can't be simply discounted.

I never said those were discounted - if you go back and read what I initially said, I said I didn't disagree.

I was adding the lack of accountability (something taught by parents and role models) - you decided to take a cheap shot at the notion of "American Exceptionalism".

I don't have a simple answer as to why the rate in South Korea is so low. If I were to take a wild guess, I wouldn't discount the possibility that teens in that country have less "free time" because their parents are watching over them more heavily - and there might be a greater fear of being ostracized. I think if Korean teens came to the U.S. (or other countries) and watched live through the eyes of other teens, they probably would be somewhat shocked.