We're more immature than ever!

[jake431]

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2006/06/23/immature_hum.html?category=human&guid=20060623110030

Scientifically speaking, that is. Seriously though, it's an interesting piece, I only wish it went more in depth.

-Jake

 

[Matt Deckard]

It's a good read... It should be a book!

I myself see it all the time, the only problem is that I wasn't around in the 30's or the 1840's to see how people behaved. Our culture pushes the youth more so than the being adult... I think that in the same way there is a fear of women being femenine, the fear of being outpaced by a younger crowd lacking respect in the older is getting larger. Respect your elders used to be the motto, now it sounds more like don't become an elder.

In the Golden era as we call it, many got married at 18 to 20 and they stayed married... nowadays couples get married at 28 and behave like 14 year olds and the marriage breaks up and they get remarried to another prospect when they hit their 30's -- when they get a little more mature. It goes with that parasite generation thread I started a while back... responsibility wanes and the adolescent attitude of "it will all be okay" takes over. There are no longer consequences to child like behavior like there used to be . Responsibility is what being an adult is all about, and in a free credit society you never have to worry about going hungry or homeless... you simply go into debt and feel secure. Never confronting issues and letting things slide.

 

[jake431]

What is interesting to me, Matt, is this - there seems to be some benefit (increased employability throughout life) to this behavior described by you - rightly so - as negative. A side effect of viewing life this way - if you're always a journeyman, moving from one job to another, your self is always developing. It hasn't always been "what you do is not who you are". Nowandays, that would seem to be ever more difficult. It seems more like "What you are is who you'd like to be like - for now."

-Jake

 

[Matt Deckard]

Who knows... perhaps the adolescent behavior that stays is an evolution of behavior rather than a set back for the mind! We dream more and strive more to better ourselves and don't hold onto those things that put us in the place of being the old curmugion who people pass up as they continue on a path of discovery.

That is why more research is needed. I 'm a student of human nature and I notice what i can with people... I seem to want to hang out with the ones who want to be more mature though I myself strive to break out and be the devil may care type when it is needed. I hope this is all looked into, as it froma behavioral standpoint is something that deeply interests me. What is maturity?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

What is maturity?

It's a hospital ward housing newborn babies, dummkopf.

.

 

[jake431]

Who knows... perhaps the adolescent behavior that stays is an evolution of behavior rather than a set back for the mind! We dream more and strive more to better ourselves and don't hold onto those things that put us in the place of being the old curmugion who people pass up as they continue on a path of discovery.

It is a bizarre crossroads - Or maybe it's just the first crossroad of it's kind - but we live in a time where plenty of people just now dying can remember a totally different life experience than what we grew up with. The 20th century can be looked at as transformative of what it really means to be human.

I'd like to think that being mature is holding on to the childlike wonder while still handling your responsibilities. But then, that's what I strive for in my life, so that's hardly an objective opinion!

-Jake

 

[Rosie]

Thanks for posting that Jake. I must say I was quite suprised when I got to the part stating that this is a by product of those who were formally educated. I had to stop and kind of think about it. I've come across both versions, people in my age categoryvtelling me I was "really mature" because I seem to have it together, career wise, etc. but then people older than me have commented that I'm still "a child" because I am not married and do not have children.

I know that I come across many people in my age group who I personally think are immature because as Matt stated, they seem to have this "things will work out" attitude instead of doing what I think is the adult thing to advance or stabilize their lives or making decisions that I would never make but, I guess maturity is relative in a sense. It would have been interesting to see more of the research.

 

[jake431]

I must say I was quite suprised when I got to the part stating that this is a by product of those who were formally educated. I had to stop and kind of think about it. I've come across both versions, people in my age categoryvtelling me I was "really mature" because I seem to have it together, career wise, etc. but then people older than me have commented that I'm still "a child" because I am not married and do not have children.

I know that I come across many people in my age group who I personally think are immature because as Matt stated, they seem to have this "things will work out" attitude instead of doing what I think is the adult thing to advance or stabilize their lives or making decisions that I would never make but, I guess maturity is relative in a sense. It would have been interesting to see more of the research.

I wasn't that surprised about the formal education thing - I used to work in the Graduate housing office at Northwestern University, and a more befuddled, tempertantrum-throwing mass of "kids" you've never seen. They might cure cancer, but they won't pay their rent on time. I don't feel like that's a new development though - if you read about Einstein, or other scientist, you almost always get an "absent minded prof" story or three. I think well educated people just used to be so much less common that now their relatively "flaky" behavior is coming to light.

The other factor I see as contributing to prolonged adolescence (so much nicer a term) is the fact that people don't have to get mature to survive and thrive these days. For better or worse, life is profoundly more easy in the day to day sense than it was 80 years ago, and I think the effects of a relative lack of hardship is starting to manifest. My two cents...

-Jake

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Your comments refer to a small part of the world: the U.S.A., much of Europe, and a smattering of other countries.

Most other people in most other countries DO have to fight to survive. One sign of our nation's immaturity is that we, as Americans, have no sense that we're not at the center of the universe.

I read the Discovery Channel article in your link. Nowhere does it bother to mention exactly whose people are immature. An all-too-typical example of media "immaturity".


.

 

[Rosie]

Your comments refer to a small part of the world: the U.S.A., much of Europe, and a smattering of other countries.

Most other people in most other countries DO have to fight to survive. One sign of our nation's immaturity is that we, as Americans, forget we're not at the center of the universe.


.

This is off topic:

Speaking of this, my cousin and I were discussing how it has become the trend for people to say when asked "How are you?" "You know, I'm just trying to make it, just trying to survive." Or something to that effect. That really irritates me because just that fact that we live in America, even if you are poor, there are resources, clean water and available food at the top of that list. In many countries, people don't have those basic things to work with, they truly are trying to survive.

Back to topic:

I see what you mean Jake. I think I've never thought of it in terms of "maturity" per se. I do know people like that, I've just always thought of them as being irresponsible but, duh to me, I guess that's in the same boat.

 

[Matt Deckard]

Your comments refer to a small part of the world: the U.S.A., much of Europe, and a smattering of other countries.

Most other people in most other countries DO have to fight to survive. One sign of our nation's immaturity is that we, as Americans, have no sense that we're not at the center of the universe.

I read the Discovery Channel article in your link. Nowhere does it bother to mention exactly whose people are immature. An all-too-typical example of media "immaturity".


.

What's a Europe?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

What's a bowler?


.

 

[jake431]

Your comments refer to a small part of the world: the U.S.A., much of Europe, and a smattering of other countries.

Most other people in most other countries DO have to fight to survive. One sign of our nation's immaturity is that we, as Americans, have no sense that we're not at the center of the universe.

I read the Discovery Channel article in your link. Nowhere does it bother to mention exactly whose people are immature. An all-too-typical example of media "immaturity".


.

You're right of course - but it seems to me that most anyone that could log in here and check the thread would be someone from that "small part of the world". I certainly didn't mean to offend. I should have been specific - I am talking about industrialized, first world nations here. My apologies, folks!

-Jake

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Oh no -- you didn't offend at all. I was making a point about the news article itself. Omission makes it easy to forget that when we say, "what is this world coming to", we really mean our world ... which is a very small part of the crowded globe.

.

 

[Powerhouse]

It's a good read... It should be a book!
In the Golden era as we call it, many got married at 18 to 20 and they stayed married... nowadays couples get married at 28 and behave like 14 year olds and the marriage breaks up and they get remarried to another prospect when they hit their 30's -- when they get a little more mature. It goes with that parasite generation thread I started a while back... responsibility wanes and the adolescent attitude of "it will all be okay" takes over. There are no longer consequences to child like behavior like there used to be . Responsibility is what being an adult is all about, and in a free credit society you never have to worry about going hungry or homeless... you simply go into debt and feel secure. Never confronting issues and letting things slide.

I couldn't agree with you more sir!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Sad but true.

I know people that are almost 40, even in their 40's that act like 15 year old kids!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

... nowadays couples get married at 28 and behave like 14 year olds and the marriage breaks up and they get remarried to another prospect when they hit their 30's -- when they get a little more mature.

Are you married yet, Matt? No? lol

.

 

[jamespowers]

"People such as academics, teachers, scientists and many other professionals are often strikingly immature outside of their strictly specialist competence in the sense of being unpredictable, unbalanced in priorities, and tending to overreact.”

I think this just about says it all. If these are the people teaching the next generation then is it any wonder that the next generation is like this? [huh]

Regards to all,

J

 

[jake431]

I do think there is something ironic about all this. This is a forum of people (myself included!) who could basically play dressup and wear what would be a costume to "normal" people. Hell, I'm wearing my Russet Service Shoes and some cinchback selvage jeans as I type! Who are we to call anyone immature?

-Jake

 

[jamespowers]

Are you married yet, Matt? No? lol

.

Do you have children yet, Marc? No?