I figured I'd see if I could come up with a topic of discussion that is on-topic with the tribe. This is what I came up with.
Is it just me being pretentious or is it really the case that in the modern era the maturity level of the average person in their twenties (even in the late-twenties) is usually closely comparable to people fresh out of high school? Maybe I'm just in the wrong scene or the internet just better allows for people to show the infantilism that has been lurking in our age group forever, but I find it very hard to deeply respect my peers when they still find fart jokes infinitely amusing and are clearly very emotionally retarded in regards to matters like sex and relationships.
Does anyone else feel embarassed by this age group? I'm aware of a lot of general interest social groups that don't accept people under thirty and I often find myself hard pressed to argue against their generalizations of my generation because to my eyes they're right...all I can do is point out that there's always individuals on the better end of any bell curve. I can't deny that people my age, especially the guys, rarely have much respect for the rights, property, and feelings of others...seeming to live only to satisfy their own ego and build a bigger, better self-image of themselves which no one else really cares about or respects because they're busy doing the same thing.
Is it just me being pretentious or is it really the case that in the modern era the maturity level of the average person in their twenties (even in the late-twenties) is usually closely comparable to people fresh out of high school? Maybe I'm just in the wrong scene or the internet just better allows for people to show the infantilism that has been lurking in our age group forever, but I find it very hard to deeply respect my peers when they still find fart jokes infinitely amusing and are clearly very emotionally retarded in regards to matters like sex and relationships.
Does anyone else feel embarassed by this age group? I'm aware of a lot of general interest social groups that don't accept people under thirty and I often find myself hard pressed to argue against their generalizations of my generation because to my eyes they're right...all I can do is point out that there's always individuals on the better end of any bell curve. I can't deny that people my age, especially the guys, rarely have much respect for the rights, property, and feelings of others...seeming to live only to satisfy their own ego and build a bigger, better self-image of themselves which no one else really cares about or respects because they're busy doing the same thing.
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Atlanta
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Re: Maturity
Fri, November 14, 2003 - 3:07 PMHmmm... Hard to say. Most of my friends I've made since high school have all been in their early to mid thirties. I don't seem to relate with or have much in common with other 20somethings. I've always attributed it to most 20somethings being in a different space or having slightly different priorities than myself, rather than to maturity.
As far as fart jokes, I think that's a culture wide phenomenon not only restricted to our own age group. Americans in general seem fascinated by flatulence.
I do believe that as an influx of specialization and the information age that the behaviors usually attributed to teenagers are spreading into the 20’s now. The 20’s now are when you find yourself, and work towards your future in college and starting career. The 30’s are for family and settling down. Does anyone realize how different that is even compared to 30 years ago? Don’t even compare it at all to 100 years ago! Our society is changing faster than our collective consciousness can comprehend, and I think that propels a feeling of less thought, immaturity and integrity that only people with awareness seem to mourn the loss of.
So I guess I see a lot of what you’re saying as signs of a culture wide phenomenon rather than generational (though certain generations can be the vehicle and symbol for specific culture revolutions).
That all aside, I know a lot of my posts can be juvenile online, but its because I see this as an outlet to stressors in my life, and most don’t seem to mind! More beer! -
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Re: Maturity
Mon, November 17, 2003 - 5:05 PMI am currently a college student who has several groups of friends that vary widely on their maturity levels.
a) the other 20 something college students
b) the other 20somethings who are not in college and who are not married/have kids
c)20somethings w/ either spouse or kids
d)30somethings w/o spouse/kids
e)30somethings w/ spouse/kids
I have found that the 20somethings in college are the least mature, the 20somethings not in college and the 30somethings w/o a family are about the same, and the 20 and 30somethings with a family are about the same.
I have found that the more responsibilities that someone has, the more mature that they are.
Some of the 20something college students who have to pay their way through (as I do) and actually have a job (some work full time and go to school full time) are just as mature as the people with families. The most mature friend I have works full time, is a full time college student, is in her 30's and has a 10 year old son. The least mature is in her 20's and in college, doesn't work, and her parents pay all of her bills for her and send her an allowance.
I think that people are only as mature as they have to be.
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