Were we that immature?

Question

I find myself astonished by how just not with it the younger crowd on here seems...I am 29, and I am wondering from those closer to my age, were we that immature and just out of it? It seems we had things more together, but then again we didnt have forums like this to go on...Just curious as to what you think...

Answer 1

We were that immature, we just didn't know it.

Answer 2

That's a hard thing to judge, when looking at groups. Some parts of our society have been extending childhood a bit. In some socioeconomic classes, young people are not expected to be independent adults until after college, in their early 20s, rather than an 18.

In others, young people are expected to get jobs in their teens and contribute monetarily to the household as early as possible. At 18, or when the graduate/quit high school, those kids are on their own, or contributing much more to the family household. If they go to college, they're responsible for figuring out how to pay for it. A fair percentage of them join the military. Most of them get full-time jobs ASAP.

The differing expectations produce a big difference in levels of maturity. If you're accustomed to managing your time and money and being a responsible, productive member of your family, you're well on your way to adulthood. Yes, some people whose families take care of them through their college years get those skills - just not many, in my experience. Not in the same way. They always have the knowledge that, whatever happens, Mommy & Daddy will make it alright.

The young people who are most likely to have a lot of time to hang out here are probably from the first group, still dependent, not out on their own yet.

I'm 40, and I'm finishing up the college degree I started when I was 17. When I take classes on-campus instead of online, I find the immaturity of some of the traditional students absolutely amazing. The professors can do everything but just give them a completed copy of an assignment to just sign and turn back in, and they still can't be arsed to do their work. They put a lot of energy into their excuses, though.

Answer 3

I'm much older than you, but, yes, as a whole, all generations are immature at that age.

You don't remember it as such, since it was you and you couldn't see your own immaturity.

Of course, in every generation people vary. You, personally, may have been mature for your age, but your age group as a whole was, well, their age.

Remember, we have documented quotes from Socrates' time about how uncivilized the younger the generation were.

And when I was a child, in the 60's, well, you should have heard what was said of the younger generation then! (Looking back, I'd have to say the most striking characteristic was their naivete. "All You Need Is Love"....)

Adolescent brains are less mature than, well, mature brains. When you were that age, everything you did and felt seemed right to you then, and you may be selectively remembering.

Ask your parents, if you really want to know. I bet they could remind you of a few choice examples (when they stop laughing).

Answer 4

There are teens as good as ones a decade ago, and teens as bad. But the average is getting worse. In our schools we are teaching them that they are just 'advanced animals', so what would you expect them to act like?
I myself am 15, and even so am astounded by the way my peers act. I act, and generally talk like an adult, and actually sometimes better. So I am therefore surprised to see them acting in a way barely fitting a 6 year old.

Answer 5

We need to understand "immature" as either "not fully mature" or "acting in a childish manner"

In a sense, we all lack some degree of maturity or growing up, but if we act in a petulant or childish manner in regards to it, theat is the 'Immature' most people hone in on

Answer 6

You have to remember, this is the "Y" generation. I like to tell my nephew it's called that because this generation is always saying, "Why can't I do that", Why do I have to do that", "Why do I have to do it that way", etc..

To make matters worse, in this day of political correctness, they are always given excuses why things aren't their fault - Bad home environment, a couple hundred years ago your family were slaves, you have every right to illegally enter this country, society should bend and show tolerance for every lifestyle which can be thought up because we have no right to step on anyone's freedom by expecting them to assimilate into our society. etc.. This generation is being shown that there is no place for self-responsibility in today's world.

Answer 7

wow...what a statement Mr. pimp. i am your age as well and i would say that we are currently experiencing a situation where we reject the current up and comer generation just as the previous one did to us, i find myself hating the music of the day, the constant cellphone use, the lack of respect, and the entitlement to never being questioned or offended a completely distasteful experience when dealing with the current generation. i am back in college and i really hate the new generation here. when i went the first time i had open debates and ideas and now when you question someones opinion they get very offended and try yelling, so yes i think the new guys need some knocking around but the good news is that they will get it soon enough but they will need too much therapy for the resulting reality crash because they do not know how to deal with reality yet. we also went through something similar, so i find hope for them eventually.

Answer 8

Even worse, compare your generation to the Depression / WW2 generation. Those people were off fighting WW2 at age 18, with many of them getting married before they left!

Answer 9

I think that we probably were alot more immature!@

Answer 10

worse...wait till you get to be 54 like me.... Im a cog.[ creepy old guy }