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Why are some people not growing up?

pgj2015

I see it quiet a lot, people in their 20s and 30s going to watch cartoons in the cinema meant for children, obsessing over footballers and pop stars children love, making big deals of their birthday, getting tattoos of Disney characters, playing Pokemon, going to comic con etc etc

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dxhound2005

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122048824#Comment_122048824

Don't exclude big children.

MrStuffins

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122048846#Comment_122048846

Yeah, because from the sounds of things you were 25 when they were releasing the original Snow White!

taxAHcruel

Have a feeling the OP would have really enjoyed a thread we had here a few year ago about Adult Coloring Books. I remember at least one Boards user getting really worked up about them - and much like the OP thinking they were indicative of people having "arrested development".

The distinction I made at the time and would make again here is that adults doing things that children also do - does not mean the adults are behaving like children or are not developing or growing up. The false assumption in play is that anything children do must be childish and the sole purview of children. The fact however is that adults can often do the same things children do but with different incentives and benefits. An act or pursuit is not childish merely because children also do them.

What would be important in any judgementalism on the matter though is whether the adult in question is doing such things exclusively or as part of their otherwise adult life. "Growing up" often means adopting new incentives, agendas, pursuits and responsibilities into our lives. It does not have to mean getting rid of all of the old ones however. Whether someone is "grown up" or not therefore is dependent on whether they step up to do grown up things when required. If they do - then anything else they also happen to do is irrelevant. The most interesting and wonderful people I know are ones who added to their life as they grew into an adult - not replaced their previous self with a new adult persona.

The OP reminds me of a cranky little old lady who once came up to me in the park when I was rolling around and generally messing around with my kids. She informed me in her haughty and entirely uninvited way that I should not be acting like a child but an adult, because it is my role to by an adult role model and act my age rather than their age so they learn how to grow up.

To hell with that. I can be an adult role model when it is required. I can role around in the mud with my kids in a silly giggling mess of fun when it is required too. The two are not mutually exclusive in the same way as playing Pokemon or watching animations in the cinema is not mutually exclusive with being an adult when called upon to be an adult. I pity whatever childhood she had to grow up with that impression of what a parent needs to be.

As for media - many "cartoons" on TV and movie are written and designed with adults in mind. There are jokes and nuance and innuendo and nostalgia specifically built in for the adult viewer in a way that allows both children and adults to watch them and derive entirely personal experiences from them. Any one who thinks that Toy Story 3 for example was written and produced just for kids is an outright fool.

And as for Comic Con - I ambled along to one last year and got to meet and have a nice long conversation with Sylvester McCoy. That was a joy. Again I am seeing little to suggest such places are for children only. And many "comics" and graphic novels are not written for children or even sometimes Young Adults. They can be very adult themed and quite dark at times.

gmisk

I don't see any issues tbh, people should be able to do what makes them happy and like what they like, they aren't harming anyone else.

I don't personally do any of the things OP listed bar happily going to see animated films in the cinema (robot dreams, the Spiderman ones), I am not talking about sitting in Kung Fu panda 4 with a load of screaming kids, but if that's somebody's thing who cares.

z80CPU

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058348269/why-are-some-people-not-growing-up

Instead of this the same individuals should be like the young teens with anti social behaviour on the buses. And milling around outside Tesco.

Or maybe have their own cider parties in the park.

Or go into MacDonald's and one of the gang buys a bag of chips while the rest act up.

These adults are spending money.

And it's not on prostitution or drug.

Have you on ignore for a reason OP.

Geuze

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058348269/why-are-some-people-not-growing-up

Indeed.

When you think that Orson Welles made Citizen Kane at age 26.

Just think about that.

Brian CivilEng

I work hard, pay my bills on time, look after my family and try to be a good person. If I want to get up early on Saturday morning to watch Scooby Doo before the kids take the big telly that’s my business.

yourdeadwright

Can i ask OP what do you expect people to be doing ? I'm in my 40's married with kids , i enjoy watching football & even playing 5 a side once a week, What else should i be doing ?

LambshankRedemption

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049069#Comment_122049069

Your comment reminded me of this scene from an "adult" movie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EpsqnGz5UK0

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049039#Comment_122049039

well you aren't doing a good job of ignoring me so. 😂

Victor

As someone put it.

Realise that, as an adult with money, you can go out and buy a birthday cake anytime you want and then eat it by yourself.

AndyBoBandy

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122048747#Comment_122048747

I'm far from being millionaire (very far), but I own a home, a holiday home, 2 nice cars and a yacht, but wouldn't dream of spending €80 on a pair of trainers… €40-€50 MAX…

I guess it's all about perspective…

pjohnson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122048816#Comment_122048816

Yeah animation can be quite wild at times as it doesn't need special effects/stunt doubles/health and safety and can just crank things to 11 quite easily.

Apiarist

Being an adult is to realise that you have responsibilities and then to act responsibly. That's it.

If an adult likes a Pokemon game and not playing it because they think it is inappropriate for adults, that has nothing to do with being adult. It is called being brainwashed.

Gregor Samsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049076#Comment_122049076

I don't know exactly what the OP thinks an adult should be doing, but it seems to involve a lot of watching First Dates Ireland, based on their posting history! 🤣

kowloon

People raging about society becoming soft confuse me. Aren't things supposed to get easier for the next generation? Aren't we supposed to make progress? Wanting the young to suffer more reeks of begrudgery. I'm reminded of that type of person who frames everything they do as work and suffering. Being miserable becomes a virtue.

As for the OP, you can make any hobby seem childish if you're reductive enough. It's better to let people enjoy what they enjoy, life's too short to worry about others being judgemental.

ancapailldorcha

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049163#Comment_122049163

I've raised this before and got a lot of older people saying that it's fine since they got theirs.

There's always a sense of projection in these sorts of threads. I'm not sure how an interest in say, Transformers is wrong but screaming racial abuse during a football match is fine.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049161#Comment_122049161

going through someone's posting history is creepy and sad in my opinion and your post isnt funny so well done.

redoctober

The responses here reek of the usual hypocrisy when it comes to self-expression: everyone can express their opinion except anyone who questions the status quo. I think what the OP is saying is "why are people acting more immaturely than previous generations?" I think it's a valid question. Maturity has a lot to do with taking on responsibility. As you move through life and take on more responsibility you realise how little you had taken on earlier and how self-centred you were and naive too. In the past our parents and grandparents often had to work hard at jobs from a young age and understood the value of that so they appreciated more the things they had worked for. The opposite of this is the entitled spoilt brat who thinks everything should be given to them and right now or if possible, yesterday. I think the latter person doesn't create a better society but actually diminishes it. Wasn't that what HG Wells was getting at in the Time Machine? The ones who just lived for pleasure everyday had lost all deeper knowledge and meaning in life.

Hooked

Ok, I'll bite!

Young people nowadays have decided not to follow the status quo. And even if they did, it's more difficult to.

They've the world in their pocket. Travel, dating sites, the latest apps and they are living life - rather than trying to copy their parents. At 45, I'm one of a small few of my mates that got married later in life (36) and has no kids and no desire to.

We almost get judged (wife and I) for buying what we like, when we like. And we ain't rich. But not having kids (and the expense that comes with them) makes us feel like we are.

Today's 20/30 somethings are not thinking about marriage, retirement, pensions and the long game… they are living in the now. Pints, coke, sex… how can I earn more by doing less. F≈≈k mortgages. F≈≈k car loans, insurance. F≈≈k growing up!

And F≈≈k my health. Today is today. We'll worry about tomorrow, tomorrow…

BUT it has it's pitfalls. And they don't want to know.

redoctober

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122048822#Comment_122048822

So you've no opinion on things like murder, abuse, racism, war, etc.?

[Deleted User]

I think every indication is that this generation have managed to avoid the sort of hard man/women attitude which was so emotionally crippling to my generation and my parent generation. The sort of damages which saw toxic masculinity and alcoholism as the norm rather than the exception. The current generation of young people have some of the lowest drink and drug consumption rates ever seen in this country.

I think their doing fine - and if we could only work out a way of getting them affordable housing they would be doing even better.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049360#Comment_122049360

That is exactly what I was asking, im not judging these people, im just fascinated by them, I cant get my head around the fact they enjoy things designed for children. what is next playing with toy soldiers at age 40? ok if that is what they want but the reason I started the thread was because im interested in the topic, if someone told me they loved cartoons meant for toddlers I wouldn't judge them.

Quags

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049394#Comment_122049394

Of course, but the thread is "Why are some people not growing up?" not what you mentioned so I gave my opinion on this topic 👍️

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049456#Comment_122049456

I wonder were the Ukrainians in a similar situation and how are them people doing now fighting a war?

Gregor Samsa

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049300#Comment_122049300

funny so well done

Thanks!

[Deleted User]

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049468#Comment_122049468

It seems that they have stepped up to the plate and done what is necessary. Starting out in life as an emotional cripple certainly isn't going to enhance your ability as a soldier.

Rocket_GD

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049394#Comment_122049394

It's completely different and I think you know that it is.

We're talking about a grown man getting annoyed and complaining about other adults for liking cartoons or wanting a photo with a footballer they like.

pgj2015

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122049481#Comment_122049481

im not in the least bit annoyed by them doing those things. Don't put words in my mouth.

pgj2015

Have they? maybe the fled the Country the minute it started. or do you know if the cartoon watching crowd stayed by choice and fought in the war?