Replies

Shafted because they have to grow up early while their peers expect to behave like children until they are 25? Oscar Handlin, the historian, had only contempt for the radicals he encountered at Harvard, because he knew that among the immigrants he studied , a fifteen year old was already a man or a woman. That was before the invention of that pampered creature known as the adolescent.

Shafted because they have to grow up early while their peers expect to behave like children until they are 25?

Excellent point, RobbyS. I'm 27, married, and now have two children (18 months and 3 weeks old, respectively). Most of my "peers" have not reached adulthood mentally, and it's sad, especially now since society assumes that men in their 20's are not responsible.

I didn't come from a large family, but somehow (perhaps being part of the TLM environment) I managed to develop a strong sense of responsibility at a young age. 50 years ago that may have been normal; today it's considered "growing up too fast."

Oscar Handlin, the historian, had only contempt for the radicals he encountered at Harvard, because he knew that among the immigrants he studied , a fifteen year old was already a man or a woman. That was before the invention of that pampered creature known as the adolescent.

Interesting. I came from (what was for that area) a small family of five (two sisters). When my Dad hurt his back, I had to take charge of the family farm at the age of 13. After that year, I no longer could interact with my peers at school like I had before. In short, because I had to grow up, and they didn't. I no longer cared what type of jeans I wore, because there were about twenty sows getting ready to farrow at home and they had to be moved either before or after school. When you have to deal with reality, all the popularity games seem very stupid.

Contrast that with my little sister, who is still a child at 26. This culture is so odd in that it glorifies having no responsibilities and yet every one wants to be treated with total respect. We as a nation have reared up three generations of barbarian children who think mainly of themselves, and now we wonder why western society is committing mass suicide.