Why So Serious?
 

This is an article detailing and pointing out the flaws in today's "mature" society.

Where can I start? Maturity. You hear people complaining about the maturity of today's youth. I myself have trouble with this frequently. My dad thinks it's immature that I want to learn kendo and swing a stick around.

My point is that I think society is becoming too linear and sheep-like. They think that if they don't conform to everyone else's standards, then they're weird, or stupid. But what they don't realize is that everyone is an individual, and by taking that away and conforming to what everyone else wants you to do, is what actually makes you weird, or stupid, in my eyes.

Why should we have to mature and stop doing the things we loved to do as a kid? If someone enjoys building with LEGOS as a child, why should he have to stop using them after a certain age because people think it's immature? My opinion is that a lot of depression in the world and suicides are caused because people can't deal with the fact that the world won't accept them for who they are.

If people could just accept that everyone is different and not everyone wants to "grow up" or do certain things, I think a lot of the world's conflict would be solved. But no, people just NEED for other people to be just like them. People also complain about a loss of self-identity these days. Well if everyone would stop doing what everyone else wants them to, this wouldn't be a problem.

Another issue is religion. Christians being the worst of them all. (no offense to anyone, just let me make my point) I see Christians on the news or on the internet telling other people that they will suffer for eternity in a flaming realm of hatred because of simple life choices they make. Why should someone suffer because they like someone of the same gender? Or because they don't believe in a god who has never proven his existence? It is because these people, who force us to conform, want us all to be miserable with them.

I will probably think of more to add to this article, but for now, I want to hear what everyone else thinks and see if anyone has anything to add.

You should watch the film Accepted... It'll make you feel better ;)

Seen it. Not exactly the point I'm trying to make.

I think that you`ve mistaken "immaturity" for "individuality". They are not quite the same things. Someone can still hold on to their dreams, and continue to do things they enjoyed as a child - but be mature at the same time.
Maturity isn`t about conforming, but about having the ability not to screw yourself over.

Maturity is realizing that it may be great to build stuff with Legos, but that they cost money so some time must be dedicated to living so that you can comfortably support your Lego fun.
Immaturity would be thinking that someone should support you because all you feel like doing is playing with Legos day in and day out... And likely being offended when someone points out that such a line of thinking is immature and tells you to get a job.

Ok, but you're missing the point of the article.

I guess I am, too.

That's too bad. Kendo is a serious and athletic study. I can't imagine thinking it would be "immature" to want to study kendo. I fear, however, that you are applying you father's misunderstanding of kendo with society as a whole.
Compared with modern society of the 80s, 60s, 40s, etc. I don't know how this is possible. We didn't have access to the things young people do today. Linear and sheep-like? No way. The Internet gives people access to music, trends, information, etc. that no one had under two decades ago. I got into Japanese music in high school only because I had friends from Japan who let me listen to their CDs. That was the only access available. Anime wasn't a word in English then, and there was very little access to Japanese animation.

This is an opinion that young people have. The older you get the less you care about what people think about you and your hobbies, and the less you care about how other people "fit in".

I would agree with that.

As an adult I certainly a lot of the same hobbies I did as a kid. Of course, I work for a living, so I have to be responsible about how I spend my money and my time, but that doesn't mean I enjoy my hobbies any less.

There are lots of adults that enjoy LEGOs as adults. I have no negative opinion of adult LEGO builders. There's some cool stuff out there.

A lot of the suicides and depression in young people is because of not being accepted by their peers...this is true. The older you get the lower this becomes important, though.

Again, this is an epidemic among those under the age of 25.

I have not heard anyone complain about that...and I am not even sure what it means. I am over 25, though. If one of my peers complained about "losing self-identity" I would probably laugh at them.

I agree with that. I stopped in my late teens. Very liberating.
Like Nyororin said, I think you are confusing "individuality" and "immaturity".

Dude apart from the religious aspect = i fully agree with you, in my opinion people should be allowed to do WHATEVER they want as long as they dont hurt anyone else - however if you say that everyone should be allowed to do everything they want then also gives others the right to hate you for doing it lol !

the best thing to do is learn to ignore the complainers !

I don't think it's necessarily the case that somone would stop liking something because "it's for kids", but rather they just get tired of it. Like Legos.

Why don't you agree about the religion parts of my article?

You think it's right that these religious fanatics think it's okay to attack (verbally) someone because of how they live their life?

I don't think you meant that, but please explain.

Forum Rules:
2.4 Topics of religion and sexual orientation are not permitted.

That's probably why. Please stick to the rules. Religious discussion is not allowed here, so please continue with the other topic instead.

This reminds me... In health class we're in sex ed right now, and my teacher said about 200 years ago, a lot of people would start puberty years later than when people normally do today...

That was... random.

well i think we all need both. if all u had in u were "just being mature" then that's boring. and for the kendo stick it's an interest of yours that have nothing to do with maturity. idk if u guys know what i am trying to say.

i meant doing something like a kid once in a while is cute. but my denfinition for "mature" is being responsible and have a brain of ur own. if u r childish u can still be mature at the same time.:D (if u dont get it then just pretend i wrote nothing since i'm a bad explainer):D

Wanting to learn Kendo can me immature if you want to learn it for the wrong reasons.

Example: Wouldn't you call it immature if you wanted to learn Kendo just to piss your parents off?

If you class that as stupid (which it is), then pretty much all things immature are (or can be classed as) stupid!

i have to agree with you on that, i think realizing your stupid is a sign of maturity....

So wait, being those things doesn't make you immature? What's your definition of being immature?

I'm not going by stupid = immature... If anything, I'm going by stupidity is included in immaturity.

Nevermind... by what you're saying, you can't really disagree if someone says that Kendo is immature or anything for that matter! So this convo is kind of a mute.

Also, I didn't say everything that is stupid is immature. Otherwise I would've agreed when you said I said stupid = immature. Stupidity being included in immaturity implies that other things need to be included in immaturity for it to be immature!

haha... boredom strikes again for the both of us!:D

It was a joke, MMM. Why so serious? :)

Todays society is serious, cant help that. If you are who you are and did things you want in the world atleast of adults you would be looked at as childish I don't see where Kendo is childish but maybe legos but whom ever does that should be able to do that if they want.

Im pretty serious these days and Im only 21, I see alot more immature grown ups around me, I think seriousness depends on location not everyone is serious or uptight these days in public around elder people I am most certainly serious, and around other peers unless I know them well. People do tell me I act childish in a way since I am on the Internet alot, my career choices seem childish to them, and I tend to play around with my neices and nephews alot. But even some family members say Im too serious for my age. lol

I understand where you're coming from, but I can't help but feel a little irked. Let's make it clear, first of all, that I am, in fact, a Christian; a moderate Christian, border lining agnosticism. I am no Bible thumper, and I also find some Christians' behaviors disturbing.

However, frankly speaking... Yes, I do somewhat relate to the concept that sinners will get punished for "committing acts of evil." This concept isn't exclusive to Christianity or to religion; it is integrated into the legal system and even adopted as a way of living: bad decisions equals suffering and/or punishment. Perhaps this logic is too harsh for some people these days? I don't know... but I digress... This isn't about the content of the religion (we don't need another one of those debates), this is about the social tolerance of the religion.

It irks me that Christians get generalized as extremists. It is unfair in that if I were to say that all Muslims are extremists, people would tell me I'm wrong. And, yet, it is somehow different in the case of Christians.

I think part of the issue revolves around the fact that non-believers primarily look at the negative aspects of a religion partly as a way to reinforce their own beliefs -- or lack thereof. No offense.