21?! That's old...

[00slash00]

So, it's my 21st birthday today! Woo!
Sadly, it starts with an exam... Then drinking. Lots and lots of drinking.

Anyway, it seems that 21 is considered the official boundary of grown-up-ness, pretty much wherever you are. Would you agree with that? At what point do you reckon someone's an adult? And would you argue a difference between someone being an adult and being grown-up?

no, the day you graduate from grad school or college (wherever you decide your education ends) is when youre an adult. the only thing that changes now is that drinking is no longer illegal, but if youre in college alcohol is easy to get your hands on anyway so it doesnt really make much difference. about a month before my 21st birthday, i started to get bored of drinking. now at 25, i rarely ever drink alcohol. dont get me wrong, if i go to a party i will still get blackout drunk and dance like an idiot (and by dance, i mean do ddr steps to whatever music is playing), but those are generally very rare occasions.

also if, like me, you transfer to a new school at 21 and have to start over as a freshman, being 21 just means people will try to use you to buy alcohol for them

 

[Not-here-anymore]

So, it's my 21st birthday today! Woo!
Sadly, it starts with an exam... Then drinking. Lots and lots of drinking.

Anyway, it seems that 21 is considered the official boundary of grown-up-ness, pretty much wherever you are. Would you agree with that? At what point do you reckon someone's an adult? And would you argue a difference between someone being an adult and being grown-up?

As for 21 - no, it's not. You are considered an adult at 18 down here legally or otherwise. You just live in a fucked up country that let's you sign up for war before it lets you drink.

Dude, I'm from the UK. I've been drinking legally for 3 years now.

Whilst 18 makes you legally an adult, you're kind of looked down on as a kid until you hit at least 21, it seems. Hence all the 'ID anyone who looks under 21' thing, despite the fact that there is nothing in this country that requires you to be that old to purchase it.

Hell, some stores have a 'don't sell age-restricted products to anyone under 21' policy - I couldn't buy superglue in poundland, even after a lengthy conversation with a cashier regarding the legal age for such being 16, because of company policy.

Down here it's "anyone that looks under 23", and for good reason.

Anyway, just the way you talked about drinking so immaturely I thought'd you come from the US, not someone with three years drinking experience.

*shrug*

Sorry if this comes out slightly belligerently/aggressively, but what? Mentioning that drinking would occur is an immature way of talking about it? I could understand if I'd said "Woo! I'm gonna go get hammered and it'll be awesome!", sure.
As far as student birthdays go, I'm actually not gonna be drinking all that much. Possibly more than is entirely healthy, but staying well away from memory loss territory.

 

[Trolldor]

So, it's my 21st birthday today! Woo!
Sadly, it starts with an exam... Then drinking. Lots and lots of drinking.

Anyway, it seems that 21 is considered the official boundary of grown-up-ness, pretty much wherever you are. Would you agree with that? At what point do you reckon someone's an adult? And would you argue a difference between someone being an adult and being grown-up?

As for 21 - no, it's not. You are considered an adult at 18 down here legally or otherwise. You just live in a fucked up country that let's you sign up for war before it lets you drink.

Dude, I'm from the UK. I've been drinking legally for 3 years now.

Whilst 18 makes you legally an adult, you're kind of looked down on as a kid until you hit at least 21, it seems. Hence all the 'ID anyone who looks under 21' thing, despite the fact that there is nothing in this country that requires you to be that old to purchase it.

Hell, some stores have a 'don't sell age-restricted products to anyone under 21' policy - I couldn't buy superglue in poundland, even after a lengthy conversation with a cashier regarding the legal age for such being 16, because of company policy.

Down here it's "anyone that looks under 23", and for good reason.

Anyway, just the way you talked about drinking so immaturely I thought'd you come from the US, not someone with three years drinking experience.

*shrug*

Sorry if this comes out slightly belligerently/aggressively, but what? Mentioning that drinking would occur is an immature way of talking about it? I could understand if I'd said "Woo! I'm gonna go get hammered and it'll be awesome!", sure.
As far as student birthdays go, I'm actually not gonna be drinking all that much. Possibly more than is entirely healthy, but staying well away from memory loss territory.

I apologise. I'm at University currently and surrounded by 'barely legals'.
My tolerance for heavy drinking is low at the moment, I'm getting antsy about alcohol.

 

[AvsJoe]

I don't think so. I am 21 yet don't consider myself an adult. I consider some people younger than me an adult. It is a state of mind more than anything else.

This one is wise beyond his years. I, too, am of the opinion that I am not yet an adult, and I'm 23. I haven't quite put away childish things or given up my childish ways (depending on which version you read), so I still consider myself a child.

 

[Goofguy]

I'd say being an adult is more so a state of having the necessary responsibilities. When you own a place, start a family, have debts to pay, have a job to support your means etc and you understand the implications of all of them, you're an adult.

 

[octafish]

Muddy Waters says you are a man, or at least a Mannish Boy, that should be enough for anyone.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

I remember my 21st...I had already got to the point where I was done with alcohol...it was a short trial period. Some would say that's a sure mark of maturity but since 21, I've lived at home with Dad...then with Mom...and currently with my GF and her parents. I'm 23 and still about as mature as a teen (or younger) since I watch cartoons, game, drink soda almost exclusively (ok, maybe not that much) and am currently unemployed. I have been known to hold a job once I've had one (seriously: I've been doing the kind of work that would count as 'customer service' since 2006) but am currently unemployed.

Grown up I am. A grown-up I am not.

 

[Android2137]

I believe you are legally an adult when you are capable of living on your own without your parents'/legal guardians' help. Aid from friends and/or roommates is allowable as long as you aren't totally mooching off of them.

Happy birthday and I hope you get nice and plastered, but not so much that you wake up to something shocking and unpleasant in the morning.

 

[Cogwheel]

Happy birthday!

Remember, you're not old, you're a timeless classic. It's all about wording.

 

[duowolf]

I'm 32 and while I might be an adult I certainly don't think I'm a grown-up since that seems to mean giving up all the fun things in life and becoming like everyone else. In which case I never want to be a grown-up if that makes any sense at all.

 

[infohippie]

Ha! I'm 35 and I don't really consider myself an adult. I'm just an overgrown kid. Being an adult sounds like no fun at all.

 

[aba1]

So, it's my 21st birthday today! Woo!
Sadly, it starts with an exam... Then drinking. Lots and lots of drinking.

Anyway, it seems that 21 is considered the official boundary of grown-up-ness, pretty much wherever you are. Would you agree with that? At what point do you reckon someone's an adult? And would you argue a difference between someone being an adult and being grown-up?

Ive been treated like a adult since I was 19 I turned 21 this year too in February

 

[ImperialSunlight]

There is no such thing as an adult; it is but a myth.
And I'm 17 and I'll be able to drink in 2 years
Canada's awesome XD

 

[silversnake4133]

Happy Birthday. ^_^

 

[burningdragoon]

You are a, get ready for it, young adult. Anyway, you aren't an adult because of your age. You are an adult because of how you behave. A good way to tell is at some point you will be around people, friends or not, that will be acting like spoiled, whiny, bullshit-spewing assholes and think to yourself "man, we're adults now and I'm tired of this bullshit." And on that day good sir, you will be an adult.

edit: an oh yes, happy birthday.

 

[Jedoro]

I'd say once you're 18 AND have moved out on your own, then you're an adult.

 

[thelonewolf266]

There is no such thing as an adult; it is but a myth.
And I'm 17 and I'll be able to drink in 2 years
Canada's awesome XD

In the UK you can legally drink at eighteen so Ha.
Sorry I don't know why I felt I had to one up you I apologise.

Anywho I would probably class people that are 21 as adults but I don't really think it changes anything and I'd a class a grown up as someone who has forgotten how to have fun cause really they are the only people that would class themselves as grown ups.

Oh and Happy Birthday.

 

[Bios06]

Happy birthday, hope you drink a ton and enjoy it!...just not too much

As for your question. adulthood can be measured both physically and mentally. While many people reach physical maturity (adulthood) some of them never ever mentally grow up. Exhibit A) my brother, 30 years old, functions about on par with a 12 year old, maturity wise anyway.

In my mind, mental maturity is something that can occur at any age, as it seems to come more with responsibility. I've met people who were (and I once was myself) young kids thrust into responsibilities and tasks and it is necessary to tend to them and function as an adult would, these people tend to be mature at a much younger age and you can tell simply by talking to them.
This, however, is how I define adulthood, and many people may have their own ideas about what constitutes adulthood/maturity.