the concept of the "man-child"

[Vault101]

Im not entirly sure how long this steryotype of "man-child" has been around for, Id hazard a guess its "sort of" a recent thing..."sort of"

anyway it seems that the way things are in the world..the "man child" is become more common place

http://www.cracked.com/blog/5-ways-we-ruined-occupy-wall-street-generation/

I know I already posted this article here a while ago, however #3 touches on this topic and was thr part that was the most interesting

this is as far as i can tell for alot of reasons..social and ecenomic,

so anyway my first question is do you think this is a bad thing?[/B] or is it really just a product of society changing, and giving us the Idea that we can "do what we want" and take on less responsibility, I mean right now, the Idea of getting with somone and having kids is terrifying on so many levels

I mean should younger people start "getting their shit together"...but then again whats so great about "getting your shit together" anyway? what does that even mean?

second is what do you define as a "man-child" and do you fit the description at all?[/B]

in alot of ways I fit it (aside from the man part) I spend alot on video games..(and stuff probably considered to be on the "loner-nerd" end of the spectrum) dont have much responsibily and Im probably coming from a very privaliged postion in life..and the posters...lots and lots of posters

however I do have a full time job...and pay some expenses look after myself completley (cooking/cleaning and all that)

 

[Aeonknight]

Man-Child is a hazing term that the older generation uses to describe "them pesky kids". Because as we all know, if you didn't go uphill both ways barefooted in the snow to school, you are the source of the world's problems.

Every generation does this with the next generation because it's the only way they can feel good about getting old, seeing as how it has no other real benefits.

 

[lacktheknack]

Childhood is for enjoyment. I regret nothing.

However, most people aren't going to transition well from childhood to adulthood without some major reevaluation. I'm in university, and I'm "getting my shit together", ie. entertaining myself less, working harder, rearranging and filling my schedule to maximize output, blah blah blah, and I'm STILL in great danger of flunking out.

I define a "man-child" as someone who never made a mental and priority transition between childhood and adulthood, excepting if they had very independent/work-heavy childhoods. A good acid test is if someone can sit down and work twelve hours a day for a week straight while still cooking and cleaning after themselves, leaving themselves no time for fun.

 

[SillyBear]

The concept of childhood has completely been turned on its head. By age twelve in the past, most children were working hard labour jobs. By age 15 they were married and by 16 they were parents.

So yeah, it is possible to be a "child" until you are in your mid twenties.

I come from Ghana and because of that I am blessed because I actually understand the importance of hard work. This is the sole reason why I am somehow managing to do very well in med school with a five year old son. I count my lucky stars everyday that I wasn't raised by the classic western "modern parent". I learnt very early in life that if you want something, you gotta work for it and you don't deserve anything from scratch. You have to prove you deserve it. I'm trying to instill these same values in my son, but it is difficult because here in England most parents - through no act of malice or sinister motives - coddle and spoil their children to the point where nothing is ever THEIR fault. It's always someone else's.

I think the real problem is self entitlement. I love to speak with old people, and when I ask them what they think the worst trait of people today they nearly always say one thing. Self entitlement.

People are becoming more and more self entitled and feel like they have tremendous worth when they don't. We are a nation of arm chair critics, of pretentious, arrogant pseudo intellectuals and of cry babies. The legal system reflects this too. You fall over in the supermarket, sue the super market! It's not YOUR fault! It's theirs! You buy a game you don't like? GET ON THE INTERNET AND CRY ABOUT IT!

It's absolutely pathetic when you take a few steps back and view these things from an outside perspective. Absolutely pathetic.

All this stuff adds to "man children".

Is it a huge problem? Well, it's too early to see. We'll know if it was a problem or not when the man children have grown up and are running the country.

 

[manic_depressive13]

I was under the impression that a man-child is an adult who is immature and entitled. So a childish man, really. Except when you invert those terms it seems to evoke an even more offensive, pathetic image. I have used it to refer to people older than me, because if they were younger at this point they would still just be "child". I don't think people who refuse to flip burgers qualify. No one wants to flip burgers.

 

[Signa]

I see the term thrown around a little too casually. Just as Sravankb said about his in-law: there is a time and a place for everything. I think the term comes from women a lot, who only want mature men that they can control in some way. When they see a guy trying to have fun, he gets written off as a loser and a manchild, because only kids are allowed to have fun like that.

 

[isometry]

I don't think that delaying a family in favor of playing videogames is necessarily a bad thing, but by their mid-20s they should be not just supporting themselves but also working towards adult earning power so they can one day make major purchases (house, car, medical) and save for retirement.

Most university students are not serious enough about their studies or careers to really make something of it after they graduate. Even most students with degrees in subjects like math, science, engineering, are not valuable until they have years of on the job experience. Some of them get that by interning while in school, but most are too busy partying and slacking.

To summarize, I accept new hobbies like videogames, social media, and other indoor activities as part of the changing world, and even the reduction in family-making is a normal part of social progress, but I'm disappointed in most of my generation for their laziness and lack of vision.

 

[Mr Thin]

I think some of the problem is that we (I'm about OPs age) have completely different upbringings to our parents, and especially to their parents; but we're still being raised to hold the same values.

So when we are children, they tell us to go outside and play, despite the majority of today's entertainment taking place indoors. Or when we get older, and they tell us to socalise and make new friends, they don't realise that this can be done via multiplayer games and social networks, instead of playgrounds.

But while that may go some way towards explaining why my generation is more immature than my parents generation, it doesn't excuse it. A lot of us have it too easy, and are simply full of ourselves. Unfortunately I'm also describing myself here.

So... yes, it's a bad thing.

 

[Jedoro]

A "man-child" is someone over 18 who still acts like they're 8 and just wants to have fun without accepting any responsibility.

By pretty much any definition, I'm not one. I'm almost 21, working 40 hours a week, in college taking 12 credit hours of classes, living in an apartment with a roommate, and paying all my own damn bills. But I still play video games on my 360 and laptop, and I know I'm gonna get The Old Republic now that I've played the beta. I think I'll have earned that.

 

[Aeonknight]

Man-Child is a hazing term that the older generation uses to describe "them pesky kids". Because as we all know, if you didn't go uphill both ways barefooted in the snow to school, you are the source of the world's problems.

Every generation does this with the next generation because it's the only way they can feel good about getting old, seeing as how it has no other real benefits.

Hey, I'll be 28 in 4 weeks and I had to go uphill both ways to school barefooted AND I had a job. Then I joined the Marines... and you know what? The kids joining the Marines today don't even have it as tough as I did, My Drill Instrustors hit me!

Hehe, 27 and I'm an old man \o/

I'm younger than you and I myself feel like an old man from time to time. Gotta love it.

 

[Saulkar]

I think I fit that description. I agressively oppose maturing beyond a preteen (but I am not naive or overtly self entitled), I work a part time job, I still live with my parents (but I pay for most of my food, entertainment, and educations plus bills like internet and utilities), and I simply do not want to change, except getting out of my parents house as soon as I complete highschool. I am academically (I think I spelt that wrong) challenged and thus I'm in my 6th year of Highschool. Next year however will be frought with misery as I move halfway across the country to live by myself.

 

[Danzavare]

As entertaining as Cracked.com is, it's hardly where you go for informed opinions. ;

I'm 19 and as far as I'm concerned, I now have the money to do a lot of childish things I couldn't when I was a child. *Eyes Knuckles plushies on top of the bookshelf* I live with my family because I'm a university student and since my university is right in the heart of the city, I can't afford to live anywhere nearby. I travel 4 hours a day on a regular university day and I'm holding a distinction average. I have my priorities in order and am working toward becoming a teacher (Once I start to teach I plan to use that money to move out and after a few years, return to university to become a fully fledged academic). Not moving out at 18 isn't necessarily a bad thing if you're doing it with some purpose in mind or simply aren't ready yet.

The problems with the man-child have nothing to do with men being childish, it's just a matter of being irresponsible. There are many people who move out young only to end up on welfare. There are many people who 'mature' too quickly and stick themselves in financial ruts. There are many successful adults that get further in their lives because they can be responsible while embracing the childish/light-hearted aspects of themselves. Most of the more 'respectable adult' careers like medicine are expensive and take many years to complete, if you're not from a wealthy family it's just not viable to have a decent living and attend university for those courses.

The fact that someone enjoys 'childish' activities is arbitrary when considering their capacity to be responsible and it's superficial to assume the only reason someone doesn't move out is laziness.

Also, the idea that because a past generation had a crappy upbringing the new generation should is just petty and stupid. :/ We should learn from the past, not be restricted by it.

 

[Vault101]

A 'man child' is anyone who doesn't support themself by the age of 18 21. If you're still sponging off of others at this age, you are a 'man child'.

-'whats so great about "getting your shit together" anyway?'-

Really?

Well, if you want to be a 'man child', then I guess getting your shit together isn't such a great thing.

EDIT: If you don't like my definition of a man child, you can always call them spoiled freeloaders too, it's just as accurate.

EDIT2: The article linked says this: -'Think Kelso in That '70s Show, or Joey from Friends. My generation aspired to be that guy, the kid in a grownup body with simple, childish appetites and aspirations. I was that guy for years -- a dude can get very popular doing that.'-

If anyone really aspires to be that, or thinks they can become popular by doing so, then maybe they don't have the mental capacity to actually live on their own, and maybe they should stay 'close to the nest'. Or maybe the combined 3 episodes I saw of both those shows was misleading...

well Ithink it depnds on what somone means by "gettong ones shit together" again as somone said there are generational things

for example in the eyes of some "getting my shit together" might mean stop playing videogames (ever), find myself a man and start procreating....now why the hell would i want to do that?

I think (as most reasonalbe people would) that you can do whatever the hell you want provided its not coming out of somone elses pocket (in no way do I condone "leeching")

also its interesting, I watch american beauty last night which has the issue of "suburbia and the midlife crisis"...which makes me think about what we are "suposed" to want out of life...and I dont think anyone should tell us what we should/do want out of life except ourselfs

I see the term thrown around a little too casually. Just as Sravankb said about his in-law: there is a time and a place for everything. I think the term comes from women a lot, who only want mature men that they can control in some way. When they see a guy trying to have fun, he gets written off as a loser and a manchild, because only kids are allowed to have fun like that.

I would like to think thats more of a hollywood steryotype than somthing in real life

Im a chick and it annoys the FUCK out of me (knocked up is one offender)

 

[Zack Alklazaris]

I play and laugh and skip (sometimes) when I can, but when its crunch time I get my shit together and I get what needs to be done done. There is no reason to be a low oh hum adult. We all need fun in our lives and we all have only 1 so live it up. Just don't let that fun ruin the progress of your future.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

Im not entirly sure how long this steryotype of "man-child" has been around for, Id hazard a guess its "sort of" a recent thing..."sort of"

Nah.
James Dean ring a bell?

Man-Child is a hazing term that the older generation uses to describe "them pesky kids".

Hey, unfair. Being an older generation, I have that used on me as well.

It's an economic thing. By now (whenever now is) you should be able to provide an income to spend on whatever they want to sell you. If you're not doing that, then you're wasting their potential sales.

Same reason why you should be married by now, you should have kids and you should be in a size 0.

Here's a thing: I pay my own way, I play games, I don't get caught up in stupid commitments and I provide a decent public service. I also don't use drugs (much) or prostitutes dressed as Nazis, fiddle expenses, beat my partners, spend all my time in front of the telly, drink myself into oblivion or destroy other people's works.

I have friends (male/female/transgender), I read, I game, I write and most of all, I don't do half the stupid shit that REAL MEN or REAL WOMEN do daily in the scare rags the others put so much faith in.

I'm 41, single and a gamer. If that makes me a man-child, then so be it. But I've had a more fulfilling, helpful and peaceful life than if I'd done half the things I was meant to do.

The people that hammered us down are now hammering you lot. And blaming us for it. As they did to our parents.

Screw them. Do your own thing.

Oh, and man-child?

Ey!

(Btw, works equally well for women. They're not "mad cat-ladies" either. Well, some are, but they're obvious.)

Spoiler: A special message from Barack Obama

 

[Aeonknight]

Man-Child is a hazing term that the older generation uses to describe "them pesky kids".

Hey, unfair. Being an older generation, I have that used on me as well.

That's the beautiful irony of it all. EVERYONE is a victim and guilty of this. They may not throw around the Man-Child word, but everyone at some point has looked down on someone younger than them, because they've been looked down upon themselves.

Even the older generation (relative to me) gets called punk kids by the Even Older Than Them generation.

And on the flipside, my generation looks down on the "12 yr old" gamers.

It's just what we do. It's the one thing you can always hold over someone's head.