the concept of the "man-child"

[Johnny Impact]

I define man-child as a guy who isn't emotionally or socially mature. It doesn't necessarily have anything to do with employment or lack of same. The biggest man-child I know makes $80,000 a year as a software engineer. It's just that after he pays the rent, he blows much of the rest on video games, sports cars, and drunk nights out. Simple pleasures aren't necessarily evil.

 

[chris11246]

Of course the man child is becoming more common place. People are going to college more and learning more. The reason man takes so long to mature is because we have to learn more. Therefore following that the more we learn the longer it should take to mature.

 

[shadyh8er]

I saw "man-child" and I immediately thought about this song [http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/nhkyoukoso/odoruakachann.htm]. Gives an interesting perspective behind the mindset of man-children.

 

[Littaly]

I'll reply to this thread as someone who is very much in that very man-child position (or at least very close to it), 21 years old, no job and no college education.

I won't lie, it's comfortable for now. But the feeling that I'm failing at life isn't, and the thought of staying like this for another two or three years terrifies me. And yet, right now, that's exactly where I'm heading. The problem is that "getting your sh*t together" is hard. Getting a job is more of a stride than having one, and university really just means postponing the problem by a couple of years.

I wouldn't mind taking responsibility for my life and grow up (at least partially, I mean, a grownup can still play video games, right? ), but it's so much harder than I ever envisioned it to be. Part of this is probably because I'm like that, which makes me sad. But part of it is because of the way things are, or at least, that's what I like to tell myself.

Or I don't know, maybe I sound like some loser who wants to blame his problems on other people, maybe I just need to stop acting like a baby and grow the f*ck up. Either way, it makes me feel uneasy :-/

 

[Littaly]

I'll reply to this thread as someone who is very much in that very man-child position (or at least very close to it), 21 years old, no job and no college education.

I won't lie, it's comfortable for now. But the feeling that I'm failing at life isn't, and the thought of staying like this for another two or three years terrifies me. And yet, right now, that's exactly where I'm heading. The problem is that "getting your sh*t together" is hard. Getting a job is more of a stride than having one, and university really just means postponing the problem by a couple of years.

I wouldn't mind taking responsibility for my life and grow up (at least partially, I mean, a grownup can still play video games, right? ), but it's so much harder than I ever envisioned it to be. Part of this is probably because I'm like that, which makes me sad. But part of it is because of the way things are, or at least, that's what I like to tell myself.

Or I don't know, maybe I sound like some loser who wants to blame his problems on other people, maybe I just need to stop acting like a baby and grow the f*ck up. Either way, it makes me feel uneasy :-/

 

[Worgen]

...I think I might be a bit of a "woman-child"... but I do want to at least improve on my life a bit... just as soon as I can stop procrastinating...

Hmm, that brings up an interesting point, is there such a thing as a woman child, I mean the traditional view of a man child is someone who acts childish and doesn't really support themselves but women in a traditional role are home makers. The thing is that girls traditionally play with dolls and pretend to be home makers when they are children so they never really stop doing that... in popular culture (I can name 4 shows right now that depict the non working house wife) Im not saying that tradition is good or anything but its weird how that is seen as a perfectly acceptable roll for a women in the media but if a guy is a stay at home dad it tends to only be because he is out of work and lazy and a "man child".

 

[Sleepingzombie]

I see Man-Child as something negative: A adult who hasent learned- or want to learn- to take responsability or respect others, a grown up verson of the brats on Xbox live.

 

[scorptatious]

Well I know that when I hear the term man-child, I immediately think of this guy:

As for me? Well, I'm 19 and I still live with my parents. I'm not particularly skilled as an adult. But I am trying to become more independent. I'm working a part time volunteer job in order to gain more work experience and I am going to counseling to help me figure out what kind of occupation I'd like to work towards. And now I think I'm getting a basic idea of what kind of field I want to work in. So at the very least, I'm slowly, but surely making my way towards independence.

 

[Sleepingzombie]

If your trying to, your doing well. For me its not about having your own place, good job, being in collage, becuase these things arent easy to get. Its about the Attitude, trying to be capable of being a adult in the first place.

But guys/gals reading this:

Back in my friends day (who is 40), in the boot camp, the 20 year somethings hadnt even made their own beds themselfves, ever. So in comparison, 20-year olds of today are doing a good job. That doesent excuse a bad attitude however.

Moreover, being "childish": watching cartons, manga and being open to "occult" stuff, is not "Man childish". In my opinion its all about attitude.

 

[Don Savik]

Frank Miller seems to have a problem with it:

[a]http://www.bleedingcool.com/2011/11/13/putting-frank-millers-words-into-batmans-mouth/[/a]

You kids with your iPads and your "Lords of Warcraft."

Lords of Warcraft? Frank Miller needs to be punched in the face for that. Even the modern day hipster isnt that fucking stupid. Everyone knows what World of Warcraft is, he isnt fooling anyone. But than again, it seems the great Frank Miller has devolved into a crazy anti-american lunatic.

Every generation is different. I'm sorry some people had to work 80 hours a day in the snow uphill to feed 20 children and go to college to get a job at the supermarket. Not my problem society is changing, maybe you should to. Being a leech is bad, but hobbies don't determine maturity. People criticize me for playing Dungeons and Dragons and Magic the Gathering, but what do they do thats so superior? Get drunk and party every night? Play sports? Most people I know are too stupid to comprehend a game of Magic (no joke), and I'M THE LITTLE KID HERE?

 

[Gnarynhar]

I too fall a little into this category. I'm 19 and I'm living at home with my mum while I'm looking for work. I do clean for myself and cook with what very limited knowledge I have but unlike my friends at uni I am not fully self reliant. I've had some of them say to me I need to get my "shit together" and "move the fuck out before you're a basement dweller". I feel a little bad that I'm not fully self reliant. But I pay rent. Well. If you call £50 a week rent anyway. But I do find I get looked down on even at 19.

To me, the term 'man-child' refers to totally irresponsible men that contribute absolutely nothing. So at least to me you don't really qualify for the term since you actually pay a rent, can take care of some of the basics and are actually looking for a job. A real man-child is someone who can't or won't cook, clean up after themselves or pay their way in any shape or form and has no real intention of doing so and has no physical or mental disabilities that would stop them from doing so.

On a side note, depending on the housing market in some areas, is "basement dwelling" with a minor rent until you can afford something decent really so bad?

 

[Zeckt]

I'll be honest with you guys. I'm slightly below average intelligence, not so much that I'm stupid but it makes it much harder to get a job. Coupled into the fact I've never even had parents to help me (lived on my own since I was 16) and had @#$@ all help to get into college. I never did get in, so my resume is always at the bottom of the pile.

Coupled into the fact that I'm now 30 and have a problem where I look like I'm 20, no one takes me seriously for interviews / relationships. And you want to know something? I'm perfectly happy working airport security earning slightly below average pay and having 1 night stands, I do what I want and everyone else can go to hell if they have a problem with it because thats what was forced on me. All I do is play video games and have sex, and am definitely a "man child." Because I have no real choice. So why not enjoy it?

 

[Technocrat]

I find "man-child" a sexist term, representing the continued current acceptability of associating negative aspects with the male gender.