When do you become an adult?

[Eamar]

I don't think anyone is completely an adult until they have a child.

Disclaimer: I do not have a child, nor do I intend on having one anytime soon. Just something I've kind of thought for years.

Hmmm... what about people who choose never to have children? And I'm sure we're all aware of some totally useless parents.

OT: I don't think there's a particular moment or rite of passage, but I can definitely agree with DoPo's point about those weird moments of realisation. I get them all the time (I'm still only 20 and a student, so I'm sure I've got a way to go yet in some regards), some of the most striking being things like when I completely organised a holiday, flights etc and paid for it with my own money without even thinking of mentioning it to my parents or having to ask for their permission or advice, renting a place to live for the first time, that sort of thing.

I guess the theme for me is doing things independent of your parents or some other older mentor figure. That doesn't necessarily mean total independence, since that's not always possible (my parents still give me money sometimes), but rather the state of mental readiness and ability to do important or "grown up" things yourself. Maybe also the desire to be independent is a part of it. I don't mean the standard teenage desire to get away from your parents, but the genuine wish and drive to provide for yourself rather than accepting the idea of relying on others for everything.

 

[ThatLankyBastard]

When you look at actual kids and start a comment sentence with "Back in my day..." or "I remember when..." you're an adult...

Ex. *Overhears kids playing Pokemon Black*
"Hey! there's like over 600 Pokemon in this one!""
*turns to friends*
"Man, I remember when there was only 151 Pokemon..."
...and then it hit me...

 

[Just_A_Glitch]

I don't think anyone is completely an adult until they have a child.

Disclaimer: I do not have a child, nor do I intend on having one anytime soon. Just something I've kind of thought for years.

Hmmm... what about people who choose never to have children? And I'm sure we're all aware of some totally useless parents.

The useless parent argument is why I added the "its debatable" line a minute or so after posting, though with the length of your post, you had probably already quoted me.

As for those without kids, they can certainly be mature and well-rounded people, no doubt. But the way I've always viewed adulthood has been "children and spouse". Just how I was raised. There isn't anything wrong about not having or wanting children (my mind isn't made up on it yet either).

 

[him over there]

When you stop caring about being an adult of course. Or alternatively when you start wishing you were a child.

 

[Eamar]

I don't think anyone is completely an adult until they have a child.

Disclaimer: I do not have a child, nor do I intend on having one anytime soon. Just something I've kind of thought for years.

Hmmm... what about people who choose never to have children? And I'm sure we're all aware of some totally useless parents.

The useless parent argument is why I added the "its debatable" line a minute or so after posting, though with the length of your post, you had probably already quoted me.

As for those without kids, they can certainly be mature and well-rounded people, no doubt. But the way I've always viewed adulthood has been "children and spouse". Just how I was raised. There isn't anything wrong about not having or wanting children (my mind isn't made up on it yet either).

Yeah my bad, I'd already quoted you.

I guess it's a fair enough standard to have if that's what you value. Personally I don't plan on ever having kids (but that's a whole different topic)... I quite like the idea of being able to claim perpetual childhood

 

[Just_A_Glitch]

I don't think anyone is completely an adult until they have a child.

Disclaimer: I do not have a child, nor do I intend on having one anytime soon. Just something I've kind of thought for years.

Hmmm... what about people who choose never to have children? And I'm sure we're all aware of some totally useless parents.

The useless parent argument is why I added the "its debatable" line a minute or so after posting, though with the length of your post, you had probably already quoted me.

As for those without kids, they can certainly be mature and well-rounded people, no doubt. But the way I've always viewed adulthood has been "children and spouse". Just how I was raised. There isn't anything wrong about not having or wanting children (my mind isn't made up on it yet either).

Yeah my bad, I'd already quoted you.

I guess it's a fair enough standard to have if that's what you value. Personally I don't plan on ever having kids (but that's a whole different topic)... I quite like the idea of being able to claim perpetual childhood

I just think having children and being able to adjust to their needs shows maturity that you can't really obtain in any other way.

But a lot of the time, I'm following that same plan you are. Eternal childhood is where its at! XD

 

[SwimmingRock]

Nobody ever becomes an adult, ever. Just very tall children.

I have a similar notion on the matter: Eventually you get old and wise enough that other people start to think you know what you're doing. Congratulations, you're an adult now. One day, you'll realize all the so-called 'adults' don't really know what they're doing any more than you do.

It's a kind of epiphany where the distinction between adult and not adult stops meaning much of anything aside from the legal definitions.

 

[Jonluw]

It's a gradual process.
No one ever becomes "fully adult". You don't reach a point where you're suddenly accepted as adult. You just wake up one day and it dawns on you that you have started doing all the things that you used to think only adults do. Like doing taxes and paying bills.
You keep on developing from there, but not at the same pace as in your teenage years.

 

[triggrhappy94]

I kind of liked the Headboard responce. It's not necessarily serious, but it brings up a good point. It marks the point where you feel it's neccessary to buy a completely pointless decoration that most people in your house aren't going to see.

Um, not necessarily.

My spouse and I went out to buy a headboard so we'd have something to attach our hand-cuffs and other bondage equipment to, and so that in certain positions, I would have something solid to grab on to.

So headboards DO serve a function. They are sexual accessories.

Edit: Not that the headboard isn't stylish and pretty. It is, and it matches the room decor (and my beautifully framed limited edition Xenogears poster) wonderfully.

I was actually thinking about mentioning how you could use them as kinky sexual accessories and how that was an adult thing to do, but I wasn't really sure how to phrase it.

 

[Brandon237]

When you stop caring about being an adult of course. Or alternatively when you start wishing you were a child.

We have a winner (to me anyway, sounds right). This to me seams to be a very good answer, not the first part, the bold one. Yes, that second sentence. 'Tis a wise statement.

I think though that "adult" means very different things to a lot of people, so it is somewhat impossible to get an objective answer. Although I would say not being dependant on your parents / family any-more is something that most can agree on as an important criterion for adulthood.

 

[Irridium]

From what I've learned in my life, it's when you stop depending on others, and other can depend on you.

Or something. Maybe not. Who the hell knows. I'm still young, I'll probably have another "theory" about it in a year or so.

 

[teebeeohh]

the moment when you stop running from your problems because it doesn't seem like the easiest way anymore. also when you start to realize how much better some things were when you were younger but still don't want to go back

 

[Questalace]

When you learn being a kid despite your age is better than growing up.

 

[Bara_no_Hime]

I was actually thinking about mentioning how you could use them as kinky sexual accessories and how that was an adult thing to do, but I wasn't really sure how to phrase it.

That's their best use.

Just make sure you get some rubber tabs to put on the back so the headboard doesn't sound like someone just punched a wall every time the bed shifts. If you forget to do that, it can be rather embarrassing...

Thank the gods for 24 hour Walmarts.

 

[Jedoro]

When you realize that the world's not as safe and nice as your parents want you to think it is. When you realize that there are monsters hiding in the dark.

 

[Ectoplasmicz]

At 18, because that's what society told me so it must be so.

Seriously though, I most certainly haven't become an adult yet. I don't think anybody knows fr certain, or if they even do. I guess there is a point where you simply mature.

 

[tthor]

When I killed my mentor, thus completing the blood ritual.

 

[Loop Stricken]

Nobody ever becomes an adult, ever. Just very tall children.

Oh, I agree with this. I'm almost twenty-bloody-seven and I'm no adult!