Why are teenagers so dumb?
- Thread starter MASTACHIEFPWN
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Because it's when WE ALL (key phrase) go through a period in our lives where we mature and think we know everything and trying to find some semblance of stability, both in terms of our independence and our own 'image' but also in terms of hormone levels and other kinds of bullshit drama.
Most grow out of it, and most go on to wonder and complain about how the new generation of teenagers are stupid, disturbed or hopeless.
Most grow out of it, and most go on to wonder and complain about how the new generation of teenagers are stupid, disturbed or hopeless.
Because it's literally not possible to live your life without making mistakes. I read tons of books and watched tons of movies and heard tons of stories about love, and none of them prepared me for it. I had to learn every lesson I thought I had learned all over again. It's just the way humans work. We only truly learn by making mistakes.
People in general are dumb for all kinds of reasons. It's different for everybody.
People in general are dumb for all kinds of reasons. It's different for everybody.
Eh the concept of a teenager is an invented one. I don't exactly know when it came about, but before it, you simply went from child to adult. The concept of a teenager was invented for the sake of creating another market out of thin air. This way you could market things to "children", "teenagers" and "adults". It was a necessary invention on the part of capitalism (which relised on constant expansion). Now we have "tweens", another attempt to create another market. Will it work? Who knows.
But basically it's a self fulfilling prophecy. You say what teenagers are about, and then that is how they will act. Everything will reinforce this notion. You're acting out as a teenager? Well that's just hormones of a teenager. It's down to definition. Again not necessarily bad, but necessary for sure, in terms of our western capitalism.
By defining what makes a teenager, you can market certain products to the set of these people that now fulfill what your definition of teenager is.
But basically it's a self fulfilling prophecy. You say what teenagers are about, and then that is how they will act. Everything will reinforce this notion. You're acting out as a teenager? Well that's just hormones of a teenager. It's down to definition. Again not necessarily bad, but necessary for sure, in terms of our western capitalism.
By defining what makes a teenager, you can market certain products to the set of these people that now fulfill what your definition of teenager is.
It doesn't matter how it was created. Being a teenager is a thing. We're not talking about what you buy or when you start a job. We're talking about young people. And young people have always gone through stuff, even before they were called teenagers. I get what you're getting at, but its only barely relevant, IMO.Giftfromme said:
The "moodiness" and the other characteristics of a teenager were invented concepts until they became truth and accepted by everyone. Before the distinction you were treated as an adult (at the same age as what a teenager is now), and it would not have been put down to "oh that is teenage hormones" etc, but simply a naughty person (or adult) and would be treated as such. As such, when a child turned into an adult, they would not expect any different treatment, the way that teenagers can today. Again, I don't say this is a bad thing, but an invention nontheless.Calvar Draveir said:
Age stratification, maybe. They say that youngsters used to have more contact with older people, on whom they could rely for guidance; for example, as apprentices in a shop. Now they are constantly around people of their own age, who are as ignorant and immature as they are. But people learn by example. Without adult examples, it's harder to learn to act as adults.
I'm a teenager, and, honestly, it's just an angsty age, where the non-douches get chewed up and spit out, and the girls don't understand that NOT ALL LOVE LASTS FOREVER AND NO BOY YOU DON'T ACTUALLY LOVE AND AREN'T JUST CRUSHING ON WILL MARRY YOU AND LIVE WITH YOU FOREVER!!! Sorry, I've been wanting to say that.
Becaus we're young and haven't reached proper emotional and mental maturity yet. That and the fact that the teenage years are one of the most challenging parts of a person's life makes it pretty obvious that not every teenager would be entirely rational. It's quite simple, really.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say they aren't, really.
Or, to put it another way, many people never grow out of their teens. A 40 year old might just have moved on to doing new stupid things for the same reason after the old ones got stale, but still be the same insufferable 17 year old at heart.
Or, to put it another way, many people never grow out of their teens. A 40 year old might just have moved on to doing new stupid things for the same reason after the old ones got stale, but still be the same insufferable 17 year old at heart.
Short version: You have to fall to learn how to get back up.
Long version that is less likely to have been [sub]accidentally I swear![/sub] stolen from a motivational poster: Because they're still learning. Sometimes it takes a couple times to work things out properly. Sometimes people never learn at all. Different strokes for different folks.
Also what doesn't work for you may work for them. To use your "video game analogy" for boys being jerks, some boys are just action games with only a hint of plot to get you interested (pun intended).
-Zen Toombs
Long version that is less likely to have been [sub]accidentally I swear![/sub] stolen from a motivational poster: Because they're still learning. Sometimes it takes a couple times to work things out properly. Sometimes people never learn at all. Different strokes for different folks.
Also what doesn't work for you may work for them. To use your "video game analogy" for boys being jerks, some boys are just action games with only a hint of plot to get you interested (pun intended).
-Zen Toombs
"That's childhood, childhood is throwing rocks at shit you should'nt be throwing rocks at."
-Rooster Teeth Podcast
it's all a matter of maturity, and a lot of people do mature eventually, give it time.
-Rooster Teeth Podcast
it's all a matter of maturity, and a lot of people do mature eventually, give it time.
**I would like to make it clear that I'm quite adept at being a complete ass without having to resort to even thinking about anything of a sexual nature
Well, culture for one thing. Teenage blokes feel pressured to have sex, and if you're not doing it you're a freak and open to mockery. It's one of those curious double standards that nobody seems to comment on; you get a lot of complaints about the media giving women body issues through their portrayal of skinny, pretty women being the only real women, but very rarely does anyone point out that an absolute fuckton of media is telling young males that if they're not getting laid, they simply can't be men.MASTACHIEFPWN said:
It's pretty much a self-fulfilling prophecy. Men are portrayed (either for comedy or drama) as constantly thinking about and wanting sex. The most blatant example would be teen films like American Pie, but there are examples just about anywhere. When you're an adult it doesn't effect you so much - personally I have a pretty low sex drive, and I'm fine with that - but as a teenager you're still forming your personality and worldview. If all of the media you consume is telling you that you can't be a man and a virgin or that sticking bits of yourself inside some lady is the Holy Grail of life, you're going to absorb the message. Rampaging hormones certainly don't help the matter, but I think the key factor is teenager males being bombarded with the message that sex is awesome and you should be having it, all the time.
TBH, you come off as very teenage in this post; "why is everyone but me so stupid?!". It's like that guy who started a thread the other day complaining about "kids today". He was seventeen!MASTACHIEFPWN said:
People do dumb things. They don't stop doing dumb things as soon as they turn 18. In fact, they often start to do dumber things. Get used to it, and accept that you too are going to do some really stupid shit. You'll probably never stop doing stupid shit, because it's all a part of being human and that weird process they call "growing up", which seems to be one of those things you do without noticing. Forgive others their little foibles in the hopes that they'll forgive yours!
Look, MASTACHIEFPWN:
You can't expect all of your peer group to have reached the highly-developed mental state that you currently inhabit.
Whilst we all that know your intellectual prowess knows no bounds [a fact which has been made abundantly clear by your original post, which is a masterful example of the English language and complex reasoning], you would do well to learn the value of compassion, tolerance and understanding.
You can't expect all of your peer group to have reached the highly-developed mental state that you currently inhabit.
Whilst we all that know your intellectual prowess knows no bounds [a fact which has been made abundantly clear by your original post, which is a masterful example of the English language and complex reasoning], you would do well to learn the value of compassion, tolerance and understanding.
Well, my guess is the sex thing is largely panic.
These days, most people lose their virginity before 20. The longer you keep it, the harder it'll be to get into a relationship, because admit it or not, lack of experience is not a turn on. Thus, men try to get laid as soon as possible.
It'll end when most have succeeded, and few others have given up because it's too late, or at least those few will if they have any sense.
These days, most people lose their virginity before 20. The longer you keep it, the harder it'll be to get into a relationship, because admit it or not, lack of experience is not a turn on. Thus, men try to get laid as soon as possible.
It'll end when most have succeeded, and few others have given up because it's too late, or at least those few will if they have any sense.
AWWW YEEEEAH. Time to get scientific. When a child reaches the teenage stages of life their brain undergoes a renovation where white matter is increased to strengthen the synapses of the brain the improve brain function. This "re-wiring" begins at the back of the brain and slowly works its way across the brain. The first section to be re-wired is the cerebellum which is responsible for most motor functions. This is one of the reasons for improved movement and reflexes in teens. At the front of the brain is the Frontal Cortex responsible for logical thinking and decision making. This lobe is the last to develop and hinders the teens ability to make decisions and also effects the type of decision they make. As the teen matures the brain is re-wired to a more matured state. Some remain ass holes and some teens are already mature but that's more towards the nature vs nurture argument.
And so there you have it. My psychology teacher would be proud of me.
And so there you have it. My psychology teacher would be proud of me.