We're All Babies Now

[@OpcodeZ]

BetterHelp has agreed to return $7.8 million to customers to settle with the Federal Trade Commission for sharing health data it had promised to keep private

[@michelleburkholder2547]

Thank you for the information.

[@myhandlewastakenandIgaveup]

Better help is one of those brands whose concept I agree with but would never use due to the complete lack of digital privacy laws in the US. .

[@sacha7958]

Don’t tell anyone but Michael also doesn’t like betterhelp. They’re forced to do these sponsorships by their mothercompany.

[@sayuas4293]

The host of the video admitted on a livestream that he hates BetterHelp

[@darilaho]

​@@sayuas4293 do you have the link?

[@pisceanbeauty2503]

Something that came to mind that may contribute to “infantilization” of younger generations is how, for many of us, we were not allowed or able to have certain formative experiences at young ages that previous generations had. It’s always interesting to me how little I see kids playing outside with little to no adult supervision. Children seem to live highly controlled lives with little opportunity for independent play or exploration. Teens are often still living these strict lives with over protective or helicopter parents controlling their every move. Alternatively, some kids have to work in addition to going to school and that leaves little time for hanging out with friends. Competitive academic climates and anxiety about the future reigns. Places like malls, movie theaters, bowling alleys, skating rinks, etc. where teens used to congregate either no longer exist or have highly restrictive rules for unsupervised teens. With all of this, it’s not surprising to me that a lot of young adults want time for exploration and discovery versus rushing into the doldrums of “mature” adulthood.

[@Jarod-te2bi]

I agree, it’s no wonder many kids and trends get “rebellious” in their own ways form all that helicopter parenting, and strict schedules.

[@MisterCynic18]

Previous generations meaning just the boomers I assume, cause their parents and grandparents were either shipped off to war just out of school or dropping out of it to work in sweatshops

[@mystuff9999]

I agree. Everyone I know who’s 25 and younger has not had the same chance as us (I’m 39) to develop a robust psychological immune system by having to overcome challenges by themselves. In this context, I find helicopter parents is such a 90s concept. If nowadays we only had helicopter parents as a problem it would be way less problematic. I think the more accurate term is Bulldozer Parents because they remove any kind of obstacle for kids growing up (including looking for a flat share or handle uni stuff even in their 20s). No wonder everybody keeps saying anxiety is becoming an ever-growing problem. I for one am very thankful for the mercy of an early 80s birth…

[@justcomments]

@Vaqueiro the word you want is agency

[@CitizenPlane]

@@MisterCynic18 Read up on the Straw Hat Riots. Most of the participants were kids ranging from 10 to 16 years old. The boomers' parents and grandparents were pretty unsupervised.

[@dirkster42]

Gen X here, but I went for a Ph.D. in the humanities, got stuck on the adjunct route, so I have all the responsibilities of adulthood without any of the benefits. I get to act like a grown-up in front of my students, but in general I feel like I'm still looking for what adulthood promised.

[@autodidactic]

I'm Gen X too, a lot of us are like Millennials, and will never have homes or retire. :( It's too late for me, kids! Be better than me!

[@SeamusCameron]

Been watching a bit of Zoe Bee lately, that adjunct life legitimately sounds rough.

[@danielland3767]

As a 1980 born baby I agree 100% and it's depressing af

[@danielland3767]

​@@autodidactic major facts...

[@tommym875]

Ironically if you had dropped out of college to learn a trade you’d probably be doing just fine!

[@deadcard13]

Not sure what's more depressing: the fact that my immaturity is just a result generational susceptibility to advertisements, or that I am legitimately distracted by jangling keys.

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

*Jangles keys for both you, and the Algorithm*

[@yamataichul]

*For you and me

[@visagemsc]

unrelated but the wisecrack symbol made me think my screen broke on dark mode. a white outline for people in dark mode could be better

[@howHumam]

Did you just drop your keys?

[@cursedapostate3705]

I literally cannot concentrate on one thing at a time without having something playing in the background

[@LoveHandle4890]

“Growing old is inevitable. Growing up is optional.”

[@vettie]

When the username fits the comment.

[@GohanLSSJ2]

And even _that_ might be changing as science starts to develop means to stop or even _reverse_ aging.

[@dragoniv]

@@GohanLSSJ2 Don't hold your breath waiting for it.

[@seanharrison3504]

This is great cause my mom took a “brain age quiz,” she’s 67. Her results: 14-20. I’m 29. My results 45-49. She was thrilled.

[@LuisSierra42]

Yeah, growing up sucks ass

[@imknott2440]

No matter how you choose to live there will always be someone that says you are doing it wrong.

[@cappythemule1]

I just finished Debt: The First 5,000 years by David Graeber. In one part of the book he makes note that waged labor used to be a phase of life (roughly the first 10-15 years of adulthood) that young people did in preparation for when they would become masters of their house or craft (this is where things like milk maids and waiters come from). So, in a way, waged labor itself sort of traps people in a permanent state of adolescence. Nobody ever attains mastery.

[@blaineholt1589]

Aka: capitalism

[@lukedodson3267]

Speaking of those who benefit from society being infantilized, what's disturbing to me is the childishness of those who are in power. The CEO/majority shareholder of the company I work for (who, of course, inherited the company from his father) is considered a "Top 40 under 40" business leader, an innovator, a visionary. The man is absolute baby, a spoiled brat who throws tantrums any time he doesn't get exactly what he wants. His execs walk on eggshells around him and constantly pass the buck to avoid his wrath. All of his recent projects look great on social media, but behind the scenes they're chaotic messes that are hemorrhaging money.

[@ReemTahir]

Your CEO could also just be a typical nepo baby...tyrannical heirs, who don't know crap about anything, yet terrorize their underlings (usually people with actual skill and intelligence). It's nothing new. It was present in every civilization where people inherit positions of power. A CEO is just the modern equivalent of a useless, bratty feudal lord.

[@DarkScherzo94]

So essentially, a modern feudal lord. I wouldn't blame the boomers per se for infantilization - it's a symptom of the larger disease known as "those in power will always find strategies to outright atomize or weaken the common people." (long name, I know). Back in the medieval ages, it was religion and sin. Now, we get more easily controlled via television and fiction.

[@skybluskyblueify]

I think being or becoming an adult requires time to think about adult topics, whereas people that work three jobs don't have time to think beyond the next meal. A quick dip into nostalgia is all they can do to keep their mind in order enough to get to the next day and do it again.

[@seanrevelle554]

I'm sorry your life is so chaotic and stressful it must really suck having to deal with all of that but you know what you are doing an awesome job and you are apriciated for just being you, I would hug you now or high-five if a hug is inappropriate you never know with people these days but anyway have a wonderful day and stay positive

[@seanrevelle554]

@@ukeyaoitrash2618 sounds sweet I'm not so much into the anime but I like some of it I'm more into comics and video games and collectibles I have spent way more money than any adult ever should on "toys" and I love chicks in cosplay lol I too am a 30+ adult that refuses to grow up I'll always be that nerdy kid at heart so I understand your lifestyle I just assumed from your comment that you must have been going through a lot so I thought I would give you some positive words I'm sorry if I over stepped my boundaries

[@sennaerway6308]

Addiction is everywhere.

[@BaldAndCurious]

Where I am, childhood escapism is just a means to cope with the stress and worries of adulthood.

[@BigRedBeard1985]

I think it's fine to have childish hobbies as long as you can put your family, job, and general responsibilities first. In fact, I think there is something more adult about enjoying what makes you happy instead of constantly trying to generate the facade of adulthood for social acceptance.

[@pixelcount350]

Just don't have kids.

[@justindmoser]

This reminded me a lot of the "therapy speak" video - being so self-focused makes it hard to work towards broad societal change. Combine that with the fact all the money in politics already makes that kind of change tough, it's no wonder people are focused on escapism/infantilism... I mean, wtf is the alternative? More existential despair? 2020 forever? Every year we're another step closer to either Idiocracy or WALL-E. 😭

[@elihan9]

Only people who are comfortable have the ability to be self obsessed. Those on the struggle and with responsibilities do not have time to focus on themselves. In fact, they are fighting for a better world. The union drives, the strikes, that is the howl of people fighting back. The people who were forced to work and die during the covid apocalypse. This worry about regression is only for bougie people who have been exposed as unnecessary to society.

[@MrPoeGhost]

I think staying in touch with your inner kid once in a while can be healthy and stress relieving so long as you still acknowledge your own age and responsibilities in life, and don't permanently regress into this infantile state. I do hate when media intended for adults treat me like I'm 10-years-old, though, just as I hate when someone throws a harsh character judgement at me for having a nerdy hobby like video games.

[@HylianFox3]

I, for one, will not apologize for my room filled with Yoshi plushies and figurines.

[@MrGksarathy]

Yeah, that's kinda my take. For example, I still enjoy shōnen anime and YA novels as I've gotten older, but my perspective on them and appreciation of them has changed as I've become significantly older than the main casts of most of these works. I went from feeling like one of the characters and on their level to a more paternalistic, yet invested observer. It may not help that I feel I still have some growing up to do and am actively trying to while maintaining my childish joy and hope.

[@Dollightful]

Amen!

[@Blueberry40]

Exactly!

[@Blueberry40]

@@HylianFox3 Yoshi is my favorite and I’m 41.

[@LoveHandle4890]

“The creative adult is the child that survived.”

[@AmeriMutt76]

​@aerwynaoceania5432 Agreed. "Never lose your childlike wonder" was the way my friend and I have phrased it. I find that focusing on my emotional maturity goes much farther toward growing as an individual and being an additive force to our communities, rather than the "stay in your [age] lane" vesion pedaled by concervative society.

[@skshore338]

Is this an Ursula K. LeGuin quote?

[@T_Dot94]

“an equalized subjectivity with standardized fantasies and massive consumption of infantilizing reassurances.” This perfectly describes our culture.

[@kaydgaming]

An equalized [censored] with [censored] fantasies and massive consumption of [censored] reassurances. - how people actually read that

[@Shinkajo]

@@kaydgaming what words are censored. Sorry I'm too stupid.

[@kevinjones6587]

I don’t understand how Boomers complain about ppl being childish when they’re in their 70’s still trying to convince ppl their hair doesn’t gray.

[@deadcard13]

It's compulsive denial.

[@mvlder]

Burn 😂

[@hidesbehindpseudonym1920]

Bro, if they still have hair. 😢😭

[@bwackbeedows3629]

Or how they're getting their feelings hurt about people having different hair colors. Last I checked, gray and _____ counts as two separate hair colors already.

[@kb470]

And they are shitting in their depends

[@elihan9]

The inner child is a partner to the adult. Ignoring either of them leads to a manifestation of problems in later years. Forgoing adult responsibilities means you can never develop. The adult is needed to make the world safe for the child. Ignoring the inner child, the part of you that inevitability is stunted by life, will lead to unexplained outbursts and destructive patterns. The adult in me knows that the inner child is a history that must be cherrised and allowed to cry. The child in me knows that the adult is needed to face the world and protect it.

[@anitadangler9537]

It's all about balance. Seems like that's the solution for everything.

[@mnikhk]

Agreed, balance is key. If we only lived one way it would not be good.

[@LungaMasilela]

Give me one problem in adulthood that you can potentially face and you can directly point out as a result of neglecting your inner child.

[@eliza6971]

Millennials got “priced out of adulthood” so it makes sense that we drifted in the opposite direction

[@theeternalgus9119]

Dumb question but what do you mean priced out?

[@ReemTahir]

​@Terriermon it means...due to the exorbitant cost of living, we can't afford all the traditional rites of adulthood: living on our own, buying a house, getting married, having children in our 20s, etc. So we put them off or simply don't do them at all. Pretty sure many of us will be in our 80s and still have roommates.😢

[@eliza6971]

@@theeternalgus9119 during the 2010s there was this sense from older gens that millennials were rejecting hallmarks of adulthood (like buying a house) when we’re actually stuck in this liminal space where we’re definitely not children but can’t afford our parent’s version of adulthood.

[@InsiderBoy]

@@theeternalgus9119 To add on Eliza6971's point, we are also priced out of starting a family at the age our parents were starting their families as well. Our dollars don't go as far and eventually, we rather spend that money on ourselves instead of living paycheck to paycheck to provide for a family.

[@LungaMasilela]

No disagree,in the past there were poor people who couldn’t even afford housing and other amenities and yet they acted in a adult way including the way they dressed.

[@westvirginiaglutenfreepepp7006]

One big quibble here: color should not be an indicator of "maturity". Why should everything classy and adult be a choice between black tie formal and beige?

[@kayakat1869]

I bet this guy is just trying to justify why he painted his whole home "millennial gray". I'm going to paint my apartment fun colors and get fun looking furniture to go in it. I'm sorry if that's too much like a "nursery" for him, but he can die mad about it for all I carem

[@westvirginiaglutenfreepepp7006]

@@kayakat1869 I think that's going a bit far. I mean he does himself wear colors, so we can't assume stuff like that. But it's obvious that he feels conflicted about that which still says something

[@moose8896]

​@@westvirginiaglutenfreepepp7006 nah you can look professional in any colour, it's how you wear it and where you put the colour

[@Pazuzu4All]

It's a very WASPish, inherited wealth way of thinking. Everything must be subdued and not stand out so as not to draw attention to yourself.

[@ReemTahir]

Because we are talking about American culture. America was built on White, Protestant austerity. Puritans believed elaborate decoration was indulgent and unholy. On the other hand, many other cultures (including many European cultures) consider bright colors and intricate designs very tasteful.

[@Miss_Tatti]

I recently read Brave New World and this video literally captured the key themes in that book, particularly the babyfying of adults to maintain sameness and suppress critical thought, all while pushing unconscious consumerism down our throats. Great video!

[@MiraBoo]

Yet it’s the adults calling this out that get called babies…

[@DanGRV]

Speaking of Brave New World I think that content consumption is the closest yet to soma, at least in its role in society: an addictive but relatively harmless thing that distracts and keeps people content.

[@Miss_Tatti]

@@DanGRV Totally agree, apt comparison there. The impact of consumption in both cases is somewhat insidious too

[@nimravus01]

I'm currently reading that book for the first time. I see the correlation with the powers that be wanting everyone to just tune out anything upsetting with the use of Soma. I've just gotten to the part where he brings the "savage" back to the city, so I know it's about to get deeper.

[@celesteshearer5498]

Coming from a 90s kid who had a rough childhood: There's a few factors at play for me. Part of it is letting go and acknowledging the fact that I never really stopped enjoying cartoons, gushers, etc; we just stop indulging in those to fit in with our aging peers. Secondly, I live by myself, so there's this feeling of "I can do whatever I want and no one can stop me." If the mood strikes, I can drop everything and go get ice cream without worrying about other people's input. Thirdly, my philosophy for making most of my life decisions is to do what would make my childhood self happy. Like, if I were to travel back in time and show little me what I/we do and look like, I want that kid to go "whoa! That's me?!"

[@JaimeNyx15]

Aight, I'm gonna be the villain and say I'm tired of seeing BetterHelp ads. Therapy is absolutely important, but it's actually hard to get insurance to cover BetterHelp specifically, so it can be more expensive than just finding an online therapist through your insurance or PsychologyToday or whatever. Plus, the subscription model can screw you if you have to take a break from sessions if you're on a trip or sick or something. I hate to be that guy, but as a result I don't think they're that great a service. And this is speculation, but the fact that they can afford to advertise from about as many content creators as Raid: Shadow Legends in its prime makes me think they're making a ton of money and probably not channeling it into the right places. The best thing about these ads IMO is just telling people they can go find therapy, but there are better options than BetterHelp.

[@Riu-bw4bl]

No your the right one here. Better help has a heap of controversies and it’s NOT known for being good at helping people. Let alone with the whole subscription model ect

[@kni9ght]

@@Riu-bw4bl so just most regular therapy

[@lexim9639]

Lyra is a great alternative to BetterHelp

[@ReemTahir]

Sorry you had that experience, but I use it and find it much better than anything I've tried before. That being said, I think whether it works for you or not depends on getting the right therapist. The subscription model also works for me because it's cheaper than paying per session out of pocket. But to each their own.

[@dakotapahel-short3192]

It's kinda an interesting idea... I've sort of been wondering about it considering that it often feels like I passed the maturity of my parents (boomer classic) a long time ago. They are beyond irresponsible with money and even at 13 i considered my dad to be more of a peer than an adult and my mom yelled at me when I was 18 and I asked for help figuring out taxes. Now I have a stable life, retirement plans, a stable long term relationship with decent communication, and a very supportive friend group. Do we love dnd & dressing up in costumes? Sure. But I've also housed my brother after he was let out of the mental hospital too soon & taken in friends whos spouses domestically abused them. Finding ways to be happy while the world burns is important.

[@ashleylieberg5033]

In my experience, when someone tells me to "grow up," what they mean tends to be "conform to *my* standards of adulting." In reality, there's clearly no fixed milestones, anymore. The ones we look at were set in a time very different than the one we inhabit.

[@mithos789]

are a ravenclaw? do you like the green lightsaber or the purple one?

[@maximilianomadrigal6661]

"confirm to my standards of adult" means not using the word adulting or having strong opinions on children's media

[@teenkitsune]

​@@maximilianomadrigal6661 You poor poor dear, how sad is it that your life is ruined by complete strangers doing things that have no negative bearing on you or anybody else.

[@gothicbatcloud]

I think a mark of immaturity and/or insecurity is caring too much whether or not someone sufficiently conforms to one's standards of adulthood. For example, the above "real adults don't use the word 'adulting'", which is just subjective nonsense.

[@Noelciaaa]

Growing up should mean individuation, basically. The opposite of conforming to arbitrary standards. That's just being a child with listening to a parent. Growing up is becoming your own person with integrity, discovering the path right for you and going down it.

[@tiagotiagot]

To be a mature person means knowing when to act like a grown up and when it's ok to be childlike

[@ocularpatdown]

THIS

[@ReemTahir]

Underrated comment

[@ginichilders9619]

And there IS a difference between childLIKE and childISH. Too many people who willingly engage in self infantilization are the latter.

[@Whoisthatns]

@@ginichilders9619exactly like they’d never grow up if it were their choice

[@TheDiamondSea]

I think much of it, too, is that the benchmarks of adulthood (marriage, children, etc) are treated as just one of many lifestyle options. They don’t have nearly as much collective meaning anymore, so many choose not to pursue. But they haven’t really been replaced by anything either - all that’s left is mere entertainment and consumption.

[@chloemchll3774]

I mean, if I blame Reagan, aren’t I also blaming the boomers for their part in electing him?

[@michelleburkholder2547]

We haven't had a decent president since Kennedy.

[@ethanstump]

No ruler over men, can be said to be among them. There are no decent presidents, just as it's unethical to be a billionaire.

[@scottymacdewder5229]

I too am a "Reagan baby"... Had to pull myself up by my own bootie-straps

[@LuisSierra42]

@@michelleburkholder2547 How about Nixon?

[@HelicopterShownUp]

@@LuisSierra42 Nixon? The president who is on tape as sabotaging American-led peace talks until after the election cycle? The president who allowed multiple, patriotic whistleblowers to have their careers and lives ruined for trying to expose the secret Cambodian bombing runs, illegal wiretaps, evidence of the unwinnable position of the Vietnam war? The president who very directly threatened large corporations and wealth individuals with audits to fill his election coffers (extortion) and eased regulations for the industries which supported him the most (bribery)? As far as what's been proven via evidence and court; Nixon was (until about 48 hours ago) without a doubt your worst modern president - unless you're into really corrupt presidents.

[@QBG]

I would love to grow up, but how am I supposed to afford it when "entry level" jobs require a master's degree, five years of experience, and pay $17 an hour? Why is it that no matter how educated, experienced, talented, or hard-working we millenials are, we're apparently still barely worth minimum wage?

[@LividImp]

They don't. It's a lie to weed people out. Send in your resume anyway. I guarantee you no one with a masters degree is working for "entry level" wages.... unless their degree is in the humanities. In which case, you should have known better, that's not a new problem.

[@oopsy444]

​@@LividImpive done that and 90% of jobs don't pay more. Another 9% barely pay over 17h maybe to 25h if you're super lucky. The other 1% don't list those as the pay

[@danielland3767]

Because it's been a ruse since the early to mid 80's. As a tail end Gen X, super Early Millennial (1980) I have this weird balance where I see all the faults of "Boomers" from the Baby Boomer Gen & the outright distain of current culture from the Gen X folks (the actual Boomers) and its truly dumb af to me. The "participation trophy" thing was something Boomers from the late Baby Boomer & Mid Gen X generation created. Like I lived it real time, here is a example. In Baltimore during the 80's to the mid 90's (say 96 at the latest) their was a competition summer reading program called "Race To Read". A book program where you read as many books in your age category and then did a verbal summary to a librarian to get a sneaker stamp on your booklet, I could clear about 40 to 50 books a summer. My younger brother (true early Millennia circa 1983) was in a different age category but with us being the top in our respective groups we regularly competed for top spot overall. Every summer we placed 1st & 2nd respectively and would gloat about it the following year till next summer. We had trophies we earned. In 1997 they changed to "Roaring into Reading" with no clear competition and "everything got a trophy" 🤦🏾‍♂️🤷🏿‍♂️. I quit after that, so this laziness the Boomers claim is directly from them, they raised us...why deflect the blame?

[@LividImp]

@@oopsy444 If you've got a masters in anything worth a damn you are not making "entry wages". My wife is an RN with only an _associates_ degree and she makes six figures. I'm an ex-programmer with only a high school degree and when I was working in a low dollar hick town (with very few programming jobs), I was still making enough to support a family of four. I'm always very skeptical of all these people that tell me they can't make it on their 4+ year degrees. My son works at a retail big box store and makes more than $17 an hour (in said low dollar hick town). If your masters degree pays that bad then you got into the wrong business. Something tells me your masters degree isn't in something like engineering.

[@blaineholt1589]

@@LividImp most young people don’t want to work for a company that feels like lying to you for it’s very first interaction with possible employees.

[@DTFauxClassic]

I think part of what also feeds into this trend is realizing that even many who do manage to achieve true "adulthood" aren't that much happier or satisfied than those of us who are lagging. When you see the elders and peers in your life still depressed, still in debt, still anxious, living to work rather than working to live, and lacking any real passion or hobbies that isn't simply [media] consumption, it really disincentivizes the idea of catching up or fitting in. Weirdly, despite the infantalization of every younger generation, they also seem to be the ones more invested on getting society's act together in ways where older generations have been slacking. This is likely due to the nature of being born into a world on fire, and understanding that it's only gotten this bad because older folks either did nothing or threw gas onto that fire.

[@blaineholt1589]

Super agree. I think a lot of the points made by philosophers used in this video ignore the actual emotional and political maturity of the younger generations and only focus on the fact that we are open about what media and hobbies we enjoy. That or they focus on a vocal minority of “influencers” and their fans on social media.

[@christopherjackson2658]

​@@blaineholt1589 it is interesting to note that a lot of the philosophers works used in this video came from 15 or more years ago. I mean, 15 years ago Gen Z wasn't a thing that existed.

[@blaineholt1589]

@@christopherjackson2658 yeah framing all of their points under the term “infantilization” makes everything feel like a get off my lawn argument. Most of their gripes could actually be better discussed under terms socio and political literacy. Other than that it seems like they’re mostly just angry at people being open about what things others enjoy as hobbies and media.

[@johannabelle]

On the other hand, how many past generations denied themselves harmless things that would have made them really happy because they had internalized the belief that those things had a cutoff age? I'm decorating my first apartment right now and picking out things I know a lot of people would hate: Bright pink and yellow furniture, rainbow welcome mat, putting framed art of my DnD characters on the wall. Sometimes I think about how other people would judge it to be childish and it makes me sad, but honestly - I think one benefit of being in a generation to which traditional adulthood doesn't apply is that you don't feel compelled to do things *just because* you feel pressure to "act your age."

[@MiraBoo]

I mean, have you seen retro furnishings: bright floral tiles, orange fridges, fringed curtains, colorful shaggy rugs. Also, what you’re describing is called “creativity,” which is innate to humans. Unfortunately, our culture/society discourages creativity because it fosters critical thought, and it’s harder to control critical thinkers. As a result, this very human trait that improves our minds, spirits, livelihoods, and communities is deemed “childish.” Actually being childish involves immature behaviors, poor emotional intelligence/regulation, lack of responsibility, minimal self-control, impulsiveness, inability to fully comprehend consequences, difficulty articulating more complex thoughts, etc. Enjoying a book, referencing pop culture in conversations, telling stories, playing games, self-expression… that’s just being a functional human.

[@sailly]

I'm from Denmark and l would say that Denmark is more a 'teen country' than a 'baby country'. I head an stand upper joke about his vacation in Denmark like "Your government are like teen parents. All you want is cheap beer, legal drugs and free healthcare" And I feel soooo called out lol

[@pawned79]

I think this deserves a part 2 video that talks about how as adults we are much more understanding of what children’s feelings are and how they have value. On average in America today, we don’t treat children as harshly for just being forcing them to “mature” into “adults.” Anecdotally, I talked to my neighbor, who is a corporate VP, today, and he and his elementary school son are bonding over the new Zelda game. I think that’s great. My Silent Generation father and I (GenX) have zero in common and rarely talk to each other. My GenAlpha kids and I genuinely enjoy activities together, and the media barrier between us is very thin. I just saw on my twitter than today is the 33rd anniversary of Jim Henson’s death. 33 years ago!? My kids still enjoy Muppets! That is the equivalent of me watching the Patty Duke Show or My Three Sons on Nick-at-Night when I was there age. Geez…

[@tkbasketballdrummer]

I think that this infantilization argument is analogous to the “good ole’ days” narrative we hear. Just as the latter argument says, “back in the day men were men and we did things the right thing,” the former does the same thing saying “everyone’s being a kid these days unlike in the past.” For example how is obsessing over sports childish? Even the ancients were obsessed and spent an insane amount of money on games. There have always been people who have prioritized looking “cute.” The only difference now is that these arts are more widely available and are commercially utilized. I think that it is not so simple to label something as being childish as some of these thinkers would realize. Does being and Adult mean being serious? What if you have all your needs taken care of? Then can you not enjoy any art that represents something from childhood? What makes something adult? These questions should be taken into consideration in this conversation. As someone who studies Roman authors I can guarantee you that some of them are just as “childish” as the immature people you meet today.

[@kayakat1869]

People have always been childish. I really don't agree with this video, because he never really tells us what being an adult really is or why it's so much better than just enjoying our lives and having fun.

[@tkbasketballdrummer]

@@kayakat1869 I agree. The classification of childish vs adult is too vague.

[@remiscott7759]

Neoteny

[@kayakat1869]

@@remiscott7759 tbh, neoteny helped humanity become as intelligent as we are.

[@kayakat1869]

@@heyloben8306 so what is the solution to this? Be miserable and paint out walls gray?

[@maxnihil604]

I think perceiving things like drawing, comics and colorful styles as childish is a cultural thing

[@karl_margs]

I had the same thought. I don't think any of the hobbies mentioned in the vid are inherently childish. Childish behavior is marked by a lack of emotional maturity, not what piques your interest.

[@kayakat1869]

It really is. As an autistic person, it's also pretty ablist, because it's basically saying that you need to live within these rigid standards just to be a mature adult.

[@laraycrenshaw5908]

​@@kayakat1869or maybe to be an adult you need to be able to think. Not obsessed with some cartoons. Also ablist? You guys just making up words at this point.

[@blaineholt1589]

@@laraycrenshaw5908 is enthusiastically enjoying animation and cartoons impossible for someone self aware?

[@karl_margs]

@@laraycrenshaw5908 thinking animation is just for kids is a pretty American concept. A lot of other places don't think that way. Also, ableism absolutely is a real word. Easy to do a quick Google search if you doubt that.

[@Dollightful]

Feeling called out indeed, lol 😂 I don't see why we can't make the best of both worlds. People can engage with their community and work hard to make the world a better place while still enjoying bright colors and hilarious cat memes.

[@Sammyyaam]

i love your videos!

[@CottonCandySharks]

Very true!

[@MeloraCarabas]

No, sadly when we hit the age of 18 we're all obliged by law to throw away our toys and fun shirts and can only wear grey suits all day. 😼

[@guenwinters4300]

Being one of those that rocks pastels, tie dye, rainbows and kicks in their 30s, I find I'm getting less and less comfortable in those clothes as I get older and am opting more for Soccer Mom outfits.

[@peacewillow]

exactly!! it's called balance! i have been on this planet for 57 years and thru all of them i have loved cartoons, being outside and going for walks with my dogs. i still wear t-shirts and jeans (bell-bottoms, when i can find them!), listen to heavy metal music and smoke weed. i also get my work done and take care of adult business every day. there's no need to be a stereotype!! be who you are! 😝💕

[@washipuppy]

Okay, this has actually crystalized something that has been in my head for... so long, and I'm so glad to see it in words. The "childishness", but childishness in a simplified, sanitized, weakened and homogenized way that is easily categorized and advertised to instead of the messy, creative, explorative, and hopeful way.

[@katie.g.]

I think there’s a different flavor of this for every generation, I just think millennials are taking the brunt of it because of how different our reality is as an adult, compared to how adults and teachers back in the day told us how our adult lives would look like. The hustle culture mindset was also shoved down our throats as well , so we’re just really burnt out. Why would we want to grow up if all we’ve done is suffer to get barely a small little inkling of what our parents had? You eventually just become less and less motivated and say fuck it let’s play Pokémon.🤷🏻‍♀️

[@kayakat1869]

Don't grow up.

[@Traumaqueenamy]

This reminded me. As a teen in the 90s we were constantly told how important it was to get a college education lest we wanted to end up with a crap job like flipping burgers at some fast food joint which's considered a bottom of the barrel job. Well, college put many in thousands of debt and even with said education people still end up with dead end jobs that pay an outpaced minimum wage when it comes to cost of living. Is it any wonder why many believe adulting sucks when it seems to have failed so many?

[@joesjoeys]

We were raised to "be whatever we want to be" and to "pursue what makes you happy" and "follow your dreams" and that the previous generations worked hard so that we, their children, would not have to work as hard as they had to. Now we are saddled with debt to follow the "truth" ingrained in us that we would never prosper without a college education, are ridiculed for being infantalized and for taking time to enjoy the things we like, and even when everyone is working just to survive (when in prior generations only one spouse had to work for an entire family) we are told that we're lazy. We are a more education population than at any point in history, but because we dont have six kids and a house by the age of 25 and we collect video games instead of trauma, we're all babies. Super cool.

[@kayakat1869]

Yeah, this video is stupid.

[@TorquemadaTwist]

Why are you here complaining? Get to work spinning a web of contradictions and hypocrisy for the next generation. Get your smug on.

[@goosewithagibus]

Hey, speak for yourself. I collect both games and trauma!

[@alexc5156]

I feel like with every generation, we are forced to "grow up" faster and now that we are older and can do what we want, it's nice to fuel that inner child that didn't get nurtured at the appropriate time. This thought does not include Disney adults.

[@MisterCynic18]

I feel the exact opposite

[@HelicopterShownUp]

You need to read more history books about children being farmers, generals, manufacturing laborers and get a grip with the reality of the world you occupy space on.

[@ak-ub1ym]

​​​@@HelicopterShownUp don't glorify it , the times & environment when Children acted like u mention were much much simpler and less complex than now. Unfortunately ppl like u who think children can do the same like they did back then are more disillusioned than anything since society has grown by leaps and bounds with specialization and stability so unless the current society burns down to nothing those times arent coming back. So are u telling that the comforts u were given and extending living age via medical improvement should just vanish and return to a time when ppl died young?

[@Dogtrio]

​@@HelicopterShownUp damn, youre kinda a dick huh? The idea of being an adult is not "I do physical labor", it is having to meticulously plan your future. When a child has to be a farmer, sure they have it much worse but they eventually live on the farm. There is no beaurocracy saying to those kids they need to get a job right now and go to college at 18 while planning for retirement or you will starve to death. Job ≠ adult , responsibility ≈ adult. Ive had to work probably around 4k hours of overtime while going through college and now im a chemist who cant afford a house. If that isnt having to grow up faster than the last gen, idk what is.

[@mithos789]

what? you couldnt be more wrong. most people had families before 25 in the past.

[@alexandelsosa7718]

It makes more sense why I hate the world so much right now because I really hated the powerlessness and the lack of trust and respect you were given as a child

[@Anivasion]

I realized how my youth revolved around advertising consumer culture, when I went to join a nostalgia group for the first time. It was nothing but sharing things we used to buy or consume. And iconic events centered around television media. I wonder where it'll go from here with even less of a cohesive culture for Gen Z, who is living in what feels like a semi global internet culture.

[@ashna84]

We’ve also lost so many rituals and collective systems that aid psychological individuation. Being stuck in forever adolescence makes a lot of sense

[@b1g_m00n]

yess thanks for bringing up Kurt Andersen! "Fantasyland" is an unconscionably underrated book, vital for understanding much of contemporary culture and society, and it immediately sprung to my mind when i saw the subject of the video, because it was the first place where I saw an actual discussion of adults refusing to leave childish things behind.

[@QuanticDreamer]

I've been infantilized all my life. It’s been getting on my nerves ever since my actual childhood. It’s gotten better after I moved out of my childhood home, but I still had this nagging sensation that it wasn't enough, and couldn't understand why. I also couldn't understand why most people feel so immature, relatively speaking, and thought that I was the stuck-up one. This video has been very enlightening. I enjoy my star wars and games as much as the next person, but I at least try to be responsible for myself and my life. I can't take responsibility over the society, though - it's too much right now, and I don't even know where to begin, seeing how most people are either resigned to blaming the universe for our current dystopia or, despite being responsible, struggle to keep a hold on their own adulthood, which doesn't quite leave enough energy for something more.

[@Styrophoamicus]

I guess it's about finding a balance and learning where to place your priorities. And also notice when you're giving in to instant gratification.

[@skullsmitten]

Just got out of my "emerging adulthood" phase, and I've found myself baffled by the playground ad hominem attacks that comprise the sum total of internet (and public!) discourse nowadays. It just figures that consumerist marketing gone too far for too long is the root cause. Though I'm usually a proponent of people "embracing their inner child" and being allowed to enjoy things into adulthood, I was struck by the realization that this paradigm doesn't value childlike virtues like creativity, but the kind of childish immaturity that makes people easy to manipulate (and market to). Great video! Thanks so much for sharing. I particularly enjoy your little tangential asides as they pertain to the subject matter (like being compared to an 8th grade in a video with Legal Eagle, that sounds MORTIFYING and u have my condolences, but also that's very relatable).

[@dillonharrison1455]

I am 36, and I am putting together a doll house right now. Earlier today I was painting a model. And tomorrow I may be going to watch baseball. I am just glad I haven’t bought more finger paints (I can just use my cheaper acrylics).

[@theIconstable]

One thing I've learned is that "childishness" is one of the things that makes us uniquely human into adulthood. One could argue that art or creativity is neotenous considering that it's frequently embraced by chimpanzee and elephant "children" and then later given up in their adult stages - and yet we carry it on to make amazing works of art and epic stories. In a lot of ways humans are a neotenous species, and it's good that we can remain this way until our elderly stages. Where we as a society fumble is this quality being weaponized back against us for the purposes of infantilism and consumerism.

[@island_rogue1687]

Oh no, I'm looking at all the Star wars action figures I have and it does remind me of a simpler time when I was younger. You hit the nail on the head Wisecrack!

[@kayakat1869]

You don't have to change who you are to be a good person. You don't have to fit into his narrow view of adulthood to be an adult.

[@mithos789]

@@kayakat1869 the fandom around star wars is crazy though. i remember one youtuber said they do lightsaber training. why not just do real sword training?

[@AdeptusIncompetus]

I don't think humans grow up at all, and instead we just learn to shut up in some kind of respectable fashion

[@MrGksarathy]

I don't fully agree because I do think as we grow older, especially during adolescence, we do somewhat calm down, learn to rein in some impulses, and ideally, extend our sense of empathy.

[@bigmclargehuge1170]

@@MrGksarathy or, to simply and literally describe what you're saying, we "learn to shut up in some respectable fashion"

[@MrGksarathy]

@@bigmclargehuge1170 That is not the same thing because sometimes that involves learning when to speak up. I personally think adult me is more outspoken in many ways compared to teenage me, even if I'm more polite about it.

[@alpacacomentadora413]

Here is a MAP

[@AdeptusIncompetus]

@@MrGksarathy yeah I'm gonna have to give ya that one. I'd say I'm broad-stroking here which isn't a good sentiment to begin with.

[@Wkumar07]

This is an issue that I have thought about greatly. It's also one that I have seen play out directly around me. As a 42 year old man I am amazed to see adults act and have interests that are indeed very childlike. I have also met other adults who seem incapable of forming a critical thought outside of their own self imposed echo chamber. I can see the connection being made between an infantile like behavior/interests and being unable to form a sophisticated idea. Now, I enjoy a good video game or MCU movie just as much as the next guy, but at the end of the day I know what these are and that is simply as forms of entertainment. Not icons to identify myself with.

[@hizzousekakashi8836]

I've always been told I had a certain "Boyish charm" about me, which is just a really nice way of saying I was childish lol.

[@Sardonicus]

I completely agree, I've been saying forever now about how everyone seems to have childish thinking. I love how most of these videos vindicate what I've said since I was in high school, the very things everyone poo-pooed on and said was stupid. Doesn't fix or change anything, but it makes me feel better that I'm not alone in this thinking and my irritation at everyone.

[@lakecrookmouth6014]

I feel like I've been pondering exactly this phenomenon recently and you've put a name to it for me, thank you! I feel quite repulsive towards infantilism, mainly because I didn't really enjoy being a kid. I think people like acting infantile because they are sentimental towards their childhoods, a simpler and easier time. Not because it was, just because you had your parents looking after you. I feel like it's coping mechanism for people who aren't super happy as adults. Maybe not entirely but at least partially.

[@pennywaldrip3774]

This makes me think of the TV ad for Heinz Low Sugar. "Adulting is hard." That said, old & married, but no kids... I often *feel* younger than people with children 15 years younger than me.

[@aname6714]

I think childhood is an important developmental stage and for those who were denied that for whatever reason, there’s a need to revisit those feelings of freedom and naïveté. Of course this only works as an active process (with the intention to eventually grow up) and not escapism from responsibility. This is on an individual scale. On a larger societal scale, I think there’s something about yearning for care and vulnerability that you might not have in your life. So you seek out that connection with others through similar interests, like HP houses. It could be a way of feeling like a part of a community that cares for you when you live in such an individualistic society.

[@TheMajorStranger]

Spoiler! we always were. People had to grow up due to hard time and public pressure. Now we just don't give a damn and try to live our life like we want.

[@bacht4799]

I agreed with you on that my good sir

[@remiscott7759]

Neoteny

[@kayakat1869]

Honestly, it's better than getting married to some idiot and having kids.

[@torbjornlekberg7756]

I guess it depends on how you define growing up, but I disagree somewhat. Personally I would happily take on a more adult role. I wish for a steady job, family with kids, my own house and so on. And I am willing to work for that goal. However, an insane job market have led to years of unemployment, internships (wich is just being used for nothing in return) and jobs that either pay peanuts or where you have to grab for those few payed hours in the week. This even tho I have a double bachelors degree. So what do I do when I can not afford holding my first baby in my arms? I cope with binge watching a series and similar things. While this may be an anecdote, I am quite certain that many of my fellow older millennials have a similar experience.

[@TheMajorStranger]

@@torbjornlekberg7756 are you struggling with world war, famines, diseases with no cure, Aristocracy and Serfdom? Those were the shit they had to deal with, Those were the reason they had to grow up fast, be productive and get kids while they still had the strength to educate them. I'm not saying the struggle of modernity is non-existent, but there's a reason we have become an entertainment-based society. Those distraction are both non-destructive to our productibility (unlike alcoholism) and in fact quite lucrative. It's just a simple result of the world we inhabit.

[@kirbymarchbarcena]

I love it when Mike slightly went off tangent and adds some of his issues for our info and entertainment

[@porridgeramen7220]

For real it's a show of his passion

[@TheDSasterX]

Only 37 tabs? those are rookie numbers. I have closer to 37 open windows and groups of tabs!

[@phil_guts]

I love this video so far, but I'm 20, I was born in 2002. I'm not a millennial, I'm Generation Z. I'm supposed to be a full grown adult and all of these Millennial problems honestly feel like they're being increased for my generation, and I see so little people talking about it. Most of my friends feel like mindless consumers because we all grew up on the internet, and never had a life without it. I feel like we are being left behind.

[@jasonjohnson6938]

Born in 99, Yeah. Everyone is making it up on the way and it's a race to the bottom on all fronts. Don't let ANYONE tell you what to do

[@nikibronson133]

Harvard has a good article called why are kids taking so long to grow up or something of that nature but it talks about the idea of emerging adulthood and how that’s actually been around for a long time from boomers to before boomers, but we’re just now recognizing it as such. But I also want to add the fact that were using boomers or pre-boomers as benchmarks of when you should be an adult is absolutely ridiculous. My grandmother was born in 1915 and had my mother at the age of 24, in 1959 my mother had me at the age of 38 in 1999 so my mother is at the very end of bloomers and is actually the generation right after boomers called generation Jones that people kind of forget about that’s before gen X and right after boomers but the point of that being is that I’m 24 year old zoomer right now and I couldn’t imagine having a child. One good thing about not living up to what’s considered the adulthood timeline of the past is that you get to live your life and live for you. Let’s also think about the fact that a lot of these benchmarks were made where social conditions for certain groups of people were horrible and so now we’re comparing data today from data of the past that had regressive social views.

[@kayakat1869]

Yeah, this video feels really regressive. Why as a woman would I want to "be mature" in his eyes? He mentioned getting married and having kids as things that make someone an adult, but single women without kids are more happy and fulfilled than married women with kids. A lot of these benchmarks for adulthood were created to keep women down.

[@nikibronson133]

@@kayakat1869 this too! I feel like I got so caught up in trying to make an age argument against capitalism, where it completely forgot the fact that we are literally dragging the standards of so-called adulthood by not so great standards of the past just because it’s how it’s always been does it mean that it was right but we just assume that it is but maybe we’re realizing now that what we consider to be adulthood was actually too young. I mean we literally know that the brain isn’t even finish developing until your 30s.

[@AgainsaidBen]

I've been thinking about this for a while. I'm a millennial homeowner but we barely squeaked it through before prices went up even further. I just feel so bad that they've had to create this new category of early adulthood. It's a limbo, a waiting space. Usually a stage of development comes with a conflict to resolve. What conflict exists in early adulthood aside from struggling to maybe earn enough to reach the next stage of affording things people used to take for granted?

[@BadassRaiden]

Michael talking about the childish-esque nature of adult coloring literally as I listen to this video while adult coloring 😅 I cannot describe how attacked I felt 😂😝

[@michelleburkholder2547]

It's just preprinted doodling. Adults doodle.

[@lukedodson3267]

Let's face facts "Paint by Numbers" was just coloring with an adult name.

[@BadassRaiden]

@@lukedodson3267 ugh! I hate paint by numbers!

[@steamtasticvagabond474]

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying an adult colouring cook

[@MiraBoo]

Adult coloring books are therapeutic… They’ve never been considered childish. In fact, it’s quite childish to consider coloring a kid’s activity. Coloring is for any and everyone of *all* ages, as is art in general. The only qualities that makes a coloring book more “adult” is the content and complexity within it. A “child’s” coloring book tends to have images that are larger/simpler to color, while an “adult’s” coloring book tends to be comprised of more intricate/detailed images that can be difficult for a child, who’s still developing their fine motor skills, to fill-in.

[@Alaskan-Armadillo]

This topic was fascinating! Even though I am a Zoomer ( I am 26) I always found that a lot of the infantilization that I had directed towards me growing up wasn't from mass media or corporations trying to get me to consume but from some of the teachers who I had in highschool since I was in Special Education. As a result I got it through my head that if I were to have to 'rebel' against these teachers then I would have to be more adult and not fall into the trap of behaving or consuming like a kid. It is interesting though because I agree 100% that by infantilizing ourselves or as you say in the video 'babying' ourselves we don't really face our problems or face the problems of society.

[@polyglottenforpain]

I really appreciate your 8th grade GD tie dyes. You be you, Michael, don't let anyone shame you into changing!

[@griffinrupe]

I think this effect is most visible in the "pacification of social media" where adult (or even suggestive) content is restricted and banned because "children could see it". The era of the online space that is made for adults is gone, and now we live with an internet that must never be restricted to those above the age of 18. I'm not sure what the effects of this kind of thing are, but I doubt it's good

[@dorothypierre754]

I'd push back against this by saying that when there was only television, there were still censors and parents making sure that children weren't watching inappropriate content that is now even more available on the internet. Few parents use parental controls, tech savvy kids know how to circumvent them, and things also just slip through the cracks. Children these days can still see a lot of sexually inappropriate and violent content that they really shouldn't be looking at. They are more exposed to it than Gen X children and Baby Boomer children, at least.

[@MrBlooDeck]

Ugh, I hate when they only hint at politics and don't go for the throat about the evils of capitalism and the elite.

[@teenkitsune]

Well when they do a whole brigade of jerks come in to flood the comments sections about the consequences of Marxist theory, like Karl's theories were the sole factor why so-called communist societies were dictatorships.

[@bowietwombly5951]

The whole video is about how capitalism has directly aimed to infantilize society to make us better consumers and how that tactic is destroying the planet. Hard to be much more direct than that.

[@bobi200samatar6]

Yeah, just do it!

[@Binstone]

bad for business

[@kevin76165]

I think it’s mostly implied and not even really that subtle. You don’t need to rant about something directly to criticize it tbh

[@DMAN590]

Very on Point. Something I try to identify and correct in myself. Caused me much suffering in life, refusing to grow up.

[@dylanclark9903]

Hmmm- what does it mean to grow up? Do I have to give up D&D and MTG to internalize the harsh, often Machiavellian, nature of reality? I don’t think so. Kid stuff is cheap. I might not be able to get a home (because of six figures of student loan debt), but I can have an MTG deck that would’ve made my 16yr old self sploosh.

[@yourfriendlyinternetmeatshield]

*Squees at your sploosh*

[@windsorspitfire]

When I was a grad student in the 90s, one of the hottest books was Neil Postman's "The Disappearance of Childhood." Neil argued that the concept of children with their own distinct interests was a relatively recent historical development and one that was threatened by the forced maturity being pushed on children by adult culture and economic insecurity. Now you're describing basically the opposite, the disappearance of adulthood. The through line is the dissolution of the distinction between childish and adult interests and perspectives. The difference may simply be a matter of what you choose to focus on in the resulting blended child-adult mentality.

[@cooper3561]

A philosophy major being depressed ? I'm shocked

[@SoloLegends]

Careful with better help everyone, they are being sued at the moment for selling/giving user information to marketing firms. Not really the sort of thing you'd want a therapy service to be doing. Just google it as I can't inject a link here. Therapy is a great idea and really helpful for most people, just go somewhere other than Better Help or a lot of the other online service one who do the same thing. Just investigate before signing up.

[@Corizizle]

Would love a follow-up video someday about if/how this is happening outside of western culture.

[@airspeedwagon]

this one was really something special. late 80s millenial still struggling to pay my bills on time.

[@MisterJingo93]

Are you able to read minds? Just today I thought to myself... "How the hell is it normal for adults to talk like babys, why is this and that even a thing, and why do I constantly feel treated like a god damn child?"

[@remiscott7759]

Neoteny

[@Im-BAD-at-satire]

Pedogenesis (pædo is a Greek derived root word) is prevalent in many species, humans however are the most neotenic.

[@ReemTahir]

Bro. My Dad told me to stop using the word "bro" because it's too juvenile for someone my age.

[@elaineb7065]

To me, being an adult means: setting budgets, recognising my limitations, acknowledging other people's emotional states, & doing what I can to give sometimes rather than taking all the time, while still advocating for myself in a mature, respectable way, which includes my right to carry a plush shark outside to a coffee morning or day trip, & my right to spend my fun money on things I like, whether they be "mature" things or more child-like in nature

[@lilmsgs]

I often notice when media is treating me like a child. Annoys the f**k out of me.

[@6thwilbury2331]

Interesting. I now can't not picture the various Major League Baseball logos of the 60s and 70s. Many teams went very cartoonish with their branding: the Padres and the swinging friar, the Orioles had the funny duck logo (which actually goes back to the 50s), the Twins had the "win Twins" characters, the Reds turned to the baseball-headed player, the Rangers stuck a Stetson on a baseball, the Phillies donned the two kids wearing Revolutionary War attire for a minute, the Braves switched from the headdressed chief to the laughing Mohawk, the Cardinals briefly went to some Foghorn Leghorn lookalike swinging a bat, the Pirates had that goofy five o'clock shadowed drunkard, the Tigers had a coked-out kitty as a secondary mark, and well, Mr. Met. It's not a perfect science, though. The Cubs had their cute little bear logo as early as the 1940s, the White Sox had the lunge squat guy as far back as 1939, and Cleveland rolled out the garish smile on Chief Wahoo right after WWII, so that aesthetic could be something my grandparents also dug. Hell, when I first got into baseball, it seemed like half of the teams had a baby blue version of the uniform. Babies? Infants? Guys like Greg Luzinski and Dave Kingman wearing powder blue jerseys? The Pittsburgh Drug Trials were inevitable.

[@SeaWitch115]

The discussion of infantilization of younger generations, reminds me of the book a Brave New World. Where adults are conditioned to behave like pleasure seeking children who dull any negative emotions with drugs that make them happy.

[@spicysmooth2]

Philosophytube just did a video about Stoicism and I really needed to hear both today.

[@CarlosHernandez-jv6wk]

Wait, hold up. There's a new Philosophy Tube video!? Well, I guess I know what I'M watching when giving plasma tomorrow! :D

[@natesullivanw24]

Me: hmm interesting. *takes bite of ice cream sandwich messily with no napkin*

[@katpirarate962]

I knew there was something sinister about low quality remakes and sequels of movies from my childhood.

[@madzulu3598]

this is all because of the money behind it but i also think there’s “grown up” culture that does the same the opposite way say like manscape or dr squash or even andrew tate and logan paul

[@RichardServello]

That’s just toxic cosplay tho. I would argue, people like them are even more immature than a 40 year old comic book geek. They are pretending to be “grown ups”.

[@cup.o.joe...]

That has to be the single most helpful conclusion on a KZbin video I've ever seen, specially the part where you ask who does it benefit because it certainly isn't the individual

[@ManyMonstersMedia]

me: using a pacifier him: pop in ur pacifier me: one step ahead of u

[@Jayfive276]

This. This right here is what the video is on about. You: should not aspire to be like this. You: need to grow the fuck up.

[@churchofmarcus]

"Are we all just babies now?" flows beautifully into an ad for therapy.

[@rodneycooperjr3223]

Man! I kid you not, I was writing a stand-up routine about the same subject, basically the "immaturation" of our society. Increasingly, adults don't want to be adults anymore. We're a bunch of petulant children that just want to get away with bad behavior 🤣

[@remiscott7759]

Neoteny

[@kayakat1869]

What makes someone an adult in your eyes tho? Why is someone who chooses to do things they like and enjoy their life seen as a negative thing. We only have one life. Why live it by some old arbitrary rules?

[@rodneycooperjr3223]

​​​@@kayakat1869I don't want to get into it too much here. But it's the basically about accepting it. People say being an adult sucks, but it only sucks if you spend 30 years trying to avoid it. If you embrace it as soon as possible, it's a great privilege to be an adult.

[@kayakat1869]

@@rodneycooperjr3223 what is so great about it if you can't enjoy things for fear of being labeled as "childish" sounds like a scam to me.

[@rodneycooperjr3223]

@@kayakat1869 You're projecting a little. I didn't say anything about enjoying it or not. Maturity is not really related to the ability to enjoy life, ya know.

[@ByronLowry]

Hmm, in popular discourse about society and conflicts there seems to be a shift toward focusing on "lived experience" as the basis for the analysis. I wonder if this is also a form of infantilization, as it gives priority to individualized experiences over aggregate dynamics. It feels like a lens that fetishizes lived experience will only serve to reinforce the ego.

[@PoeticCoastCollectibles]

A baby's gotta do what a baby's gotta do 😂

[@itsah-lee-uh7185]

Did anyone hear "a machine that would turn adults into babies" and immediately think Sky High?

[@jarrahfitzgerald2752]

Nothing says adult baby like The Mandalorian.

[@ginichilders9619]

I'm Baby (Yoda). Uwu. 🥺

[@sirloin869]

Luv that betr help skit u do@the begin'n, reminds me of the line from henry rolkins everything:"imagine being proud of how much pain you can take from a stranger,who is richer than you are"...

[@alexwixom4599]

I feel like categorized "life-stages" is the problem

[@Iothisk]

I think it's pretty awesome to get to be a "kid" living in the moment "forever" or at least it would be, if it could be sustained. From time to time the horrors of a culture refusing to deal with issues like mental illness, poverty, disease and lives lived without satisfying accomplishments shake me from this dreamy state of living. Which is to say, around 8 PM every night.

[@rndrx70]

Chuck E Cheese does weddings now.

[@Biscuitsdefortune]

I just finished Nihilism by Nolen Gertz (I think it's thank to you that I pick up that particular book) and there is case very similar to you where (I resume very roughly) it is a nihilist attitude to be like a child, not apathic, not disinterested, but just not being aware or caring to care. It would have taken a lot more time that add that perspective to the video, but having just read the book, I think it's a pertinent one. Oh! I think have any Jefferson advice for you, but you briefly mention it so I can strongly recommend the book "The aesthetics and affects of cuteness" where a chapter explain that concept of "cuteness" in the West is related to eugenics and that the Japanese "kaiwai" has a completely different origin and meaning. Very thoughtful text to engage with those concept.

[@BlueJayWaters]

So for a long time I always felt out of place with my peers. I used to watch Frasier and Seinfeld instead of sesame street and Arthur. I hung out with older kids more. And though I played video games for a long time, at around 18 I just only played games I was good at, for the competition. My ex wife was an artist and huge on anime, but I stopped caring for it in my teens. I am also a musician, and was relatively successful at it in my early 20's, but in my 30's now I really only still play to teach kids at a school. What I'm getting at is most of my life I didn't like "childish" things. I outgrew social media quick, I didn't get my first smartphone till 2016, and go out of my way to avoid a lot of nostalgia or things that made me feel like a kid again. I've done it since I was a kid. And though I had a traumatic and shitty childhood, which I'm sure is a reason I don't want to "revisit" it with nostalgia, I'm just so anti-child about things that I really wonder what my end goal is. I'm extremely miserable as an adult, no passions, no motivations, and I feel like someone in that role would be craving this childish mentality, but I'm even more focused on living this pain as it is now. If anyone has some thoughts on that I'd appreciate any comments

[@mekannatarry1929]

I've been in a similar spot as you, only I still enjoyed things geared towards kids, just with the difference with hanging around adults mainly; for example I only attended the elder's sunday school until I was 14, and even then I'd switch back and forth. With that said I'd start by saying balance and moderation is key, but I assume you understand this already. BTW this is coming from an unemployed guy living with his mother, and I bring that up to prove a point; however you're free to disregard everything I say based on that fact, I'd understand. Anyway, there are many reasons why someone is attracted to or avoidant of something, and the regard of it being childish or mature is somewhat subjective, especially when talking about it with the average joe. So I say find things you gravitate towards, new or old, and enjoy them, your interests don't make you childish or mature, your actions do, as well as accepting the consequences of your actions--pbs kids stuff--but again, I assume you know this already.

[@nikovz4719]

Express it through art is what I would recommend. Art=human expression Art has helped me accept and move forward with life. Even if you don’t share your creations, you still express yourself and having that outlet helps a bit. That bit can go a long way. Kinda like talking to roaches or mice in solitary confinement.

[@pisceanbeauty2503]

Just be interested in what you want to be interested in. No pressure one way or the other.

[@BlueJayWaters]

@Niko Vz I still write songs, and technically perform from time to time. So I try to be creative

[@lectivalzahard8533]

My advice is not over thinking, best if you can detach your judgement about the activities you try or the media you consume, if you don't put them into categories (childish, mature, nostalgic etc) that could help you distinguish what you enjoy from what you don't.

[@EricArgyris]

In Sweden they also condesend to us all the time. As an example at work they encouraged us to report workplace accident and if we see something that could become an accident to report it. They gave us the technical terms and the told us to tell them apart this way: roughly translated - "ouchies" for accidents and "oopsies" for potential hazards.

[@AJX-2]

There's a certain irony in this video being sponsored by betterhelp, but I can't quite place it.

[@mikitz]

Irresponsibility, compulsory blame of others and over-emotional outbursts in young adults sure have become a mainstay during the past two decades that can't be explained simply by financial issues.