Sahail AshrafAdults Acting Like Kids
October 11th 2006 04:00
There was an article in The Age Good Weekend a couple of weeks back about adults who are engaging in what was termed childlike behaviour. Those who own iPods, who read Harry Potter books and who go and see films like “Finding Nemo” were categorised as immature. The criticism of this generation of adults was extended to them not growing up. They don’t have a mortgage, are unmarried and without children.
The author surveyed a number of people in the thirties age group who were put in this category. It was interesting to note that in each case the person interviewed liked products designed primarily for kids but also had a thriving and busy career. Most of those interviewed were in a relationship with the possibility of children coming along down the track, but the author didn’t treat this as seriously as marriage. Those interviewed also made several points about the cost of owning your own home.
Well, I have to admit I like the Harry Potter books, having read them all. I also enjoyed Finding Nemo, though at least I took my 8 year old niece along for an excuse. I don’t own an iPod but mainly just because they’re too expensive for me. Despite my own enjoyment of so-called childish things I do also have a mortgage, a husband and a daughter.
What do you think? Is the enjoyment of things designed for children making us immature? It seems a pretty big call to claim this is the reason people aren’t opting for the traditional family life. Or is it the other way around? Are people retaining a sense of their childhood because they’re moving into the next phase of life later and later?
Does not marrying, or not having children, or not having a mortgage into the thirties make current generations immature? Or is it a more complex societal issue that that?
The author surveyed a number of people in the thirties age group who were put in this category. It was interesting to note that in each case the person interviewed liked products designed primarily for kids but also had a thriving and busy career. Most of those interviewed were in a relationship with the possibility of children coming along down the track, but the author didn’t treat this as seriously as marriage. Those interviewed also made several points about the cost of owning your own home.
Well, I have to admit I like the Harry Potter books, having read them all. I also enjoyed Finding Nemo, though at least I took my 8 year old niece along for an excuse. I don’t own an iPod but mainly just because they’re too expensive for me. Despite my own enjoyment of so-called childish things I do also have a mortgage, a husband and a daughter.
What do you think? Is the enjoyment of things designed for children making us immature? It seems a pretty big call to claim this is the reason people aren’t opting for the traditional family life. Or is it the other way around? Are people retaining a sense of their childhood because they’re moving into the next phase of life later and later?
Does not marrying, or not having children, or not having a mortgage into the thirties make current generations immature? Or is it a more complex societal issue that that?
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Comment by Anonymous
Baby boomers are just jealous
Neilo
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I think it's just another way for so-called experts to catagorise people and tell them what they should or should not be doing.
Finding Nemo is a great movie (as is Madagascar) it's full of humour, it has a great storyline and wonderful characters. Isn't that what we all look for in a good movie. As for iPods, what on earth is wrong with thirty-somethings wanting to listen to music?
They just need to let people be people.
A.H.
Comment by Candice
I'm glad to hear there are others out there enjoying kids' movies Andrea. Shrek is another fav. of mine. And there are always heaps of adult-related jokes and issues in those films so they're definitely not only geared towards children.
Comment by Andrea
V8 Supercar Pitstop
I wonder what the author of the article would think of that!
A.H.