What does it mean to be a "mature" person?

[Writer]

My oldest sister never ceased to remind me that I was younger (by 12 years) and therefore inadequate somehow. Either I "could not possibly" understand a particular topic because of my age, or I "wasn't old enough" to know what the family was discussing at that moment. The result of this has been that I tend to act "overly mature" for my age, perhaps as a way to overcompensate for a feeling of inadequacy.

There are times, however, when I do wonder if I am mature for 32. If I'm interacting appropriately for someone my age. I have plenty of examples around me of immature older people (most of them in my family)... but I wonder. What is "mature" behavior for a person? Are there any "rules" to this?

[MrScorpio]

1. To me you're still a baby

Because I'm even older than your sister

Enjoy your youth while you have it

[Colorado Progressive]

2. I think the biggest sign of maturity is when you stop being a "me" person.

Little children all start out as "me" people. They walk around saying "mine" about everything.

At some point you wake up and realize...it isn't about you. That's why doing things for other people (like ecotourism, donating XMAS presents to poor kids) makes you feel so good, much better than buying yourself a present.

We are a "me" nation. Maybe that's one of the reasons so many people are on antidepressants.

[DarkTirade]

3. I was the youngest in my family until my little sister was born (when I was 9 1/2)

so I tended to try and act mature too.

Then around the age of 13 or 14, I realized I wasn't having any FUN, so I started watching cartoons and enjoying myself.

[Mike03]

4. Just speculating off the top of my head...

I think there are two, if not more, definitions of being "Mature."

Definition number one is when it is used condescendingly against typically a younger person by an older person to suggest they lack wisdom and world experience. When I was in my teens and twenties, I was lectured on wisdom by people two or three years older than me. I don't think I even had a taste of maturity until I was in my early thirties, although I think many people wise up earlier than I did.

Definition number two, at least for me, is a feeling I have about myself that I'm not as capable as I should be for my age--that I was given certain blessings in life that actually made me less able to handle the difficult aspects of life. So, in definition number two, I call myself "immature." In the first definition, it is a specious or at least bombastic judgment by another person that I'm immature based on superficial characteristics like age.

Some of the wisest people I have ever known have been stunningly young, and I've met many very old fools.

[Guava Jelly]

5. I am the very definition of immature.

And I am 41

:hi:

[hfojvt]

6. I used to tell my little sister

"What do you know? You were born in 1970!!"


I think she's too old for that now though. 1970 was soooooo long ago.

I think maturity would be involved with responsibility - taking care of your pets, children, and various chores. Also with stability - excess stubborn-ness, temper tantrums, buying sprees - blatant irrationality I would consider to be immature. But also that everyone over 25 is supposed to be at about the same level of maturity. We are all adults here.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

7. When you quit aquiring things and begin admiring knowledge,

and become comfortable with the un-known of it all. Also proper placement of the comma is important.

It helps if you can post without the need to edit. I will let you know when I arrive.

[Oeditpus Rex]

8. You're asking this

in the Lounge?

:rofl:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

16. Heaven forbid, she ask it in GD ---

;)

[Oeditpus Rex]

18. Good point

Somebody would post the answer and eight people would go, "Link?"

[Tuesday Afternoon]

19. You know its the truth. She is getting more intelligent responses

in the middle school cafeteria...out of the mouths of babes and all that jazz;)

[TZ]

9. Its a matter of perspective in some ways.

I have a friend who is about 20 years older than me- he's sixty but he is sooo crazy and yeah, you could definitely call him a bit immmature at times. But then one of the most grown up people I know is someone much younger than me at 19! (because of a lot of pretty intense life experiences)

[Haole Girl]

10. Hell if I know!

:P

[Rabrrrrrr]

11. To be able to look at another person and say "You're not me, and that's okay"

[SPKrazy]

12. Generally thought of as

making sound and weighed out decisions, not prone to impulsiveness, emotionally stable

other than that

hell if i know

:shrug:

[Dr. Strange]

13. I think it means you can buy porn.

It's in the constitution. Somewhere.

[Jade Fox]

14. Minimum time behaving like an a**hole......

and in general taking responsibility for your own behavior. That's my definition of maturity. :)

[MedleyMisty]

15. I've been doing a lot of reading on development theory lately

It seems the psychological consensus on maturity is not being egotistical and being able to perceive reality as it is and to deal with it, as opposed to being narcissistic and believing in traditions way past their expiration date and denying facts that contradict the old beliefs and traditions. It also has to do with seeing right and wrong as universal principles, rather than wrong being something that hurts you or causes you to be punished or is against the letter of the law.

In other words, it's being liberal.

[Dukkha]

17. I always defined maturity as

to deny the humor in flatulence

[Connonym]

20. when your short hairs start to go grey

what? you expect a serious answer?

[lost-in-nj]

21. Just walk away

they will wonder whats on your mind!!!
don't tell them

I have learned to walk away or change the subject.....
I don't think its about you being "mature"
I think it has more to do with people thinking " it's their way or the highway"


lost