Kidults' wisdom

Richard Herring's piece on kidulthood omits an important point - that the kidult on his skateboard and the "mature" adult in his suit and tie are equally stupid.
The folly and pathos of the kidult lies in the fact that he wants something - youth, hipness - that is both unattainable and of dubious value. Do you really want to be young again, with your naivete, gaucheness with girls, unformed tastes and insecurities?
But in this, the kidult is little different from the besuited 40-something professional. To be still chasing money, power and authority two decades after leaving university is pathetic, in the proper sense of the word. To have failed to see in 20 years that these are mere trinkets of frivolous utility suggests that one is incapable of learning anything about society or human nature.
In this sense, there's wisdom in kidults. At least they see that conventional professional success means nothing of substance.

Comments

[dearieme]

I wouldn't want to be 18 again, but I must say that 26 would do nicely.

[ProfitTheme]

Is it really wisdom or just typical teen rebellion? Most adults have accumulated knowledge over the years but there is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom.

[jameshigham]

This is one of the central reasons things are going down the gurgler. Adults won't take their responsibilities any more, even the 60 somethings.

By the way, my list is up.

[Matt Munro]

To be still chasing money, power and authority two decades after leaving university is pathetic, in the proper sense of the word. To have failed to see in 20 years that these are mere trinkets of frivolous utility suggests that one is incapable of learning anything about society or human nature.

I would have said the opposite. To spend the 20 years after uni in a haze of long afternoons in the pub, parties, and chasing women is (sort of) forgivable and maybe even admirable.
To continue doing that whan you are on the electoral roll, have a mortage, a credit history, a childminder and a Sainburys reward card is more than a little sad. Personally I'd hate to be 18 again - 30 is about the best age.

[Paulie]

Neither your kidult or your failing yuppie seem to have kids or an idle trollop of a wife to feed.

Just an observation.

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Is it really wisdom or just typical teen rebellion? Most adults have accumulated knowledge over the years but there is a big difference between knowledge and wisdom.