People who call themselves "Mature" are "Immature"
By almightybong
@almightybong (186)
Philippines
February 27, 2012 6:54pm CST
Whenever I join a group and everyone is supposed to introduce themselves, I instantly get annoyed at people who would describe themselves very "mature." Oftentimes, they will mistake maturity for seriousness and not laughing too much, or being old, or not having fun or having a straight face. Okay, the last bit's a little over the top but my view on maturity is different. I think we need to understand its meaning. For me it is how you've grown in terms of how you live life on a day-to-day basis. It is how you cope with what's in front of you and what decisions you make everyday. It's how you handle problems and what measures you take to resolve them. Somehow a lot of people associate maturity with age. I agree it has something to do with it but being older in years does not mean you have matured enough.
In my own sense, I feel okay with immaturity. To me it just means I have not grown well enough yet and that there's still a lot of potential. You see, I love opportunities. However, I know well enough when to be "matured," or when to be serious, and when to make important decisions and be responsible and accountable for them, and it is at those times that I realize that I have grown. But to be honest, "acting your age" is just not what people are supposed to be telling others as well. Is there a book that specifically tells you that 25 years of age, you should not be having fun on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, but you should look for solutions to solving your financial problems and never have fun. If that's what it takes to be called "mature", then I'm happy with immaturity, thank you very much.
I'm only mature when I have to be. But the rest, I simply enjoy life. It think that's how it is supposed to be.
2 people like this
8 responses
@cyclopz (251)
• Sydney, Australia
28 Feb 12
Well, i have also encountered lots of people like that and i think those who usually say that they are mature are the ones who are not. I agree that maturity is not based on one's age but it is also based on how you act and react to every situation. Being mature does not mean that we should stop having fun and enjoy life because we have to work work and work. Being mature does not mean that we have to be serious in everything we do but we should also know the right time when we should be serious and the time when we can also be lax.
Actually when you are a mature person you really don't have to tell people that you are because people would just know it if you are with the way you carry yourself. By boasting that you are a mature person to others just shows how immature you really are. I mean people could easily distinguigh a mature person from an immature one without you having to tell them that you are.
@almightybong (186)
• Philippines
28 Feb 12
I agree. If you really mature, wait for someone to say that about you. Bragging about it and claiming that you are is just, well, immature!
@Vvance (280)
• United States
28 Feb 12
Sometimes, people just say that because they really think they are mature, when , in fact, deep inside is an extremely immature child! I never say I'm mature, partly because it's true and also the fact, a mature person is boring. And like a famous song, I say 'I'm mature and I know it!' :)
@kalav56 (11464)
• India
28 Feb 12
Very nice topic and you have summed it up well.
Many people are excused for bad behaviour[they shoot out their mouths, make unwanted comments on others and their near and dear ones attribute it to 'immaturity' even when they are past seventy.
As you have pointed out many serious people think they are very mature.They laugh at people who derive simple joys out of life. They call you'immature ' and 'childish' because they themselves are not like that and there is a code of conduct in public.Enjoying oneself , laughing and giggling with other close friends is just a way of 'letting go'; these people can exhibit absolute maturity of thought and perspective and also show strength of charaCter. People who are serious all the time are not necessarily mature.This is my conviction. THe corollary is also valid thereby proving that people who are lighthearted and prone to having a bit of uninhibited fun can be totally mature. Go ahead and be yourself. I do not think it is wrong.Ia m also like that.
@kat_princess (1470)
• Philippines
29 Feb 12
Well,to be honest,I've remained 17 for a while physically but I try to deal with situations & my decisions like a real lady does & I shouldn't let anyone meddle with my affairs.I know they mean well & they're trying to "protect" me but for me,it's being counterproductive because how will I learn if I don't experience it on my own.So what if my folks were gone?I'll be having a hard time to deal with things on my own because they've spoon fed me all this time.Hopefully this year,I'd be financially stable so that I cold move out of the house already.
@jeanneyvonne (5501)
• Philippines
28 Feb 12
It's just a matter of perspective among people. But I agree that some people give themselves more credit than they deserve. Sometimes, I call myself mature and I do stupid things in the process. This situations makes em face the music and perhaps, make me realize that that particular road is not yet coming.
I can claim to some episodes few mature-ness but I really cannot claim that I am completely mature. That will come in time. I also think that maturity isn't really permanent, it just comes when the situation calls your it. You need maturity to deal with the world and the problems that life gives but you need some sort of child-like attitude to to survive and go on with your life.
@almightybong (186)
• Philippines
28 Feb 12
Couldn't agree with you more! I think we'll get along really fine. Hehehe. I think my title is just a bit misleading (but I think it's how titles are here in myLot), but what I really meant by it is that people give themselves more credit that they deserve. You said it perfectly, I couldn't have said it any better.
@dcunni2990 (120)
• United States
28 Feb 12
That's exactly what I think about maturity. I'm mature when I have to be. That's what maturity is, not being "stuck up" or "snobby" like a lot of people are. Alot of people think maturity means being "cool". Being "cool" in the modern sense, is just trendy. I still think like kid when I felt I was free of social contraints of people around my own age. Seems like when I was 13 people around my age had to have this image of themselves as being important in themselves. They're not fun to be around. It's okay to be silly as long as it's in good nature & not making fun of anyone. Maturity, as you said, is long term growth when it's important to do so. But fun is necessary when you don't have to be serious. What I used to hate was when my older sister used to tell me to grow up, like it takes seconds to do, & its morally wrong to be naive. It takes time & has to do with responsibility not an attitude. Being a good person is the most important thing for a person, not being smart or mature, though they are important too.
@TravieParks (27)
• United States
28 Feb 12
I definitely agree with your aspect on the difference between the thoughts of the meaning of the word "Maturity" and what it actually means. Although I sometimes quote myself as mature, it doesn't mean that at times, I can't be immature about certain things. But myself and just like everyone else has gone through things in their life that has helped them progress in the world and give then a much further understand about the thing we call "Life"
