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Originally posted by Lira Maturity is simply how you want people to behave: the more they do things you disapprove, the more "immature" you might think they are. Being such a relative value, I fail to see any importance in it.

This is true however when say for example you are in a relationship with someone who's maturity is similar to your own. However on the other hand, the issue of maturity comes to the forefront if you're in a relationship with someone who is much more immature (doesn't mean that they're younger). I agree with what you first said in that if one is a mature rational person and they are constantly around an immature, irrational person, they will be constantly frustrated by the things they see the irrational, immature person do. Then again if you put two immature people together even if they're doing the same kind of irrational things it seems normal because they're acts they both commit.

Maturation is a biological process characterized by a wide range of physiological changes resulting from the biological nature of the organism. It can't really be reduced to a number, but it can be measured in terms of certain benchmarks. For example, once an animal is biologically capable of reproduction then it can be said to have reached sexual maturity.

The term "maturity" has been widely misappropriated to describe the degree of similarity between a person's behavior and how "mature" (adult) individuals are expected to behave in a specific culture, or, even more frequently, a subjective and abstract notion of how mature individuals ought to behave.

The process by which the behavior of an individual is shaped through various means to conform with the standards of a particular culture is certainly not part of the maturation of a human being any more than being chopped up and assembled into a chair is part of the maturation process of a tree.

self awareness
learning from mistakes instead of repeating them
integrity
paying bills on time (responsibility)
being able to admit when you're wrong

*shrugs*

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My soliloquy may be hard for some to swallow, but so is cod liver oil.

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Originally posted by notelfreak man i can't believe i tried to come off as responsible in that other thread, i am so full of shit just don't tell anyone

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Originally posted by Pjotr G It's about being able to take responsibility for your own actions, and face their consequences yourself.

Bingo.

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Originally posted by Lira Maturity is simply how you want people to behave: the more they do things you disapprove, the more "immature" you might think they are. Being such a relative value, I fail to see any importance in it. I also tend to strongly disagree with the existence of any relation between maturity and age.

quote:

Originally posted by Slylee self awareness learning from mistakes instead of repeating them integrity paying bills on time (responsibility) being able to admit when you're wrong *shrugs*

Agreed.

Despite being young and a bit naive in some things, most people I've encountered (including my family and friends) have always seen me as a mature person or that I'm very mature for my age, mainly from the points Slylee made.

Common sense plays a bit part of being mature, imo.

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So basically what everyone here is trying to say is:

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Originally posted by Ygrene Maturity is knowing when you should and when you shouldn't laugh at a fart.

I think Ygrene nailed it.

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Credit rating and personal debt management are usually a good barometer.

the more mature you are the less you post in the cor (except for b.s.e. and nou)

OMG how did I miss Ygrene's post???

maturity is the degree to which one can empathize

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quote:

Originally posted by Slylee self awareness learning from mistakes instead of repeating them integrity paying bills on time (responsibility) being able to admit when you're wrong *shrugs*

This seems like a very sound list to me, but is maturity really being all of these things all of the time? I think that these traits are what society could deem "mature", but can an individual ever truly be mature if they sometimes deviate from these expectations but sometimes adhere to them?

I think that awareness of one's actions defines maturity best. Perhaps a person's conduct may not conform to exactly what people expect out of their age or mental capacity, but if they are aware of what they are doing and consider the fact that other people may very well disapprove (despite what they actually choose to do), then I think that this demonstrates a very high degree of maturity. It's surprising how often people are simply unaware of what they say and do a lot of the time though. Well, maybe it's not surprsing... >.>;;

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There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.

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Originally posted by Halcyon+On+On It's surprising how often people are simply unaware of what they say and do a lot of the time though. Well, maybe it's not surprsing... >.>;;

It's not surprising at all. People are morons.