Our parents tell us to be responsible, or we will never reach adulthood. Apparently, coming home at a certain time and doing whatever you are told are large prerequisites for adulthood. Funny, I don't see the “adults” following a curfew, or following orders. (unless they are given by the man holding their paycheck.)
My theory, crazy as it may be, is that “adults” are nothing but teenagers who have an illusion of power. To explain: Lets say that we have two humans, each born and raised in isolation to be exactly the same, personality and intellect wise, but one of them is much bigger. Now, when they are let to interact, what will happen? The bigger human fill feel superior to the smaller human, as is human nature, and the smaller human will feel, in turn, inferior to the smaller human, as is human nature.
You may ask; “how does this have anything to do with the teen/parent Paradox?” (okay, an exaggeration...) and I would say that we (the teens) are the little humans and they (adults) are the big humans. We, or preferably they, just need to learn that size isn't everything. And that power? It is only there because we give it to you.
Well, there is my crazy theory, what do you think? Fantasy, or an inevitable truth...
QUOTE OF THE DAY (AGAIN, BUT DIFFERENT THIS TIME.)
Hey, I'll even use the same theme:
Jesters do oft prove prophets.
~William Shakespeare
This one sounds like a pretty biased opinion to me. At my place, responsible behaviour is not just asked, it's expected of me. And I've mostly understood the demands(even if i don't always meet them,) because I have a younger brother and I do exert my 'superiority' over him to quite an extent. But most of the time, when I ask/demand him to be more responsible, I have a pretty good reason. I like him to be home a little early, mainly because my grandmother(who live with us) tends to worry about his well-being whenever he stays out too late. If I ask him to study/complete his homework, it's only so that he doesn't get into trouble in school. So when my folks tell me the same things, I know why.. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, I would have to admit it is quite biased, but I don't mean the average everyday "responsibility," I am more talking how they tend to twist the word to make it fit everything they want to be done. True, this may not be true for everyone, but I only have my life to go by.
ReplyDeleteI do agree with the whole twisting it around to fit everything they want done part. Even my folks do that sometimes, but then who doesn't get just that wee li'l bit drunk on power? I know I do. I wouldn't be surprised if my bro has a blog out there with pretty much the same rants.. :\
ReplyDeleteBut on the whole, I still think I was pretty lucky when I landed into my family.. :)