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[–]Nosce_te_ipsum 6 insightful - 1 fun6 insightful - 0 fun7 insightful - 1 fun -  (3 children)

When you put it like that, it makes more sense. I've also considered that it might have something to do with the fear of "growing up". Which I think is a pretty common fear (I still feel inadequate and like I'm not doing "adulting" the correct way, oftentimes), but they appear to have a more extreme response to it.

[–]MarkTwainiac 5 insightful - 1 fun5 insightful - 0 fun6 insightful - 1 fun -  (1 child)

I very much agree that the fear of growing up is definitely a factor. Used to be, in males this was called the "Peter Pan complex." But back in ye olde days, there were definite advantages to growing up, such as being able to have a social life with IRL friends & a sex life with IRL partners & also the pride & power of earning your own money. Now all the social & sex life stuff is occurring virtually online - & the money stuff occurs electronically. Electronic money transfers & using mom's credit cards are entirely different to the experience that earlier generations had of getting a paycheck they worked their asses off for, or stealing bills from mom's purse, dad's wallet or the household kitty jar.

I'm sorry you still feel inadequate & that you're not "adulting" in the correct way. Could this be "the impostor syndrome"? IME, a whole lot of people feel like frauds & inadequate nincompoops at various stages in life. I'm old now, & I certainly feel I am not "senioring" the correct way.

[–]Nosce_te_ipsum 2 insightful - 1 fun2 insightful - 0 fun3 insightful - 1 fun -  (0 children)

You make a really good point about the virtual vs physical life.

I found out about "the impostor syndrome" a few years ago, and it definitely affects me. Thankfully, it's not so bad that it incapacitates me, but it can become quite frustrating. I like to remind myself that it can serve a purpose, if you don't allow it to overwhelm you, because it can make people a little more self-aware, from what I've noticed.