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I'm old enough to have seen this happen in real time and continue to be puzzled and amused by it. I think the author is trying way too had to make this trend s

I'm old enough to have seen this happen in real time and continue to be puzzled and amused by it. I think the author is trying way too had to make this trend sound more important than it is, and I think the connection to the election of Donald Trump is a real stretch. But a few areas where we can clearly see how US society as become more child-like (not childish) over the past 50 years. (and BTW, I'm not saying any of this is bad) 1) Starbucks - at some point our morning cup of coffee has turned into a milkshake. 2) Sports memorabilia - signed balls and playing cards used to be kid stuff. 3) The Punisher & Police - adults trying to show how tough they are by displaying their favorite comic book character 4) The end of suit and tie business culture - no comment needed, and thank God for this one! Note: I've left out video gaming off the list. It seems like a good fit at first, but the medium just too new. We can't say it's something people people used to stop doing once they grew up. The fisrt generation of gamers never really stopped

photojosh 5y ago
> The [first] generation of gamers never really stopped I get that this was an off-the-cuff statement, but worth digging into. Video gaming has morphed so much. I used to game through the night (Quake through Starcraft, Civ, Diablo, etc) but pretty much gave it up when I had kids. I've found social media and online "edutainment" (inc. HN) to fill that life niche (escapism?) so much better, and even when I've made an effort to try to play a game, it never holds my attention that long. On the other hand, casual gaming has absolutely taken off. I see so many older people even (60+) playing random games when they're waiting for something. My wife and kids do the same.
- timoth3y 5y ago
  I know what you mean. I used to be a gamer, but kind of drifted away from it in my 20's. I just didn't have the time. But I don't think gaming quite fits the "when I became a man, I put away childish things" feel that some of the other items do. For example, due to time commitments and other responsibilities, I don't travel nearly as much as I used to, but I would not say I have outgrown travel. It's just a lower priority. Also (non-video) gaming has been something adults have done for centuries; checkers, chess, card games, etc. So I tend to view this as just an old behavior with new technology rather than new behavior.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
- nly 5y ago
  For most adults, casual gaming has become a way to blow off steam or pass unproductive intervals we're forced to endure. You can't exactly work on your side project or hobby while sat at a bus stop or train station for just 10 minutes, so it's a guilt free pleasure. That 1-2 hours of precious free time you get at home, between work, chores and bed, however, is riddled with guilt. Sadly, most of us lack the willpower and energy to make the most of it. Personally, I feel guilty not spending my evenings with my partner if I attempt to man-cave myself away to work on a side project, even though I know they have potential to be transformative to our lives.
omgitsabird 5y ago
Isn't adolescence accompanied by poor decision making and a near-delusional perception of the world? Are those bad things? Also, adults always have gamed, see card games, board games, charades etc.
nly 5y ago
I see things differently. I don't believe there is really much of a difference between adolescence and adulthood. Sure, as you age, lots about your mental and emotional state changes, and your expectations shift with experience... but most of what we actually want doesn't really change. Freedom, friendship, companionship, intellectual fulfillment, a sense of accomplishment, sex, pleasurably and memorable experiences, and leisure time. Ultimately adulthood is predicated on sacrifice. You sacrifice something like 35-45% of your waking hours during the absolute prime time of your life to earn money. Then you sacrifice 70% of the money that you just earned to maintain a basic framework in which to live. That framework then then comes with even more responsibility and work. I often think the reason why adults ultimately have children is because a sense of legacy gives us hope that our children will have to sacrifice less than we did, and therefore it's all somehow worth it. Not having to sacrifice milkshakes seems like a win to me.

photojosh 5y ago

> The [first] generation of gamers never really stopped I get that this was an off-the-cuff statement, but worth digging into. Video gaming has morphed so much. I used to game through the night (Quake through Starcraft, Civ, Diablo, etc) but pretty much gave it up when I had kids. I've found social media and online "edutainment" (inc. HN) to fill that life niche (escapism?) so much better, and even when I've made an effort to try to play a game, it never holds my attention that long. On the other hand, casual gaming has absolutely taken off. I see so many older people even (60+) playing random games when they're waiting for something. My wife and kids do the same.

timoth3y 5y ago
I know what you mean. I used to be a gamer, but kind of drifted away from it in my 20's. I just didn't have the time. But I don't think gaming quite fits the "when I became a man, I put away childish things" feel that some of the other items do. For example, due to time commitments and other responsibilities, I don't travel nearly as much as I used to, but I would not say I have outgrown travel. It's just a lower priority. Also (non-video) gaming has been something adults have done for centuries; checkers, chess, card games, etc. So I tend to view this as just an old behavior with new technology rather than new behavior.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
nly 5y ago
For most adults, casual gaming has become a way to blow off steam or pass unproductive intervals we're forced to endure. You can't exactly work on your side project or hobby while sat at a bus stop or train station for just 10 minutes, so it's a guilt free pleasure. That 1-2 hours of precious free time you get at home, between work, chores and bed, however, is riddled with guilt. Sadly, most of us lack the willpower and energy to make the most of it. Personally, I feel guilty not spending my evenings with my partner if I attempt to man-cave myself away to work on a side project, even though I know they have potential to be transformative to our lives.

omgitsabird 5y ago

Isn't adolescence accompanied by poor decision making and a near-delusional perception of the world? Are those bad things? Also, adults always have gamed, see card games, board games, charades etc.

nly 5y ago

I see things differently. I don't believe there is really much of a difference between adolescence and adulthood. Sure, as you age, lots about your mental and emotional state changes, and your expectations shift with experience... but most of what we actually want doesn't really change. Freedom, friendship, companionship, intellectual fulfillment, a sense of accomplishment, sex, pleasurably and memorable experiences, and leisure time. Ultimately adulthood is predicated on sacrifice. You sacrifice something like 35-45% of your waking hours during the absolute prime time of your life to earn money. Then you sacrifice 70% of the money that you just earned to maintain a basic framework in which to live. That framework then then comes with even more responsibility and work. I often think the reason why adults ultimately have children is because a sense of legacy gives us hope that our children will have to sacrifice less than we did, and therefore it's all somehow worth it. Not having to sacrifice milkshakes seems like a win to me.