( text ) May 13th

[alborada]

[ Despite an... enlightening? conversation with a coworker, Sylvarie still found herself wanting more perspectives on a topic that had been increasingly nagging at her.

To ask those from different parts of Vaikuntha was one thing, but what of asking those who were from different worlds altogether? Maybe one could at least provide some sense of peace. ]

I understand everyone is still settling in to life here, trying to discover for themselves how our world works. But the truth of the matter is, those who have been recovered from the Dream Width have made their own contributions to Vaikuntha as well, with their technology, cultures and customs. molding our way of life over many generations.

With that in mind, I would like to ask what it means to be an 'adult' in your worlds, what responsibilities come with being deemed as such? Does it involve a rite of passage, or is a person merely proclaimed as such once they are of a certain age? Even here what a person may or may not do differs drastically depending on which country you are in.

... And would those adult responsibilities mean going to a chocobo festival is out of the question and childish?

Comments

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[twomeals]

thats a hard question
i think an adult is eombody who can take care of themselves tough
like working and finding food and not needing any help with anything

you sbould definitely go to the chocobo festival though

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[alborada]

There are those who are capable of doing so who would most certainly still be classified as children, however.

[ Though much to her shame, she was not one of them. ]

Is it so obviously about myself?

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[twomeals]

there are?
if its not about you then whoever it is should still definitely go!!

[He's not biased at all.]

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[alborada]

There are, or so I have heard. If I remember correctly, my brother was capable of most of that.

Would you want to go?

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[whirluendo_of_puns]

why wouldn't you go to the chocobo festival????

i don't know what adulthood means here but back home you just take responsibility for what you do and you don't need a guardian's approval to make legal agreements. that sort of thing. other than that it depends on what's going on with your family and what you wanna do. some people move out and start paying their own bills, but not everyone.

anyway no one says you have to stop enjoying things when you're an adult. except for grumpy people who hate fun but that doesn't matter because they're wrong.

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[alborada]

Transportation fare can be better saved for another time. [ ... Is a weak excuse and she knew it, especially when it happened only once a year. ]

It’s much the same here, or it is in Myste Aura. But the ‘legal age,’ so to speak, differs depending on the country.

But are they truly so wrong? The ‘grumpy people,’ I mean.

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[whirluendo_of_puns]

but the festival won't be for another year! if you keep waiting for another time you'll just end up never going and you'll never get to see the chocobos! that would be terrible!!!

YES THEY ARE WRONG

[Patches is very serious about fun.]

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[alborada]

[ GOOD GRIEF SIR, HOLD YOUR CHOCOBOS. ]

I assure you, there will be other chances to meet with chocobos!

[ ... the cute fabled dances, though... ]

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[jeido]

[Here comes advice from a Certified Adult™]

Being an adult requires one to accept the inner child within themselves and indulge the aforementioned. Which is to say, it is perfectly acceptable to go to a chocobo festival and in fact, fawn over those honored and majestic creatures. And perhaps, even take part in necessary bonding activities.

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[alborada]

[ But is he really a Certified Adult™ ]

Inner child? [ Guess who has never even been taught about such a concept? It would indeed be this child. ]

Would you go participate in the bonding activities if they are so necessary, Sir?

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[despairing_hope]

It depends, I can only speak for my own understanding based on my world and country.

As far as legally an adult, you're one at the age of 20. You get a coming of age ceremony on a specific date that everyone who turned 20 can participate in. I didn't bother with mine, it means more for parents and family really, and, the world was ending and there wasn't much of a point.

As for physically, science says you're an adult at 25 because that's when your brain fully matures.

Some cultures, usually ancient ones, would consider one an adult once they reached sexual maturity.

Philosophically I feel one is an adult when they can take reasonable responsibility for their actions and support those around them.

[Which probably disqualified him from adulthood.]

Now, if this is more about if you should have fun, you should just go and have fun if that's what you want to do.

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[alborada]

That would be similar to some of the practices in several areas of the kingdom, depending on which social circles you frequent.

[ Though the world ending seems like a perfectly valid excuse to skip ceremonies, no matter how much she pauses in the face of how nonchalant he seems talking about it. There newcomers, honestly... ]

Reasonable responsibility seems as if it would be too subjective, however.

[ Just casually ignoring the fun encouragement for now... ]

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[despairing_hope]

Not really. If you had to take care of a child, you would understand what things they wanted to do were reasonable and not, right? It's the same thing. When you're enough of an adult, you will see the difference against those younger.

Also, when surrounded by others, an adult will take charge, or, at least keep their hands on the reigns in case something goes wrong.

Though, I suppose if you have to ask "what is an adult" than be default, you are not one.

[text]

[singerofspells]

It depends on the species. For my species, you're not a calf any more when you can leave your mother, and you are fully an adult when you are old enough to mate and have your own calves.

And wizards have their own stages: when you are out of latency, you are an adult wizard. It has to do with power levels, which decline with age. And you can still be a Senior wizard before you are an adult wizard: I was. Senior just means you are expected to be in charge of others. Similarly, some adult wizards are never Seniors because they have other skills.

Why would being an adult mean you can't go to this 'chocobo festival'. Is this one of those concepts that doesn't translate across species? Humans are exceedingly complicated.

[text]

[alborada]

[ This one takes a while for Sylvarie to respond to, as S’reee had unknowingly poked at old wounds. ]

What if there is no mother, and there hasn’t been for a long time? I can’t say I know much of wizards, aside from being another name for Black Mages.

I suppose it is one of the concepts that may not translate well, even amongst shared human societies. Many are saying a person should go, but a moogle I know insists otherwise.

Re: [text]

[singerofspells]

It could be something society-specific intended for children? But I recall human children spend a longer time with their parents than my own species does. So adults should be allowed if only because their children are present.

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[garyoutensei]

-There's the sound of a match strike, as well as some puffing noises, before a long exhale.-

Being an adult means forgetting everything you assumed being an adult meant when you were a child.

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[alborada]

Everything? [ That... hardly seemed like a reasonable solution. ]

Surely not all of the perceptions were wrong.

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[garyoutensei]

I guess it depends on the perception, but I've found pretty much all of them were wrong.

Then again, I didn't really get a 'youth' to experience.

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[lordshield]

Adulthood is defined by a combination of maturity, responsibility, and age. One must be mature enough to take responsibility for themselves and their actions at the very least, have the skills to provide for themselves and live independently. Age comes into it as a standard of how soon one can be truly considered independent, as I have met some very impressive young people in my life who had all the aforementioned qualities, but lacked the experience necessary for the informed decision-making necessary for adult life. Legally our government considers a person an adult at age 18.

All that being said, interests do not make a person an adult or a child. Children and adults alike can enjoy cartoons, video games, politics, sports, cooking, or chocobos. I personally have never allowed my age to deter me from what I enjoy. Should you feel the need to have someone accompany you to the festival for your own comfort I would be happy to oblige, as people rarely suggest a graying old man is childish for enjoying anything, and therefore you would be spared their judgment as well. Otherwise go do as you please and worry not about what others think. They are only denying themselves joy.

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[alborada]

[ It’s fortunate that the responses are in text, for Sylvarie finds herself almost laughing once she finishes reading what Clarus has written and offered. ]

In such a case, one might come to the conclusion that I am the one escorting you.

[ Which in a sense would be true, as it is her job. ]

Though some may also call not going as a sign of self-control and maturity in itself.

But what is the threshold of ‘experience?’ One can be well-travelled and learned in their advanced age, but still not be considered mature.

Or is that another topic altogether? I apologise if I am not making much sense.

[lordshield]

Indeed you might be. I promise I am not so old that I wander aimlessly on my own. ;)

Cases certainly exist of a person acting childish despite their age and abilities. For that I suggest look at the quality of their actions. Perhaps that is another topic, though they are interlinked to some extent.

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[piume]

It all comes down to the matter attitude and knowing how to behave respectfully towards others, even when their views differ from your own.

[ And by these standards, he acted like a child during their last encounter, the unfortunate outcome of which has haunted him for a couple of days before he finally brought himself to address it. In the form of a text, the best he could do for now. ]

What I said was completely uncalled-for and you have the right to feel upset with me. I'm sorry.

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[alborada]

[ Lean... It would be a lie to say there wasn’t a hint of anxiety when she saw the message, and she couldn’t deny she had been avoiding him either, intentionally or not. But if he wanted to speak, she wouldn’t ignore him.]

That seems like a code one should follow regardless, if they wish to be a part of society. [ Or so she had been taught, but it was too soon to bring up her family’s values again. ]

I should be apologising first, I was the one who intruded upon your privacy and asked for your opinions, and therefore been ready for such possible answers.

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[piume]

Well, I didn't.

[ And there's no point in arguing whose fault it really was - for his words deserve an apology of their own. Besides, he's already geared himself up for this, okay? ]

That wasn't my answer. I usually pride myself in being level-headed, but something got into me that evening... I can't quite explain it.