Perpetual Adolescence
A number of American adults behave as if they've never left high school
Doesn’t it seem that a sizable minority of Americans act as if they are still in high school? Resenting authority resembles the obstreperous behavior of teenagers, the challenging of rules, and the desire to be independent. The majority of us shed adolescent attitudes as we mature and begin to take on adult responsibilities. Others find adjusting to living in a diverse and complex society that exists in a diverse and complex world problematic: They prefer instead to cling to a self-centered picture of the individual’s place in society. These rebels without a cause are angry and resentful. They are like the person Bob Dylan described 50 years ago when he sang, “Because something is happening here but you don't know what it is, do you, Mister Jones?” They reject what they are unable or unwilling to understand.
Examples are boundless. The Covid pandemic unleashed the anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers who were willing to bet their lack of knowledge of medical science against the recommendations of epidemiologists. Not only do they believe they are better informed than the scientists, or even that their reductionist thinking leads them to believe that if a scientist is wrong once then they must always be wrong: Rather it is their resentment at being told what to do by the government or Dr. Fauci. The fall-back position of people who deny the technical progress made by humankind- even with the evidence in plain sight- is to claim reliance on common sense, that characteristic Albert Einstein termed “the collection of prejudices acquired by age eighteen”. Is it common sense that leads people to believe the earth is flat? Or that Bill Gates was implanting tracking chips into the Covid vaccines?
This cohort talks non-stop about the platitudes of freedom and liberty. A recent example: Motivated by our Canadian neighbors, protests in the form of “trucker convoys” have gathered around the country to burn ever-more expensive fuel and to protest… What, exactly? They claim their complaints are about various mandates put in place by the Federal government in its efforts to, as the Constitution states, “promote the general welfare”. Of course, the Federal government’s mandates only apply to Federal employees and contractors. The majority of these public health measures were put in place by state and local governments and by private companies exercising their own freedoms. The recent version of these truck parades is the “People’s Convoy” that converged on Washington D.C. this week with the goal of obstructing traffic on the 64-mile long Capital Beltway. As it’s turned out, the normal stop-and-go jams on that highway mostly obstructed the would-be obstructionists. Such irony was lost on Brian Brase, the convoy organizer, who called for more truckers to join the protest. “This is for your personal freedoms,” he said. I must admit that I have never felt very free in the myriad traffic jams I’ve endured in my time behind the wheel.
Such self-importance to disguise personal insecurity is so typically adolescent. Perhaps that’s why high schoolers form cliques, in-groups, in their mini-societies. And maybe it explains the vitriol and derision group members often direct towards outsiders, the kids that are “different” whether it be due to race, sexual orientation, or religion. Not belonging is a source of fear for many in this transitional period. It may be one explanation for why these behaviors are associated with our teenage years.
The question remains about why some of us move beyond this stage and others stay mired in what can be called arrested development. There is also a time factor- some of us take longer to mature than others. While we are always changing physically- growing and aging, the teenage years come as we pass through puberty and an entirely new set of internal forces comes into play.
I am not a psychologist, just an observer who never obsessed over Senior Prom.
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When I go online at conservative blogsites to comment on articles, I frequently pan article writers and comment makers with similar thoughts to yours in my mind. I spend years teaching adolescents in high school in central city schools and dragging the best out of them--above the averages the counselors tell me despite themselves--at a price. My story is one of developing, teaching and evaluating underachieving students at secondary school and college levels and sending inordinate numbers to suitable colleges--above the averages. So I'm familiar with pre-adult behavior to the max.
On the blogs I find many writers unable to find the spell-checker facility; they often don't have the facts from simple googling; and the grammar/ punctuation is clearly junior high level. It's not just that I was a colleague of the former reknown Grammar Professor Richard Mitchell at Rowen College (NJ). I've been hired to write and edit technical articles for a lifetime of experience. My stuff has gone out to university, international and local educators without reproof and with kudos. So I know adolescent writing intimately.
Now there's a tactic of writers to aim at their reading audiences, so maybe misspellings and poor grammar serve a purpose on the far right. I don't think it's intentional. Estimates put American reading levels at the 7th and 8th grades. But published writings should have the facts, show logical development of subjects and make valid conclusions. They typically don't.
I also remember from early teen and pre-teen years the many intrigues of boys and girls trying to act mature and grown. The plotting of girls to 'capture' a favored boy on the playground. Arranging transport to the local school sock hop for social mingling beyond one's neighborhood. The scheming to be elected class president. The affinity groups formed on the run or fast walk during class passing free time. The forming of gender pairs of best friends and acceptable companions. Peer groups are paramount.
So to Nic's point, the current status of right and far right political groups, the behavior of their prominent figures and spokespersons, the intrigues and conspiracies formulated and spread, the search for personal freedom and independence of conventional norms, the in-your-face rebellion, the disdain and ignoring of common wisdom and accepted facts, all reflect a below average intellect, poor social and political understanding, disdain for American lore and history, and other oh-so-obvious immaturity signs.
But their leadership is not the same. There we have articulate, educated practitioners of politics and rebellion, religion and social media, lying and misdirecting and worse. A few charlatans claiming the mantles of freedom, religiosity, social well-being, self-righteousness, cruel victimhood, valid storytelling, with access to Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, We Chat, etc. social media take advantage--and they are of the Hitler, Stalin, Kim, MBS, Matumbo, Amin, Tojo, Pol Pot ilk. They lead their low education, immature, isolated, asocial followers farther astray.
So what do the masses want? 'Freedom' judging by the buzzword of one Southern governor addressing his rodeo audience. 'Small government' judging by the absence of Republican votes for nearly all legislation expanding services demanded by vast majorities of polled Americans. 'Entertainment' looking at mass broadcast and targeted media on the right and seeing the popular figures there, like Hannity, Carlson, Ingraham, Trump who stir those millions of citizens. 'Affirmation' judging by responders to this opinion/fact writer who deplore the lack of 'up votes' received in thousands of valid and reliable postings to their beloved blog sites--named Freedom Headlines, Independent Minute, Christian Life Daily, Political Outcast, United Voice, Liberty Alliance, Redline Headlines, and dozens more.
But the most dangerous characteristic on the far right is a sense they are 'patriots'. They think democracy is expendable for stability, security, and those other 'isms' they think are good for their desired personalities.
If you know transactional analysis, viewing the world as either adult, parent or childlike behavior, you'll see much parent and childlike behavior on the far right, no adult behavior shown or wanted. That smacks of authoritarian behavior whether from grown or immature citizens. The blog titles are Patriot Update, Lead Patriot, Red Right Patriot, The Patriot Journal, and many more. They want to dictate to others their own beliefs, feelings and mores in actual political upheaval. Moves are underway now for a Constitutional Convention, countering federal laws in the States in voting and healthcare, posse comitatus local lawmaking, and overthrowing our federal and state government ala Boston Tea Party, Civil War insurrection and election of media star Trump.
2020 voting with record 71 million voting for Biden shows the majority of Americans want to continue our democratic federal republic. But mid-terms will tell the tale of democracy versus authoritarian United States. Today the Democrats have slim majorities in congress and a president. Next year a better margin for the Dems must emerge--against historic tradition, political wisdom, and real anarchy among Republicans--of we'll be sending a signal that we don't care what form of government rules us overall from the Capitol, or in the Statehouses/legislatures which have slowly led us away from the rule of law, obedience to legal precedent, adherence to facts, usage of valid and reliable media, and free and fair elections. I, for one, do not want a flawed, ignorant, partisan leader or legislator operating on a whim to govern my life. I want an internationalist, greater good for greater number, inclusive participation, democrat with attention to civil rights and responsibilities in charge at any level.