Why are teens sooo dumb?

[QC]

As part of the "Vulcarity" thread we got into the "age leads to wisdom" discussion that BTW, went oh so very well . . . Anyway, I have a 17 year old, so I think about this stuff a lot. Why would they deny the absolutely logical conclusion that with time comes experience? Why would they fight and argue about stupid, stupid stuff?<br /><br />I am also on a weird kick lately that "we are who we were 30,000 years ago". So I look at things that puzzle me like the teenager thing from the perspective of why would God or evolution or whatever design idiot, argumentative teenagers? i.e. what possible benefit of this behavior could there be? Here is the answer that I have come up with:<br /><br />If they act like total jerks and either deny or dispute logical assertions then they a) either get mad and leave the cave or b) we (parents) get mad and kick them out of the cave. Without this dynamic they would just simply stay forever End result? It helps the species reach further and diversify more. Kinda minimises the kissin' cousin thing too . . .<br /><br />So I personally think they are hardwired to feel smarter and act stupider than normal humans. Thoughts?

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

Most people only learn after they try something and make their own mistakes.<br /><br />Teenagers just havent had the time to make all the mistakes and thus have more to make.<br /><br />They are illogical just to **** you off. No other reason. <br /><br />Ken

 

[RubberFrog]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

Ask Z

 

[JasonJ]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

I too have always wondered why the age range that provides the best reproduction also has the most risk taking and sometimes irrational behavior. I think a part of it is 30,000 years ago we were dead before the age of 30, so teenage years then are equivelant to being in your 30s now. Heck, look at the pioneer days. People were married and had kids and their own farms by the age of 15, and didn't live much past the 40s. Now we live till we are in our 80s, and teenagers can be kids longer. They don't experience adult situations as soon as a teenager did in 1850 because they don't have to, so it takes them longer to build life experience. Playing x-box and begging Dad for the car keys isn't life experience. I see a lot of people in their 20s that still havn't done anything beyond partying and just getting by. Its a shame...

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

QC,<br />A study of brain activity in teen age subjects reviled a definite under development in certain areas of the brain. The most pronounced difference was in the area responsible for risk assessment. The study dubbed this area the "Blue" area. The study reviled the Blue area did not fully mature until the mid twenties. Henceforth rational risk evaluation is not fully functional until that time. Now every time the wife and I see a teenager engaged in a,……………………well,………..less than rational activity, we say that’s a definite lack of “Blue Area” move,..................................or been there done that. So, yes there is a reason for it, and yes they will out grow it, if they live long enough.

 

[QC]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

LT,<br /><br />Yes, the Blue Area thing makes sense to me, but I'm thinking a little more like Jason . . . Why?<br /><br />I am gonna move on to PMS with this same discussion, but have not quite got there. I know there are hormone changes, but Why? What possible benefit to irrational behavior can there be?<br /><br />RF,<br /><br />Shhhh. I was hoping Z was sleeping . . .

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

Originally posted by Quietcat22:<br /><br /><br />I am gonna move on to PMS with this same discussion, but have not quite got there. I know there are hormone changes, but Why? What possible benefit to irrational behavior can there be?<br /><br />RF,<br /><br />Shhhh. I was hoping Z was sleeping . . .

Make up sex?????

 

[TexomaAv8r]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

No coincidence that young men (traditionaly) make good soldiers and slightly older ppl make seargeants etc...<br />According to Ericksons stages of development, if I am remembering this stuff corectly: adolescents is defined by Autonomy vs dependence. They intuitively know that their independence is coming and it is a frightening prospect, they also know they are dependent on their parents and it pisses them off. Their minds and body are telling them they are grown yet their lack of experience and everyone else is holding them back, by their perspective. So you have a frightened angry conflicted person who percieves themself as being powerful and vital as well as held back and trapped...sounds like fun<br />Resolving this conflict and learning to balance the conflicting demands is the developmental task of adolescence.<br />Sneaky decietful behavior is a way of acting out their independence while simultaneously acknowledging their dependency, if they were trulyu independent they wouldnt need to be sneaky.<br />By the way, bright intuitive teenagers tend to respond to rules as a challenge to their creativity and often rise to the challenge of breaking them. It is a good idea to let a kid think he has gotten away with a few relativily minor safe infractions to keep him from raising the ante so to speak

 

[jtexas]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

Asked and answered in your original post, Q/C: how else could you ever get a mother to let her children leave the nest? It's an evolutionary tool designed to ensure that your children don't live with you forever.

 

[QC]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

jtex,<br /><br />I knew YOU would agree with me. What good is that?

 

[tommays]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

well haveing an 18 year old girl and a 21 year old boy<br /><br />both going to collage i can say that notheing makes my boy dummer than a girl who gives out free milk <br /><br />he is a very good child and does well in collage and also at work but that one thing just turns his judgment to crap <br /><br />my daughter is much more focused and switching from full time ballet study to medical study<br /><br /> i think the fact that she has NOT had a serious boy friend yet keeps her head much more clear<br /><br />tommays

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

Originally posted by tommays:<br /> well haveing an 18 year old girl and a 21 year old boy<br /><br />both going to collage i can say that notheing makes my boy dummer than a girl who gives out free milk <br /><br />he is a very good child and does well in collage and also at work but that one thing just turns his judgment to crap <br /><br /> <br /><br />my daughter is much more focused and switching from full time ballet study to medical study<br /><br /> i think the fact that she has NOT had a serious boy friend yet keeps her head much more clear<br /><br />tommays

tommays,<br /> One word for ya, Hormones . Nuff said.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

Gotta LOVE that free milk, sure miss those days.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

^ I agree "B", just another part of the adolescent thing....."Ya don't know how good you have it till it's gone" "QC" side note: Part of their inability to understand the "With age comes wisdom " arguement is that they are automatically excluded.....Hence: resentment & rejection of such a theory .....JK

 

[QC]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

Originally posted by Haut Medoc:<br /> they are automatically excluded

Yes, this makes sense to me. That is why I ask "do you think you know more about life than you did 10 years ago?" Makes them feel better and smarter than at least their little brothers or sisters or somebody . . .

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

See? Ya gotta trick 'em into thinking that they are smarter than really are..... Works every time!.....That's what I would call, "Youthful Vanity"...... ......JK

 

[ehenry]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

My boy turned 18 today... cant stop the clock but you can wish. He says he's going to go register to vote tomorrow.

 

[ZmOz]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

I think the better question is, why do 40 year olds think they know everything? I can assure you, they don't. A "dumb" teenager turns into a dumb adult if their only knowledge is learned through experience.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

Originally posted by efhenry:<br /> .... He says he's going to go register to vote tomorrow.

Good for him EF. Sounds like you did that part of your job well.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: Why are teens sooo dumb?

Too bad we dont spend at least as much time teaching them politics than we do to drive. I still say that even though they can die for there country, 9 out of 10 havnt got a clue when it comes to voting! I sure as h*ll didnt but I voted. I even voted for Jimmy Carter when my scull was full of mush, Looking back now, Im surprised I could blow my own nose!<br /><br />Fast cars, women, Beer, and Peace brother.