Some Thoughts

*Caution: Entering Rant Area*
What is the average marrying age in America? The world at large? Hm, I do not know those numbers off of the top of my head, but I do know that it is getting older. The 20th century brought a lot of changes to the way young people mature--especially here in America. And America is where I am going to stay for this, because it is where I have grown up and actually know.
First of all, what is this whole "adolescence" thing? Up until the early 20th century, the term did not even exist, let alone the stereotypes now associated with its use. There were children, young adults, and adults--and those young adults were given and expected to shoulder various responsibilities which corresponded to their ability. They were not babied for many years beyond puberty, softened by society into 18-year-old individuals that are still children unable to carry themselves in life, because to do so has never been expected of them!
Can a 14-year-old take on the same weight and responsibility that a 30-year-old may? Probably not, but there are plenty of tasks that he can do, and should be assigned to do as part of his routine. Growing up, I have been blessed with the company of young men that have taken on responsibility at a relatively "young"--as thought of by society--and thrived, even excelled!
Adolescence has been a recently invented "age group" that now stretches from early teenager-hood to the early 20s. The term itself is actually several hundred years old, originating in 1482, meaning, quite literally, "increase, grow up." However, that period of growing up is looked upon in a much softer, tamer light today than it was five centuries ago! Those having the distinction of being an adolescent usually balk at handling any extraneous responsibility (because they are rarely called upon to do so), are mentally and emotionally immature (even if they have a mature exterior), and are often unable to conduct themselves properly in society. However, I do not move to place the blame entirely on those individuals for their behavior, for it is what they have been taught. If an individual is treated as a child, he will behave as such.
A boy--young man, really--at 10, 11, or 12 years of age in 1482 was trained in either his father's trade or the occupation of another man as an apprentice. He could work around the house, on the family land, and in society to a small extent. Similarly, even up into the 1800s, "boys" possessed responsibility of which boys today would never dream! They were taught to handle horses, how to use a firearm, to farm, hunt, track, trap, build, and so many other practical skills.
Today, how is a boy's time occupied? Any suggestions from the audience?
Well, for starters, what boy wants to go outside when there are computers, Playstation 3s, GameCubes, XBox 360s, PSPs, numerous cable channels, stereos, and a snazzy HDTV inside with which to be entertained? There are a few boys that will still go outside, or that will be inside, but with a book--but it is a very few. The men of today are softies--because the boys from which they grew were never challenged to be strong, and not until they had been adults for quite some time did they finally step into the real world and take on jobs, families, house payments, grocery bills, and other responsibilities. And then those men turn around and raise the next generation of boys that will be the next generation of men. It is a vicious cycle.
It is high time for that to cease being the trend, and for responsibility to directly correlate to capability.

Something to ride on a future train of thought: what would happen if technology as we knew it suddenly became totally useless and completely irreparable?