Intelligent Chat: A Look at Maturity

I admit, I didnt read the entire novel posted above, however, I do remember having to memorize this in 2 languages for my school corinthians:

“When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things,” (Bible -- I Corinthians 13:11).

Anyhow, that's not really relevent.

Mature= well developed.

People often get lost in the meaning of "maturity." One can be seemingly mature and really not have an ounce of "maturity" in them, it depends on how unruly the person was to start with.

Me, for instance, I like to use myself, I'm egotistic like that. I have NEVER been unruly, my mothers womb spit me out "mature." That is both my gift and my curse, but am I well developed? I am well developed by societies (sp?) standard, but not from necessarily from my own.

A child that is unruly and immature all their lives will come to be tempered by life and therefore well developed from the person they once were, but that does not make them "mature" in terms of societal views.

In short, there are two levels of maturity. The societal expectation of "maturity" and the personal developmental "maturity." Which is a more important standard to reach?

I think that it is far better to be personally developed from what you once were than to rate on the scale of society, but at the same time, we all JUDGE one another on the societal scale, so both are necessary.

Oh, and by the way, I never bought into the stork, St. Nick, or the toothfairy.

Predictable? Emh...

Growing up is over rated...

Tired of life or need to hit the pillow... (with your head or your fist)?

I'm slow tonight.

You're a damn smart idiot though.

haha, put yourself in a better position!!!

Where's the Kama Sutra? Lets find you one.

Oh, and apparently you didnt get the memo.

It's May now ;)

lol.

Sweetest of dreams to you, Mr. Shank.

I know of many young ladies that are patriotic and religious. They are particularly interested in images of the presidents, especially the ones with ' In God We Trust' written some where around them.

Props?

I live on the cumberland gap

I think it would be helpful for anyone interested in this topic to read the late zanthonie's poems just type in zanthonie in the poem search

Look, I'm sorry to anyone who takes offence to this, but whoever ACTUALLY believe that an 8 year old wrote those poems needs a reality check.

Those poems are better than or just as good as 90% of the shit on this site and the kid writes in perfect grammar, for instance:

"Hi. My name is Zanthonie. Like Anthony but with a 'Z'. I am 8 years old. I'm turning 9 on September 10. I can't wait. :) I have lung cancer. I might die if they can't remove it. I have surgery in 2 weeks. I'm a little nervous. But I have to do it. I live in Broward County. I love to write poetry. My mom writes poetry too. I have no friends, so I'm always on the net. My mom won't let me get any IM's because she thinks people will be mean to me. I just got an email address now because I needed one to join here. My mom is really protective of me. I love her. Well, thats it. Hope you like my poems."

Can anyone scream SICK ATTENTION SEEKER loud enough?

My 10 year old niece couldnt write like that.

'Can anyone scream SICK ATTENTION SEEKER loud enough?' I could not agree with you more. Anyone who would verbally attack an eight year old is very sick

Yes, Michael, I meant for whoever made up that story and is pretending to be an 8 year old boy with a terminal illness.

The probability that this story is true is slim to none. Lets not be naive here.

In the case that it is true, Zanthonie, you'll have to forgive me for my assumption, but it's probably not.

*note-I admit I haven't really been following all of this, so forgive me if I re-state or say idiotic things in the discussion*

I recall someone saying that the girls all want the older guys because of maturity. I disagree.
Of course not everything can be generalized to every girl, but I think we're speaking about the usual outcome here.
Perhaps some girls are attracted to the older guys because of the maturity difference between them and the males their own age (no offence guys, but we all know girls usually mature faster-mentally-) but (note-I'm usually attracted to the immature, considering they prove to be a lot more fun:)) if I am attracted to an older guy I analyze it like this:

For one, usually the guys are better looking (depends on age of course but awkwardness of adolescence could be a factor, not to mention the difference in muscle mass and height, which we all know girls melt around the taller ones), and there's also a sort of thrill with being with someone more experienced then you, which doesn't necessarily mean maturity. (or sexually for that matter)

What I mean by experience is of society actions a young guy usually takes. A younger, high school girl who's friends can't drive yet would most likely be attracted to a guy who could not necessarily because it makes her feel more adult, but more independent -in a sense- that she doesn't have to be under supervision of adults to get a ride, or go to (oooooooooooooooooooooooo) an R rated movie (bum, bum, bum) or buy a few drinks without having a fake ID.
Actually those were pretty bad points considering they could be argued with maturity as well, but I think of them more as breaking away from the dependence of adult supervision.

the experience thing I was talking about (sorry, I got off track) relates to the giddiness a girl might get with the thought of being with a guy who has seen more of the world than she has. By world of course I mean adult-world. A girl who has never been to a rave or frat party will get a sense of excitement from being with a guy who has, and who could take her, to such things.-and others of course not relating to parties.

But yeah, the maturity thing is a good point; I just don't think it should be generalized.

Girls like older guys because they seek validation from them.

Ashley I only know what I read on these forums. I am curious about this myself. I admit that the poems were incridibly well written, whoever wrote them. I have written poems for people who were unable to write them. There was a very young poet that sold many books but I can't remember the spelling of his name, but I saw him on Larry King Live .............................................
'Mysticthoughts' posted this on zanthonie
date: 2004.08.29 11:24

answer
i got an email from Zanthonies mom. Zanthonie passed away. i dont know the kid but damn. thats sad. anyway she pretty much wanted to say thanks for being nice to him. she said some pretty mean stuff about a certain someone who shall remain nameless. but overall she wanted to say thanks. she named names but the list is long. she wont take his poems off and his email account is not disabled. shes just happy he made friends here before he died. im not sure when his funeral is but im seriously considering attending. poor kid...

R.I.P.
Zanthonie

The young poet I SAW ON LARRY KING WAS MATTIE STEPANEK

My name is Mattie Joseph Thaddeus Stepanek (my real name is Matthew, but I like Mattie). I am almost 11 years old, and I home school doing a high school curriculum. I began writing when I was about 3 years old, and now have a collection that contains thousands of poems

Mattie was one of Jerry's kids he died of M.D. June 2004
CBS/AP) Mattie Stepanek, the child poet whose inspirational verse made him a best-selling writer and a prominent muscular dystrophy advocate, died Tuesday from complications of the disease. He was 13.

Television has few traditions as strongly ingrained as the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon.

Well the Zanthonie story is probably false.

Thanks Bob :) you're the best.

...and we all lived happily ever after in the Kingdom

just when I thought it was safe to go back into the forum.

It is a done deal

Denial is not a river in Egypt

we only need to accept the things we can't change

Yes. you have to accept the fact that we must humble ourselves before God. AMEN. I dont care how much you make fun of Mattie he was more of a hero than we will ever be. One must also accept wisdom. I am not sure it takes a lot of courage to criticize a twelve year old poet. Considering that you think that we are all fools.

View Mattie's Memorial Services

June 28, 2004

MEMORIES, JOKES AND RESPECT
MARK MATTIE’S SERVICES

by Tara Wood

Poet, peacemaker and precocious teen Mattie J.T. Stepanek was laid to rest in Maryland today in a ceremony befitting an icon, while people across the nation continued to pay tribute and celebrate the 13-year-old MDA National Goodwill Ambassador’s remarkable life and spirit.

Celebrities, Mattie’s friends and loved ones, and other admirers made up the thousands who gathered at St. Catherine Laboure Catholic Church in Wheaton, Md., to remember, honor and laugh at memories of Mattie, who wowed the world with his message of peace, hope and courage.

You have to have wisdom to know what maturity is. Many of the children you mentioned are probably more mature than we are because they accepted their affliction without asking why me? I can't even respond to the sheltered comment without humor . Even a dopehead can't be that stupid. What? you think they should make a ten year old with M. D. work on a garbage truck? you are funny

No one is going to judge him or criticize him to any normal standard, strictly because he was terminally ill, whether you are addressing his poetry or his maturity level. We didnt know him, and we can only assume what we WANT to believe about him.

I think it's easy to accept your fate when you have no say in the matter, does that make him a hero? Not really. I see the people who accept things WITHOUT having no say in the matter and see them as mature and people to look up to, with the wisdom to have an almost divine understanding. He was an 11 year old boy with a very Disney-esque story, and adults made it into something heroic, when in actuality children die everyday and will continue to do so or disease and terminal illness.

The media today.

Maybe what ‘done’ meant by sheltered, was that Mattie may not have been exposed to chemicals to make him feel on top of the world. But in his trail he made an effort to make the best of his situation. He never lost faith, and that, in my opinion, made him a winner

Everyone is a winner, it just depends on what you win.

Poet, peacemaker and precocious teen Mattie J.T. Stepanek. That is at least how one journalist remembered Mattie. If acting your age is good, I guess acting older is better. I am not sure the media randomly selected Mattie without considering his effort to make the most out of his short time on earth. I believe he enjoyed the recognition, and the courage it takes to be confident enough to appear before large audiences may have come natural to him. My only excuse as to not selling as many books as him, is that he had more experience than me, because he started writing at the age of three. Aslo as stated he had a private life. For all we know he may have got the girl

Well jpm if you would quit your whining about my jabs, you might share with us about your personal experiences with Mattie. Yes, I still feel sorry for people who still depend on drugs and lies to make them feel better about themselves.
When Jim Hawkins of Children's Hospice International nominated Mattie as a hero on this Web site, the young poet hero was only six years old and had already written several hundred poems. Mattie was suffering from a hereditary disease called dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy. This rare form of muscular dystrophy had already claimed the lives of his three older siblings. Mattie's mother, Jeni, also suffers from this disease. Jim wrote this about Mattie in the MY HERO guestbook...
"Little Mattie has somehow acquired more wisdom in his short life than most of us do after decades of living. Through his poetry, he expresses wisdom in a way that touches anyone's heart. With his unabashed enthusiasm for life Mattie has charmed everyone who has crossed his path.
Mattie has inspired many people, young and old, to overcome every obstacle they may encounter and strive for their goals with dignity and humanity. THANK YOU, MATTIE!"

You are a whiny brat, are you not? GROW UP!!! YOU ARE ALMOST 26!!! LMAO

elementary just plain, give my regards to 'just do'

the first comment written, also referred to as a novel...haha. i read the WHOLE thing and im going to have to say, that after reading it, there was not ONE thing that i disagreed with.
amazingly written.
great examples.
and very well put.

take care.

p.s Mr. Shank...i hope you got the sleep you needed so bad, and i hope you feel better.

I love Mr. Bob.

I jump at any chance I can to proclaim that.

yes it seems even if we don't mature mentally we mature physically. I have wondered if a spirit matures forever. I WROTE A POEM FOR ZANTHONIE. After his mother sent me this email I have edited out only the last name
Hello Michael,
My name is Ingrid. I am Zanthonie's mother. I love the idea of a tribute poem. I myself have not come around to writing one. Zanthonie said to me in his last days that he had met some nice people but I didn't quite believe it. But after reading such encouraging comments on his poems and reading such cheerful e-mails I am beginning to think otherwise. Zanthonies passing has been incredibly hard on my family and it really feels good to know that someone cares enough to write a poem for him. Zanthonie was an outstanding person and he will be eternally missed.
Thank you for your interest,
Ingrid

Didnt we establish the fact that Zanthonie probably doesnt exist, the probability of his none existance being 99%?

Sweet gesture anyway Michael.