"Grow up" grow-uppers!

[grudgelord]

What is this trend of the usage of "grow up" as the current commanding insult du jour? I'm seeing this used all too frequently as a rebuke against any statement or argument with which one would disagree or see silenced. "Get a life" has fallen out of fashion as a result of the complete and obvious irony at directing such an insult at a forum of several thousand technofans from just about every country on the planet who spend significantly more hours of their existence with machines than with actual breathing, thinking human beings. However, due to the vast and myriad ranges of physical age and maturity levels "grow up" might be an even poorer choice of quick-draw rebuke.

The true irony: In virtually every instance that I've witnessed its usage in this or any other forum, its serves as a clarion indicator of the lack of maturity of the employer, regardless of the opinion he's attacking. The command is usually found as the oh so witty punctuating phrase in a whopping three line discourse of shorthand espousing how much a particular person, place, thing, product, idea, etc "sux0rs" or similar abbreviated poor attempt at diatribe. Additionally, it is most commonly used by native English speakers who haven't yet mastered written correspondence with the English language. One of the final indicators that the voice of rebuke contains massive quantities of bovine refuse would be the presence of a banana chorus line populating the post. As if one could take advice to "grow up" seriously when accompanied by a mob of entirely-too-happy disco fruit.

It would appear that every mean-spirited, cat tail pulling, mentally-diminutive, pimply-faced, prepubescent clown (no offense to the well behaved pimply-faced, prepubescent clowns amongst us who will hopefully mature into well behaved post pubescent clowns sans pimples) out there whips this phrase out of his a$$ in a reflexive, knee-jerk response without the consideration that some of us have been down that "grown up" road and have earned the right to indulge our less mature whims, if immature they may be, from time-to-time. This is why were the grown ups and they are not.

Come on guys. If most of us were to take your advice to heart we wouldn't find ourselves in a forum devoted to discussions about playing with and hot-rodding overpriced toys in order to play the latest games, to brag to our buddies, or compensate for our diminutive sausages. Rather we'd be involved in pursuits that society at-large perceives as more "mature and responsible" while perpetrating unspeakably socially irresponsible acts upon our fellow man and the opposite sex.

So when you whip this phrase out of your comprehensive lexicon of four or five one syllable insults, especially without any real provocation, you really are making yourself look like a complete a$$ and it is only by virtue of the decorum and maturity of those around you that you have not been ridiculed.

Now I'm going to wait for some in a with a and a to tell me to "grow up"!

[Knight]

Grow up. J/K

I'm sure you have grown up. I just like to read posts and not make too many. It is just funny to read what people have to say.

[oicurafox2000]

Nice! The internet is a weird thing. I mean really;where in real life does a 55 year old get told to "grow up" by a 15 year old. I have seen this lots of times on forums.

[ahmad]

Welcome to the internets.

[Serra]

I don't know, I have seen a number of times here when I thought the best response really was to say "Grow Up". I believe it's honestly a good reply sometimes, given the age of many of the people here.

As an example, I was recently in a debate with someone here and I made my argument about something. Now, had he retaliated with his own point, or stated that I was making a false generalization, or something like that, that would be fine. I hope for such things, that's how we grow. But this fellow decided instead to criticize my sentence structure and claim that he did not need to make an opposing point or any such thing because I had committed a fallacy in my argument (attacking the arguments structure rather than the actual argument itself). I pointed out I had in fact not, and reduced the length of words on my post for improved clarity, be he again just said "FALLACY, THEREFORE NO". I pointed out why, in detail, I had not committed a fallacy, and yes, at one point I told him to grow up. And you know what? I stand behind that. Doubly so when after I explained why he was using the word fallacy incorrectly he came back at me with some asinine comment along the lines of "So where do your statistical data exist, in the realm of hyperbole?" (and please keep in mind, I was quoting statistics so well known it's akin to saying "Most people are born with 10 toes" and so hadn't bothered to provide a link... some things you just have to take as a given).

When one has an opposing view to something but cannot come up with an argument for their side in any way/shape/form and instead does something like attack a persons sentence structure, race, ethnicity, etc and uses that as their only argument it shows a clear lack of maturity, and the correct response to that is to tell someone to *drum roll* grow up.

[Cracker]

No way I'm reading all that.

P.S. Grow up, ya punk kid.

[grudgelord]

Grow up. J/K

I'm sure you have grown up. I just like to read posts and not make too many. It is just funny to read what people have to say.

Why you in a with a !!! Lol!

I don't really make claims to be all that mature, a fact of which I'm rather proud. I'm just pointing out the irony at demanding that other's grow up when one hasn't even paid taxes yet.

I don't blame you for wanting to stay clear of the "mosh pit", I usually keep my mouth shut as well and watch as others rip each other apart but I've been trying to participate more. I keep expecting some trolling punk to do a drive by posting on me.

It can be quite entertaining to watch what some people post until...

--begin excessive seriousness--
Not that I want to get too serious about the issue but, used to be that the forums where a medium for the exchange of ideas and people treated one another with courtesy. Care with words was practiced due to the lack auditory and visual feedback. A flame was only an occasional incident and usually a result of miscommunication.

Now, too many individuals troll forums looking for a fight. These individuals are easy to pick out as they refuse to back away from a "discussion" until they win or, at the very least, put a dent in the credibility of their opponent (A few individuals come to mind; real fun to watch them go at each other). Flamage is a more than common occurance and people have become reluctant to participate, share their knowledge and ideas or even ask questions because a few self righteous, self centric, superior, elitist a$$holes! This is supposed to be an environment for learning. You can't learn from dicks! (expletives chosen for aproposity and effect)

I saw a post not long ago from a Legend remarking about how rude people have become on the forums.
--end of excessive seriousness--

Now *I'm* the one who needs to grow up and quit being so damn sensitive about the matter. I think I'll go play with my dollies!

I mean really;where in real life does a 55 year old get told to "grow up" by a 15 year old.

Yea, that's rich and is also a large part of my point. To me that's the 15 year old kid saying, "Beat it you old codger! Go do some fishing, we're not interested in your 40 years of engineering expertise. It's meaningless against my 6 months of playing with a CAD/CAM! and Unreal Tournament, noob!"

I guess that's the problem. Everyone thinks they are right and no one else could possibly contribute an idea that isn't "learned and mature". But if that's the case then why even come to the forums.

Bah! This is getting to sober for me. Back to the dancing bananas and my dollies!

[coyotetu]

I don't know, I have seen a number of times here when I thought the best response really was to say "Grow Up". I believe it's honestly a good reply sometimes, given the age of many of the people here.

As an example, I was recently in a debate with someone here and I made my argument about something. Now, had he retaliated with his own point, or stated that I was making a false generalization, or something like that, that would be fine. I hope for such things, that's how we grow. But this fellow decided instead to criticize my sentence structure and claim that he did not need to make an opposing point or any such thing because I had committed a fallacy in my argument (attacking the arguments structure rather than the actual argument itself). I pointed out I had in fact not, and reduced the length of words on my post for improved clarity, be he again just said "FALLACY, THEREFORE NO". I pointed out why, in detail, I had not committed a fallacy, and yes, at one point I told him to grow up. And you know what? I stand behind that. Doubly so when after I explained why he was using the word fallacy incorrectly he came back at me with some asinine comment along the lines of "So where do your statistical data exist, in the realm of hyperbole?" (and please keep in mind, I was quoting statistics so well known it's akin to saying "Most people are born with 10 toes" and so hadn't bothered to provide a link... some things you just have to take as a given).

When one has an opposing view to something but cannot come up with an argument for their side in any way/shape/form and instead does something like attack a persons sentence structure, race, ethnicity, etc and uses that as their only argument it shows a clear lack of maturity, and the correct response to that is to tell someone to *drum roll* grow up.

I believe you and I were both told to drop this, if you feel some need to prove your point beyond that, I suppose it says something about your argument in the first place.

Common sense is one thing, but the statement you made requires substantiation. I don't expect you to cite sources on that matter, it would be ridiculous if I thought they existed, but that's the beauty of your statistical data, isn't it? There's absolutely no interest in conducting an actual study on the subject.

[serialk11r]

ugh, I couldn't agree more. However, the internet is a place where not only immature people can tell others to grow up, but where lots of other things can happen. Such as...saying shut up to a 60 year old?

[Serra]

I believe you and I were both told to drop this, if you feel some need to prove your point beyond that, I suppose it says something about your argument in the first place.

Common sense is one thing, but the statement you made requires substantiation. I don't expect you to cite sources on that matter, it would be ridiculous if I thought they existed, but that's the beauty of your statistical data, isn't it? There's absolutely no interest in conducting an actual study on the subject.

I won't go pursueing the subject matter of the arguement in question becase we were told to drop it - feel free to PM me and we'll have it out there if you like. I didn't say what forum it was, what the topic was, who the other person was or anything. You're the one who wanted to jump in and say "hey, that was me". I was making the point that it is sometimes worth while to say "grow up", and I feel that was a prime example of a good time to use the statement (names/threads omitted).

[grudgelord]

No way I'm reading all that.

P.S. Grow up, ya punk kid.

BTW: I've been meaning tell you: Get rid of that damn avatar! Get rid of it! It scares me every time one of your posts pops up and I'm starting to have nightmares about it!

Get something less scary, like a picture of chupacabra eating small children or something.

ugh, I couldn't agree more. However, the internet is a place where not only immature people can tell others to grow up, but where lots of other things can happen. Such as...saying shut up to a 60 year old?

Serialk11r, unless I'm mistaken, you are a teenager aren't you? I've been meaning to remark that, even though you get fired up occasionally (don't we all) it impresses me that you are generally better behaved than most of the adults I know personally.

Also, I've been meaning to compliment your on your written communication skills and how you seem to have this fixation on numbers. I can appreciate that. Good work dude.

you were totaly wasted when you wrote that werent you grudgelord?

No, but I was in the process of waking up so I guess it's not much different.

I really try to refrain from posting under the influence. I either end up telling to whole damn world to do undignified things to themselves or I tell a bunch of bozos I can't stand how much I love them.

[Cracker]

BTW: I've been meaning tell you: Get rid of that damn avatar! Get rid of it! It scares me every time one of your posts pops up and I'm starting to have nightmares about it!

Get something less scary, like a picture of chupacabra eating small children or something.

Hey, it's an extreme avatar I made to express my xtremeness.

[afireinside]

This thread is useless, grow up.

[Celeron Gamer]

It's the internet, where the men are women, men are men, and the children are FBI

[Special_K]

pretend internet grown ups are the new pretend internet drunks


"omgwtf I am so driunkssssssssssss" == drunk

"I have kids older than you so grow up" == adult

[ahmad]

"I have kids older than you so grow up" == adult

No, thats a 14 year old boy

[s e t h]

...I saw a post not long ago from a Legend remarking about how rude people have become on the forums.
...

thats funny...because there is a legend right here who does little but post flamebait

[serialk11r]

thats funny...because there is a legend right here who does little but post flamebait

Legend? Who?

[s e t h]

mentioning the name would constitute a personal attack....also i have learnt not to bring myself down to their level

[serialk11r]

mentioning the name would constitute a personal attack....also i have learnt not to bring myself down to their level

Ah I think I know

[adamsleath]

well instead of "grow up" why dont you substitute: "get older"

two meaningless statements that are synoymous in their meaninglessness, and add nothing to a conversation.