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'My Corduroyed Life' - Mark A's Journal
So another light hearted one, then?
I’m never quite sure about this one, as at 16 I was a socially inadequate mess of a person and still very much a child. It was quite amazing the transformation that I made over the next two years into a reasonably decent human being by the time I went to University. If I was like that, then I’m sure some other people were too. I’m quite happy to accept that there are 16 year olds out there that are mature, responsible adults who are pillars of the community, but we all also know that there are 16 year old kids who hang out on street corners hurling abuse at passers by as they drink 20/20 and Olde English Cider. So, I’m afraid that I don’t think that the age of majority should be lowered to 16.
One thing I do believe, which is very much related to this, is that there should be an ‘across the board’ age of adulthood. Britain has the crazy thing that sex; lottery; and smoking is 16, driving is 17, voting; drinking; buying/ watching porn; and other gambling is 18. Quite bizarrely, hiring a car is 25. It makes sense to me that there should be an age where everything kicks in so that there is no confusion, and there is a concrete difference between minor and adult. I find it quite preposterous that a 16 year male can legally be a parent, yet can’t even drive his pregnant partner to the hospital when the child is being born?! Similarly, a gay male can be ready to have penetrative sex with another man, but isn’t ready to watch porn or meet the guy for a few pints beforehand?! Even better, a person can buy cigarettes at 16, but can’t vote for the party that’s going to reduce VAT on them. It seems warped and strange when you actually think about it. In fact, it’s quite quite ludicrous in my opinion, and I remember being frustrated by the ambiguity of it all when I was in my teens.
So it seems to be that there should be a universal age for everything, but I don’t think it should be 16, I think it should be 18. I also think that it should be heavily, heavily enforced like it really isn’t at the moment in this country.
Have fun,
M x
Current mood:
thoughtful.Current music: Dark Clouds and Angels by Microsatellite.
Ah, the sublime Philip Larkin…
This be the verse
They fuck you up, your mom and dad
They may not mean to, but they do.
They fill you with the faults they had
And add some extra, just for you.
But they were fucked up in their turn
By fools in old-stylen hats and coats,
Who half the time were soppy-stern
And half at one another's throats.
Man hands on misery to man
It deepens like a coastal shelf.
Get out as early as you can
And don't have any kids yourself.
I like this poem: Larkin doesn’t pull his punches.
I think it’s bleak as hell, but I kind of agree with it. I’m always accused of being like my dad or governed by my dad or worrying about what my parents think. There is the obvious thing of not coming out to them for three years and all the heartache and mental aguish caused by that, but beyond that, I know that, however much he loves me, deep down that my dad is disappointed with my lack of achievements in my life. That kinda hurts, because I agree with him. I know for a fact that he believes my job to be beneath me as I am reminded of that on a regular basis.
It’s very true about the ‘may not mean to’ part as it’s all to do with caring too much and wanting the best for your kids. Thing is though that the pressure aint a great thing for kids to live with – it creates resentment and self belief issues. Similarly, neglect and just ignoring kids is just as horrific and ‘fucks you up’. In fact, I’d say it’s worse as they simply don’t tend to care about anything because no-one’s ever cared for them.
But we can’t blame parents for everything. I hate blame culture! No-one ever accepts responsibility for their own actions or shortcomings. I believe that people should take responsibility for themselves and the fact that they let their parents fuck them up. A child of five doesn’t know better. But a fully grown adult should take some bloody responsibility and sort themselves out! They fuck you up your mum and dad… But it’s your own bloody responsibility to make sure you sort it out!
Have fun,
M x
Current mood:
blah.Current music: Psycho Killer by Rico.