What does being an adult mean to you?

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To me, it means being free, and this, in turn, means you have to be strong or die in your attempt to break free due to your weakness.

Obviously enough, it seems well beyond my ability, and for this I'm ashamed, frustrated and at a loss.

I almost didn't reply to this because in my head I was going, "well being an adult just means being 18 or over... duh"... and then realised how aspie that was haha.

I guess in the non-literal sense (!) I think taking responsibility for yourself as much as possible. But I don't think there should really be a strict definition because everyone's different. I certainly don't think it equates to smoking and drinking etc.

From what most you guys consider an adult, it seems like a lot of people aren't

As a little kid I thought adults were some beings that knew everything, were in control of everything, stoic and were invincible. At about 9 I figured that it wasn't the case, adults have flaws like kids, adults don't magically know everything they're still learning just like us, they just happen to know more at the time.

Maybe a lot of adults forget what it is like to be a kid so they seem like a completely different being. To me I just physically older and become more of an "adult" through experience. I developed awareness around my preteen years.

IMHO to be a full adult [in body, mind, spirit] one must have the capability of parenting properly. if one cannot do that, then one is not a full adult, something is missing. I am not a full adult.

As a frequent user of drugs, alcohol and porn (not as much the last few years) they have nothing to do with being an adult. Their use does not validate or refute one's adulthood in any way.

I have my own issues with this topic, as I've been accused of not being adult. There's also significant judgement when you tell someone you're 37, been married for 9 years and hate kids and will never have them. People find this to be "un-adult". I don't get that.

Adult is not what you do or don't do with your life. To me it's about thinking things through before you do them, accounting for how your actions affect others. It's also doing your best to "pull your own weight" even if it sucks and you hate it. If you cannot work, then helping whomever cares for you in whatever way you are capable would be pulling your weight as much as you're able.

But if you choose not to alter your consciousness or look at people having sex, then it doesn't matter as to whether or not you're a "real" adult (though you're missing a hell of alot of fun IMO!)