grow a goatee.

I can't even do that! The tiny little neckbeard doesn't connect to my mustache at all. It doesn't even come up onto my chin. It just makes me look like a weird dorky 19 year old who's trying to grow his first beard and probably trying to enroll in community college.

This is hilarious. But do you realize you're implying that women can't be adults?

The discussion sounds a lot like 'when do you become a man' than it does 'when do you become an adult.'

For instance, most women throughout history were financially dependent on their husband. They would not make independent decisions. They were not solely responsible.

Did that mean they weren't adults?

The 20-30% of women who still become stay at home moms... they can't grow a beard... they are dependent on their husband or parents for money...

Are you serious? Disregarding the fact that it was never stated what sex the poster was...

They said "I'll never feel like an adult". Emphasis on I'LL and FEEL. Not NOBODY, or EVERYONE, nor IS or BE. I'LL FEEL. Completely personal question, to a completely subjective answer -- yet you came here and contort their response in some misguided attempt to be upset with someone on the Internet so you can feel something.

Come on.

I was actually laughing out loud because I thought the image of him not feeling like an adult because of his patchy beard was very comical.

You (and other posters) are the ones being all touchy. I've got 14 downvotes for pointing out the paraplegic/housewife angle.

HN is not too friendly toward basic philosophical inquiries!

I think you were downvoted for using a straw man fallacy. I wasn't saying adulthood was defined in terms of beards. Just that I don't feel like an adult because of my lack of beard. Man, I'd even settle for a great mustache. But nope, nothing.

She was downvoted because correlation does not equal causation!

... and I was making the observation that if a beard is the sign of an adult, then women can't be adults.

Are you sure you feel like an adult, or are you talking about feeling like a man?

This isn't a meaningless distinction, and it also doesn't need to be offensive. Alas, it seems if I want to have public philosophical discussions I should go back to 300 BC.

I dunno.

Women are adults the instant they sharpie a mustache onto their finger and place it under their nose.

"InstaAdult Sharpies" should be a thing.

Sorry, let me clarify:

I'm a guy. For some reason, in my mind, adulthood for guys is defined as having a really great beard.

And for some reason, I can't grow a beard. I get a tiny little patch under my chin, and that's about it.

Because of this, sometimes I feel like I'll never be an adult.