Emerging-adulthood vortex: Any scene that emerges around anything that allows people 21-35 or so to make their bones in the world…it attracts activity and killer-instinct commitment with a do-or-die level nihilistic desperation, usually with an attached dating/hookup scene 🤔
Conversation
When I was in the vulnerable age band, I expended real effort avoiding getting sucked in. Not sure why, but entirely wrong black-hole energy for me. Now that I’m very safely out of the age band I can see how these vortices work more clearly… and am extremely glad I avoided them
2
26
I’m probably in the minority who are not suited to life in EAVs. I suspect a majority of people probably should. Spending part of 18-35 in an EAV is probably like parenthood. Fulfilling life chapter for majority, hell for the minority.
2
18
EAV people tend to also have kids and move on to early middle vortex of community life organized around kids’ schooling and experience a clear transition to late middle age via empty nest events around 48-54. Most of my college friends are going through this now.
1
15
There’s a whole A-plot life stage thing here.
And there’s the B-plot. Avoid EAVs, no kids even if you get married, often no real jobs ever, rarely sign up for pillar-of-society responsibilities, blurry transition to late middle age.
Civilizational B plots ‘r us 😆
2
19
You’d think the checked out, no-skin-in-game NPC inconsequentiality of B-plot people would lead to A-plot people just ignoring them, but damn they don’t leave you alone. The very existence of the B plot and people choosing it is for some reason viewed as a threat by A-plot types.
1
29
This is true even if we lead virtuous lives, and pay our way. I suspect A and B people are assets/burdens to society with about the same distribution mean, but the variance is far higher for A-plotters. They are either great assets or great burdens. Bs are narrow distribution.
2
10
I see a clear fork in life paths after empty-nest age based on whether or not there is an EAV vortex in your past. If you do, it will be like being a veteran of an eternal war. You will feel an urge to “give back” to the current generation involved in it. Advice, investment, etc.
Replying to
If you *don’t* the idea of “giving back” will seem ill-posed to you. There’s no there there to your post. No self-perpetuating vortex that still persists, with new players in whom you see your younger self. There are new B plot players, but they’re up to unrelated new things.
1
6
I suppose you could identify these vortices with institutions that either persist as living ones, or are properly memorialized.
1
5
B-plot = feels like your past is footsteps in the sand that have already washed away even though you’re still living. The thought is either upsetting or liberating.
1
8
Not sure of this, but I think the basic difference between A-plot and B-plot is that A-plot people try to win a particular hero’s journey through preparation and skilled play, while B-plot people simply try to get lucky and don’t particularly care what form the luck takes.
1
2
13
EAV investment looks like a lot of intense work upfront, but with some guarantees of rewards if you do it. It’s not lottery enough for B-plot types.
1
10
Replying to
Very interesting.
How is this urge fundamentally different than the general urge to give advice at younger age? In our younger age our urge to give advice isn't truly to "give back".. Is it?


