Adultescents!?!

There's been a lot of talk recently about "adultescents", these so-called adults who apparently still have the mind-set of teenagers and quite frankly, don't give a rat's about anything.
According to some psychologist-type person, these people, generally aged between 18 and 30, like to use the internet, mobile phones, and use irreverent humour.
Oh dear. This is starting to sound like yours truly.
It does get more specific though for those who think this may sound like young-person bashing.
David Chalke, who wrote a report on these misguided souls, said people in their twenties just don't want to worry about something in the future.
"They don't save because they don't aspire to settle down. Even if they become connected to a partner, they still rent, because they want money now to spend on themselves. They don't think in terms of a career - just a series of jobs, because they get bored easily. They don't invest, because they want instant gratification," he is quoted as saying in the Sydney Morning Herald.
By the way, if I hear one more "x is the new y", I'm going to take to that person with an axe. It's mentioned a number of times in the article (link below), and makes me want to find their "Big Book of Cliches" and burn it.
Chalke then goes on to say these adultescents want to buy designer clothes, gadgets, travel to movies etc.
Now this is eerily familiar.
I don't want to settle down, will be renting until the Second Coming - because of high housing prices, not because I want more money (it would be nice), and don't invest because living tends to cut into the old bank account.
As for a series of jobs, who doesn't want to explore all possibilities? In my case, travelling and working is perfect for my career as it gives me more life experience to draw on to make things (like this I hope) more interesting.
And anyway, who wants to settle down in their 20s when the average life expectancy is around 80? I couldn't live with my family for 20 years, not too sure how I'd go with someone for 50 or 60.
What's of more concern to me is the number of young adults who aren't independent in any way, shape or form. Those who still live with their parents, who don't give a rats about the world and who just care about finding someone who's socially acceptable or has the right look, instead of someone who does care.
We saw an excellent example of this in Australia recently when a crowd during a "Big Brother" eviction booed rather loudly when a bloke named Merlin was evicted.
Merlin had come out with his mouth taped up and a sign saying "Free th refugees" (the 'e' fell off). He wanted to bring the issue back to the attention of Australia.
Without getting into the refugee issue here, what he did was very brave. Normally contestants come out, look happy/sad/bewildered, say some banal words which get a cheer from the audience, then shuffle onto Rove Live a couple of days later then out of sight.
Merlin took the opportunity to actually make his convictions clear, and in doing so put himself on the line.
The crowd's reaction? Boooooo!
As for the cost of living out of home being too expensive, what a load of rubbish.
The problem seems to be that younger people can't really budget, or use the credit card up too much. Ask any uni student who's had to move somewhere to get ahead how hard it is.
Most will tell you how they got by on less than A$15,000 a year.
I can't believe people who are earning more than that ($30,000 +) can't live out of home.
If you can't, there's something seriously wrong with your priorities. Designer clothing and gadgets are good, but going for a night on the town without your Mum asking when you're going to be back and not to make so much noise next time?
Priceless.
I'll take independence over gadgets any day - and I reckon sometime down the track I'll be able to have both.

The article on the adultescents is at http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/05/24/1085389339741.html