You are OLD

[Ummon]

Kids are funny these days. I remember when I was a kid that 30 was considered mature, 50 was middle-aged, and 70 was getting old. Nowadays it seems like kids have shifted the scale down twenty years accompanied by harsher sentiments: you're old at 30, ancient at 50, and 70 you're a walking corpse. I don't think it's necessarily a matter of 'experience' at a young age because in the past more so than in recent times youngens had far more responsibility in just surviving. So what is it?


(Incidentally, I'm not pointing at anyone in particular. This has recently been a general topic in my mind.)

[FrizzleFried]

You know you're old when you realize that your dad was your age when he divorced your mother and that you were 18 when that happened!

[RayB]

I disagree with your claim Ummon.

[Malenko]

You know you're old when you realize that your dad was your age when he divorced your mother and that you were 18 when that happened!

 I was 12, and Im almost as old......

eerily close though

[Ummon]

You know you're old when you realize that your dad was your age when he divorced your mother and that you were 18 when that happened!

What?

I disagree with your claim Ummon.

Which one?

[havic626]

you know how i know im old?  cause guys now adays think its cool to look like a girl with the beyond tight pants and shirt and long hair with make up. back in my day you wanted to be tuff and overly baggy cloths was in.  im only 28 by the way.

[RandyT]

Kids are funny these days. I remember when I was a kid that 30 was considered mature, 50 was middle-aged, and 70 was getting old. Nowadays it seems like kids have shifted the scale down twenty years accompanied by harsher sentiments: you're old at 30, ancient at 50, and 70 you're a walking corpse. I don't think it's necessarily a matter of 'experience' at a young age because in the past more so than in recent times youngens had far more responsibility in just surviving. So what is it?


(Incidentally, I'm not pointing at anyone in particular. This has recently been a general topic in my mind.)

I don't know if I fully agree with the assertion.  I think it may be more of an individual thing.  I know people younger than myself who are much "older" than I am.

But if you are looking for a reason, I would say that it has a lot to do with a greater generational disconnect than we experienced with our parents.  In other words, I believe that our kids see their world far differently relative to how we view ours, than our world view relative to our parents'.  As such, we tend to have less in common with our kids.  Hell, the way technology is progressing (and general outlooks on the future are "sucking") 70 year olds today might as well have grown up on a different planet as far as the younger folks are concerned.

You are only as old as you feel......as long as you break all of your mirrors 

RandyT

[Necro]

The current 30 year old people are going to have the biggest disconnect with the previous generation...those of us in the 26-36 range will remember 'with and without' the current level of technology.  Those below 26 it gets a bit more foggy.  Below 20 and your talking not remembering a time when there was no internet.

Personally, I'm 30.  I consider myself still really young but...well...guess I'm not.  I'd go with 50 being middle age still...(until I get there) and 80 being old.

I plan on living forever though, so not sure how that'll pan out with how people consider me relative to them

[RayB]

I disagree with your claim Ummon.

Which one?

The entire claim. It's an opinion and you didn't support it with facts other than your own fuzzy memory. I remember being 18 and thinking a woman over 30 was definitely OLD, and not even attractive. (for the record I'm in my late 30's now). When I was a kid, I certainly didn't think 50 was middle aged. Heck, when I was 10, my grand parents were barely 50, and they seemed like OLD PEOPLE. They were grand parents! That made them officially old in my eyes. Never mind the fact that they were still in the workforce, to my kid eyes they were OLD! And my great grand parents... WOOO! Walking corpses like you said...

Any little wrinkle to me looked OLD. The slightest hint of crows feet around even a 28 year old's eyes, looked OLD. I dunno, I think things are the same as always, but your perspective has changed.

[Ginsu Victim]

I hear ya. When I was 8, my uncle was 23 and had started balding earlier. I thought he was an old man.

[grantspain]

my daughter says she is constantly embarrassed by me,she says i am out of touch-15 years ago i was working in the music industry and one of the people that helped bring the indie scene to the front
thats when you know you are old,because your daughter says you are-and hell i am not even 40 yet

[ChadTower]

my daughter says she is constantly embarrassed by me

[Thenasty]

I am still STUCK here in the 80's 

[Singapura]

As far as technology goes, I couldn't have been born at a better time. The rise of the arcade, the coming of the first home computers, the internet etc.etc. I can't wait to see what's next. That's why I play 80's games AND my Xbox 360. Most of my colleagues are 10 years younger then me but they love to chat about the latest games with the boss  My own boss is 10 years older then me and still thinks every email should be printed out 

[Kangum]

I remember telling my dad that pretty soon there will be no such thing as a company without a website and he disbelieved me.

it does not make me old but it certainly makes me feel it.

[HaRuMaN]

I'm 30 and I have gray hair...  lots of gray.   

[ChadTower]

As far as technology goes, I couldn't have been born at a better time.

I remember someone saying that same thing to me when I was a kid only he was born around 1900.  He mentioned electric lamps, telephones, cars, airplanes, motorboats, television, and a whole bunch of other things that we have never even thought about not having.

[DaOld Man]

When I was but a youngin an old man once told me that you will know you are old when taking a good dump is better than sex.

I guess I aint old yet, but still....

[ark_ader]

I don't know, but now I'm in my 40s, I do not want to do half of the crazy crud I did when I was 30.  Coming home and firing up the PC/CAB/TV is more fun than going out, getting drunk, being sick and eating aspirin the next day.

Roll on 50....More like roll on 3.

I look back to when I was 18 and a network engineer, and I think to myself, why didn't I get rich working with PCs like most of the M$ execs?  Now when I hear "My PC doesn't work" I duck for cover instead of making a financial opportunity of the event.  I think computers are all too mainstream.  Gone are the days when paying for a computer repair guy was the big deal.  Now your 12 year old could do a better job.

Maybe technology has a sell by date, or a side effect/symptom for those who are past caring and just want it to work.

I can just see me in front of the hologram 3D viewer with an old Jakks when I get to 90.  By then I will be OLD.

[shmokes]

As far as technology goes, I couldn't have been born at a better time.

I remember someone saying that same thing to me when I was a kid only he was born around 1900.  He mentioned electric lamps, telephones, cars, airplanes, motorboats, television, and a whole bunch of other things that we have never even thought about not having.

Both of these make perfect sense, I think.  You really don't get these paradigm-shifting inventions very often.  I'm talking about things like the printing press, cotton gin, iron founding.  That guy born in 1900 got to see a revolution in transportation in the early 1900s, and then in mass communication in the mid-1900's (TV).  The telephone and electric lamp go in there in their respective spots too.  Then we've got the computer chip which has caused such a paradigm shift that we're now out of the industrial age, into the information age. 

No matter when you're born you get to see some cool stuff invented, but it seems like there are only a few REALLY big ones in any given century.

OMG . . . indoor plumbing and municipal sewers.  That one's probably the biggest of them all.  I don't know how that missed my list.   

[ChadTower]

Indoor plumbing and municipal sewers are centuries apart, I think. 

[Ummon]

Both of these make perfect sense, I think.  You really don't get these paradigm-shifting inventions very often.  I'm talking about things like the printing press, cotton gin, iron founding.  That guy born in 1900 got to see a revolution in transportation in the early 1900s, and then in mass communication in the mid-1900's (TV).  The telephone and electric lamp go in there in their respective spots too.  Then we've got the computer chip which has caused such a paradigm shift that we're now out of the industrial age, into the information age. 

No matter when you're born you get to see some cool stuff invented, but it seems like there are only a few REALLY big ones in any given century.

Right, of which pretty much anyone under 20, maybe even 25, hasn't seen, so maybe it is a lack of that. Then again, it might be something else.


RayB: generally my experience was not like that, nor did I see it - however, I don't think it's the same anyways. Except for the perhaps obvious 'stranger-danger' situations, if an older person talked to you, you talked back. They weren't a freakoid because of their age. And though we talked about them, as we did anyone, behind their backs it wasn't to do with their age* but usually some circumstance.

*the caveat here was when we saw someone disabled/immobile/physically incapable, but that I think is simply a matter of being so vital and seeing someone who is not, and not being familiar with it, rather maveling at it.


Anyways, I'm not expressing my own ideas or feelings on age, my own age, etc.  in this thread. I'm just relaying what I've experienced. I don't think it's absolute, though I do think it's wide-spread. Something I think related: high school graduates in my year book look far more mature than some recent ones I've seen pictures of.

[shmokes]

It's no use looking back to how you viewed things when you were a kid.  Your perceptions were SO distorted back then by inexperience and lack of wisdom.  I look at 16-year-olds today (I'm 30) and think, "WTF?  We're putting these little kids behind the wheel of a car?  I was WAY older than that when I was 16!"  Of course, I wasn't.  I just felt older because I was a dumb 16 year old.  Hell . . . I probably looked younger than the majority of 16-year-olds today, considering that people still consistently think I'm in my early 20's and I'm only 5'6" now, so I was probably only 5'5" when I was 16.

And think about all your teachers from your childhood, kindergarten through high school.  They were all adults.  They were old people, and you were a kid.  That's how you perceived them.  But I just graduated college in 2007 and I have quite a few friends that went straight out of undergrad into teaching positions, elementary, junior high and high school.  These kids are like 21, 22 years old.  It's hilarious.  You've got 17-year-old high schoolers thinking of themselves as children and their 21-year-old teacher as an adult.

[Singapura]

I can still remember the first time I felt old. It was at a Slayer concert in Rotterdam. I tattoed guy wearing all leather came up to me and asked me politely: "Sir, do you know what time it is?". I was 25...

[ChadTower]

I can still remember the first time I felt old. It was at a Slayer concert in Rotterdam. I tattoed guy wearing all leather came up to me and asked me politely: "Sir, do you know what time it is?". I was 25...

That was actually a code phrase... if you had given the right answer you would have had the night of your life.

[Necro]

When I was younger, I was 100% certain that as you got older you inherently got heavier.  My parents were heavier then me, my grandparents were heavier than my parents, etc.   Given, my great-grandparents threw this off as they were both sticks, but all old people are very skinny.   (Not that anyone was 'obese' just bigger than me... )

Anyway, I think part of the distortion is that your mind changes slowly - and with it your memories and what actually happened in the past.  You remember what happened at 16 through your current mind and can't think of it being any different.  Easiest way to see a change is to take a look at an old journal or something to that effect.  I did it just recently when going through some old stuff and making room to have a workspace for my cab...it was weird.  If nothing else, I think people don't realize how naive they actually were when they were young.

Regarding the 'looking old' thing...I've been told I look the same as some of my HS pictures...which is mildly disturbing.  It actually pisses off my brother and sister   I haven't been confused for a 20 year old though...I think it's obvious I'm late-20's to 30. 

That and, the most disturbing thing I find is that I look exactly like my father did at my age.  It freaks out my wife a bit.  Actually a lot.

[Todd H]

You whippersnappers keep it down! I'm trying to watch Matlock!

[gnateye]

... I remember being 18 and thinking a woman over 30 was definitely OLD, and not even attractive. (for the record I'm in my late 30's now). When I was a kid, I certainly didn't think 50 was middle aged. Heck, when I was 10, my grand parents were barely 50, and they seemed like OLD PEOPLE. They were grand parents! That made them officially old in my eyes. Never mind the fact that they were still in the workforce, to my kid eyes they were OLD! And my great grand parents... WOOO! Walking corpses like you said...

 i have to agree here, its very subjective. i remember being young enough that i thought taller people were older... (were talking 3 or 4 here though) its just a very subjective thing. the whole "don't trust anyone over thirty" was a big 60's thing... now that i'm in my late 30s i think ladies in my age group are way more attractive than when i was in my 20s looking at thirty-something ladies...

[RayB]

I decided to bring up this subject with my 15 yr old step daughter last night, by asking if she thought her grand parents were old. She "no way! They're middle aged." (Her grand parents are in their 50's).

[Ummon]

I decided to bring up this subject with my 15 yr old step daughter last night, by asking if she thought her grand parents were old. She "no way! They're middle aged." (Her grand parents are in their 50's).

I know there are exceptions. Yet there seem to be a lot who are as I've mentioned - at least, that's how they've expressed themselves.

gnateye: I always - and I mean about as early as I can remember - had crushes on older females, often women in their 30s and 40s, so I didn't see them as old. And maybe it was just the boys I happened to hang out with, but they were similar, from grade school to high school.


shmokes: actually, I did still feel like a kid. I had no boy-ego illusions or whatever there.

Singapura: I've encountered that too. I think it's a security thing. Even in such a circumstance, they don't feel safe enough to be casual. I was never like that. I never called adults sir or maam. I didn't jive them, either.

[Ummon]

I just wanted to add the following into the topic:

"My comparison of The Sopranos to Shakespeare is not total hyperbole nor in jest. The standard joke about a new reader’s or playgoer’s reaction to Shakespearean plays is “What’s the big deal? He just used a bunch of clichés and common sayings here and stitched them together” -- the neophyte Shakespearean never realizing that William Shakespeare coined those phrases. Watching The Sopranos becomes a similar experience of having the shock of new brilliance quickly feeling commonplace."

The point here is that many youngsters (and I've been in this boat with other things) seem to think that what they've experienced is origin of the thing(s) or idea(s) in it - which reflects a general historical ignorance - or that these things are certainly the authoritative source because they're, like, 'modern' - to which my response is, while I agree some things mature with time, a lot of things as we all know get dumbed down, etc.

Another thing in recent years is cartoons having kids' voices. Even superhero ones do. Going back, even the Wonder Twins of old sounded more mature than Superman, Wonder Woman, etc. of these newer shows. Superman of old actually sounded like....gasp....a MAN.

[AwesomeAlbert]

I felt old the day i sneezed and farted at the same time.

[protokatie]

I felt old the day i sneezed and farted at the same time.

Just wait until the fart starts not being gas, THEN you will be old. I just can't wait to get that old....

[danny_galaga]

I don't know, but now I'm in my 40s, I do not want to do half of the crazy crud I did when I was 30.  Coming home and firing up the PC/CAB/TV is more fun than going out, getting drunk, being sick and eating aspirin the next day.

Roll on 50....More like roll on 3.

I look back to when I was 18 and a network engineer, and I think to myself, why didn't I get rich working with PCs like most of the M$ execs?  Now when I hear "My PC doesn't work" I duck for cover instead of making a financial opportunity of the event.  I think computers are all too mainstream.  Gone are the days when paying for a computer repair guy was the big deal.  Now your 12 year old could do a better job.

Maybe technology has a sell by date, or a side effect/symptom for those who are past caring and just want it to work.

I can just see me in front of the hologram 3D viewer with an old Jakks when I get to 90.  By then I will be OLD.

yeah, a programmer friend of mine said he couldnt see why a programmer would get paid any more than a mechanic. of course he never knocked back the contracts 

[danny_galaga]

you know how i know im old?  cause guys now adays think its cool to look like a girl with the beyond tight pants and shirt and long hair with make up. back in my day you wanted to be tuff and overly baggy cloths was in.  im only 28 by the way.

yeah, kids today, eh  

[HaRuMaN]

 

eww, is that camel toe?

 

[ChadTower]

I don't see those guys wearing eye liner and lipstick.  Shirt is kinda fruity but he's a brit, what do you want? 

[ark_ader]

eww, is that camel toe?

 

 

[Dartful Dodger]

Another thing in recent years is cartoons having kids' voices. Even superhero ones do. Going back, even the Wonder Twins of old sounded more mature than Superman, Wonder Woman, etc. of these newer shows. Superman of old actually sounded like....gasp....a MAN.

That's because cartoon characters at that time were all played by old white guys wearing makeup. That's why the young and even black characters were always so stiff with slow reflexes and no rhythm.

Are there Wonder Twins of new?

[Ummon]

Another thing in recent years is cartoons having kids' voices. Even superhero ones do. Going back, even the Wonder Twins of old sounded more mature than Superman, Wonder Woman, etc. of these newer shows. Superman of old actually sounded like....gasp....a MAN.

That's because cartoon characters at that time were all played by old white guys wearing makeup. That's why the young and even black characters were always so stiff with slow reflexes and no rhythm.

That's not true. And you're talking about live action. Actually, many characters of live-action stuff were in their early 30s, maybe, though of course the females were often in their 20s somewhere. None of them were kung-fu anything for a few reasons: the shows were not serious, they didn't want to get hurt, and I bet they didn't have insurance.

Anyways, though I bet the voice actors of cartoons before the 90s weren't in their 20s, they  had rich voices; they were also often baritones and basses, and the females were altos. (Not to mention they were real voice actors - they could act.)

Are there Wonder Twins of new?

I was just trying to be clear.