I’m pushing 50, and have become more openly emotional over the years. From 30 onwards, you just care less and less about being “cool.” This is why we embarrass our children.
I’m 26, and I really haven’t changed at all. I’m a big softy. I’ll cry in any dramatic scene, public or otherwise, as long as I don’t feel that my emotions are being manipulated. “Grave of the Fireflies,” has me balling, but a melodramatic seat-belt ad will just irritate me.
I’m pushing 50 and I have always been emotional. It’s just the way God made me. I don’t care what other people think about it anymore, that is what has changed. I’ll cry in front of people, not bawl but shed a tear and not feel awkward.
Male, 62.
I’ve the type who always hides (or tries to hide) his emotions, to the point that I’ve often been referred to as “Dr Spock”.
What’s happened to me is that barrier seems to break down more easily and often as I’ve gotten older, to the point that I’ll occasionally break down over something trivial. It’s embarrassing, really.
A case in point: a few years ago my wife and I were watching a “Monk” episode where Monk is forced to temporarily take care of a small child (many hilarious situations occur, such as Monk attempting to deal with a dirty diaper). At the end of the episode Monk has to give the child to his new adoptive parents - and suddenly I was bawling like a baby. My wife was staring at me in genuine confusion - she just thought it was another hilarious moment…
Like I said, embarrassing.
I’m a male in my early 40s, and I’ve noticed this more and more the last couple of years.
If I watch or read something particularly moving, my voice catches, I get a tear in my eye, and sometimes get a lump in my throat. I notice it most often with patriotic displays. I must find those moving.
It happened at my father-in-law’s funeral last year with the Marine honor guard, which was socially acceptable, I suppose. It also happened when I showed my son the scene from Final Countdown where the two F-14’s take out the two Japanese Zeroes, and the scene from The Right Stuff where Chuck Yeager breaks the sound barrier. :rolleyes:
I hope you mean “Mr. Spock” . . . unless you’re a very unemotional expert in raising babies.
I’m a female, 42, and I’ve become less emotional the older I get. I don’t know if it’s because I’m more laid back than I used to be or what, but my emotions seem to be more on an even keel than before. Perhaps that just gets me back to normal.
Male 58, bucking the trend here. I seeem to feel or care less and less every day.
:smack:
I’ve heard the quote “As men get older they grow a vagina” and have to say I find it to be somewhat true. I don’t if I’m more open about it; I think I probably am whether or not I want to be.
Wouldn’t say I’ve gotten more emotional as I’ve aged. Have definitely gotten more expressive.
As a teenager I tended to speak in complete monotone á la Ben Stein circa 1986, and displayed no emotion whatsoever. My friends even told me of dreams they had about me being a robot. In the decade+ since then I’ve made a concerted effort to inflect and emote in my communications and dealings with others.
Yeah, that’s definitely part of it. Once you’re past 30, you can’t be cool anyway, and you just look less cool the harder you try, so to hell with it. 
Female, early 50s, and much, much less emotional than I was when I was younger.
Female, 33. Neither. I’m as emotional, or not, as I’ve ever been. I do cry more easily in private, though.
I’m still too reserved for even my own tastes. 43, female, and spend too much time trying not to offend. Unfortunately, this isn’t something I’m going to get over, apparantly. 
I’m a goofy-ass Sagitarrius, too. Just too aware of what other people are feeling and I adapt to them, rather than just being myself. I need to knock that off.
Less.
I’ve never been all that emotional. And I’m less so now. I haven’t cried since I was 10.
I am male and have become less emotional in my 30’s. To a large extent this is deliberate. I believe that being able to control your emotions is the secret of happiness and while it’s a gradual journey, I am definitely more even-tempered than when I was younger. I am happier too so I expect I will continue moving in this direction.
39 straight male.
Guilty as charged. I found myself tearing up a couple of weeks ago when they found that autistic girl in the woods.
I never was like that in my 20’s or even my early 30’s. It’s a recent developement for me personally.
I’m in this club too. Even sad music which I have on my playlist sets me off crying at times. I get my heckles up easily too.
Male, almost 40. Lately find myself tearing up when departing from family gatherings, particularly with my elderly parents; that didn’t used to happen. Don’t know if the difference is inside me, or lies in the idea that they are older than they used to be, and that each time we part there is a greater and greater chance that I won’t see them again.
I wouldn’t mind quite so much, except I am generally unable to speak when I am in such a condition.