# I'm 19 and the thought of turning 20 scares me. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 28, 2018, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637 "2018-01-28T05:04:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![BloodStalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@BloodStalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BloodStalk)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/61 "2018-01-29T04:58:18Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > **Moderator Warning** > > Did you think you would have plausible deniability mocking a painful issue for the OP in an unrelated thread? Not so much. Here’s a warning for being a jerk. Thanks for looking out for me. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/62 "2018-01-29T04:59:55Z")
For my sister’s 50th birthday, I gave her a Happy 40th Birthday card. Inside I wrote “Don’t you wish it was only 40?” Yeah. I’m 55 now. Eligible for senior living and discounts. There’s some moments I feel like I’m being dragged down a hall backwards, screaming “I’M NOT THAT OLD! I CAN’T BE! I CAN’T BE!!!” ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/63 "2018-01-29T05:01:33Z")
Me, I’ll be turning 60 ere long. Never be a teenager again? Pffft. Try “never be middle-aged again” on for size. Suck it up and grow a pair. ---
**Author:** ![BloodStalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@BloodStalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BloodStalk)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/64 "2018-01-29T05:06:21Z")
> [@mr\_horsepower](#): > > you and your brother are pretty close. how does he feel about getting older? Looks like some of us never grew up past middle school. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/65 "2018-01-29T05:19:00Z")
@ the OP: I’m 30 and I’d dearly love to be 20 again. So that mindset might help - although, admittedly, if a 40-year old told me they’d love to be 30 again, i wouldn’t take it as much encouragement, so I don’t know if that would help you much. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/66 "2018-01-29T05:27:57Z")
There are really only two states of being: Dead, and Not Dead. Celebrate accordingly. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/67 "2018-01-29T05:29:51Z")
> [@Chimera](#): > > Eligible for senior living and discounts… That’s when I changed my mind about getting old. Paying to get into Summerfest (Milwaukee music festival), and my friend gets in for $3. _Three dollars_ for a whole day of great bands… all because he was 60. I couldn’t wait! And I’ve gone every chance I’ve gotten since I hit sixty. One more reason to keep getting older… ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 6:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/68 "2018-01-29T06:58:58Z")
I’m over sixty and I would shoot myself rather than be 19 again. Pretty much miserable from puberty to 25 or so. Then it got better and continued to get better. It’s still getting better. So there’s a data point out there in the far corner for you. There’s a lot to be said for attaining enough gravitas for people to take you seriously. Never met a 19 year old whom adults took seriously, for good reason. ---
**Author:** ![Kempton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee7513/32.png) [@Kempton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kempton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 8:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/69 "2018-01-29T08:08:35Z")
You’ll be fine OP. I wouldn’t be surprised if in a few years you look back on your teens with a healthy bit of embarrassment. I’m 24 and currently trying to leave that decade of flaming stupidity behind me. It took until fairly recently to even recognize that I’m an active participant in the world, and how exciting that is. Be happy OP, the future is exciting (and non optional). ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 10:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/70 "2018-01-29T10:46:00Z")
As a young’un I used to feel sorry for the old folks. I’m nearly 60 now, and my countdown to retirement excites me more than anything from my younger years ever did. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/71 "2018-01-29T13:10:09Z")
> [@BloodStalk](#): > > I’m currently 19 years old and honestly, the thought of being 20 is kind of making me feel anxious. I mean then, I won’t be a teenager anymore and as a result, I feel like my youth is kind of over and I won’t be able to have certain privileges of being associated with youth. Still waiting to see what those “certain privileges” might be that you’re about to lose. FWIW, you’ve already lost one privilege of youth, i.e. leniency from the law: commit a crime now, and you’ll reliably be charged as an adult instead of a minor. You’ll also be gaining privileges as time marches on. Others have noted you’ll soon be able to buy alcohol yourself. In a few more years, you’ll also be able to rent cars and hotel rooms (most car rental companies and hotels won’t do business with you if you’re under 25). Also, at 25 your car insurance cost will drop, because insurance companies think you’ve reached an age where you’re likely to be a better driver (maybe adolescence really _does_ end at 24…). You’ll probably also make more money than you do now, which means you’ll be able to afford nicer things/experiences than you have now - a better car/bike, your own home, vacations to more and more amazing places, and so on. This won’t happen instantly when you turn 20, but it’s probably in the cards for you sometime going forward. It can be freaky moving forward, because your next 50-60 years will be quite different from your first 20. But there’s a lot to look forward to, so try to keep your anxiety in check and embrace what comes next. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/72 "2018-01-29T14:42:46Z")
> [@Kempton](#): > > You’ll be fine OP. I wouldn’t be surprised if in a few years you look back on your teens with a healthy bit of embarrassment. > > I’m 24 and currently trying to leave that decade of flaming stupidity behind me. It took until fairly recently to even recognize that I’m an active participant in the world, and how exciting that is. Be happy OP, the future is exciting (and non optional). Welcome, **Kempton**! Nice first post. ---
**Author:** ![BloodStalk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ee59a6/32.png) [@BloodStalk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BloodStalk)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/73 "2018-01-29T15:14:55Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > Still waiting to see what those “certain privileges” might be that you’re about to lose. FWIW, you’ve already lost one privilege of youth, i.e. leniency from the law: commit a crime now, and you’ll reliably be charged as an adult instead of a minor. > > You’ll also be gaining privileges as time marches on. Others have noted you’ll soon be able to buy alcohol yourself. In a few more years, you’ll also be able to rent cars and hotel rooms (most car rental companies and hotels won’t do business with you if you’re under 25). Also, at 25 your car insurance cost will drop, because insurance companies think you’ve reached an age where you’re likely to be a better driver (maybe adolescence really _does_ end at 24…). > > You’ll probably also make more money than you do now, which means you’ll be able to afford nicer things/experiences than you have now - a better car/bike, your own home, vacations to more and more amazing places, and so on. This won’t happen instantly when you turn 20, but it’s probably in the cards for you sometime going forward. > > It can be freaky moving forward, because your next 50-60 years will be quite different from your first 20. But there’s a lot to look forward to, so try to keep your anxiety in check and embrace what comes next. When is 19 charged as a minor? Honestly, I still feel like I’ll feel like a teen at 20. ---
**Author:** ![Kempton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee7513/32.png) [@Kempton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kempton)\ **Post date:** [January 29, 2018, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/74 "2018-01-29T15:38:51Z")
> [@Dung\_Beetle](#): > > Welcome, **Kempton**! Nice first post. Hey, Thanks 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/75 "2018-01-30T12:48:51Z")
Given the state of the world these days, the possibility of NOT turning twenty is probably what should be scaring you. :LoL ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/76 "2018-01-30T13:05:13Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Mountain. > > Many of us would kill to be 20. Well, metaphorically speaking, of course. Some literally…I’ve said too much. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/77 "2018-01-30T13:15:06Z")
> [@BloodStalk](#): > > When is 19 charged as a minor? Never, which was my point: at 19, in the eyes of the law he is already an adult and will never again be treated as a minor. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/78 "2018-01-30T16:26:12Z")
> [@Jasmine](#): > > Given the state of the world these days, the possibility of NOT turning twenty is probably what should be scaring you. :LoL An old cartoon I saw depicted two children playing in the grass. One says, ‘What do you want to do if you grow up?’ ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/79 "2018-01-30T16:45:25Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Damn, I think I lost The World’s Smallest Violin. It’s easy to do. They should make them bigger. ---
**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\ **Post date:** [January 30, 2018, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637/80 "2018-01-30T17:45:32Z")
Guys, I’ve made a terrible mistake. Are you familiar with Grey Goo? That’s the idea that self-replicating nano-machines will get out of control and turn everything on Earth into themselves. I’ve done worse. I accidentally released a series of nanobots that build five molecular violins for every time they reproduce. Within a few years, there will be nothing on Earth but self-replicating nanobots and microscopic violins. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-19-and-the-thought-of-turning-20-scares-me/807637.md?page=5)