The difference between your attitude (which I share btw, my friends are of many ages) and the apparent attitude of the person mentioned in the OP, is that the person in the OP thinks “anybody over 25 is probably to old to be in any fun”. That is what is troubling some people, because it hints that this person might not be emotionally mature. Do you begin to see a little bit of how the other posters see it? How maybe people might be a bit leery of someone with an attitude like that?
I am having trouble reconciling these two statements.
That’s exactly what my problem is. What is emotionally mature and who is anybody to decide what it is and even if it’s desirable? It’s pretty judgemental to be saying things like that, because it hints that the dude has problems, without any evidence. That is pretty much the defintion of judgmental paranoia in my opinion.
wolfman It’s at this point that I will state that everyone has had different life experiences. I, for one, have learned to be wary of people who display a LOT of emotional immaturity by their actions. (Note, I said actions, not just words.) There are many events of being burned for this. Many good reasons for why I feel the way I do. I’m 31 years old, and my friends range from about 60? to 22. I’m “young at heart”, but also respectful and mature enough to be honorable.
I think you’re being premature with your shrillings about “paranoia”. Just because I state that I can understand how a person would feel a way does not mean I feel that way myself. It also does not mean that I would act on my feelings right away. It takes more than one solid demonstration of immaturity before I become seriously concerned enough that I will refuse to be around the person at all in most cases.
(This is only an anecdotal example.) An exception would be a guy in his 20’s that would have strangled a puppy right in front of me (and he had just met me)because it was teething and chewed thorugh his mouse cord, when HE is the one that left the mouse, indeed the entire computer on the floor where the puppy could get it! The only reason he didn’t kill the puppy is because I protested. That person, I refused to go around again.
Each person has had their own individual life experiences, which have shaped their world veiw. Why not respect this? I respect that you do not feel the same way I do (which is in the middle of you, and other posters), why not extend the courtesy to other posters?
I’m not meaning to disrespect anyone. But in my opinion that comes very close to dangerous stereotyping, and I felt it should be called. I realize where there is a huge grey area regarding learned expereinces vs holding stereotypes, and I have taken the other side in a few arguments. But in this case I do feel it’s jumping to unwarrented and accusatory conclusions.
Anyway I didn’t want to start a fight, and am sorry that you feel I don’t respect your position, but as I said I find it dangerous and judgemental, and had to call on it.
OK Astro, So what, after you hit 40, you have to start dressing differently and listen to Yanni? Rock and Roll is making a bit of a comback in teenage culture these days, what with bands like the Hives and Jet getting radio airplay, and plenty of kids are getting into stuff like The Stooges and 70s punk. So I’m creepy because I still listen to that stuff and wear a Ramones shirt or something? That’s being a bit ageist don’t you think?
I think this comment really undermines your status of “non-creepy.”
ZJ
Not really, I listen to more new and weird music than you can shake a stick at, and I suppose it’s possible that a 38 year old or 40 something might find the clothing and music and pop culture of the moment that appeals to teenagers and young twenty somethings to be just their taste. Having said this I have to admit I would find it very unusual for an older person to buy into the whole youth pie including favored movies, music, clothing etc) vs just liking or appreciating some bits and pieces. As people age tastes usually mature, and usually (not always), are quite different in scope and context to what appeals to and speaks to 20 somethings and teenagers in the current cultural moment.
I have never met or heard of a otherwise normal 40ish man who preferentially wanted to hang out with teenagers and young twenty somethings socially, and be like them and immerse himself in their pop culture likes and dislikes, without some other agenda hanging in the background. Maybe they’re out there, but if my 17 year old son came home and told me about a “cool” 38 year old man who wants to hang with he and his friends and likes all the same stuff he and friends do, I would be concerned.
I’m a 23 year old female, and I took it for what I still assume it to be, a joke. It made me grin anyway.
Since I’m here, I might as well actually post on topic. I’ve never related well to people my own age. I think it comes from being the youngest of six kids, the next oldest six years older. I always got along a lot better with my sister’s friends than people in my own grade. I’m still quite close with several of my teachers from school as well. When I was in college, my closest friend was sixteen years older than me. Though my base instinct tells me the 38 year old in the OP is not such a fine fellow (especially with the incident of lying about his age), I think some of y’all are being rather quick to judge if only because we know so little about the situation.
-Lil
Yeah, I know what your saying. I have an 18 year old step-daughter from my previous marriage, and I wouldn’t want her hanging out with a 38 year old guy. But then again, I wouldn’t see anything wrong if she was hanging out with a 38 year old woman. That’s a bit sexist I guess, but oh well. The reality of it is that a middle aged guy hanging out with a teenage girl is more likely than not to have something not so innocent on mind. It’s kind of different though when it’s a couple of guy’s hanging out (unless of course the old guy is a pervert) when they share the same tastes in music, or sports or whatever. I wouldn’t feel comfortable having an 18 year old girl over to the house to drink a beer and jam out to some old punk 45s. I’d REALLY feel uncomfortable after my wife cut my balls off for having her over.
I could just see THAT…“Hi honey, this is my new friend Stacy. We’ll be down in the basement listening to some tunes. Just yell if ya need me”