# Pick your poison: Old age or young again? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 1, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737 "2020-01-01T19:43:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/21 "2020-01-01T23:26:53Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I think this is an overly simplistic way of addressing the Hypo. Being an adult trapped inside of a 5yo body would have severe psychological issues. Being an adult hobbled to the social expectations of a primary-age child would be difficult, but as far as the body itself is concerned, what’s the problem? Five-year-old bodies work great - much better than seventy-year-old bodies. No aches and pains, no limited mobility. The only thing you can’t do is get things down off the high shelves, and time will take care of that. ---
**Author:** ![UltraVires](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecccb3/32.png) [@UltraVires](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UltraVires)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/22 "2020-01-01T23:27:19Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > #1, no hesitation. I am statistically unlikely to have another 10 years. Imagine going through life, knowing everything I know now. Also, while school would be boring, imagine how well I would do. I also know what to avoid (stay completely away from tobacco, for example). And I know exactly what kind of woman to look for (that is my current wife of 55 years). Glorious. If I am 5 years old again, would I still have, for example, the same desire for tobacco or alcohol, or is that reset? I’m not sure how I would still want something like sex as those chemicals are not really there yet. ---
**Author:** ![epbrown01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7ba0ec/32.png) [@epbrown01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/epbrown01)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2020, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/23 "2020-01-01T23:29:13Z")
I’m with Aspidistra - this isn’t even a question. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2020, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/24 "2020-01-01T23:44:33Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I forgot to add that the 5yo you would be 5yo in 2020. Then who would be raising me, where would I live, etc.? There are a lot of aspects to this scenario that are not at all clear. ---
**Author:** ![jackdavinci](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackdavinci/32/3259_2.png) [@jackdavinci](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jackdavinci)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/25 "2020-01-02T00:07:35Z")
I clicked option 2 by accident, not realizing the order in the title would be the reverse order of the options in the OP. ---
**Author:** ![TruCelt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trucelt/32/523_2.png) [@TruCelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TruCelt)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/26 "2020-01-02T00:34:23Z")
Yeah, the primary question is, who would have custody of me? Or would the situation be provable such that I could be me, just with a five-year-old’s body. It would be extremely difficult to find work in that case. Tough one. In no circumstances would I agree to be subjected to the care of anyone in my family, that’s for certain. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/27 "2020-01-02T00:38:54Z")
Option 1 by a mile. I’ll grow up and be able to indulge those adult desires. But I can make a lot of money and avoid a lot of mistakes on Round 2 of my life. ---
**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 2, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/28 "2020-01-02T00:41:39Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I forgot to add that the 5yo you would be 5yo in 2020. I’d still go with Option 1. A 5-year old with the wisdom, words, skills, knowledge and wit of a 30-year old is basically an unstoppable child prodigy. He’d enjoy world-famous status for…well, a few years. But still remarkable. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/29 "2020-01-02T01:12:38Z")
I didn’t vote, as I’m probably already IN the last 10 years of my life. I’d go back if I could have a different life. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/30 "2020-01-02T01:59:44Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I’d still go with Option 1. A 5-year old with the wisdom, words, skills, knowledge and wit of a 30-year old is basically an unstoppable child prodigy. He’d enjoy world-famous status for…well, a few years. But still remarkable. That aspect of it would actually be a negative for me. I’d be spending my childhood time acting dumb(-ish) and flying under the radar. I wouldn’t want to be treated like a circus freak and it seems like you couldn’t take advantage of the fact that you’re as knowledgeable as a 30-year-old without explaining WHY you’re as knowledgeable as a 30-year-old ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/31 "2020-01-02T04:02:35Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I forgot to add that the 5yo you would be 5yo in 2020. But since I forgot to add that, I’ll just let the Hypo stand as is. > > If I had that foreknowledge, I’d probably choose option 1 too. Although, “sucking it up” for 12 sounds easier said than done. Twelve years was an eternity when I was 5, but twelve years at 5 years old from the perspective of an adult, where the years almost fly by, no problem. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/32 "2020-01-02T05:42:46Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > I forgot to add that the 5yo you would be 5yo in 2020. Well that sucks. I was getting ready to remember lottery numbers and such from the past. Would the relatives I had when I was 5 still be alive? My Grandmother would be pretty damn old now. I was 40 when she died at 87. She’d be 107 now and 147 when I turned 40 the second time. If I get to be 5 in 1965, then Option 1 is awesome. I can deal with stupid little kids for 10 years. I think having my adult intellect, knowledge, and assertiveness in my younger body would be a blast. Plus I’d know I wasn’t going to die until I’m at least 60 which is a nice thing to know. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/33 "2020-01-02T06:36:11Z")
With Option #1, do I get to make different decisions? If I don’t marry my ex, would my kids suddenly cease to exist? If my kids are minors and don’t cease to exist, who raises them, since I’m only 5? Also, if my parents were still alive, would they have these options, too? If so who’s raising me? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/34 "2020-01-02T09:02:07Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > I didn’t vote, as I’m probably already IN the last 10 years of my life. Me too. That’s why I’m wondering about Option #2. Would I be guaranteed ten years in which I’ll be living “in relative comfort”? That’s a better future than I have now. Also, being 5yo in 2020? School would be very different than what it was back in the 50s. And my parents? If they were still alive, they’d be 106 now. Imagine them raising a 5yo. I’d still pick #1. Who the hell voted for immediate death? ---
**Author:** ![Bibliothecarius](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/b2d939/32.png) [@Bibliothecarius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bibliothecarius)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 9:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/35 "2020-01-02T09:16:17Z")
As far as I’m concerned, the whole world is mostly going to shit. If option 1 involved going back to the '80s, I’d consider it. But given that OP specified it’s being 5 in 2020, that’s a dealbreaker for me. I have no interest whatsoever in growing up in today’s world, even if I had the knowledge of an adult. So I’ll take option 2, so long as it’s retirement and relatively good health for 10 years. If it’s not, I’ll take the immediate death. ---
**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 2, 2020, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/36 "2020-01-02T13:09:47Z")
> [@Grrr](#): > > But wouldn’t school be incredibly boring? Also, wouldn’t it suck being stuck around kids all day? And wouldn’t it be next to impossible to forge any meaningful friendships with said kids? > > It all sounds like a nightmare to me. With all the mental faculties of an adult, ISTM that school need not be boring. Your advanced intellect would soon manifest itself, and if you so desired, you could be fast-tracked to more advanced material. Even if you stuck with age-appropriate educational material, you could ace it every time, quickly, and then switch to spending your time on whatever you want. Likewise, with adult-level social capabilities, you’d be well-positioned to be a good friend to others, and probably well-positioned to defuse bullies. You would even know how to strongly advocate for your interests, recruiting adults in your life to intervene effectively for dealing with truly recalcitrant bullies. You could be a social leader. Those same adult-level social capabilities would probably help you successfully engage in sexyfuntimes with other kids long before most of your peers are able to do so - and with an adult’s ability to understand and meet the needs of one’s sexyfuntimes partner(s), you could be assured of keeping things rolling in your favor. If you’d rather (ahem) take matters into your own hands, you’d have an adult-level of situational awareness to help make the best of your limited opportunities for privacy. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/37 "2020-01-02T13:31:29Z")
Option 1. I might be in the ;ast 10 years of my life (who knows?) and I’m in good shape, so option 2 is status quo. My concern would be the world going to shit. Sometimes I’m glad that I’m too old to see the worst of the impact of climate change. Ignoring that, Option 1 all the way. I was a bit of a prodigy as a kid and it worked out great. Assuming I’m not 5 years old in extreme poverty, I could use my knowledge to be a real prodigy. I could knock off my homework and school reading in no time and have time to read up on the tech I’ve fallen behind on. I could do the SATs at 11, go to college, and get another PhD by 20. Since I’d be as mentally mature as an adult, the maturity issues with this plan won’t matter. I don’t smoke and I wouldn’t mind giving up the little bit of wine that I drink. Sex would be the bigger issue, but that might be no worse than being at the end of my lfe, and there is light, as it were, at the end of the tunnel. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/38 "2020-01-02T13:36:55Z")
> [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > With all the mental faculties of an adult, ISTM that school need not be boring. Your advanced intellect would soon manifest itself, and if you so desired, you could be fast-tracked to more advanced material. Even if you stuck with age-appropriate educational material, you could ace it every time, quickly, and then switch to spending your time on whatever you want. > > Likewise, with adult-level social capabilities, you’d be well-positioned to be a good friend to others, and probably well-positioned to defuse bullies. You would even know how to strongly advocate for your interests, recruiting adults in your life to intervene effectively for dealing with truly recalcitrant bullies. You could be a social leader. I thought about all this too. But then I’m reminded of that Star Trek NG episode wherein Q transports Picard back to his academy days so he could “fix” all his mistakes. But all he winds up doing is alienating himself from his closest friends. And he also never reaches the rank of captain. Just a mediocre officer. I feel like that episode hits closer to reality WRT the above hypothetical. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/39 "2020-01-02T13:51:44Z")
I would be the world’s most diabolical 5-year-old. No jury in the world would ever convict me! ---
**Author:** ![Ashtura](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ashtura/32/2963_2.png) [@Ashtura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ashtura)\ **Post date:** [January 2, 2020, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737/40 "2020-01-02T13:54:15Z")
Option one and it’s not even close. I’ve had a backburner fantasy of that happening for a very long time. I’d prefer a time travel component however, where I could relive the 70’s, 80’s etc. Getting rich off of knowing the future would be awesome. Why yes, I WILL buy that Google stock, thank you. It would be a little weird waking up as a 5 year old in the present, but I’d still do it. I’ve seen my dad make it into his eighties and will be 90 this year. Honestly I think I might pick the immediate death option before I took that, but I’m a scaredy cat and probably do it if I had to. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pick-your-poison-old-age-or-young-again/845737.md?page=3)