# Would you want to be 16 again? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 29, 2014, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540 "2014-05-29T04:49:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![JohnClay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c37758/32.png) [@JohnClay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnClay)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 9:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/21 "2014-05-29T09:40:41Z")
What about this? It could be like the ending of “Being John Malkovich”… basically our present selves’ memories could stay intact and be a powerless observer over our 16 year old self. So our 16 year old’s self’s behavior would be unchanged but our present self would still live on. I’d do that even though in the movie it seemed like a form of hell. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 9:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/22 "2014-05-29T09:43:17Z")
Being 16 was pretty fun! All the fun, none of the responsibility. Life was pretty good. It’s pretty good now, too, but I wouldn’t mind doing it all again just to have some more time on this beautiful planet. ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/23 "2014-05-29T10:10:27Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > Wow, three in a row fighting the hypothetical. > > I assume that the OP is saying it is the same instance of consciousness. Which, yes, is problematic to define, but hardly a problem unique to this hypothetical. We have to make certain assumptions about identity every time we talk about our past and future. In the same instance of consciousness? How could you interpret it that way? What formed your assumption? This hypothetical explicitly precludes the possibility. If you go back to the same timeline with no cognition of the future you left and everything else is just the same, it’s just a rewind and repeat. This hypothetical doesn’t leave room for interpretation. If anything, I was being generous to allow for the possibility of anything turning out any differently than it ever did at all, favorably or not. Sometimes the hypothetical, as presented, just isn’t interesting. This one, as presented, is basically the same as asking someone: “If you could cease to exist, with no effort, pain or suffering to yourself or anyone else, would you?” Some will disagree, but to me, it’s not interesting. I’m not bashing the OP. Hell, I’ve shared plenty of poorly conceived hypothetical situations in pursuit of conversation. I’m just saying this isn’t an interesting one. To me, anyway. Fighting the hypothetical is not the same thing as rejecting the hypothetical. In this case, the hypothetical is just a ruse for ceasing to exist in any meaningful sense, so I reject it. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/24 "2014-05-29T10:32:08Z")
> [@Jake\_Jones](#): > > In the same instance of consciousness? How could you interpret it that way? What formed your assumption? This hypothetical explicitly precludes the possibility. No, it doesn’t. If anything it’s a rewind / reset of the same consciousness. Calling it death is the non-sequitur interpretation IMO. Having said that, Personal Identity is one of the most famous problems in philosophy. We’ve debated it to death here in numerous threads on star trek transporters and the like. I really don’t think the OP wanted to go there. Nor do I think the OP wanted to ask the question: “If you could just die, and then someone else exists who’s like a 16-year old you…deal?”. I can guess the outcome of _that_ poll. I think it’s pretty clear the kind of scenario the OP was trying to create, and what constitutes going along with the hypothetical, and fighting it. ---
**Author:** ![Heracles](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heracles/32/487_2.png) [@Heracles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heracles)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/25 "2014-05-29T12:12:08Z")
Hmm. Being 16 years old in 2014, I would be living in a pretty different world from what I knew in the 1980s. Pros: - Better acceptance of gays (though I had it pretty easy anyway). - Half the guys today look like the exceptionally-well-built guys we had in the 1980s. Cons: - I would get to see the latter half of the 21st century, which will not be pretty. - I would probably see the decline of everyday French in Québec, and probably worldwide. - Information technology is ridiculously complicated nowadays. By 2025, developers will be shoehorned into even tighter niches. - No space shuttles. Nah, I think I’ll pass. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/26 "2014-05-29T13:06:39Z")
It would be nice to have a young body again…but no. Without the wisdom acquired in later years, and with the changes in the world since I was 16, I would rather stay as I am. ---
**Author:** ![Silvorange](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Silvorange](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silvorange)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/27 "2014-05-29T13:09:07Z")
No. It was bad enough doing it once. ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/28 "2014-05-29T13:19:31Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I wouldn’t mind it. I liked my teenaged years. I like my life now, too, so for the purposes of the OP, I’d say no, but I had a good time at that age, so either way works for me. Same. Being 16 has no real appeal to me if I won’t remember and therefore can’t ‘change’ anything but it doesn’t repulse me either. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/29 "2014-05-29T13:23:40Z")
Hell, no. I’m very happy with my life these days, and I wouldn’t want to give _now_ up, thankyewverymuch. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/30 "2014-05-29T13:24:06Z")
Going back to being homeless, living at the Baptist church, dealing with my mother & her boyfriend and their problems, dealing with the self-hate & bigotry taught by the church in God’s name, a failed suicide attempt, and no idea of the shit that is coming my way in the next few years? NO. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21825_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/31 "2014-05-29T13:59:09Z")
At 16, I was still way too shy and afraid of people. I did have a small circle of friends, so I wasn’t miserable, and I was such a goody-goody, I didn’t get into trouble. No, I wouldn’t want to be a teen again. On the other hand, I’d love to go back to my 30s, but only if I knew that I needed to do better planning for retirement. Back then, retirement seemed like a far-off-don’t-sweat-it thing, but now that I’m here, I realize that a few minor changes would have made a huge difference. Best I can do now is advise my daughter to be smarter about saving now and hope she listens. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/32 "2014-05-29T14:07:55Z")
Heh. The disco years. If I knew what I know now… Maybe. Oh I had a hell of a good time, but it was real rough in other ways. I pretty much despised high school. Then again, if I knew what I know now, it would kinda make it rougher. Having to keep said knowledge to myself. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/33 "2014-05-29T14:09:02Z")
Let me take back knowledge of what girls to avoid and which to pursue, hell yes. Otherwise, hell no. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/34 "2014-05-29T14:10:10Z")
I don’t think I’ve made much progress in the 19 years since I’ve been 16, so I’d go back just to give it another roll of the dice. I liked being 16 and in high school. I liked that I got to see everyone every day. Now I just have to wait for them to update Facebook! I wouldn’t be 16 again in 2014, though. I’d be lost! ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/35 "2014-05-29T14:27:28Z")
I drove a Rambler and had no girlfriend. Hell no. ---
**Author:** ![LavenderBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e95f7d/32.png) [@LavenderBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LavenderBlue)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/36 "2014-05-29T14:28:32Z")
Only if I can do it with my husband. But I didn’t start going out with him until I was nineteen so I’ll take a pass. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/37 "2014-05-29T15:08:32Z")
Absolutely not. As far as I can remember, there is absolutely nothing about my sixteen-year-old life that was better than my current life is. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/38 "2014-05-29T15:33:13Z")
No, never. I might consider going back if I could retain my memories though. ---
**Author:** ![scootergirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e99b99/32.png) [@scootergirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scootergirl)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2014, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/39 "2014-05-29T15:55:33Z")
I would like to join **gracer** with that crazy optimistic attitude, but unfortunately I cannot. 16 was brutally confusing, full of problems with my father and stressful. So nope for me. Life did get gradually better, though. And I have no complaints at the moment. ---
**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:** [May 29, 2014, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540/40 "2014-05-29T16:00:54Z")
I’d say going back to 16 knowing what you know now would be an even BIGGER curse than not knowing what you know now. So no for me. Although it would be tempting if it meant I got to relive my 20s. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/would-you-want-to-be-16-again/689540.md?page=3)