# You can have one of your young attributes back. Which do you choose? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 7, 2015, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932 "2015-11-07T18:21:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/21 "2015-11-07T22:09:03Z")
I chose “memory”, because that was the closest, even though it’s not quite right (I don’t have any particular problems with my memory). What I really want, though, is the quickness of thought I had when I was a teenager. I think my raw processing power peaked at about age 15. Of course, I know much more now than I did then, and that makes up for a lot, but if I had _both_, that would be amazing. Physically, I think I’m actually in better shape now, at close to 40, then I ever was before in my life. Oh, there are a few parts starting to wear out, but nothing I really need to complain about yet. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/22 "2015-11-07T22:14:56Z")
I chose other, I’d like to have what D&D refers to as constitution restored: health, stamina, and vitality. In my 20’s, I hardly ever got sick, recovery time from physical activity and injury was short, and stamina was incredible. I could go all day…or all night (nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more) for that matter. Once I hit 40, it’s like someone cast a spell on me that cut my constitution score in half. I can now get sick just hearing about a sick kid, recovery times from physical activity and injury seem to have doubled, and stamina, well let’s say that instead of hours, it’s best to use minutes as the unit of measure nowadays. Sigh. ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/23 "2015-11-07T22:21:31Z")
Most is as good as it ever was except for my knees and hair. And the hair I always wanted to fall out. So I’m going knees. ---
**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:** [November 7, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/24 "2015-11-07T22:23:10Z")
The only thing that was better for me as a kid than it is now is my vision. I didn’t get glasses until I was 18. Now I can’t see a thing without them! ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/25 "2015-11-07T22:56:02Z")
I wish I was as confident as I was when I was twenty, before all these decades of depression and depression drugs. I believed in myself. And I say that knowing I can’t give up the depression drugs, or the Alleve I take for my knees. How did I get all that sand under my kneecaps, anyway? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/26 "2015-11-07T23:04:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I chose “memory”, because that was the closest, even though it’s not quite right (I don’t have any particular problems with my memory). What I really want, though, is the quickness of thought I had when I was a teenager. I think my raw processing power peaked at about age 15. Of course, I know much more now than I did then, and that makes up for a lot, but if I had _both_, that would be amazing. I wonder if it’s possible, though? Is the fact that I’m not quite as quick specifically because I have so much more knowledge? Computer databases tend to get slower as they get bigger, so maybe there’s an inherent tradeoff here. I wish that I could “garbage collect” my brain. Get rid of all the nonsense that I still remember, like my childhood friend’s phone numbers. Makes more room for other stuff and improves search times. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/27 "2015-11-07T23:15:49Z")
Roll back to no diabetes - I have medication induced cachexia from some of the stuff I take and have previously taken and I just wish I could be able to just eat dinner without the nausea roulette ☹ ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2015, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/28 "2015-11-07T23:31:12Z")
Metabolism would be kind of good, but all things considered I’m okay in that dept really. Hair is the thing that I miss the most. I had stupid dorky uncontrollable hair, but at least it was there. People who have amazing hair and then shave it all off as a fashion choice can go die in a fire. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2015, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/29 "2015-11-08T01:05:04Z")
Strength. There was a time when gravity had very little power over me. Now I’m pwned. ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/30 "2015-11-08T01:06:18Z")
I’d be happy to get rid of a few arthritic hip and knee joints. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2015, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/31 "2015-11-08T01:24:40Z")
Baby teeth and acne. ---
**Author:** ![SCAdian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scadian/32/3292_2.png) [@SCAdian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCAdian)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/32 "2015-11-08T01:49:33Z")
Energy. Knees would be my second choice. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/33 "2015-11-08T01:52:16Z")
none of them. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/34 "2015-11-08T03:41:13Z")
I’d want my long future back. Surprised nobody else wanted that. ---
**Author:** ![2gigch1](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2gigch1/32/3313_2.png) [@2gigch1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2gigch1)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/35 "2015-11-08T03:50:05Z")
I very much like who I am now, but yes, my 20 year old physical self would be nice. Heck, I hadn’t even broken my leg for the first time yet. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2015, 3:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/36 "2015-11-08T03:53:30Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I want some energy. Plus one… ---
**Author:** ![harmonicamoon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/65b543/32.png) [@harmonicamoon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/harmonicamoon)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/37 "2015-11-08T03:59:51Z")
Congrats **Hari Seldon**! I voted “other”. Youth was not a choice. ---
**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:** [November 8, 2015, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/38 "2015-11-08T04:25:25Z")
Stamina. And teeth. ---
**Author:** ![jabiru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/bbce88/32.png) [@jabiru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jabiru)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/39 "2015-11-08T04:26:47Z")
Other: body shape. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2015, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932/40 "2015-11-08T04:43:04Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > I want my ability to work on a problem for years, if necessary, till I solve it. Just cannot do that any more. … This. But I’m greedy, I also want my ability to effortlessly learn new stuff. I wouldn’t mind my youthful metabolism or joints, either, but if I have to pick one, it’s the brain. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-can-have-one-of-your-young-attributes-back-which-do-you-choose/736932.md?page=3)