Category: Let's talk
Okay this might have been discussed in some other topic somewhere but I can't be stuffed looking for it. How important is it for a person to act their age? Or conversely, how important is it that a person shouldn't always act their age?
Is there anything necessarily wrong with acting younger than your age? I tend to think not as long as you do act your age when it's necessary to do so.
Or what about acting older than your age? If your a teenager, is it necessarily a good or bad thing that you act like an adult? I tend to think that's not such a good thing - you're only young once, after all.
What are other people's thoughts on this?
Good topic. I've often struggled with this. Generally, I think that age is just a number, and there are three different types of age: chronological age, (the number you usually give when asked your age), mental age, (the age you act, and the age used to determine IQ), and biological age, (how your internal organs are functioning compared to those of the same chronological age). So, it's hard, really, to say you should act your age.
The way I see it is: act in whatever way feels best to you, but know when that is appropriate, and when it is not. For example, a twenty-year-old probably shouldn't go to his or her college class giggling like a twelve-year-old, but at home, or with friends, that should be totally acceptable.
If you are more mature than the average person of the same chronological age, act it. I myself, at eighteen years old, prefer to socialize with older people than myself. I don't see anything wrong with it. It's just the way I am, and the people I associate with don't seem to mind at all. Now, of course, there are certain things i can't do, obviously, like go to a club or gamble, but everything in time. The only problem with being mature for one's age is that some people let it go to their heads, and treat others of the same chronological age as though they are inferior.
P.S. There is also socio-emotional age, (the way you handle your emotions and social values compared with those of the same chronological age).
Interesting question, Steve. I think it's all about balance. As one grows older, I think they get a better handle on this balance. There's nothing wrong with acting younger than your age, in the appropriate settings. I never want to get so old, so to speak, that I forget how to laugh and have fun. But I also understand the times and places to act certain ways. Of course, everyone makes mistakes sometimes. In younger people, like teens, how they act often depends on their environment, and the expectations and boundaries placed on them.
I think this topic is oo eneral.
I think that there are ways in which we can act younger than our age. We can act younger than our age by being hyperactive, just being silly, or having fun in other harmless ways. There isn't anything wrong with that apart fro that it can be irritating to others.
If however, when we act younger than our age by being abusive towards others, or bullying or intimidating people, that is wrong.
am not against people acting older than their age by drinking, having sex, etc. I don't assume all people who drink and have relationships are bad, or all adults who do those things are good.
Sometimes people act older in order to show that they are superior to their peers. Really though they are insecure and that's why they feel the need to convince others. While I wouldn't say they are bad for doing so, I would say it can be irritating.
What about people who act immature because of certain disabilities or mental health conditions? I think they should be judged differently if their condition is making them behave the way they do
Ok... I think that there are certain times when it's totally cool to act younger then u really are. I'll be hanging with friends, and I act pretty crazy.
As for acting older, for me I was raised and brought up by and with adults so i have been under their influence.
Senior has a point. Exceptions do need to be made, for example, if someone has a developmental disability. Of course that person is not going to act their age. They may not be capable of doing so. That's where you get back into the differences between mental and physical ages.
I think they are expected to conform and people don't always understand them or help them behave a bit better.
I'll admit, it is hard to have patience with someone like that. It takes a special kind of person to work with the mentally disabled, and I know full well that I am not that person. I do believe that someone, no matter their disability, should be taught to be as independent as possible, and to adopt society's social norms and taboos to the best of their comprehension,. But I digress, I think I'm getting off topic here. LOL. Sorry, Steve.
I agree that they should be taught about social norms etc.
I have never been taught how to handle people who are immature because of additional disabilities, or who are self-obsessed because of their disabilities. However, when I have recently had to handle those people, I feel that I have been able to do that in a way that enabled other people to include them, and prevented them from making others being uncomfortable, without giving the impression to them that I was making an extra effort to accomodate them.
What does that mean--to 'act your age'? I have never thought about whether I act my age or not, much to the regret of some I have known. I just like to do the things I enjoy, and don't spend much time worrying about how that looks to others. How is a sixty year old woman who has been divorced three times supposed to act? I'm moving across the country, to Florida where I hope I will enjoy myself. Probably moving there is kind of an age appropriate thing to do, but I'm just going to see if I can have some fun. Hope I find a job too!
I'm moving across the continent to Florida, at eighteen. Other than the reasons for the move, what is the difference?
Well, I'll be nineteen by the time I move.
I grew up very quickly. When I was six, I thought like a twelve or thirteen year old, when I was twelve, I thought like a twenty- or so year old, now, I just consider myself mentally ageless. But everything doesn't always have to be serious, we'd all be dead by age thirty if that were the case. There's a time and place for all things. And my actions have always been at odds with each other, all the time, people tell me if they were to read about me and find no clues as to my age that one might be jumping randomly around my life, until you actually look at chronological order.
Growing old is mandatory growing up is optional. LOL But yeah, there is a time to act silly and a time to be serious.
It is my belief that one's age should in no way be indicative of one's behavior. As much as I dislike talking about myself, I shall use myself as an example.
i am 15 years of age, though I have been told by many that I seem much older. Though this can partly be attributed to my awesome beard, I believe it has to do mostly with the way I behave. I find that the level of maturity with which I deal with situations depends from day to day. I sometimes act like a 7 year-old, laughing at the common poop joke. Other times, I behave as a much older person, geting into very deep and philosophical discussions with my older acquaintances.
So I suppose it's healthy for one to act both younger, and older than their actual age.
You're 15? I would have guessed older too. And I agree with that. I'll laugh at the stupidest, most ridiculous things, then turn around and get in to some really deep conversation, my God, if I were to write about philosophy I'd be here for ages. lol
interesting topic.
i agree on what Alicia on post 4.
it doesn't bother me if i look younger than my acture age, but it does, kind of bother me a bit if i will be mistaken as 30, or older. i guess, when ladies turn 20 and above, we'll have the intention to keep young, to look young, and to be young.
i don't mind to socialize with people that is older than me, or younger than me, as long as the have the similar maturity. over all, that is how you get a conversation going, instead of someone throwing temtrem or easily offended over what you said, or what you comment without thinking it thru.
unless they are under other circumstances, like some sort of disability or medical condition, that reduce their ability of understanding me, then, i'll definitely try my very best to communicate with them, in a simpler language, or accomadate to their needs.
when i was around 15, i always got mistaken as someone who is either in college or university. cause at that time, most of my friends are either in university, college or working. thats the social group that i was belong, authomaticly, it will be crazy to think, a 15 year old girl mix with a bunch of young adult in a very regular bases.
and outwardly, i look a touch older than my real age, thats kind of give me away for my real age.
to be honest, i don't mind though, as least, it assure me of my maturity to mix with the adults, and blend me to be who i am now.
i do believe on the 3 level of age, the bbiological, social, and mental age. everyone is different. when come to 3 of these.
i guess, it is important to dress accordingly, if you are 60, you are not expected to dress like you are 16, if you are 40, you are not expected to behave like a 14, and the same go for other way as well. we are somehow tie to the social norm that exist unfortunately.
however, it as well come to your socialization. if you hang around with people that is much younger than you, you'll be authomaticly consider as part of the age group, or bit older. a friend of mine which is approaching 50, but she socialize alot with people around my age early 20s, others will think she's around 30s, but not 50. its vise verser, if you hang with people around 50 or 60 or 70 all the time, when you are 20, others might not tink you are around that old age group, but your level of maturity and you will become perhaps in the age of 40s or so...
I think looking younger can be a problem. Sometimes when my wife has been in the supermarket, she couldn't get alcohol because they weren't convinced that she's in her 20s.
I think people should either act there age or older, but acting immature really has no pluses.
but, if you are 20, and act like you are 40, that will be overly mature for anyone liking.
i believe the way to go is to be wiser. only being wiser, you will act as naturally as it can be.
by acting older doesn't mean you are mature, or wise, and the same goes, if you act like you are a mature person, but not wise enough to be either wise or mature, it somehow become somewhat immature than those real immature soul.
it might not making any sense, but when you think about it, to purposely act as mature as an old person when you are not doesn't make you to be any wiser than someone that is younger than you or in your same age group. where else, if you act accordingly to your own age group, it will some how, seems to make you wiser and smarter, if you are a wise and smart person
Ok bringing up old boards is fun. lol Stevo I think you know my answer but for the rest. It is all about maturity, and what you are put through. I had to grow up fast unfortunately so I've not had much of a childhood, but I've made the best of it I can. :)
It depends. Sometimes, you don't want an adult to act like an 8 year old because it shows a lack of intelligence. However, it is fine, in my view, to not take yourself so seriously all the time.