Age discrimination?

[RavenRockstar]

Do you ever feel like someone doesnt take you seriously becuase of you age?
Not only young people, but older ones, too.
People get insanely superior when they find out that they are a few years older that someone else, its infuriating!
For example, I detest being lumped in with evey other 16 year old on the planet. "Oh shes that age, you know. Im sure shes doing drugs" "all she does is play video games" "Im afraid if I let her hang out with her friends too much, shell become sexually active" "Tennagers are stupid, they dont understand the world" "Im sure all she reads is comic books"
These are all things my iown family members have said!
(for the record, i dont do drugs, i enjoy video games as much as the next person but i dont play them all the time, im not running around having sex with eveything, and, granted, Im not as experience in nthe world as some other people, but I have valid opinions, AND I READ ALL THE TIME) :box:
Kay, kinda got into a rant there.
Continuing on.
All the time with grandparents they will talk and every one say "yeah, uh-huh, thats great gramma, Im trying to watch the game"

[Mars Man]

Don't you think you're a little too young to be asking such questions on an internet forum, RavenRockstar chan ? (hee, hee, hee.....JUST PLAYING WITH YOU, RR (if I may))

Yes, there has very often been, is probably too much, and will likely often be too much bias towards folks due to their age--be that for being older, or younger. . . like me...i'm a ripe 25 years old, but people act as though I'm like 52 or something...(I don't know why) [and please be advised that I'm being my usual having fun self here, so don't put any particular weight of reality on the numbers].

Now, I'll take you to be a thinking young lady, and hit the ball back over into your court. I'll suppose that you are up to task of thinking this out, discussing in seriously (in good form) and sharing and learning all at the same time. What positive points might we be able to discover, if any, in the fact of discrimination against people due to their age? Please think it over carefully and deeply. I look forward to your well thought out and arranged response, in logically laid out form. [i]Thanks . MM

[Half-n-Half]

I think I'll jump on Mars Man's post and try and answer it. The fact of the matter is, yes, most teens are clueless and think they know more than they do. Although, I don't know anyone who thinks all teens do drugs and have sex all the time. However, I don't think it's a good idea to say, "You know what, these teens are a lot more mature than we think," and give out greater responsibilities to people who probably aren't ready yet. Some age biases are true and are there for a reason. This isn't to say that I disagree with your post, however.

If you aren't one of these teens then more power to you; maturity is something we could use a lot more of in this world. I'm not saying you will, but just don't make the mistake of looking down on your peers because you think you are more mature than them.

Yes, there has very often been, is probably too much, and will likely often be too much bias towards folks due to their age--[i]be that for being older, or younger. . . like me...i'm a ripe 25 years old, but people act as though I'm like 52 or something... MM

Really Mar's Man? I could have sworn you switched those numbers :blush:

[Derfel]

Its because you can't buy booze, porn and fags from the shop yet.

[Haru-san`sTeiraa]

Everyone is placed into a stereotype because of their age group. People think that teenagers are sex-crazed druggies because that is the image most teenagers put out. When society makes a stereotype, they force it upon others, telling them it is the only truth. While it may not be fair to the teens that aren't doing those things, thats the way it is. On the other hand, older people are shown to be very prudent and always tell stories of their childhood. You are grouped with what the majority of peers do, even if you aren't like them. You're going to be "discriminated" against your whole life, and the best you can do is prove them wrong by being mature and responsible and not letting what others say offend you. A lot of times, they're saying those things without realizing what they are saying. Personally, the choices you make aren't really anybody's business but you're own, right? And teenagers are stupid, we make very irresponsible decisions, but, adults do too. They try to keep us from making the same mistakes, but we don't listen. And thats where we as teens discriminate against adults.

[hideway]

You are so going to wish you would come back to this discrimination.
It is a small price, really.

[RavenRockstar]

Now, I'll take you to be a thinking young lady, and hit the ball back over into your court. I'll suppose that you are up to task of thinking this out, discussing in seriously (in good form) and sharing and learning all at the same time. What positive points might we be able to discover, if any, in the fact of discrimination against people due to their age? Please think it over carefully and deeply. I look forward to your well thought out and arranged response, in logically laid out form.
Well, Laws that ban alchohol and tobacco and the like from teens is nessicary, because for the most part teens havnt physically developed enough to use those without causing their bodies damage. And I also get stores that only allow a few teens in at a time, or wont let them bring their backpacks or hoodies in, because people are irresponsible (though it isnt like adults never shoplift, but I understand the thought behind the action). I guess what it is that bothers the very most is that these measures are needed in the first place.
That was insanely difficult to type because my space bar is spazzing out :relief:

Personally, the choices you make aren't really anybody's business but you're own, right? And teenagers are stupid, we make very irresponsible decisions, but, adults do too.
But one would think that people would realize that their choices do affect more than just them. Peoples actions reflect and have an affect on the people around them

[Emoni]

I agree with the OP almost entirely. Those sorts of statements not only make one ignore the words to follow, but do not help anyone, let alone the teen.

I'm a teacher right now and teach at schools, and any time I can "get away with it" if a teenager asks me a question I'll try to give the best answer I possibly can, then tell them to look for more information in anyway that they can.

Teens will make stupid choices based on ignorance; however, I've found those that are truly curious and want to learn will make much better choices if they are educated and taught. Fear and ignorance used as control and safety devices might work on a toddler, but not a person who will soon be an adult, free to make some very VERY bad choices without proper information and fostering the drive to seek OUT further information. Look at the US Sex Ed programs and nutrition classes. Hell, look at any social issue. You often have one group at the very least advocating one way, "just because" for either religious reasons, or just because they want it to be that way over some vague sense of "morality" that is not explained nor defined. If I am an adult I'm going to ignore that type of reasoning, let alone if I'm a teenager and want answers.

Now, don't get my wrong, I consider most teenagers absolute idiots; however, so many have potential but get thrown in with the "idiot crowd" and are not given the answers and time they deserve to talk about major issues.

[Mars Man]

Thank you for your thoughts, there, RR chan.

I agree; having certain protections for the health and welfare of those whose judgemental capacities have not yet fully developed (prefrontal mylination has not fully filled in) is most usually a good thing. Such standards are probably best seen as social structuring for the common good of the whole group; that's a good point.

We could probably discern that such standards being set, more usually than not, reflect neither discrimination, nor bias, so much (as these terms almost completely carry negative overtones/nuances), but concern for the general good. As Haru-san`sTeiraa has brought out, it is stereotyping that is faulty, and that should be fought against !

By your realizing the error in such stereotyping, you are surely learning that such a tendency would be wrong to engauge in. However, at the same time, there will always be some general 'rule of thumb' matter which, when investigated, will show the line of development for stereotypes. Thus as I take it, you have reinforcing the principle of 'you can't judge a book by its cover.' Now, to carry that learned thing with you throughout your life, to help others learn to refrain from stereotyping, and to help society at large understand the processes leading to, and the fallacy of, stereotyping, is one way that you can make a positive fight against such wrong.

Do not forget, at the same time, that there will be that bell curve for almost, if not, all things.

Well, Half-n-Half san, uh...you may be right...but from time to time folks who meet me will ask me in a kind of negative framed question, like: 'weren't you 52 ?,' so I reason from that, that I must not be (since their questioning seems to pressume that they had felt that I hadn't been. . . so . . . here I sit; a ripe 25 years of age. . . just exactly as I have been for the past 27 years.

[]-wandering-raven-[]

I think the generation gap concept is a normal thing, and everyone with experience wants to share it, and they had to work hard to get there thus want some respect and will mostly show it in the negative way by acting superior.

As this is one very true concept of age discrimination, Lately I find that the age discrimination in job hunting is really out of hand.

For example a friend of mine i naustralia can't find a job because he is young and companies thus automatically assume he is too inexperienced.

Now, if companies don't hire young people, how CAN they get experience?

Where as it's anoying to be part of a stereotyped group of people [Being nineteen, nearly twenty I only just got out of it really] I think the age gap has other quite negative issues.

On the concept of teens being stupid.

Lets face it, for the ten teens on here taking part in intelligent discussions and alike, they'll all come to agree that if they walk into their classroom, they'll be annoyed by how irresponsible, illogical or plainway stupid some classmates are.

Now the thing is, considering the bigger part of youth is this way, how about the adults?

Cause I can honestly say the same thing for many adult people. Yet smart teens aren't going to go on about how the older generation just is stupid.

All and all age are just numbers, and they're part of the shallow superficial world everyone is generally part of.

Just as subcultures, people will only look at obvious facts, without care for deeper meaning and respect.

[Kinsao]

Totally agree with the OP, people do stereotype young people, and it isn't fair, of course not all young people are angels but they are far from being all stupid and irresponsible.

However I can only say just be yourself and if you show you have a good brain, and don't act stupidly, I think people will come to respect you if they spend much time around you.

[Mycernius]

Its because you can't buy booze, porn and fags from the shop yet.
You're in the UK, so you can buy all three legally:wave:

To the OP. You'll find that most adults will say teenagers think they know it all and don't are usually right. The reason is that evryone who says that to you was 16 and remember how they were at that age. Okay some things change as in entertainment, but when I was 16 I did think I knew it all and was a royal pain in the backside when I wanted to be. Got a little jolt to my system when I started full time work at 16.

I also think you'll find another reason is that some of the older generation are jealous and part of them yearns to be that age again for maybe a day or two. Mind you there is a lot of difference between a 13 year old and a 19 year old.

[RavenRockstar]

Thanks for your responses everyone ^^
I like hearing everyone's opinions

[Haru-san`sTeiraa]

@ Raven: Yeah, they do make me angry and annoyed with their irresponsible and childish actions. Even the people I hang out with annoy me. My friends mock me (literally as I am speaking) and in the same breath expect to be treated as adults. If they want to be treated as adults, they act like adults should. Otherwise, I will treat them as I do the kids I babysit. (which,by the way, moste time act more mature than my 16-19 year old friends!)
@ Kinsao: You're right about the not acting stupidly and adults will respect you. I have always acted respectful and tried to be mature when around adults and I have been told by people who don't even like kids that they like me and my younger sister. I also get away with a lot more since I'm normally vry well behaved and friendly, though I've been told not to take advantage of it too much.
@ Mycernius: I suppose maybe they are jealous of our youth (and freedom...and lack of stress...and awesome parties), but I've always envied older people because they can legally drink, they are experienced, they don't have as much drama as there is when you're a teen, and they've been places and seen things that I've only begun to imagine seeing. There is a lot of difference between 13-19. Hell, there's alot of difference between even a year, you can learn so much in 365 days. Then the next year you realize you haven't really learned much all.

[Mars Man]

Here (http://dana.org/news/cerebrum/detail.aspx?id=19620) is a little background information that will be useful in understanding parts of this matter, as well. Yes, we have to hold that the matter of 'stupidity' is not something that acknowledges age divisions, but is rather something is held as a rating within a set being looked at. We could hold the set of those who are 16~20 as one set, and cross-compare and decide, and we could take the set of 26~30 and cross-compare within that set, but it would be wrong to cross-compare between the two sets, really.

Anyway, please do check out the site (if it goes through...and I'm pretty sure one doesn't have to registered to see it...let me check.)

[FrustratedDave]

I don't post in threads where the op is 18 or younger...

[RavenRockstar]

I don't post in threads where the op is 18 or younger...
You just did lol :wave: