A person's age on a discussion forum: is it really just a number?

[Akito Kinomoto]

Call me out for looking into this too much but I've noticed that on a whole a group of people's listed ages is inconsistent with the behavior that would go with their birthdate. We've got people behaving lower than their age, acting higher than their age, and being what might be expected from their age. Of course, the mental and physical difference within someone isn't limited to the Internet but we'll limit the topic as such since the Internet provides some degree of anonymity. Oh help me if I ever come across a 30 year old brazen enough to act like a mid-teen IRL.

Anyway, with the anime community (though this can/does apply to other forums, if you're so inclined) being as social as it is I was wondering how much of a role one's own age plays, if any, in how one might conduct him or herself either on profile-to-profile comments, on the discussion forums, or just in general. No pressure at all right?

However, I'm also curious to see if the ages of others perhaps change the way another will interact with them. What's it like being, for better or worse, surprised by someone who's kept his or her age hidden but then made it known? Are you surprised at all? If the age of the person you're talking to isn't listed, do you talk to him or her like you would everyone else or do you have a way of communicating to as many age groups as possible?

So yeah. Age on a discussion forum. WATS UR THOUGHTS ON ET?1

[Ruby Princess]

I prefer not to speak to people under the age of 20 because most of them are quite dumb.

[ninryu]

As the above user displays, a lot of people seem to look down on teenagers, even tough they aren't much older.

[Xefi]

the age shown is my real age. i'm 29 and there nothing for me to hide about it.
i know, i'm getting old and at time i'm already feeling like an old fart already...lol.

i dont act any different from what i'm now and in real life regardless of age. i have
a friend in real life who is also working with me at my company. he is like around
40 years old, but still acts like a 18 years old. he has some mental issue though.
that's the reason why he acts so weird at time. i have a hard time communicating
with the guy. at time i dont even know what he is saying.

i dont even know what to call him at time. in my Vietnamese culture, i'm suppose
to address those who is older than me "anh" or "big brother" in those manner.
but this guy, i'm completely clueless since he doesnt even act anything like a 40
years old. it's not his fault. i just cant find myself to address him as "anh" lol.

so i guess, age doesnt really makes any much different to people online or in real life. you can
be 70 years old and still act like brat.

[Paranoid Android]

I don't judge people by age (or if it's instinctive judgement, I override it with more rational judgement) unless they are a minor. Then there's a limit on certain topics. Like a 15 year old giving me tips on marriage would be rather wtf, not something I'd pay any attention to, just because there's some obvious age implications and lack of believability.

The sheer number of older people IRL that are immature made me become accustomed to the idea that any adult can have any sort of personality regardless of age. One of the bigger personality/perspective hurdles is marriage and parentage. There's quite a gap in mentality between someone who is married with kids and someone who's never been, even if they are the same age.

Even that isn't something solid to go by. I know some terrible teenage parents who married before age of 20 and they really don't give a shit about their kids or have any expectations for anything. Some of those people I know act like 12-year-olds despite being 21 now.

Anything goes for forums. Especially when people alter their age to hide their identity. You can only go by reading their posts and memory of what they say. Because I'm a lurker that jumps between several forums for many years, I get very confused as I can't remember so many ID's and their personalities.

There's an immature idiot on one forums (I don't remember, was before I joined ASuki) called Vexx who eventually got banned for trolling. hUEhUEhUEhUE =DDDDDDD

[willx]

Originally Posted by Akito Kinomoto

Oh help me if I ever come across a 30 year old brazen enough to act like a mid-teen IRL.

-Snip-

So yeah. Age on a discussion forum. WATS UR THOUGHTS ON ET?1

To my friends and when I'm in a casual environment, there are times I still act like a mid-teen and I'm 29. Sometimes though, and only if the context fits, then again I was weird as a teen so maybe at the age of 29 is when I can act like a "normal teenager" ??

Anyways, I don't think age is that important, but what is the most important and generally coincides with age is experience. It's shocking when you get older and think about your mindset when you were younger and how time and experience has shaped your perspectives. Many people here are exceedingly bright, intelligent and open-minded .. but I would say though that experiences shape a person in a more extensive way compared to just consuming and assimilating knowledge. The flip side of all that also depends on the person, as narrow minded individuals, no matter how old seem to get less out of these experiences than others or learn nothing from them.

tl;dr -- Experience is more important than age. There are some incredibly worldly 20-something year olds out there. They typically come hand in hand, but not always. Close-minded people are always bad.

[NorthernFallout]

Age isn't an indicator when it comes to being an ass, so the only thing that matters to me is the maturity, and relevance, of the posting. However, I tend to "trust" people older than me when it comes to life experience and stuff like that, if the topic touches upon it and I know their general posting history.

[Obelisk ze Tormentor]

Originally Posted by Ruby Princess

I prefer not to speak to people under the age of 20 because most of them are quite dumb.

I hope you’re just being sarcastic there coz I know many under-20 people who is both smart and mature. I think a wise and mature person must have some respect for those younger than him/her too, not only for the older ones.

Just to be clear, did you only refer to under-20 people on this forums or in general? Coz in general, I know some of those teenagers who have some notable achievements like being a champion of science olympic, chess grand-master, activist in social oganization etc. So, I don’t think they’re dumb like you said.

Oh, I’m 25 btw .

[Xellos-_^]

i am 36, and i act the same i have for the past 10 years. I have posts dating back to 2003 to prove i am a pervert

[RRW]

Damn you Arrow of Time!!!

[Paranoid Android]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

i am 36, and i act the same i have for the past 10 years. I have posts dating back to 2003 to prove i am a pervert

How do we know your parents didn't make this account for you when you were born, and Nov 2003 was actually your date of birth?

[Ak3mi]

I'm 90 and I live in a shed in Columbia....Only joking I am actually 28 and I have a similar view on age as Paranoid Android:

I don't judge people by age (or if it's instinctive judgement, I override it with more rational judgement) unless they are a minor. Then there's a limit on certain topics. Like a 15 year old giving me tips on marriage would be rather wtf, not something I'd pay any attention to, just because there's some obvious age implications and lack of believability.

I also try to limit the amount of bad language I use in general. Just because of manners.

[Endless Soul]

Yes, I really am 44, born in 1968.

Even though I'm older than the average user on this forum, a lot of times I like to joke around and have fun, even though some of the other users here are half my age or younger. However, despite the comparative younger average age here, this forum has the most brains smarts, and wit then any other forum I've ever been a member of.

Let me tell you a little thing about growing older. As we all know as we get older our bodies just can't do the things they used to do. For some of us that's harder to accept than others, but it happens. However the thing that really sucks about getting older is that even though your tastes might change a bit, or even change completely, at the core, your desires and fantasies are still there. Take a look at all those retired athletes for example. I'm very sure Shaq still has the desire to play basketball like he used to.

Many of you will experience this if you haven't already. At one time, women looked at you. Now that you're older, they don't look at you anymore, but instead they watch you to make sure you're not up to something weird.

So yeah, despite my age, I laugh and I joke around as much as I can while I still can. There will come a time when I can't anymore.

Endless "Another day older" Soul

[Ruby Princess]

o.o You're a baka if you think 44 is old... and you're not taking into account that aging might become reversable during your lifetime. :3

[TinyRedLeaf]

Originally Posted by Endless Soul

Many of you will experience this if you haven't already. At one time, women looked at you.

Women do that...?

The moment I start behaving younger than my posted age is the moment you probably need to start calling a neurologist or an equivalent specialist to diagnose potential dementia.

[Sumeragi]

What is acting one's age? Aside from the obvious (a teenager giving advice on marriage), I don't see such strict way of looking at things like that.

[Kyuu]

Short answer: I don't act my age.

Long answer:

Spoiler:

Lemme take a nap first

[Vexx]

People don't "act their age" because frankly, a person's mental age can be drastically different than their physical age.

I take some heat or teasing for "being old" occasionally. I make sure I go to anime conventions with escorts so I don't get hassled -- which is sad. But this is the same age-ist crap I get even just going to lunch. I have friends who are 20-something. If they're female, I get glared at for "cradle robbing" if they're male, I get glared at for having a "boy toy" (my son and I get that a lot). You do not want to know the looks I got taking three 20-something lasses out to lunch last year (we're all anime fans and they're friends of mine from when they went to high school with my son).

Maybe if I *felt* old, it'd be one thing - but the guy in the mirror doesn't reflect my energy levels, hobbies, or interests. Even so, I'm pretty sure I was getting "checked out" when I was shopping with my wife the other day. Not that I object, it was just amusing to spot it.

[Xellos-_^]

Originally Posted by Vexx

You do not want to know the looks I got taking three 20-something lasses out to lunch last year (we're all anime fans and they're friends of mine from when they went to high school with my son).

form the guys a lot of jealous

[Vexx]

Originally Posted by Xellos-_^

form the guys a lot of jealous

Actually, it was more along the lines of "church ladies" wanting to burn me at the stake