Why do the elderly disregard the rules?

Question

I saw an old guy smoking right next to a sign that said "This is a smoke-free zone"....why do old people think they can do whatever the hell they want?

Answer 1

Life is a complete circle.You are born bald & toothless,crapping your diapers & yelling & screaming when you want something ie.(food, mommy's titty,toys).When you die you die bald & toothless,crapping in your depends & yelling & screaming for the things you want. So have a little patience with the elderly my dear because deep down they 're just old babies & you would'nt get mad at a baby now, would you?

Answer 2

I think that when old people were younger, society had a lot fewer explicit rules. I'm only 35 and a lifetime non-smoker, but I still find it slightly disturbing that our society now condones and encourages the ostracization of smokers. When I was a kid, restaurants were not required to have non-smoking sections, and this was seldom something anyone complained about unless the person next to you lit up something really stinky like a pipe or cigar.

It's well known in psychology that when you have an excess of rules, rule-breaking goes way up. When we grow up, we're raised in an environment with a certain level of rules. If those rules increase over time, we may develop a resentment against them. Most adults are not all that rebellious, but we are much more likely to break rules we think are unfair, unnecessary or excessive. So old people, having grown up in an era where people didn't need to have everything spelled out to them, may simply be more reluctant to change their ways to conform with what they may regard as silly or draconian rules.

Answer 3

Words do not cause reality. Obviously it was not a smoke-free zone, because there was a smoky cigarette right there in his hand. The sign is wrong.

Answer 4

LOL!!! That's one I deal with everyday. And you know what??..I've come to the conclusion that they break the rules because they have seniority. Experience that only time here on this screwed up planet can teach you. Quite frankly, they've earned it!!!

Answer 5

Sometimes they're just tired of life and don't care or more likely unaware of their own surroundings and need to be disciplined like little children but watch out they are likely to bite back !

Answer 6

IMO, a lot more young people love to break the rules.

For many people, regardless of their age, rules are for breaking and it is thrilling for them to do so.

Answer 7

Because they no longer care about the consequences. It just doesn't matter anymore.

Answer 8

Because at their age they think they can!

Answer 9

I've never noticed.