Do people really get wiser as they age? Or more foolish and close-minded?

Answer 1

They get wiser, for unlike youth they do know how the world works and have seen many things. There are always exceptions to the rule of course. Don't worry, maybe one day you will understand.

Answer 2

"Oh yes Mathew! There can be no doubt, what-so-ever, we get wiser with age. Foolish and/or close-minded? I don't really think so, just the opposite happens for me. In fact, as I age and learn (continuously), I become less and less foolish and close-minded; however, I grow extremely impatient. I believe the only reason for this "impatience" problem is that I'm congnizant of more correct ways to do things and more good answers to difficult questions ... and cringe when I read foolish stuff from others.
The unfortunate thing about all this is that it took me all these years to attain this "lofty position" that I'd hoped to attain when young. I know this last sentence reads like "I know better than you," but, I don't mean it that way. It's been a tough road, but, I've traveled it well."

Answer 3

I think the answer would be that most people do get wiser with age. As I approach 40, I have gained agreat deal of respect for the advice that my father gave me when I was a teenager. It amazes me how many times I run into situations and discover that he actually knew what he was talking about. I do not feel that people get more foolish and close-mined because I am still very open to new ideas, it is just that I am quicker to recognize things that are stupid more quickly than I did in my youth.

Answer 4

I hope you're open minded enough to give my answer a chance :o)

The short answer is YES! You're much more wise at age 5 than when you came out of the womb!!

.......I could end here, but heres the long answer:

Most do become wise........but less tolerant also. Just because you're close minded doesn't mean you're still not wise.

Open mindedness would be just one aspect of wisdom. And is really just the ability to understand where some else is coming from. Close-mindedness may be "foolish" as you described, but hey no-body's perfect!! ;o)

Going back to less tolerant: I'm a Youth Pastor, and I've noticed that as you deal with the "same old, same old" it can be come frustrating with the same problems over and over again. You know the answer for the problem, but you still need to be reserved and understand where that person is coming from in order to connect with them! At the same time I really just wanna say LOOK, THIS IS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE. Which of course comes from experience in the past.

So IMO, I would say they are closely related!!

I think a great example would be "Dr. Laura" on the radio(one of those dear abby types but on the radio). She is extremely intolerant and close minded but it is because she knows the answer already, and gets right down to business with how to fix a problem.....why? because she is very wise in those areas.

Answer 5

With age comes experience, with experience knowledge.

I don't think it necessarily follows that people become more closed minded. We just become more cautious of rushing into things, and learn to take more thought to decide the course of action.

When there is a negative outcome that is blindingly obvious because a person has lived long enough to know better - they will avoid that experience. It's a learned reaction which is the minds way of protecting ourselves from harm.

I don't think foolishness plays into the equation with aging but perhaps close-mindedness could be better described as someone who is overly defensive. They have been hurt and their reaction is to recoil from anything that could have a possible negative outcome. They fear anything they do not understand - therefore they do in fact close themselves off from experiencing things they 'may' enjoy or ideas that 'may' be true.

There are many reasons people stop being childlike in their views of life. It's not foolishness though.

Answer 6

Short of Alzheimer's, we get more real about we do as opposed to what we say. We have also seen the how and why some relationships work and others don't. We also care less about what others think of us, sometimes to their dismay.
Unfortunately, a foolish and close-minded person, by definition, does not open himself up to learning from life. Whereas a curious mind is always learning, and that makes for wisdom.

Answer 7

Well...Lets just say that I have witnessed both. Most people learn from things that they experience in life. There are some tho who dig their heels in and refuse to budge on their beliefs. I have always tried to look at all angles of an issue then make my decision. I try to learn from my mistakes and the mistakes of others. I don't have a lot of patience for people who are closed minded. Some that I know are so set in their ways that they appear to be foolish or ignorant . I guess it has a lot to do with the individual.

Answer 8

I have gotten alot wiser in my old age. I have made many mistakes in my life, some more than once, and hopefully I have learned from them. This has made me wiser. The best thing is if you can learn from other peoples mistakes, That makes you even wiser.

Answer 9

I'm old , and I think I'm more foolish. Is this a wise thing to say? Am I being close-minded by hiding here to say this?

;)

Answer 10

I think wiser because of all the screw ups along the way. You should never make the same mistake twice. right??