Why do people think they have the right to perpetually lecture someone solely based upon their age or tenure?

Answer 1

This is a quote from Mark Twain

"When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years."

Answer 2

If it is based solely on age or tenure, it gets sufficiently tiresome that you may try pointing out the next time you prove to have been right, after all.

But the fact is, with age comes experience, and that adds up in ways you can't see when you are young. On the whole, the person you see before you at 60 is someone you might not have respected all that much at 30, but has had 30 more years to learn from experience. And what of someone you would have respected at 30, or even at 20? Doesn't it stand to reason they would make a darn good adviser, someone good to have on your side, at 60?

Why am I harping on 60? Because I sit at the crest of the Baby Boom wave of population and will turn 60 this March.

Answer 3

A most excellent question.

Authority is defined, in the West, by tradition. Older people are tradition, since they, as a rule, started their academic ascent while young.

If you today, as a young grad student, present a monography on some obscure topic, for your PhD, you can open up a whole new field (small, specialized, perhaps purely theoretical).

People will follow in your steps, quote your monography, you'll be invited to conferences, to present posters and work with other people in papers. Slowly, you'll become an authority because in that field you represent authority.

And that's all there is to it. The concept of authority as something derived from tradition means the older ones dictate what is wrong and what is right. And that applies to most societies on Earth.

Answer 4

Hind sight is 20/20. Although it may seem a bit tiresome, to be willing to take advice and correction are truly wise qualities. This doesn't infringe upon individuality or freedom of expression, it only improves those expressions. History can be a powerful learning tool, if it is used that way.

But some will need to touch the fire in order to believe it burns, and that is a sad reality.

Answer 5

It is pretty annoying to be told something over and over again I agree. Maybe this person is lecturing you out of anxiety for what you are doing. Have you thought about that? Try seeing things from the other point of view and see if maybe they have a point. Otherwise, tell them that you have heard what they are saying and will decide yourself what you will do in the end.

Answer 6

old mans adage, if your older your wiser so older people feel they know whats best and out comes the lecture. don't let these people bother you, just take what information you can use and ignore the rest. most people try to be helpful not realising there becoming your parents. plus most older people have been through what ever it was you went through and don't want to see anyone else go through it.

Answer 7

MAYBE THE PERSON THEY ARE SPEAKING TOWARD--IS
TOTALLY IMMATURE AND IMCOMPETENT.