why do you seniors think you're so wise?

Question

So what, you've lived a long time. That doesn't mean you're any smarter than I am. I'm 37 and I've seen, done, and lived a lot in my life. I've had to deal with things that you probably never had to deal with when you were 37. I've seen drugs and crime rates soar through the roof. You grew up in more innocent times. How does this make you wiser than me? I'm so tired of senior citizens thinking we young people don't know anything. Get off your high horse and maybe we could actually learn from each other.

Answer 1

I agree. This isn't the Roaring Twenties anymore- the world is dirtier(by that I mean less innocent) now in 2007.

I'm 14, so I guess I could say I haven't been through as much as the things you've mentioned, but I do have the same views. Age says nothing about wisdom.

Answer 2

From the tone of your question, you appear to be sitting on a rather high pony, yourself.

First of all, as a 37-year-old adult, you may have heard of the term "sweeping generalization". You've just made one about us. ALL seniors do this, ALL seniors do that. And yet you accuse us of doing the same? Yes, SOME of us are guilty of it, just as SOME of you younger folks are. But you want credit for your own individual life experiences, yet insist on lumping all of us together. Sorry. You can't have it both ways.

Second ... you are wiser now than you were at 21, aren't you? Well, I've learned some things between age 37 and now, and God willing I will continue to do so. Wisdom has absolutely nothing to do with externals -- such as growing up in the 50s rather than the 80s -- and everything to do with what we learn about ourselves and other human beings. So relatively speaking, I may be wiser than you, but not about everything. On some things I may do well to hear you out, and learn from you. Which I would love to do, when you lose the chip on your shoulder.

Answer 3

I am a young 57 woman. I don't consider myself wise, I am constantly learning every day. We do not stop learning, hopefully we learn from our mistakes. I believe common sense is above wise. I also work in a high school, no I am not a teacher, but an educational assistant. I grew up in the 50's and 60's. Peace and all that. Yes we had our day! Yes, there is a lot more violence, guns, grow ops. I can honestly say that by working in a high school I do see a lot of young people with attitudes. Maybe it's there way of growing up, but I hope it's not too late for the most of them as there is a lot of anger in some of the young ones. I'm afraid of what their future will be. I also say that be careful of who you're friends are! I also find that what young people see on t.v. can affect their being. We are not all like you mentioned in your post. I actually love being around animals and young people. I think they have a lot to offer. Peace!

Answer 4

You have issues and many mixed issues are shown in your question. However, there is one fact to support part of what you ask (see number 3 below).

First, as already identified, the chip is obviously on your shoulder. Are you missing something from childhood or just pissed at someone?

Second, your statement confuses wisdom with intelligence. If you start stupid you will probably never be considered wise and if you start smart (and get educated) you may still not be considered wise if you don't learn from your mistakes ("book smart but not street smart", i.e., not practical).

Lack of precision usually says something about your thought processes.

Third, the fact that saves some face for you is that some seniors tend to fixate on topics they really like or dislike and try to convince you they are right (especially those that didn't qualify for smart in the first place or those who suffer from age-related mental disorders). I'm told that's annoying even to seniors!!

Fourth, so you've dealt with 'things' - so what? How does that qualify you for better or worse than others? How's your self-esteem? How's your treatment for minor narcissistic personality disorder coming along? If you repeat those mistakes (like marrying an abusive spouses), you have no wisdom no matter what your IQ.

Fifth, soaring crime rates are actually related more to youth than seniors. What? How? Today's society is made up of the youth from yesteryear and every generation has tried to change the older generations thoughts and ways. The case has been made that the youth of the 60s, in their *lack* of wisdom, caused changes that have degraded society and allowed it to develop its present high crime rate and lack of respect for rules and education.

Sixth, more innocent times? Are you kidding? Have you read anything about the past? Everything you find today happened then or worse:
>No voting for women,
>poor health care (cancers were almost aways fatal),
>wars *way* beyond the minor conflicts of today,
>intolerance and vile racism with no protective laws,
>the great depression,
>extremely high infant death rates,
>communicable diseases like polio and TB,
>sexually transmitted diseases without medication,
>adults unable to discuss feelings,
>serious problems occurred regularly (incest, drug addiction, etc) but were 'never-to-be-discussed' so the youth of the period didn't have a chance to learn how to deal with the psychological problems (when do you think the priest / child abuse problems arose?).

Seventh, young people don't know anything (most people think 37 ain't so young!) but it may be true - check out the education stats - as a nation we are less literate than we were in 1899 and the biggest decrease is for minorities.

Finally, you really should ask yourself WHO is on a high-horse? It must be difficult for anyone to tell, teach, or even hint that you don't know everything or that you might listen instead of bi** complaining.

Accordingly, I doubt that you will appreciate that time that responders have taken to tell you to 'grow up' (sarcasm?), that the chip is on your shoulder, so I will thank them for their time, even if they weren't nice to you.

Answer 5

Just because you've seen a lot doesn't make you any more wise than the next. living for a long time doesn't either. Wisdom is knowing what to do with knowledge. If you can figure that out when you're fifteen, chances are you're more wise than most. Being smart, knowing a lot, and experiencing more than most does not make you wise. Unfortunately most people think that they know what to do with their knowledge, and usually it is spill it out all over people who really don't need it. Older folks have seen people and their "wisdom" in action, and a lot of it. Eventually you figure out why you know all this, weather it be useful or completely useless to you, someone could use it most likely. You know when you're wise. If you're arrogant or boast about being wise, you probably aren't...

Answer 6

I detect a young person with a chip on their shoulder here. Why are you thinking like this? I'm 60 and I certainly don't know everything. Life would be very boring if I did. But we have lived a life longer than yours. Have you lived through a war? I have and lost many dear friends because of it. Just an example.
We older people don't have to prove anything. The knowledge that comes with years is a valuable thing. When you are 60+ only then you will understand what this knowledge means. You will want to lead people in the right direction. I hope then you will find someone like yourself and try to make them understand. Let's hope you learn from your future.

Answer 7

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Answer 8

hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but you are by no means "Young." And do you think we haven't had our share of the drugs..both seen and used? Do you think we have had an easy life of it? Your mere question indicates your ignorance...sorry to be so blunt, but it is you on the high horse..I don't recalled saying I am wise, sage, or anything remotely like this. You, sir, seem to have a serious chip on your shoulder, I have no idea why, and personally, I don't give a shot. This is your problem, not mine...I am wise enough to stay out of your way, and certainly wise enough not to go ranting like an idiot to seniors who have twice the knowledge you do, if for no other reason, we have seen twice what you have seen...take your anger and shove it where the sun don't shine.

Answer 9

I am in my mid-60's and I do *not* consider myself OLD. I, alone, will decide when I am old. I have lived much longer than you have and have learned a lot from "booklearning" and even more from studying the world around me, my sons, the people, the tiny insects, the clouds...everything, the good and the bad.

I believe you are a disgrace to your black belt by not adhering to the tenets that should be a part of your being. I am certain of that because I earned my blackbelt at 60. Please mellow out as you, too, grow older. I wish you well.

BTW, I am not on my "high horse" and never will be. I am afraid of horses...their *mouths* are too big. Comprenez?

Answer 10

I believe that your attitude shows a great deal about you...and it only proves that 'seniors' probably know a great deal more than you do....

There is no substitute for living...the longer you've lived, the more experiences you've had. Its a natural course of things. You may have experienced much...and will experience even more with age. So get that chip off your shoulder and start living and gaining valuable life lessons...like this one.