Do you use the age of a person to determine the value of his/her opinions? Why?

Question

I have read some answers here in which people made light of a person's Q or A because of their age. (I am not assuming that. That is what was said.) So, it made me wonder.

Please expand on the following in addition to answering the questions above, if you care to. Thanks in advance.

If we hold true that our experiences play a role in our view of reality, how can we rule out the possibility that someone with less experience than us holds a view of reality that is any less valid than our own?

When it comes down to it, the closer you are to examining something objectively, the closer you are to what is universally true. So, acquired experiences, being subjective as they are, don't necessarily make you wiser, so much as, they give you more knowledge from which to extrapolate. What you do with that knowledge is at the heart of wisdom. It might even be argued that lack of experience allows you to be more objective.

Side note: In my own experience, younger people seem to be much more open to possibility.

Angelthe5th

I used the word "valid" intentionally as I used it with the following definition in mind:

Valid = logically correct

Replacing it with "true" would change the meaning of that question entirely.

Also, when it comes to IQ, it is commonly held that it is static. It does not change with age.

I thank you for your thorough examination of the question at hand. :) Your thoughts are very interesting.

And, angel, I would love to hear your cat story. :)

Answer 1

No, no and no again.

It's experience, as we get older we tend to stop having valuable exp. and this happens to different people at different time.

Some Q's for Angelthe5th

Do you know that after the average age of 25 a person's IQ starts dropping, and do you believe that a simple logic test can be given in evidence here?
Is EQ something we learn or intrinsic?

With the below phrase are you talking about age or Exp.

"A person can ONLY examine something "objectively" if it is being measured empirically. Otherwise, a person's prior wisdom, biases, etc. filters a person's ability to perceive their surroundings and interactions."

why ask?
"Would you rather have a 32 yo doctor who has done the procedure once before or a 52 yo doctor who has done it 25 times?"
And to forget to ask about a a 32 yo doctor who has done the procedure 25 times or a 52 yo doctor who has done it 25 times once before?"
Does this not show Bias in your question?

Where is you arugment to support Age?

Do you believe your question helps in your aim: Ignorance and intolerance must be stamped out using facts and intelligence.
And if so are try to in fact prove the contrary of your claim by provide an example?


For WolfbaneWolf
Tell me Vulpes Callidus

Does your ref. to the man it the cave have any conection to the old greek story of the men chain in a cave watching shadows on the wall?
just asking

Sorry for my poor and humble attempted at giving an answer here the only one I have the time to give is, No!

Pleeeasse Trina don't ask me why?
I can point the way but others must walk the path.

by the way what is philosophia?


Interesting point Orical

As you said we don't know who the person really is!
But the effect of reading age can be both dismissive (as you so rightly point out)
Or or more receiptive due to other instincts.
but that is a question that we should pass over to psychology

Answer 2

Age can bring wisdom or complete inability to change, so you can't judge the value of a persons words by their age alone. Some are so badly damaged that their experience only leads them further down a dark path, while others will use experience to soar the skies. The reverse is also true, there are many younger people who can actually see beyond the surface of appearance, & those who only can see what they have been spoon fed. It is not always the case that a younger person is more open to possibility however, they can be & often are as closed minded as any older person. I have friends in a wide range of ages, it seems to be the attitude of the individual & not the age that is the deciding factor. All views I believe are valid at some level. I do not choose who has valid words by their age, but by what is said & the understanding & intent behind it. I run in a circle of very progressive minds, some are younger than I am, & I have been taught by them all. Blessings

Answer 3

Dear Ms. Trina,
Your questions, comments, and observations create quite the Moebius Challenge; the observations seamlessly connect in a seemingly multi-sided issue.

In order of their appearance in you question:
YES - Age absolutely can and should play in role valuing the opinions of others especially when it comes to practical rather than theoretical discussions. Age is a leading indicator of of a person's IQ and EQ.

The real center of gravity in your discussion is the word "valid". I'd encourage you to substitute "truth" or "true" to clarify your concept. It is absolutely correct that all opinions are valid but all opinions are not true (or the truth). A young person's view of reality, therefore, is not less valid, but it is nearly always less true (or truth).

A person can ONLY examine something "objectively" if it is being measured empirically. Otherwise, a person's prior wisdom, biases, etc. filters a person's ability to perceive their surroundings and interactions.

True, experience does not always equate to wisdom, however, there is no wisdom (the wise application of knowledge) without experience. (Theory vs. Practice). Lack of experience makes you naive, not more objective.

I fully agree that younger folks are more open to possibility. This is because they have not learned yet what is impossible in practice or theory.

But what good is all this if it doesn't help us all to lead better lives? I ask you then with this hypothetical: You are faced with having a heart transplant. Would you rather have a 32 yo doctor who has done the procedure once before or a 52 yo doctor who has done it 25 times? You see? Age and experience DO affect the "value" of one person's views and abilities.

This is a 5 STAR question. (Note: I have an extraordinary cat rescue story...unbelievable.)

Answer 4

After a certain stage, age should not be the only factor in opinion forming. On the contrary, you get unpolluted, fresh ideas with little mindset from the youngsters. Whereas, despite experience tag attached, aged persons are affected by certain mindset acquired during that very experience. This becomes a negative point. Howe ever, I do not in any way say that all aged are to be looked at from my point of view. I am 68+. How can I say that?

Answer 5

As with most things, it becomes a balancing act. While experience does result in an increased knowlege base, it can also distort one's perception. Younger people have less of a problem with this, but the lack of experience can also be a handicap.

Ultimately, it must come down to the role that maturity plays in decision making and opinion forming. A mature person can objectively consider ideas that are either foreign to him or her, or contradictory to what they already believe, and make a rational decision based on the facts available and the cohesiveness of the argument bieng made. An immature person finds that they can't let go of preconceived notions and prejudices which result in a change in their opinion on matters.

When considering an argument from someone of any age, I try my best to look at the argument's own merits, and the facts available to both support it and contradict it, often having to do my own research, before forming a definite opinion.

However, like all people, I have my own set of intellectual potholes and prejudices. My own "blind spots," so to speak. But if one wishes to change my opinion about something, they must present facts, explained within the framework of a cogent argument. If they do that, they can win my attention, regardless of their age or experience level.

Unfortunately, I find that most young people argue with their emotions, instead of facts and logic. Most, but certainly not all.

Winston Churchill once said, "Anyone under 30 years old who is not a Democrat doesn't have a heart. Anyone over 30 years old that is not a Republican doesn't have a brain."

Maturity, in a sense, can be defined as one's ability to replace emotionalism with empiricism and rationality.

El Chistoso

Answer 6

I think a lot of people disregard a person if they think they are a child. You see a lot of questions with the tagline: I'm only 12 or 13. Whether they really are is beside the point, but people are dismissive. I suppose it's because you don't expect a thorough, reasoned answer from such a young person. It's probably prejudice, but there it is.

as for age in terms of 'older' people, I don't know.

Answer 7

No,
if a man is born in a cave and sits in that cave for a thousand years!
He will have comparatively little more wisdom than the day he was born.

but if child walks in the rain, plays in the sun, sleep in the dirt and
eats all that he finds then he will be far wiser in a few years than the man in the cave in for all his time there.

Answer 8

I bogged down reading all the "additional details" but to answer your original question,

No, I don't assign value to a person's opinion based on their age but

I do notice a general correlation between the age of a person and the depth of their perceptions of life

Answer 9

I like to think age is only a number of years....
But! It isn't. So many young people today think age is something negative, it isn't.
The only thing negative these days is the price of a gallon of gas at the Git-N-Split!

Good luck

Answer 10

I determine by their knowledge of the subject being discussed, rather than age