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Just for being alive longer? Is their opinion more valuable? On one hand, old people do have a long archive of experience, but on the other hand, some people are idiots no matter what age they are.
Last edited by Green Irish Eyes; 12-25-2010 at 09:56 PM..
Reason: Edited thread to meet Great Debates standards
Just for being alive longer? Is their opinion more valuable? On one hand, old people do have a long archive of experience, but on the other hand, some people are idiots no matter what age they are.
No, but I do think you need to respect someone based upon their actions...not their age. If they are respectful, respectable, decent human beings, they probably deserve our respect.
Last edited by Green Irish Eyes; 12-25-2010 at 09:56 PM..
Reason: Edited quoted text
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
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People of all ages should be respected equally, but the wisdom that only comes from age (which is present in some old people) should be valued and treasured by the younger generation. By this I don't mean that their opinions are of more value, but that they have insights and experiences we can learn from.
I am very respectful of older folks simply because I don't know what they've been through in their lives and also I was just raised that way. That doesn't mean it's permanent; someone who is rude and disrespectful toward me loses that rite-of-passage as quick as lightning.
People who have their opinions molded by their parents, their inexperienced peers and their teachers/professors without any actual life experience of their own on which to base their ideas/opinions/actions are not YET worthy of respect. It's why certain politicians seek their vote. They're easy marks.
Just for being alive longer? Is their opinion more valuable? On one hand, old people do have a long archive of experience, but on the other hand, some people are idiots no matter what age they are.
Yeah? Well, there are a lot more young idiots than old idiots. Young idiots tend to win themselves Darwin awards before they can become old idiots.
A young person might or might not be an idiot, but he's certainly not going to be wise.
An old person is less likely to be an idiot and more likely to be wise.
I have a young relative who occasionally rants on her fb page about "old people" (meaning, of course, anyone over about 35). She says, "If I want advice, I'll ask someone my age who knows what I'm going through."
If you were lost in the woods, which person would you rather come upon? One who is also lost, and thus can identify with you? Or one who long ago was lost in those woods, but who now knows the way out? I'd prefer the second.
Of course that doesn't mean that all older people are wiser than all younger people.
Location: The western periphery of Terra Australis
24,544 posts, read 56,068,476 times
Reputation: 11862
Quote:
Originally Posted by sll3454
I have a young relative who occasionally rants on her fb page about "old people" (meaning, of course, anyone over about 35). She says, "If I want advice, I'll ask someone my age who knows what I'm going through."
If you were lost in the woods, which person would you rather come upon? One who is also lost, and thus can identify with you? Or one who long ago was lost in those woods, but who now knows the way out? I'd prefer the second.
Of course that doesn't mean that all older people are wiser than all younger people.
The 'Generation Gap' is exaggerated. Back in the 1930s kids still talked back to their parents, got drunk, had sex...
I basically try to show everyone the same respect. And if someone does not respect me he'/she does not get my respect. Simple as it is. Age does not matter.
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