Discrimination by age?

[Jake0fTrades]

I'm in no way saying that I am special, or better, or smarter than anyone else, whether they are younger or older than me or not.

I'm 16 years old, and while you could probably chalk most of this up to teenage moody behavior, and rebellious hysteria, I can't help but feel like many people in my age group are discredited and rebuked long before they open their mouths simply because no one older than 18 believes the opinions and thoughts of teenagers have any credibility.

While I may lack the life experience of most adults, I'm still a perfectly reasonable and sane human being, as I hope I've shown through what shred of personality there is in my words here. There's no reason my age should be a measure of my credibility. Maturity on the other hand is a more accurate indicator of rational thought, but now I'm getting off on a tangent.

For those of you under the age of 18, do you ever feel that no one gives your opinion any thought before they disregard it as nonsense?


And for those of you over the age of 18, (I've no intention to offend and as far as I can tell we're on the same team) do you remember a time when you felt the same? Or what are your thoughts on the topic in general?

 

[chromewarriorXIII]

I'm 17 but people often listen to me because I've proven to be mature. It can be hard for some people to listen but as long as you keep a very serious and respectful tone when speaking, I've found that just about anyone will listen.

 

[Freshman]

As somebody who is 18 right now, I know exactly what you're talking about. In my experience, older folk tend to brand me as an idiot before I say a thing. Old people in America at least are for the most part fearful of the teenage generation because the only experience they have with our age group is hearing that "another crazy young-un drank himself to death." I've actually been cursed out by a really old guy before for walking through a door in a public establishment.

 

[Dark Knifer]

I'm turning 17 soon so I get this problem occasionally. But usually I can prove that my opinion is worth listening to whenever things go to topics like politics, games or anything I am really good at arguing about. Then they forget that I'm a teenager and treat me as such. But this is only occasionally, most people I meet aren't stupid enough to think like that thankfully.

 

[TeeBs]

Ehh you'll grow out of it "har har har"

But yea, its not like your going to be 16 forever. If it was something like no one listens to me because a woman or gay or black or something, then you would have a problem.

 

[tologna]

I'm 20. I'd have to agree, I've had many social problems related to this. Teens give themselves a bad name for obvious reasons, but to dismiss someone's ideas based on the pre-concieved notion of their immaturity is just close-minded.

 

[Infinatex]

Hey I'm 23 and people still don't listen too me. Probably something to do with the fact that I don't act or behave any differently from when I was 16!

 

[eelel]

I can see where you are comming from but some of the teens I know are just stupid. That is not to say all of them are but there are some who should just shut up. They tend to be the kids from really wealthy families or poor families hell evin some middle class kids. My brother is an example of a smart kid he keeps his cool an waits to express his oppinion on anything. Others I have met are so oppinionated that i just want to smack them.

 

[Corkydog]

Only occasionally, and only really at social functions (can't really call them "parties") my parents bring me to. They'll mention something, like politics or popular science, and I'll comment on it, sometimes in contradiction with what they just said. I get dismissed for being young (16), but hey, I know what I'm talking about most the time, because I don't see the point in talking about something I don't know or care about (see post count for evidence).

I will say this sort of thing happens most often when the older person is talking about something close to home, like video games or gay rights (I'm not, but I know a few, and they are some of my closest friends), where they take the popular, but incorrect opinion.

Basically, I don't pick fights, I just defend against unwarranted attacks.

 

[Death on Trapezoids]

I don't know if I can really blame those that discredit teens, considering some of the schmucks I have to go to class with every day. Still, I think everyone should get a chance to prove themselves and not automatically be veiwed as "young and therefore stupid" right away. Young and therefore stupid is stereotype; not all are stupid, only most.

 

[Sir Thomas Sean Connery]

It irritates me too.

I hate it when I walk up to a group of adults at a party and they all give me that "Aww, so cute. Too bad he doesn't know anything about life."

On the other hand, it's quite fun to then beat them in arguments and conversations.

 

[Deadpoolsbrain]

I'm 20 and when I hear it, it's usually a cop-out. Recently, I was having a political debate with a very fervent 45 year old man. Nearing the end of the debate when it was clear to most people that out of the two of us I was the only person who knew what he was talking about, he started saying that I was young and would "understand" when I grow up and have a family, career, etc.

 

[lettucethesallad]

I'll be 22 in a week, and whenever I discuss anything with people significantly older that they don't agree with they give me this almost mocking look and say "Oh, you're so young and idealistic, you'll learn with age." Annoys the crap out of me.

 

[TWRule]

Yes, there is age discrimination and I've experienced it. Just make sure that you respect others and take responsibility for your actions - then no one will have any basis for their prejudice.

 

[Evil Alpaca]

I depends on who is saying I am too young. My grandfather who I respect has called me out for my "idealistic youth" but he always backed up what he said with stories of his past experiences.

If its a person who doesn't know me then yea, its annoying, especially when you argue with with some older person who uses Fox as their only source. I swear, doesn't matter the age, I will punch the next person who cites Glenn Beck as a believable source of information.

 

[Bernzz]

Everyone experiences discrimination by age. It's natural. I used to not be listened to, when Iw as younger. Even by my peers the same age as me, I wouldn't be listened to due to my shorter stature and higher pitched voice. Then I hit puberty.

People do tend to listen to me. They don't perceive as me 'young' subconsciously anymore, as I am of average height and have a deep voice.

My parents also listen to me now. They learned that I have actual opinions to add, not immature observations.

 

[Astoria]

People are always going to dismiss those younger than them. You just need to be patient and wait for them to realise that you aren't a child anymore. My parents still act like I don't know what I'm talking about sometimes but not as much as they used to and I find that in public I often get dirty looks from older people but I try not to let it bother me.

 

[Captain_Austin]

I am 15 and a lot of people I know treat me as if I'm a lot older. Only due to my maturity, with my life as the way it is I had to grow up fast. With that a lot of adults treat me with respect and some times follow my word.

 

[SimuLord]

If I had a nickel for every know-it-all teenager who whined because the grown-ups "never take me seriously" when in reality the kid is just acting like a hotshot know-it-all who really needs to learn how to show a little humility, I could buy a car.