SimuLord pretty much has this wrapped up, but I do also think that adults can be too cynical for their own good.
They do tend to dismiss a younger person's views/thoughts without even listening to it. We might lack experience but that doesn't mean that we can't have self reflection, and if our opinion is dumb then thats probably just part of the process. Sure, kids and teens may ask stupid questions but thats because they don't know, they have to learn it somwhere. I ask dumb things all the time. At least I try to learn from them
The thing is we were all teenagers at one point. If there's one thing we all realize eventually, it's that we really didn't know shit as a teenager.
If it's any consolation though, I would likely value a highschool kid's opinion more than first year college student's who took a single course for general credits and suddenly thinks they are experts on political science, Islam, ethics, etc.
I'm 17, and I find that people are sometimes willing to listen to my opinion more than they're willing to listen to adults. That doesn't mean I think they're right in doing so. In fact, I think adults should pay even less attention to the opinions of teenagers, because very few of them have any idea what they're talking about, no matter how convinced they are that they're right. You shouldn't even listen to what I'm saying. For all I know I could be one of the people I'm talking about.
I'm 30. I remember when I still had the attitude you did back then. You'll learn more from life, you'll learn more about the world, and decision making, and then you'll look back and go, damn I was an idiot back then, and mock teenagers ceaselessly because they were that naive.
31 here. Went through it when I was a teen. Still can't get middle agers to take me seriously.
Then again, I have been proven wrong more then proven right by my elders over the years. Though less and less these days. I try not to do it to teenagers myself, but I have heard some god awful stupid shit come out of their mouths.
We seem to give ourselves a bad reputation. I guess I take comfort in the thought that if they really took the time to get to know me, they might, just might, value my opinion. If not, their loss. If they don't want to hear what I think about something, then I'm not going to force it on them. Still, I've rarely found that people didn't at least listen to what I have to say, especially in the last couple of years. If you can show people that you're mature and responsible, they might re-evaluate their opinion of you. Those who can't are probably too narrow-minded and not deserving of whatever you have to share with them. And the truth is, most teenagers are just stupid. I've got a lot to learn before I can expect people to take me seriously, and I find that the best way to accomplish that is to honestly admit it.
im usually trying to act mature, but when shits coming down im panicking im 19 btw, but ppl think of me as a responsible but no too practical person
of course it annoys the hell out of me when my parents dont even listen to my reasonings...they just say "you re a kid, what do you know about it". and (sometimes) i am aware that i know better.
i know how the story goes.
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.
Boasting of one's own maturity is usually a red flag, to me anyway.
Other people started taking me seriously after I started taking myself seriously, in a way that went beyond spell checking and grammar. I'm not even old enough to drink, but I've had people old enough to be my parents ask me for advice or my opinions. Sometimes that catches me off guard. Obviously there are some adults who are just looking to feel good about themselves, and aren't particularly interested in listening to anyone.
Age discrimination also goes both ways, there are plenty of ways in which older people are discriminated against with more significant impacts.
Im 18. Yeah as a teen, and even now, all the old people still think "oh, im older therefore i am more knowledgeable." Im not trying to bash old people, because yes they have more experience, but they tend to push you to the side. Everyone has different ideas, just because you know what happens doesnt mean that someone younger than you doesnt have good ideas. It's the whole dad/mom knows best scenario =( people assume that just because you are young you dont think things through.
It may be that some adults believe that because they are not a teenager, they are superior. Now if we are looking at my age group, I can definitely understand how they aren't treated equally. I feel like I'm the human at a school for brain-damaged monkeys. They are just above flinging shit at the teachers. The fact is, your knowledge is not determined by your age. This was a conversation I once had in class:
"'I used to be so indecisive, but now I'm not so sure.' Ha ha."
"...What does indecisive mean?"
"It means you can't make a decision."
"Briana, don't use such big words."
"That's not a big word."
"Yes it is."
"No it's not. Phantasmagorical is a big word."
"What does that mean?"
"It means it has to do with phantasms."
"What's a phantasm?"
"It's another word for mirage."
"What's a mirage?"
"Oh, COME ON!"
And when my sister was in 12th grade, some classmates told her to not use big words like "really." At that time we were in DR.
I believe that adults view a stereotype of teens: that they are loud, obnoxious kids that often vandalize and have destructive parties, and they are most common age group to try drugs and get knocked up. Not all teens are like that, but that's how many adults think of teens.
However, not all adults are discriminative. Quite a few adults listen to me, mostly because I'm one of the few teens in my town that actually watch the news and have a vague understanding of politics. The few reasons I'm not always taken seriously is that I'm stubborn and have a bad temper. And that's on me. In some ways I'm mature and in some ways I'm not. I accept that. I think all teens are like that. They are mature in some ways, but not in all ways. In fact, that goes for every person that lives.
To summarize my argument, I think teens are seen are adults see them due to the negative stereotype that they have made and have been given. Not all teens are treated that way, and not all adults think of teens as lower than them. Every person is mature in some way and immature in another way.
I'm sorry what, I don't listen to anyone under the age of 18. Can you get someone that age to tell me what you said.
Alright, serious time: I can understand people in my age group not being taken seriously (I'm 19, pretty sure I'm counted as being the same generation as you). Truthfully, we suck... a lot.
From what I've seen the majority of young people are disrepectful, violent, they write stupid grafiti all over everything.
I don't think we deserve respect, many of us are good, but the human trash that make up a lot of us make the rest of us look bad.
In summary: We suck.
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.
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