I think age influences a lot of people's perceptions...but it shouldn't. Most preconceptions people make based on age alone are wrong, especially these days when young people have as much access to information and vicarious experience as older folks (internet y'all!). There are many young people on here who have already experienced far more abuse, violence, and neglect than many other older members have, but the opposite can also be said...so, there's no clear cut guidelines for " what it means to be 17" or " what it means to be 72". I am a 27 year old woman who has the vocabulary of a 40- yr old, the slang of a 19- yr old, a 39- yr old husband, and still gets carded for buying cigarettes ( that's 18-yrs here in CA). So, in my experience, age only matters when u turn 14 and can work, 18 and can vote & move out, 21 and can drink, 25 and can rent a car, 50 and you maybe can't have babies anymore, and 60 when you can get sweet senior discounts. Other than that, it's just another excuse for people to label and celebrate themselves every year