[Switch]

So, there's a huge age range on this forum, and I've been really anxiouse about mine. I was wondering, does age matter to YOU? If someone is older or younger, and you know, how does that affect the way you see their response? Does it? Or is it all just annonomouse in your mind and just people giving advice. What about making friends? Do you keep age in mind? Is it a 'life experience' thing?

*sigh* I'm having one of my "No one will love me because I'm not old enough" moments. Humor me?

[LiteraryLark]

I can't see other people's age, and I don't click on other people's profiles. So I only see what people post. Some people will post their age or talk about spouses and kids and that gives me an idea of how old they are. It doesn't affect me too much, though I think teens have more drama in their life that they deal with in addition to mental disorders, so I tend to take their posts with a grain of salt. I'm more interested in older users because I need to know what I'm up against for when I get older and kinda see how they deal with their illnesses. That's just my opinion.

[possum220]

Age is only a part of the equation switch. It can matter sometimes and other times it doesn't have anything to do with how one person relates to another.

You made an impression on me.

[Tomjones]

Age is a number, it's how long you've been here.

It has no real correclation with wisdom or maturity.

I don't think it matters. There are some really young members here that are wise beyond years. You never can tell, I have a hard time guessing people's ages. Even in real life sometimes. I like the mixture, everyone brings different perspectives and ideas.

I'm 33 and I feel really really old sometimes, but sometimes I feel like I'm still 17.

[KeepGoing8]

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

[sebbez]

I really hope it doesn't, because I'm only 16 (17 this summer!). Haha..
But so far, no one has ever mentioned my age. I don't believe it matters. I don't think of the posters age - I just answer. And they seem to do the same thing, even though I'm just a kid in some eyes.
Age doesn't reflect someone's experience!

I feel like it doesn't matter how old a friend might be. It's still a friend.

I am scared of saying of my age, I don't know why When I look and see some users I am sometimes shocked as I think some of them are a lot younger than what they are (which is a good thing I think) No age doesn't matter to me but I do hide my age from people

honestly, yes. sometimes it does frustrate me. sometimes i see the age difference in my response (or what i would want to say) to the issue is so different from what some of the other posters are offering up.

some posters don't accept responsibility for their actions & tend to blame everything on their illness or or others & that just frustrated the hell out of me. it's never their fault it's always because of ___________. & then so much drama follows...but really they are the ones who caused the drama to begin with by their actions.

if i know someone is younger i do try to tailor my response to them , their likes, etc or word it in a way that will work better..otherwise i am not helping.

there are some very wise young folks here. there are also some that are not. that said there are some older folks who meet the same criteria. i am sure there are those that say the same about me.

Originally Posted by Switch

So, there's a huge age range on this forum, and I've been really anxiouse about mine. I was wondering, does age matter to YOU? If someone is older or younger, and you know, how does that affect the way you see their response? Does it? Or is it all just annonomouse in your mind and just people giving advice. What about making friends? Do you keep age in mind? Is it a 'life experience' thing?

*sigh* I'm having one of my "No one will love me because I'm not old enough" moments. Humor me?

It matters but maybe not the way it matters to you. Someone mentioned perceptions. Perception is maybe the main thing we base our thoughts and views (everything?) on?
I have this suspicion that sounds painfully obvious or silly and later I'll wonder wtf was I thinking
In responses given, if someone posts who seems very naive or sheltered then yes, my response will be tailored to that person.
In responses received... I think I only consider the response, not the person.
We all self-edit I'm thinking. Sometimes it's hard to say what you think without appearing "unsupportive."
As for friends...age only matters if the person is much younger.
There's no apparent reason for you to feel anxious about your age. That's my perception

[Mindinpieces]

I can understand may be where you are coming from with this but again like most put it is mainly down to a person as an individual. No one person the same age is the same or had exactly the same experiences. So with that in mind when trying to relate to many age groups it’s really not about an age at all.

Personally sometimes I really am embarrassed about my age only because one I don't live up to it. I am probably still childish and haven't grown up yet. Two sometimes I feel wrong for posting to older members because I think they think I am trying to sound clever and just really a little kid trying to talk to adults on their level and it doesn't quite work out. Other times if I reply to people around my age I still feel as bad because they are a lot more clever than me and I am probably then just seen as patronizing or I think there are going to think maybe you should take a look at yourself. This is how I personally think about myself and age by the way I am 19 if you’re wondering.

Switch from what I’ve seen of some of your post it seems like many hold you highly and you have good connection with others on forum. So I think you don’t have anything to personally worry about. Also sometimes the more you look into something the more you can convince yourself of it. I think you need not change anything of how you are on the forums of worry about how others see you. At the end of the day we all see others due to how we are as an individual. This may matter to some but not to others but each to their own. Some people may feel more comfortable talking to people around there age as they feel safe that way or they may find it hard to connect or relate to age groups other than their own. So really it’s nothing personal to another member as an individual. This just my thoughts on this, I am actually glad you posted this as I can sometimes worry about if I am too young/ inexperienced for pc forums.

[hahalebou]

Age doesn't matter to me; I can see the value in talking to people my age (perspective), and I can see an equal value in conversing with older people (wisdom and experience). I usually don't pay attention to ages anyway.

[Alegra]

I think it depends on the person, and how they handle their age. Sometimes you can tell how old a certain person is here depending on the way they talk or what issues they are going through. Although it's been known for "older" people to talk, and act younger than their age as well!
Age doesn't really matter to me though, as long as they understand the difference.

[Perna]

I'm here for me, both for hearing myself talk and learning what I can from others so it's not really the age of the person that determines what I learn; I am fortunate to be in the top age echelon for members on this site and figure I have lived at the age most members are now at and it is helpful to me, working on things I did not understand at a certain age, seeing how it is approached by someone now that age. I have a huge amount of admiration for younger people, still struggling with living at home and thus, somewhat restricted in resources. I remember the difficulties I had at that time and which I still puzzle over (what could/should I have done differently).

[sconnie892]

Here on PC and in RL, age doesn't matter too much for me. I have friends who are much younger and much older than me. I find I enjoy the wide range of perspectives and experiences. I often can't guess people's ages on here unless they make a specific comment in their posts.

The only time I am cautious of a significant age gap is in dating. I had a bad experience there and now am very sensitive to the ages of people I consider dating.

[Nicks_Nose]

In my eyes, age does not matter.....however, based on some people's experiences in life, age might have some impact. We cannot judge others by our own life experiences and views. To some degree, we will, but rarely with bad intentions. Some children my sons went to school with, were raised to stick with their own age groups to share similar experiences. Others are raisedd to mingle among many age groups as they grow up. Different strokes for different folks.

When it comes to the boards I don't think age matters. In RL situations regarding dating , marriage etc... I believe it does matter...a significant age difference, I think it may also affect the Theraputic relationship depending on the person..again significant. There are groups on here who cater to younger members searching for a mentor or mother / father figure, those can be helpful. I personally am on a very long journey of my own, but would be willing to mentor or big sybling, via web, text, chat sessins, factime, skype and email ( all depending on a connection) etc be willing to assist in limited parenting or life coaching. I love helping people.. Like a buddy system. My children are both grown, youngest a junior in college and my eldest has 2 of her own , girl is 5 and 19 months boy... And one due in July, a girl. I would join in RL but I'm a lesbian and I am afraid that in Texas that would be a hell no, my partner is a teacher and it would probably get her fired. But perhaps someone who can't do it in RL needs that same help. Just a thought, Wisdom sometimes comes from the mouths of babes ...and life experience is an unteachable knowledge that one can only purely pass down through words in a mere story...but it plants a seed. Sorry for hijacking if I did.

Be kind to each other, as carma has a way of seeing everything. LOL

I feel ancient. I never admit my age (I don't celebrate or acknowledge my birthday, either. I prefer for it to go by quietly without any fanfare).

On PC, I am not really that conscious of age; unless a young adult reaches out (and then I feel a maternal instinct and instant responsiblity and am very mindful and aware for them)

[CastlesInTheAir]

I feel people come from different backgrounds and different experiences. We can learn and relate to each other no matter the age. Sometimes age can come out plain as day when it comes to how people react to different experiences and what people choose to involve themselves with.

[Puffyprue]

nope, some people could be mature beyond their age

Here nothing really matter... we all are the same ! PC Family !

[carrie_ann]

i think age makes a difference to folks perception of you

[Trippin2.0]

Switch, I hope you believe from our previous interactions that age hasn't been a factor to me at PC. At times when I'm struggling to see where the person's coming from in regards to a post, knowing there age is like an ah ha moment, and then I'm more confident to proceed. To me it's important that the poster relates to me on some level, and knowing their age sometimes helps this. (eg. I could share a story about my untamed teens). I like the diversity here at PC, and I don't disregard anybody's posting or advice bcoz of their age.