[mindmadness]

Hi. I have had this problem for the last seven years where I'm obsessed with age. For instance, I feel as though I need to know someone's age in order to form a deep bond with them. This has been a major issue. Also I am an agist who steryotypes people according to age. I know how unfair this is, but I can't help doing it. How can I stop thinking of age as a fundamental part of a human being?

[shakespeare47]

Perhaps age is a fundamental part of being human. Isn't there a difference between acknowledging someone's age (like acknowledging their hair color) and making assumptions about what it means?

Just knowing someone's age isn't being unfair to them in any way.

[mindmadness]

I understand that, but my desire to know people's age is compulsive. It is associated with tender feelings. For instance, I was in the company of an older man yesterday and began to develop tender feelings, which made me have the urge to ask when he was born. Having a number to associate with someone helps me bond.

[Takeshi]

That's certainly not a desirable quality, there probably are advantages and disadvantages when it comes to approaching another human beings with age concerns. Inflexibility won't do you any good, keep studying your habit, you can phase out of your habit and phase back in if you wish. Where does the inner conflicts lie? If the outcome is usually good, you could get better with your system. People around me does it all the time and I won't tolerate it anymore. I hide the thought from myself, you're from the US. Just think about what Trump said about underage girls. That was logical and quite legal for him to make a comment like that on TV.

Our jobs, schools and their prejudiced attitude is a real issue, you'd rather go along with them, a free conscious animal is what I am, you counting it wrong I say. I have an animal issue too, that negates the previous statement I just made, a pig issue, no one actually says this though. Life and death, I only get younger, that's just a lovely way to lie to my life.

[Plastic Fork]

In reading through the thread, what came to my mind was that when I meet someone that is relatively close to me in age, I can make certain assumptions. They experienced the same media, listened to the same songs, experienced the same fads, and contemplated the same issues. I guess I might be more comfortable in pursuing conversation. Instead of trying to converse with someone in which I have little clue as to what they are talking about. Just a thought.