Hey old people!

[Puffi]

How have you matured intellectually from your early 20's? Do you think you're a very different person now that you're older?

In your 20's you're supposed to be aggressive in your argumentation, innovative and creative, whereas when you get older you should be more thorough in your arguments, wiser, but set in your ways. Do you find this true?

[Oversphere]

In my case, I think my information processing power (hardware?) stopped increasing in my early 20's. The way I process information (software?) has continued to change to this day and has arguably improved. I'm 30 now. I suspect that my way of looking at things and approaching problems is beginning to become set, but I won't be sure for quite a long time. If that happens, then I can only improve via additional information.

[mind_wander]

How have you matured intellectually from your early 20's? Do you think you're a very different person now that you're older?

In your 20's you're supposed to be aggressive in your argumentation, innovative and creative, whereas when you get older you should be more thorough in your arguments, wiser, but set in your ways. Do you find this true?

I think, in my early 20's, its close toward that direction, but not everyone think at age 30, if your in your early 20's. It would be more tend, for others, "Me, do not compute it." But, anyone who's in their age group who are in their 30's does understand me. Which is great :), but I tend to hold back alittle, so other people who are around in my age could understand me.

Puffi, it seems we clearly understand each other; look at each of our white furry avatars :)

[Puffi]

Puffi, it seems we clearly understand each other; look at each of our white furry avatars ;)

What is that, an albino squirrel? Nice ;) Too bad I didn't understand most of what you said. Was the text riddled with typos or something or am I just too young? ;)

I'm 26. I'm pretty sure I'll mature from my current "state." I have some clearly extremist views and a need to prove myself, which leads to aggressive arguments. These sort of things tend to level out over the years because the society beats you into submission ;) Or because you get fewer chances to stay up till 5 AM to think about useless stuff and write to forums...

[mind_wander]

What is that, an albino squirrel? Nice ;) Too bad I didn't understand most of what you said. Was the text riddled with typos or something or am I just too young? ;)

I'm 26. I'm pretty sure I'll mature from my current "state." I have some clearly extremist views and a need to prove myself, which leads to aggressive arguments. These sort of things tend to level out over the years because the society beats you into submission ;) Or because you get fewer chances to stay up till 5 AM to think about useless stuff and write to forums...

Lol, yes it is an Albino squirrel, hey if you don't understand it, not a problem. I think mentioning the albino squirrel, made you lose focus. As you grow older, it will lead to aggressive arguments because you have more growing knowledge and want to used it. If you don't used it, then it becomes too extreme, its like all those thoughts are kept within a bottle, but no where to dump it in.

[Nomad]

As you get older (I'm 38) you start to know things you can't explain verbally. So you learn to keep quiet, knowing You will never convince those burning folk younger than you. Only time will convince them.

-Nomad

[Patronus]

As you get older (I'm 38) you start to know things you can't explain verbally. So you learn to keep quiet, knowing You will never convince those burning folk younger than you. Only time will convince them.


Yeah, I'm 25 and understand this progression entirely. My tact and patience have improved considerably in the past couple of years. You don't stop thinking those thoughts - you just stop saying them.

[MichaelH]

I'm 34 now, and I'd agree that I've mellowed as I've aged. When I was 18, I believed I knew how the world should work. Those close to me got an earful about "their place" or how they should be acting.

Over time, I've realized I don't have all the answers, my will alone does not shape the world, and others have the right to choose their own way in life. I feel a lot smaller now, but I'm viewing myself with better perspective. I can tell I'm still missing some important pieces, but I hope I'll figure them out before I go.

[logan235711]

As you get older (I'm 38) you start to know things you can't explain verbally. So you learn to keep quiet, knowing You will never convince those burning folk younger than you. Only time will convince them.

-Nomad
I'm not sure that it's that we can't verbally explain it, more that there is too much information to relay to show he we arrived at out current train of thought (20+ years!), so it's more of 'will people sit around long enough with us to explore our lives' and those aren't simple friendship relationships. in any case, it can be an annoyance at times to want to let somebody in on something but know that you will only probably get a minute bit of it across and most likely not the part that you wanted to most because it's most important as a whole, and it does take a lot of effort to figure out how it will relay in separate parts to the other person. usually it seems to become more of a waiting game, 'sit back, say things, and when someone randomly inquires about things get excited and hope you can relay in the time that they are interested' lol

Over time, I've realized I don't have all the answers, my will alone does not shape the world, and others have the right to choose their own way in life. I feel a lot smaller now, but I'm viewing myself with better perspective. I can tell I'm still missing some important pieces, but I hope I'll figure them out before I go.
yes, a sense of humbleness in our own abilities and those of others.

already feeling the need to say more, but i can only end up saying less ; )

[rwyatt365]

How have you matured intellectually from your early 20's? Do you think you're a very different person now that you're older?

In your 20's you're supposed to be aggressive in your argumentation, innovative and creative, whereas when you get older you should be more thorough in your arguments, wiser, but set in your ways. Do you find this true?
"Old people"! a bit harsh don't you think?

Anyway…

Have I matured intellectually from my early 20's? in a word, no. I think in pretty much the same way now (mid 50's) as I thought when I was 20-something. I have always been forward-thinking, contemplative, flexible, and creative – willing to hear and evaluate new ideas, new approaches and make changes as I see fit. When I think that I am right, I will "stick to my guns" but I' not dogmatic about it. Present a reasonable, rational argument and I'll make adjustments.

I think that the grumpy, curmudgeon who's set in their ways and lives in the past is an "ageist" stereotype that will probably never go away. Sometimes it works to my benefit (when I want to piss off the young whipper-snappers), but most times it's to my detriment (when I'm looking for a new job and people see my grey hair).

[Ijz]

I've only just hit 30, so you have to take this with a grain of salt. I have mellowed quite a bit in some areas compared to my 20's. I guess it really depends on how much thoughts/experiences you have gone through. If you sit on your couch and watch the same TV show all your life you are unlikely to change in all other areas other than the TV show.

I think mellowing derives from viewing things from multiple angles and therefore seeing that there is more than one truth. Personally I mellowed quite a bit on my political views. I used to be very liberal and now I'm much more through the middle. I'm still quite liberal but also realize that others in society really can't take care of themselves and require help from the government.

Just my two cents.

[The Rose]

How have you matured intellectually from your early 20's? Do you think you're a very different person now that you're older?

In your 20's you're supposed to be aggressive in your argumentation, innovative and creative, whereas when you get older you should be more thorough in your arguments, wiser, but set in your ways. Do you find this true?I am very different at age 48 than I was at age 20.
I used to argue about all kinds of things. I was strongly opinionated about everything, and I wouldn't be surprised to learn I that offended a very long string of people in my younger days.


As I got older, I learned that I didn't want to go around offending all the time. I wanted to build lasting relationships. So I learned that most of the time no one is interested in my opinion anyway. Also, my opinion is usually not that important. So I usually hold my tongue from expressing strong negative views unless I am overwhelmingly compelled by a strong sense of moral justice, or some similar thing.

I refuse to enter into debates and arguments. I apparently am not very good at them and invariably am told that I am an ignorant fool. And since I don't like that, I don't bother - unless again I am compelled for some greater cause.

Generally speaking, I think your statement is generally true about myself. I think I could be considered a little stuck in my ways by an outsider, though I don't think of myself that way. But at this point in my life, there are very few issues that I have not already wrestled with and decided upon. And I don't like digging it all up again. Too much work! However, when faced with compelling evidence, I will reconsider my position which is why I don't consider myself "stuck" in my ways.

[The Rose]

As you get older (I'm 38) you start to know things you can't explain verbally. So you learn to keep quiet, knowing You will never convince those burning folk younger than you. Only time will convince them.

-NomadTrue wisdom at work.:)

[dayguard]

Yeah, I'm 25 and understand this progression entirely. My tact and patience have improved considerably in the past couple of years. You don't stop thinking those thoughts - you just stop saying them.

Ditto.... to being 25 and that profound understanding of things

[Bossy Mom]

I am very different. I used to be an ENTJ - very outgoing in my 20's. Since my daughter went to Minnesota to see her father's relatives for Thanksgiving, I have been a Total Hermit. My 20's and 30's were the days of socializing - my teen years and those since I turned 40 have been the opposite.

[The Many]

I'm only 19, but I have already stopped getting into stupid arguments. I just don't have the patience for it, and most often my opponent will be a lot more idealistic than me anyway (whilst I am the one with the facts), so it would only result in pointless confrontation and nothing actually gained for either party.

[Meyer]

I think the only thing that really makes us mature intellectually or otherwise is life experiences. Learning how we relate to the world and what our personal strengths and limitations are seem to speed up this process.

[The Many]

I think the only thing that really makes us mature intellectually or otherwise is life experiences. Learning how we relate to the world and what our personal strengths and limitations are seem to speed up this process.

Well said.

[Night]

I'm only 19, but I have already stopped getting into stupid arguments. I just don't have the patience for it, and most often my opponent will be a lot more idealistic than me anyway (whilst I am the one with the facts), so it would only result in pointless confrontation and nothing actually gained for either party.

I stopped trying to reconfigure attitudes when I was around your age as well.

Like you, I gauged it as a cost-to-benefit ratio and realized my investment was creating a deficit.

Ultimately, perspective is problematically singular and open to revision, as new information arrives.


I think age plays less a factor than does varied experiences.

For me, suffering seems to increase awareness and reduce the vulnerabilities of failure. Reasoned analysis becomes probable when one considers the possibility that his opinion is incorrect.

[Meyer]

Reasoned analysis becomes probable when one considers the possibility that his opinion is incorrect.



Well said.

[Night]

Reasoned analysis becomes probable when one considers the possibility that his opinion is incorrect.



Well said.

Thank you.

[Meyer]

You are quite welcome my friend.

[Night]

You are quite welcome my friend.

Impressive - I enjoy etiquette and find its proper display quite refreshing.

Out of simple curiosity, was it stressed to you in your youth?

[Lucid]

For me, suffering seems to increase awareness and reduce the vulnerabilities of failure. Reasoned analysis becomes probable when one considers the possibility that his opinion is incorrect.

I wholeheartedly agree. I think that last part is one of the biggest shortcomings INTJs (including myself) exhibit.

[Meyer]

Out of simple curiosity, was it stressed to you in your youth?


It might have been pushed on me and thus instictually pushed back. I do however have a genuine appreciation for your logic.

[Night]

I wholeheartedly agree. I think that last part is one of the biggest shortcomings INTJs (including myself) exhibit.

It is a difficult obstacle to bear. I struggle with this inequality on a daily basis.

[Meyer]

I think the way that I deal with that is to realize that yes I do have a unique perspective but that does not make others viewpoints any less valid for them.

* I'm way off on grammatical structure aren't I?

[Lucid]

I think the way that I deal with that is to realize that yes I do have a unique perspective but that does not make others viewpoints any less valid for them.

* I'm way off on grammatical structure aren't I?

Maybe, but the point of language is to communicate an idea and you did that quite well. :)

I try to do the same thing. Often someone else's views are different from mine because they've had a different set of experiences than I have. Their experiences are equally valid, just different.
With regard to factual arguments I try to remind myself that just as I think they are misinformed, ignorant or misremembering something, there is a chance (albeit minuscule ;)) that my argument, point or belief is similarly flawed.
And when I am wrong about something, I try to take it as an opportunity to learn something.

We are all human, even INTJs.

[INTJohn]

How have you matured intellectually from your early 20's? Do you think you're a very different person now that you're older?

In your 20's you're supposed to be aggressive in your argumentation, innovative and creative, whereas when you get older you should be more thorough in your arguments, wiser, but set in your ways. Do you find this true?

I don't know if I'm "old" yet. In my 40's I was an old, young man; now I'm in my 50's and I describe myself as a young, old man.

I'm going back to school to get my PhD.......in Philosophy - does that make me more "intellectual"?????

My assessment of my personal life:

While a young man in my 20's, I gave this World more than enough opportunity to kill me and its not my fault at all that it didn't succeed.......

........now that I'm in my 50's, It gets to pay the consequences.

INTJohn

[blueeyedsusan]

I have always felt mature. Does anyone else feel this way?

[vaguely dissatisfied]

How have you matured intellectually from your early 20's? Do you think you're a very different person now that you're older?

In your 20's you're supposed to be aggressive in your argumentation, innovative and creative, whereas when you get older you should be more thorough in your arguments, wiser, but set in your ways. Do you find this true?
There have been some massive changes in me over the last few decades and there have been some things that havn't changed at all since I was a kid (genetics?).

But, the biggest change in me is that when I was in my twenties I knew everything and now that I'm approaching fifty I know nothing.

[Zilal]

I'm 30 and I've changed, but most of it's been in the past few years. It wasn't so much that I thought I knew everything at 20 as that I had much lower self-esteem, had a frequently bitter and depressing view of the world, etc.

[polysylvester]

I have always been mature, thanks to an alchoholic dad, ie parentified child. But I did make up for it somewhat later on. I found that I got a lot smarter between 20 and 30. My point of reference on this is math. At 20 yo diff eq seemed hard. At 30 yo I took a graduate math class and couldn't believe I ever thought diff eq was a hard subject. It was simple at 30! At thirty your old enough to know quite a bit and still young enough to be able to do something with it. I'm in my 50's now, but I still have about the same attitude as when I was 30. I just look older in the mirror! Life is still an adventure. If I ever outgrow that, just shoot me!