Age doesn't Equal Maturity: A Rant.

Anonymous

Ever since I could remember, I have always felt a little bit more advanced than children my age. I have always felt a step ahead. I remember back in kindergarten, I would look down upon most things that the average child at that age would do; talk, play, eat, behave. I remember asking myself, "Why do they act so silly? Come on, they should know better!".

This whole situation, in-turn, caused me many issues. I was never able to fit in. I tried to, but I couldn't. I tried to act immaturely and at the pace of my peers, but it wouldn't work. Most of the children would probably think that I was acting, they probably knew it themselves that I didn't belong.

Instead of getting along with children my own age, I found myself getting along much better with older people; parents, teachers, etc...

To this day, I still have some problems fitting in. Most of the time, I don't understand why people my age act a certain way. It makes me sad at times. Sad because my peers aren't as advanced as I am, sad because I'm not as wild as they are.

One thing though, that really does grind my gears, is when older people, actually, people that aren't that much older, in their early twenties; think that just because I'm 15 years old, that I'm immature, that I don't understand life, or that I am not experienced. It really does bother me how one could assume that a person is such a way just because they do not share an opinion with them on certain issues.

Age doesn't Equal Maturity: A Rant.

For example, one 23 year old Metallica fan got upset with me today because I enjoy Justin Bieber's music. He wrote a comment on my opinion instigating an argument, and so I fought back. He then told me that I'm 15, and therefore I do not know anything about life, that I don't have experience, etc... All because my music taste differs from his, he decides to shame me on my age. Maybe I do enjoy older music, and I cannot say that I don't. (I love Michael Jackson!).

Age doesn't Equal Maturity: A Rant.

Another day, I answered a question regarding the whole CNN scandal, just voicing my opinion, many people congratulated me on my maturity level, they told me that I made some great points, etc... However, this one man decided to pull one thing out of the whole text that I wrote, my age. The funniest part of that whole situation was that he even admit to sharing my political beliefs! He just felt like because I am 15 years old, that I do not have a right to an opinion. As a matter of fact, I will be participating in the next election, so I will be able to voice my opinion, and my vote will count, regardless if I am 18 or 36.

Age doesn't Equal Maturity: A Rant.

It just bothers me! The same people who enjoy to bother me because of my age, are the same SJWs who are fighting for more freedom of speech than there already is. I thought freedom of speech was defined by everyone having the right to voice what they believe, regardless of any of the superficial boundaries that society uses to separate us; for example; age, gender, sexuality, race, religion, nationality, financial standing, political beliefs, etc...

This is where I am torn, and I understand, this whole MyTake may just seem like a rant, but this situation is something that really does bother me. I cannot get along with people my own age, and my opinions are rejected by people who are older than me, (By what, 8 years? At 23 years old, you were probably 7 and half when I was born, buddy, so I'm not that far away from you!).

Age doesn't Equal Maturity: A Rant.

Age is just a number. For example, here are young children who are 10 years old who watch their siblings while their parents go about with their lives, who are just breaking down inside, these children are acting like the real parents, they are mature for their age. There are adults in their forties who have children in their twenties who want to act the same age as their children and go out clubbing with them and act like one of their child's friends, those are immature adults.

Then, there's experience. 15 years isn't a super long time, and I respect that. I may not have the knowledge of the world, I may not be the one going to work everyday, etc... However, one cannot judge what another person, regardless of age, has experienced just through one opinion. One cannot judge the content of another's lifetime through an opinion involving music.

Age doesn't Equal Maturity: A Rant.

I dislike being treated this way, when everyone was 15 at one time or another. I understand, when you were my age, you may have not been as quick as I am, but there's no need to bring me down just because of my age. Perhaps if you heard me out, like some of my great friends on this website, some of which are teenagers like me, some of which are pushing 60, you may actually learn something. Maybe if you wouldn't be so quick to disregard my opinion, maybe you'd be able to grasp the idea of where I'm coming from.

I'd love to get to know some of the Gag community better and to be able to express my opinions in a way where I will not be judged just due to my age.

Also, I would like to add, it's not only young people like myself who's opinions are being disregarded for something as dumb and superficial as age, but also the older folks on Gag are being harassed daily by some people who call them quote-on-quote, "Too old.". Some people even call the older men on this site perverts for absolutely no reason. Honestly, if you're going to pick on someone just because they're older than 60, you need to get yourself a life and grow yourself some balls. Those are YOUR elders, and although at times even I disagree with their opinions, I wouldn't let their age be the deciding factor on the quality of their opinions. They have A LOT of experience, and we should be thanking them for their opinions, rather than criticizing them on their age.

Age doesn't Equal Maturity: A Rant.

However, we shouldn't hesitate to tell someone when they're wrong. If I were to write something absurd, I should be corrected. Because I'm 15, it is not the free pass to go and offend others on their beliefs. If someone is 60 and they write something absurd, they should be corrected. Being older is not a free pass to offend others on the beliefs that they hold.

Anyways, I know that this may be a very long rant, that may mean absolutely nothing to you, but it was a way to finally express my feelings. I am tired of being disregarded just because of a stupid number which just means how many rotations the Earth has completed around the Sun since the day that I was born.

Age doesn't Equal Maturity: A Rant.

Age doesn't Equal Maturity: A Rant.
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