What makes you old?

[E-mantheseeker]

I find myself wondering this a lot, I used to think that once you hit a certain age that you're officially considered old. But in my grandfather's case, he's about 70, but he's not extremely wrinkly and he still walks around well, and seems pretty fit, so I never could look at him as an elderly man.

To me being old, means getting to a point where your body can't allow you to do the same things anymore, walking hunched, forgetting things, being weak etc. in this case I could very well look at someone who is 60 as an elderly person and someone who is 70 as not.

That being said, what makes someone old to you?

is it when someone reaches a certain age?
Is it not being able to do what you once were?
Is it a state of mind that someone goes through?
Anything else?

 

[TwistedEllipses]

I think there's a difference between being old and infirm.

I would set it at the pension age of 60/65.

 

[ProfessorLayton]

Old is when... you're a senior. 60+. By your definition, then disabled people are old.

 

[MassiveGeek]

Its individual. I forget things all the time, I walk with a kind of sleepy posture and I cant reach my toes when Im standing upright.

And Im 15.

I think its when you fall into habits and stop doing things that represents you who are. But thats more when you die yourself, you might be 30 when this happens, I dunno.

 

[GRoXERs]

Old is a state of mind, as well as a physical state. As to what that state of mind is, I couldn't tell you, but I know that old people think differently from us young 'uns.

 

[E-mantheseeker]

Old is when... you're a senior. 60+. By your definition, then disabled people are old.

Of course I didn't mean anyone with a physical disability, people can be young and disabled, or old and disabled. (I do see how my wording would make you think I meant that though)

I meant getting up and being a lot slower than usual, not being able to walk up certain stairs, not because a person has something wrong with their knees directly, or being tired, but because they just can't anymore.

 

[Chickenlittle]

That being said, what makes someone old to you?

Aging.

 

[Frank_Sinatra_]

Old in my book is once you hit 20

 

[nekolux]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telomere
I guess that's about as accurate a biological definition as you can get. Of course if you wanna get into the relative perception of a human being then you have to take into account the speed he's traveling at because remember, time depends on your velocity relative to the speed of light traveling in a vacuum and the gravity which the object is experiencing.

 

[Datalord]

Old age is when through the natural degeneneration of your body, specifically the degeneration due to a lack a cellular mitosis, you abilities and capabilities are impeded

 

[wewontdie11]

I feel bloody old. It dawned on me the other day that I had accomplished so very little during my childhood and adolescence. Slightly above average grades, no really serious girlfriends, a handful of real, good friends and not as many amusing/kinky anecdotes as I would have liked to have by this stage in life. The big 20 is really gonna suck because it just feels as if my life so far has passed me by, and I feel four times my age as a result.

 

[Evilbunny]

I feel bloody old. It dawned on me the other day that I had accomplished so very little during my childhood and adolescence. Slightly above average grades, no really serious girlfriends, a handful of real, good friends and not as many amusing/kinky anecdotes as I would have liked to have by this stage in life. The big 20 is really gonna suck because it just feels as if my life so far has passed me by, and I feel four times my age as a result.

I know what you mean. I was so upset when I turned 20. I felt like I hadn't done anything with my teenage years and now they're over. Crap, now I'm depressed again.

 

[Drake the Dragonheart]

oh man just wait till you hit 30. You start wondering how long you really want to do this. (from some comedian, can't remember his name)

 

[wewontdie11]

I feel bloody old. It dawned on me the other day that I had accomplished so very little during my childhood and adolescence. Slightly above average grades, no really serious girlfriends, a handful of real, good friends and not as many amusing/kinky anecdotes as I would have liked to have by this stage in life. The big 20 is really gonna suck because it just feels as if my life so far has passed me by, and I feel four times my age as a result.

I know what you mean. I was so upset when I turned 20. I felt like I hadn't done anything with my teenage years and now they're over. Crap, now I'm depressed again.

Sorry, didn't mean to bring ya down. Guess we're just going through our early life crises.

 

[TwistedEllipses]

I feel bloody old. It dawned on me the other day that I had accomplished so very little during my childhood and adolescence. Slightly above average grades, no really serious girlfriends, a handful of real, good friends and not as many amusing/kinky anecdotes as I would have liked to have by this stage in life. The big 20 is really gonna suck because it just feels as if my life so far has passed me by, and I feel four times my age as a result.

I know what you mean. I was so upset when I turned 20. I felt like I hadn't done anything with my teenage years and now they're over. Crap, now I'm depressed again.

Yep, same here too. I'm 20 and I can't even pass my driving test...

 

[soren7550]

-When you start forgetting thing, *that just happened*
-You can't see behind yourself at all.
-You can't see shit despite the fact that you wear specks.
-You frequently curse the current generation.
-Your only interest is that of older appeal.

(at one point or another, this has happened to me, and I only *just* turned 17!)

 

[Donbett1974]

You moan when you bend over or worst pull a muscle when you stand up.

 

[Duck Sandwich]

I feel bloody old. It dawned on me the other day that I had accomplished so very little during my childhood and adolescence. Slightly above average grades, no really serious girlfriends, a handful of real, good friends and not as many amusing/kinky anecdotes as I would have liked to have by this stage in life. The big 20 is really gonna suck because it just feels as if my life so far has passed me by, and I feel four times my age as a result.

Heh, you've pretty much described my life to a T. But for some reason I have this optimistic feeling that when I get into college, all of that will change.

As for what makes me feel old? Being in High School during the year I turn 19. Almost everyone there is younger than me, and I feel like I just shouldn't be there. I've already graduated and have been accepted into College (but I chose to return to gain some experience that should prove helpful for my career path), and this just exacerbates that feeling.

Also, some days, I feel so bloody lethargic. Usually these days are on weekends, when I don't have any work/martial arts classes, or any other scheduled routine to occupy my time. On weekdays I can get up at 6AM in the morning with no trouble, but on weekends, I find it difficult to get out of bed at 9:30. I don't know if it's because I'm tired from the weekday routines, or if my body has just decided "Okay, weekends suck, might as well be unconscious so they'll go by faster."

 

[Uncompetative]

Me? Personally?

Nothing.

I will turn Forty next birthday and I welcome it. I wanted to be forty when I was seven so that grown ups would take my ideas seriously.

My mind is youthful and I expect it to stay that way. Nothing else matters.

If physical deterioration starts to take away my youthful outlook on life then I'll quit whilst I'm ahead.

I think too many people stay too long at the party. Know when you've had all the fun you know you're going to have and you're tired of dancing.