Does being older get in the way of having a good time?

edited February 2011 in Spurious Generalities
I'm probably going to sound like a faggy little kid here, but I've just been thinking about my childhood and teenage years. I'm nearly 18, and while this isn't exactly old, it's making me realize that with every year which passes, I miss a lot of chances to be having a great time. Younger people have it easy - they can go to school, come home at the end of the day and do whatever they want. You can go to the park, party hard with your friends, do drugs, etc. Whatever the fuck you want.

But when you get older, how much of this changes? Should I be making the most of these years before I get stuck in full-time employment, or can you still have an awesome life when you're older?

I realize I've probably got this completely wrong, and I'm not being ignorant - simply misinformed. So, you older folk - fill me in.

Comments

  • ChinaCatChinaCat Semo-Regulars
    edited February 2011
    it depends on who your hanging out with, but thats generally the trend.

    for most people life just keeps getting shittier
  • RemadERemadE Global Moderator
    edited February 2011
    Dude. You're still 17?

    By that age, I had grown narcotics, slept with girls, never missed a party and was doing everything I could to make the most of those days.
    Now I'm over 20, those days seem a loong way back. Now if I went to a College party, there goes the Paedo card. Make the fucking most of it (cough*don't be in a relationship* cough). Srsly. You only live once. I'm at Uni now and with age comes responsibility. You really fail to realise just how easy you have it in those years.

    As I always say to pissy Teens - Take a mental step back. Your life really isn't that shit. Stop creating drama, as it's all a storm in a teacup.

    Enjoy.
  • Mr.HappyMr.Happy Acolyte
    edited February 2011
    Things change because they have to. You need to work, you need to live, you need to provide for yourself.

    Doesn't mean you still can't juggle that with having an awesome time. You just have to take a bit of responsibility and not get fucked up all the time.

    18-20 were the best years of my life to date. Things have slowed down a little, but life is still good. I agree wholeheartedly that you shouldn't spend any time in a relationship 'til you hit 20, at least not unless you genuinely fall head-over-heels in love with somebody. Don't get into a relationship just because you slept with someone, or with someone you don't really care about.
  • CaesarCaesar Regular
    edited February 2011
    I think it is because what is easily and immediately available becomes conditioned habits; some adults just go with it and slip into cycles of hedonistic nostalgia and shitty necessity. Some break into a world of total linguistic abstraction and becomes obsessed with religion/politics/social mechanics and get fanatical about whatever ideology they fit into best and become assholes.

    I think the only way to keep having fun is to keep from forming habits of thought and activity. Children live like this because everything is novel and new. It isn't hard to keep novelty flowing if you don't get lazy, and it gets easier with every new technology that provides yet more information. If reality is your playground I think it is possible to stay young for a long time.
  • ChinaCatChinaCat Semo-Regulars
    edited February 2011
    people just start to realize their dreams arent gonna happen, they get a little scared about the future, and who they really are withdraws, how much dependant on the person, and they start doing less of what they want and being less of who they are.

    that or they were brainwashed the whole time and have never done what they want.

    they get stuck in shitty relationships, or even decent ones, but then "get married" because its the "next step" or for financial reasons (EG spouse has good insurance through work)

    their body starts to feel older, they cant just go out and do (whatever physical activity) all day and feel fine the next. (actually maybe they COULD but their shitty diet and lack of proper stretching and things will stop it)

    some of them get penis envy over their co workers and friends cars, and need to go start making payments on that BMW, but then the economy gets a little bad and its all OMG LOL WHY DID I DO THAT

    theres tons of reasons, but you DONT have to fall into this

    but I GUESS (judging by how many old people suck) its easy to fall into this kind of thing and there are many reasons it happens.

    drug addiction can be one. those hard years of drinking from 16 or 18 to a few years into the 20s start becoming felt.
  • ChinaCatChinaCat Semo-Regulars
    edited February 2011
    oh, and then the kids come.
  • Darth BeaverDarth Beaver Meine Ehre heißt Treue
    edited February 2011
    I turn 49 in May and I do much more interesting and entertaining things than I ever did at 15 - 18. Because I have the money, experience, and resources to do 100 times more things than I ever did at that age. Hell, between 30 and 40 I lived in Vegas and partied more than anyone at 18 can even fathom. So to answer your question it all depends on the individual and what they do with their life.
  • edited February 2011
    ChinaCat wrote: »
    people just start to realize their dreams arent gonna happen, they get a little scared about the future, and who they really are withdraws, how much dependant on the person, and they start doing less of what they want and being less of who they are.

    that or they were brainwashed the whole time and have never done what they want.

    they get stuck in shitty relationships, or even decent ones, but then "get married" because its the "next step" or for financial reasons (EG spouse has good insurance through work)

    their body starts to feel older, they cant just go out and do (whatever physical activity) all day and feel fine the next. (actually maybe they COULD but their shitty diet and lack of proper stretching and things will stop it)

    some of them get penis envy over their co workers and friends cars, and need to go start making payments on that BMW, but then the economy gets a little bad and its all OMG LOL WHY DID I DO THAT

    theres tons of reasons, but you DONT have to fall into this

    but I GUESS (judging by how many old people suck) its easy to fall into this kind of thing and there are many reasons it happens.

    drug addiction can be one. those hard years of drinking from 16 or 18 to a few years into the 20s start becoming felt.

    Is this really how you see getting older to be? A rank and file job and a lifetime of bratty kids and consumerism? Or maybe a slow death from substance abuse? Wow, I'm a pessimist, but you are positively bleak. How are you going to stop this from happening to yourself?

    Truth is, as you get older things do change, they have to. But as long as you hold on to some piece of yourself that is a kid, you never really get old.

    Do you really think that that happy guy at the family picnic MUST be harboring some deep resentment at the responsibilities he has taken on with a good career and a family? "Boy, he sure looks happy, I bet he beats his kids and jerks off to porn when his wife is away." Who are you to say that guy isn't exactly where he wants to be, and perfectly happy being there?

    C/O
  • brandonbrandon Regular
    edited February 2011
    save ur money now go travel as long as u can b4 u start ur life. party with ppl from south africa ashia china japs and egiptshins all doing the same thing as u in europe or somplace else or do somthing u always wanted 2 do and make shure u say yes 2 everything and do girls under 18 years old b4 u tern 18 its good advise ur coming up on ur last fun years dont waste them this is rly importint more importint then a career :o:o:o:o
  • GallowsGallows Regular
    edited February 2011
    A lot of good posts here. I've been trying to cope with a distancing youth as well. I set short-term goals, which helps a little.
  • edited February 2011
    i AGREE WITH BRANDUN :o:o:o:o
  • LordWormLordWorm Regular
    edited February 2011
    I turn 49 in May and I do much more interesting and entertaining things than I ever did at 15 - 18. Because I have the money, experience, and resources to do 100 times more things than I ever did at that age. Hell, between 30 and 40 I lived in Vegas and partied more than anyone at 18 can even fathom. So to answer your question it all depends on the individual and what they do with their life.

    This. THIS.

    Growing up means giving up a lot of the things that make youth a fascinating and exciting time, but it also opens up so many possibilities. Imagination and the spirit of adventure don't have to fade with age. Go to college/university, get into a high paying career, don't make too many commitments, and by 30-35, you'll have the world at your disposal. Sure, there will be bills, payments, and other responsibilities, but that pails in comparison to the freedom and resources you'll have.

    OTOH, it's easy to see why many people become bogged down by adult life. There are a multitude of ways to screw it all up, with large financial commitments, early marriage, and the allure of temporary, relatively high paying dead end jobs being among the most prominent. It's much easier to end up destitute than to climb to the top.

    So yeah, it all depends on the individual and which path they decide to take.
  • Gary OakGary Oak Regular
    edited February 2011
    I'm in the same position. I turned 18 a couple months ago, and I'm scared on how it'll end up. It's going to be exciting though. Once I have enough money I'd like to travel around.
  • edited February 2011
    LordWorm wrote: »
    This. THIS.

    Growing up means giving up a lot of the things that make youth a fascinating and exciting time, but it also opens up so many possibilities. Imagination and the spirit of adventure don't have to fade with age. Go to college/university, get into a high paying career, don't make too many commitments, and by 30-35, you'll have the world at your disposal. Sure, there will be bills, payments, and other responsibilities, but that pails in comparison to the freedom and resources you'll have.

    Sounds good bro. I've already got myself a place in university, and the course should lead me on to quite an interesting career. Hopefully by the time I'm 30, I'll have the world at my disposal like you said :D
  • brandonbrandon Regular
    edited February 2011
    Gary Oak wrote: »
    I'm in the same position. I turned 18 a couple months ago, and I'm scared on how it'll end up. It's going to be exciting though. Once I have enough money I'd like to travel around.

    were u wanna travel 2????????
  • RemadERemadE Global Moderator
    edited February 2011
    Tips for Uni

    - Your first year is there for you to learn and make mistakes in. Go out, get fucked and be merry becaus eit goes damn quickly!
    - Drugs are usually alright. Just don't whip them out as soon as you meet your housemates
    - Take up every opportunity.
    - Become friends with Security/Cleaners as they can be nice and forgiving when they need to be.
    - You still aren't free to express yourself. At least in my course, you aren't. Uni is like College 2.0 as you just reference a shitload of books basically. No opinion of your own here.

    More to come when I cna think of some.
  • Gary OakGary Oak Regular
    edited February 2011
    brandon wrote: »
    were u wanna travel 2????????
    All over the place. I want to see everything. I want to become bored with this world.
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