Is age a substitute for wisdom?
By pandaeyes
@pandaeyes (2065)
February 13, 2010 8:51am CST
When we moved to our first house, we lived beside an old couple.
They seemed quite nice and friendly but were often complaining to us about things.
Once the man came and confronted me in the garden, he said our alarm clock was waking them up.
As it was just an ordinary wind up clock and we had to get up very early, there was not much we could do about it.
Another time it was our weeds which were encroaching on their plants. We cut everything right down and mowed it all short and they said we had cut all the beautiful flowers and it was crying shame.
Lastly my budgerigar was always twittering away during the day as they do, and they said it was sheer cruelty to keep a caged bird and they would complain to the RSPCA. He was let to fly free indoors all day so hardly cruel.
I was telling all of this to my friend in work who was himself about 60 years old and he said yes but age is no substitute for wisdom is it?
What do you think? Should we respect and follow a person's judgment because they are older and so must be wiser?
1 person likes this
8 responses
@derek_a (10874)
•
13 Feb 10
I think that you have been very patient with this old man. He should have lived next doot to the neighbours we had in the city with music blaring out loudly 2-3 times a week all night until dawn the following morning. If there were weeds on his side of the garden then it is his responsibility to be rid of them, why should you cut all your beautiful flowers. I am afraid I would have said to him to remove them from his side of the fence, but tp make sure that he did not touch my flowers on my side.
I am in my 60s and I think I deserve some respect from younger people, but if I started unreasonable complaining like your neighbour, then I believe I don't deserve that respect. We can go so far, but then we have to stand up for our own rights. Not all older people are wiser. Some of them are pretty stupid and unreasonble believe me! 
_Derek
_Derek2 people like this
@pandaeyes (2065)
•
13 Feb 10
we weren't patient for very long.
We moved within 2 years after my son was born.
We couldn't bare the thought of our little ones being picked on constantly.
1 person likes this
@derek_a (10874)
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14 Feb 10
I don't blame you there. We moved because of our noisy neighbours. They did us a favour actually, because it is so much better our here in this country village. I think it is wiser to think about improving the quality of life, no matter who's to blame in disputes. I hope your life is much happier now and continues to be that way.. 
_Derek
_Derek1 person likes this
@pandaeyes (2065)
•
14 Feb 10
Thanks Derek,yes it is much improved. We found once we had moved that the new neighbours were lovely .
We have a better garden as it is fenced off instead of open as the last one had been and so much safer for small children and the distance into town and to the local school was walkable instead of drivable and that made life better later on.
@Aaleexix (2290)
• India
13 Feb 10
Wisdom is depend on the knowledge and experience. With growing age we earn more knowledge and experience. So wisdom has a relation with age. But only age is not the cause of wisdom. Power of judgment and rest of reasoning with noble mentality and knowledge of experience enhance wisdom. We have seen many person shows their wisdom in earlier stage. And on contrary we have see people of higher age with no wisdom.
2 people like this
@pandaeyes (2065)
•
13 Feb 10
yes you are right there are sometimes very wise children .
It makes it quit hard not to be rude when older people seem so rude first.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
15 Feb 10
I don't feel that just because someone is older than I am means that they are necessarily wiser than I am. I was brought up to respect my elders so I try to respect what an older person is saying to me, but there are times that regardless of the fact that they are older than me, they say things that are stupid. Thus, when it comes to what I am being told by an elder person, I take what they have to say in stride. If it is something that makes sense, then I am willing to heed the advice, but if it is something that makes no sense at all whatsoever, then I take it for a grain of salt.
1 person likes this
@pandaeyes (2065)
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16 Feb 10
That reminds me of when I was in school. My little sister would be very interested in my work at home,she was only about 3 years old but often would be left for me to supervise because she was demanding and inquisitive,we lived in an apartment and it was quite crowded and small with the TV always on in the background and no private space.
At school I was in trouble for my homework, it was quite poor and there was scribble on the page.
I said it is my little sister,she cant keep out of my school things, she wanted to help with crayons.
The teacher sighed, looked at me wisely and said 'then go upstairs and do it in your bedroom'.
My whole realisation of teachers was changed in that moment. She saw every child's life as her own as a child ,with a suburban semi detached house, understanding parents and everyone with their own bedroom.
@RobtheRock (2433)
• United States
13 Feb 10
Many humans get wiser as they age. But many do not. Some adults age in body only and their minds never catch up. I sort of think it sad that sometimes "movements" go to far. If you don't want weeds, you have that right to cut them down. If you have a pet, you have a right to keep it as you please, as long as you don't abuse it. So yes, I think you should respect the older person, but that doesn't mean that person is wise and I agree with your friend who says age is no substitute for wisdom.
@pandaeyes (2065)
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14 Feb 10
Thanks! My friend was a very wise person indeed although he was maybe 20 years younger than the man who,lived next door to us.
I think we did start off respecting that couple as that is just the way it is with us ,it was terribly hard to keep silent about some of their comments, almost as though we were being tested.
We moved house rather than continue .
The lady on our other side was quite old too and although she sympathized with us ,she said she would most likely live out her days at that address and so would just keep her own council
about their comments. Now that was wise.
@pandaeyes (2065)
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14 Feb 10
I think so too.
Maybe they were very wise in other areas of life.
They had a lovely garden for example.
@ksmith61 (33)
• United States
14 Feb 10
Age is by no means a substitute for wisdom. Just because some people have been here longer then others doesn't mean they've learned from their experiences. However those of us who have learned from our experiences, such as you have by moving to a different place, is where true wisdom is held.
1 person likes this
@pandaeyes (2065)
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14 Feb 10
We live in a road where a lot of the house holders are elderly now.
My neighbours both sides are wise people in their own ways.
I hope I have as much sense when I am as old as they are.
I think the couple at the old address would have been looked upon as rather silly by most of my present neighbours.
@coolsid2007 (1030)
• India
13 Feb 10
Nope!!.. i surely don't think so...
i for sure, do not think so, i have my questions and logic, aged can be wrong, and a young person can talk wise....
age gives experience, good and bad experience, what the person does with that experience is with him, he may or may not have a positive outlook on experienced situation.
1 person likes this
@pandaeyes (2065)
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13 Feb 10
WE all need to step back sometimes I suppose and think if we are being sensible. Even use oldies.
(I am not that old but not that young either).
@teamrose (1492)
• United States
13 Feb 10
Wisdom does come with age. However, one should never follow anyone blindly, A person needs common sense. Some times common sense just never develops. When an older person gives you advice, you should at least consider the source. There are many young people full of wisdom.
1 person likes this
@pandaeyes (2065)
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13 Feb 10
WE have a very old neighbour now (we dont live beside that old couple anymore),she is a very nice lady and full of wisdom but even she sometimes says some quite surprising things.
I suppose everyone has wisdom at some times and not at others.
As you say,we must consider the source.
