Experience? For What It's Worth...

Sooo... I'm writing again.

Why?

Perhaps to fill a narcissitic void I have that only blogs and facebook fulfill?

Nah, social networks are NEVER used for such purposes. ;)

The common precedent that leads to me writing usually revolves around a particularly dramatic moment and/or a nagging, continuous experience that further perpetuates itself the more I look for it.

And yes, that scenario has reared it's head again, yet in a most peculiar form. What I'm referring to is experience, or better yet "life experience". Generally speaking, I find it quite remarkable how much or how little emphasis we as a society put on one's "experience". Furthermore, I find it equally remarkable the relationship between one's age and the relative value we place on an "experienced" human being.

Before I delve further, I guess I should clarify as to what context I'm using the word "experience" in, for it takes many forms and I'm using the term very generally here.

For example, when there's a significant enough age gap between 2 human beings that the older one warns/shares/relates to an experience the younger one is going through. At what age do people typically remove their brain's filter, and attempt to wrap their mind's around an elder's wisdom? 15 years old? 30? Ever? Especially one with whom they respect.

Age isn't always a determining factor when passing along information to another for I consider myself a bit of an old soul, with plenty of stories to tell. I often wonder what people think of what I say and if I ever say anything profound enough to warrant further thought at a later date. And if so, how much weight does it carry and would it carry more if I was older and/or more respected?

There's also job experience.

"Billy may not be college educated, but he ran his own business successfully for 15 years, is he qualified to manage ours?"

The common debate of application (real life) vs. theory (college). How much weight would you put in Billy's experience? Assuming he's a great candidate, with great references and has ran a similarly sized company in the past, would you hire him? I find this to be a common scenario in our current economy. Lifelong business owners with leagues of experience beyond a college graduate, being denied employment based on formal education, or the lack thereof.

I find it disturbing how little many of us take from people who have been on this earth longer. Is this why history repeats itself, seniors are looked down upon, and egos remain at an all time high?

I can certainly say as I've gotten older my mind has blossomed into..... feces.. No I'm kidding..

Basically, my mind is open. When I'm talking to a 50 year old man, I freaking listen. Regardless of his education, career, or background. He's 50, he lived that long, I can learn from him. How? I don't know, but that's not the point. The point is, there is someone speaking to me who theoretically has experienced twice as much as I have in this life, and he warrants my attention.

Inversely though, at the ripe age of 26, I find myself talking to people younger than me, seeking my advice. And I again I wonder, "Did they listen, or just hear me?".

Sometimes I can tell I made my point, other times they think they have everything figured out. From making love, to planning their financial future and no matter what ANYONE else has to say, they got it down. Was I that thick at that age?

.....

Probably.

But it doesn't excuse us as a society of this overglorification of "children", and the undervaluing of "adults", and their experiences.

This is my rant today, "for what it's worth..."