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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 32 to 56 of 66. Go back in thread:
Posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 21:02:59
In reply to Re: Let's Guess Dr. Bob's Age! I guess 42, posted by Dinah on February 19, 2002, at 21:00:13
Posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 21:17:04
In reply to Re: Let's Guess Dr. Bob's Age! I guess 47 (nm), posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 21:02:59
Posted by KB on February 19, 2002, at 21:33:18
In reply to Age Survey -- How Old Are YOU? I'm 52., posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 10:20:23
Posted by IsoM on February 19, 2002, at 22:18:05
In reply to Re: Let's Guess Dr. Bob's Age! I guess 42, posted by Dinah on February 19, 2002, at 21:00:13
That is a neat idea, Dinah!
"What do we get if we win? A get out of "blocked for a week" free card?"Maybe if we never get blocked (perpetually polite posters), we can use it for someone else. Hope Dr. Bob goes for this idea!
Posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 22:25:26
In reply to Prize For Correct Guess » Dinah, posted by IsoM on February 19, 2002, at 22:18:05
If I win, I'll donate mine to Cam W., who is probably the #1 most-respected person on Psycho-Babble AND the only senior participant to be blocked by his friend and colleague (our host) more than 3 times. :-)) Cam is not only one of the most generous and caring men with whom I've ever interacted, but he also has a pretty good temper as well. Just don't suggest everyone stop taking their meds and eat super-blue-green-pond-scum instead when Cam's around! :-)
Mark H.
Posted by trouble on February 20, 2002, at 4:06:23
In reply to Age Survey -- How Old Are YOU? I'm 52., posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 10:20:23
Posted by mair on February 20, 2002, at 7:52:05
In reply to 44 next week (nm), posted by trouble on February 20, 2002, at 4:06:23
Posted by Dinah on February 20, 2002, at 8:10:57
In reply to Dinah - Your Age?? :-)) (nm), posted by mair on February 20, 2002, at 7:52:05
Posted by pedr on February 20, 2002, at 8:26:58
In reply to I'm 40 (nm), posted by Dinah on February 20, 2002, at 8:10:57
Posted by kazoo on February 20, 2002, at 16:45:06
In reply to Age Survey -- How Old Are YOU? I'm 52., posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 10:20:23
> We haven't done an age survey in awhile, so if you don't mind saying, please tell all of us your age. It's not a big deal, just interesting to see how many years we bring to this forum.
>
> I'm 52.
>
> Mark H.In dog years, I'm already dead, BOW WOW WOW!
kazoo
Posted by noa on February 20, 2002, at 17:15:45
In reply to Re: Age Survey -- How Old Are YOU? 48 (nm), posted by kid47 on February 19, 2002, at 11:31:00
Just had to giggle a bit, cuz of your name (kid47)--guess you coined the name last year, eh?
Posted by noa on February 20, 2002, at 17:19:24
In reply to Re: Thoughts on Age, posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 13:15:18
LOL. Remember the old ads on tv for dishwashing soap where they'd make us guess who the mother is and who the daughter is based on their hands but of course you couldn't tell because of how wonderful the detergent was?? I laugh about those old ads all the time when I look at my hands, cuz my hands look OLD. I have that same exact feeling of looking down at my hands and thinking omigod those are old hands!
Some people think I am about 5-10 years younger than I am, but I think if they checked out the hands they'd figure out the truth.
Posted by noa on February 20, 2002, at 17:30:58
In reply to Age Survey -- How Old Are YOU? I'm 52., posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 10:20:23
As for how I feel? This is so hard for me to answer. For a long time, I was aware of feeling about 19 y.o. but recently I think I noticed that I do feel older, mabye in a good way, maybe not. I dunno. The numbers don't connect for me to feeling a certain age, maybe because I've "lost" so many years to depression.
I certainly haven't achieved some of the typical milestones of my age group, and sometimes when I'm with age-mates I feel like I stand out as the "young" one (no spouse, no kids, no house, no money, etc. etc.).
People are often surprised when they learn my age, thinking of me as being about a decade younger. I think partly that is due to only a few gray hairs (although some people have assumed my hair is dyed), and not much in the way of facial wrinkles, but certainly I don't have a "youthful" body in the sense of being in shape. Physically, I am out of shape like a much older person.
I think people think I'm younger because I'm unattached and have no kids and live in a crappy little apartment. But I'll take the mistakes anyway.
As for being 20 or 24 or therabouts, I can tell you that those were damn hard years and that I think things do get somewhat better as you get into your 30's if only because you get some control over some of the basics in life. The 20-somethings here might like to take a look at the book, "Quarterlife Crisis".
Posted by IsoM on February 20, 2002, at 17:54:11
In reply to Re: Thoughts on Age » Mark H., posted by noa on February 20, 2002, at 17:19:24
That's funny that you mention your hands, Noa. I'm 52 but I never thought about how old I looked till I started work at another place & people assumed I was in my late 30's. My hands though, are another matter. Even as a kid, my hands looked much older. Now that they're in dirt so much of the day & gardening when not at work, they look about 60+. I hate lotions & have soft nails so I couldn't fix them even if I wanted to. Others tell me my hands look sore & dry but they're not really.
I think sometimes the expression on our face has a lot to do with how old we look. When I was just getting over a long bout of viral pneumonia, with my marriage breaking up, & one son suicidal & had to be hospitalised, I swear I looked *so* old. My mouth was drawn down & I had big, dark shadows under my eyes. I thought it meant I'd now look old forever. A big smile & laughter (when we can) does so much to make someone look young & attractive. I'm happy to report I smile & laugh often now.
Posted by IsoM on February 20, 2002, at 17:55:21
In reply to Re: Age Survey -- How Old Are YOU? I'm 52., posted by kazoo on February 20, 2002, at 16:45:06
Kazoo, that is such a naughty but sweet story. Cracked me up. :-)
Posted by sid on February 20, 2002, at 19:27:17
In reply to Prize For Correct Guess » Dinah, posted by IsoM on February 19, 2002, at 22:18:05
Posted by sid on February 20, 2002, at 19:34:02
In reply to Re: Age Survey -- How Old Are YOU? 41, posted by noa on February 20, 2002, at 17:30:58
>The numbers don't connect for me to feeling a certain age, maybe because I've "lost" so many years to depression.
I feel exactly the same way! I should be about 10 years younger.
> I certainly haven't achieved some of the typical milestones of my age group, and sometimes when I'm with age-mates I feel like I stand out as the "young" one (no spouse, no kids, no house, no money, etc. etc.).Same for me. I've studied and gotten a PhD, but that's it. I had zero ebergy for anything else!
> People are often surprised when they learn my age, thinking of me as being about a decade younger. I think partly that is due to only a few gray hairs (although some people have assumed my hair is dyed), and not much in the way of facial wrinkles, but certainly I don't have a "youthful" body in the sense of being in shape. Physically, I am out of shape like a much older person.
Same here - out of shape, but people usualy are surprised that I'm over 30 (I'm 34); they usually think about 27.
> I think people think I'm younger because I'm unattached and have no kids and live in a crappy little apartment. But I'll take the mistakes anyway.Well, tell yourself it's because you look younger - you'll feel better!
> As for being 20 or 24 or therabouts, I can tell you that those were damn hard years and that I think things do get somewhat better as you get into your 30's if only because you get some control over some of the basics in life. The 20-somethings here might like to take a look at the book, "Quarterlife Crisis".Indeed, I felt robbed of my 20's due to depression, but one thing is for sure, my 30's are better and I wouldn't want to go back.
Posted by sid on February 20, 2002, at 19:35:53
In reply to Hands and Age » noa, posted by IsoM on February 20, 2002, at 17:54:11
> I'm happy to report I smile & laugh often now.
Good for you, IsoM! Doesn't it feel good?
Posted by Reneeb on February 21, 2002, at 11:26:40
In reply to Re: Age Survey -- How Old Are YOU? , posted by Anna Laura on February 19, 2002, at 10:58:39
Posted by ST on February 21, 2002, at 18:40:50
In reply to Age Survey -- How Old Are YOU? I'm 52., posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 10:20:23
nm
Posted by Zo on February 22, 2002, at 1:33:45
In reply to Age Survey -- How Old Are YOU? I'm 52., posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 10:20:23
Posted by medlib on February 22, 2002, at 1:33:48
In reply to Thank you!, posted by Mark H. on February 19, 2002, at 20:31:06
Hi Mark--
It's very good to see you emerge once again from your seasonal hibernation. Yeah, I'm still around--often, if no longer always, or for as long. But, since I read at least 100x faster than I write, I do little of the latter. Thanks for asking about me.
I was surprised when I saw your Q, and I wondered why you asked. Though undoubtedly the easiest to determine, chronological age seems to me the least useful of the "ages" humans calculate. Physiological, mental, emotional, social and experiential ages are all better descriptors which have greater utility. Unlike the others, chronological age has no individual predictability, cannot be changed or remedied, and is used primarily for governmental identification and social stereotyping. So, I simply do not provide personal statistics unless required by law or necessary to obtain something I want more than privacy.
Sorry for the self-indulgent explanation. Maybe it's your philosophical bent, or the fact that this forum's members are no strangers to the effects of stereotyping. In any case, it's not something I feel really strongly about, just a matter of internal consistency, I guess.
Depression, for me, has strong Rip Van Winkle characteristics. If I ever felt younger than my chronological age, it would be because I've lived only a fraction of the time I've been alive; my experiential age is barely past the teens.
Now, if I just had Noa-like economy of expression, it might have occurred to me sooner simply to fall back on my favorite social snottism, "I'll forgive you for asking if you'll forgive me for not answering."
More midnight meanderings from medlib
(I *do* try to refrain from alliterating, I just don't succeed very often.)
Posted by Anna Laura on February 22, 2002, at 2:39:05
In reply to Re: What does chronological age tell you? » Mark H., posted by medlib on February 22, 2002, at 1:33:48
I was surprised when I saw your Q, and I wondered why you asked. Though undoubtedly the easiest to determine, chronological age seems to me the least useful of the "ages" humans calculate. Physiological, mental, emotional, social and experiential ages are all better descriptors which have greater utility.
That's absolutely true i believe.
Emotional age can vary and "experiencial age"
also as many people lead dim, flat lives.
It's like living in a suspended animation, limbo-like state where ther's no place for growth. I'm refering to "normal" persons also, as this state doesn't apply exclusively to depressed people. I believe emotions play a key role in the emotional growth, mental speculations leading to nothing.
I'm a strong advocate of the empirical school (you could prove me wrong of course, it's just my personal opinion).
I'd like to hazard a suggestion: couldn't this "anhedenoiac" state be a "modern" maladie?
It seems like passions are fading out as we progress.....We're growing like more balanced and "mature' but we're loosing our strongest feelings. Or may be it's just a projection.....There's a song from my country entitled "if i were god" (very blasphemous song indeed: it was associated as a major scandal for many years from the time it was released in the mid-seventies to the eighties) one phrase approximately says:
"If i were god i'd regret the ancient heart, that could both love and hate..."
Posted by IsoM on February 22, 2002, at 3:37:32
In reply to Re: What does chronological age tell you? » Mark H., posted by medlib on February 22, 2002, at 1:33:48
Depending on what a person is looking for, chronological age can reveal a lot.
We can't help but be shaped to a degree with the culture & time we grew up in. If one is still young, they probably wouldn't understand references made that happened before they were born. They wouldn't understand what it was like to grow up in a not very technically advanced society. (I still remember using an out-house as we never had plumbing in one of the places we lived in. And how many young people know what a slide-rule is or how to use it?) Older people will often have many different situations that arose through their life they had to deal with & would therefore, hopefully, have learned better coping skills.
On the other hand, older people are often technology-shy as compared to younger people who grew up with computers, cell phones, & lots of electronic wizardry. Young ones will often have a broader view of the world, more willing to embrace new ideas & try new things.
These are just a few things I've brought out. Generalities only. Knowing how old a person is, besides knowing where they come from, what gender they are, & 'talking' through the internet, all help to build a picture of who they are. Mind you, this is only true if one doesn't apply preconseived notions related to their chron. age only. For me, with my strong need of understanding something or somebody well, it aids in building an overall picture. Their physical appearance means nothing to me but age is beneficial anyway.
Posted by noa on February 22, 2002, at 6:22:43
In reply to Re: What does chronological age tell you? » Mark H., posted by medlib on February 22, 2002, at 1:33:48
> Depression, for me, has strong Rip Van Winkle characteristics. If I ever felt younger than my chronological age, it would be because I've lived only a fraction of the time I've been alive...
WOW. This is a wonderful statement!!! It really captures my experience, too. Thank you!!!!
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