The Misconceptions of Youth and Old Age

In the advertisement I saw, which inspired this essay, it claims ‘You are whatever you think you think you are! It is easy to change your mind!’ and ‘reveal a whole new you’. But why does one need Neuro Linguistic Programming, skin products or plastic surgery to make them feel or look young again? Some argue it is to remind them of their youth; the best times of their life, but why can’t wrinkles themselves be a reminder of youth, for it is from facial expressions made in youth and throughout ones life that those wrinkles are created. Even a seemingly undesirable scar can be a reminder of youth and experience.

So, why all this stereotyping and misperception? Why is there such a huge void between youth and old age? Is this void the cause of or the effect of the misunderstandings associated with both? Who is to blame?

The truthful answer to that question is that we are all somewhat to blame. I think largely though the media is to blame: for pressuring young people to be beautiful, forcing false ideas of ‘perfection’ into some young people’s minds, encouraging people to stay young looking, and then encouraging old people to make themselves look young again. With all of the media bias, general bias, and the conventional ideals being fed into the minds of the public, it is no wonder that there is a common misunderstanding.

Another reason for the widespread void could have to do with some young people having no actual contact with old people in reality, for example: having no grandparents. Perhaps if more relationships between the young and old were struck then the understanding would heighten and each would discover some sort of relation to one another.

Does the world not realise that not all old people are incapacitated by physical conditions, or the desire to sit knitting in a rocking chair sipping endless cups of tea? I think it’s wrong to stereotype all old people as boring people who moan about everything whilst waiting to pop their clogs (although there are probably a few out there). I find it equally wrong to stereotype youth though, to assume that all youths are wild party-goers, obsessed physical beauty, with no care for anything that doesn’t apply to them (although there are probably a few of those out there too).

I believe people should have the freedom to do whatever they want to be happy, therefore I don’t totally disagree with plastic surgery, Neuro Linguistic Programming, or cosmetic products, for example: if one wants to have a frown line removed because it reflects bad times, or their eyelids made more youthful to take away the look of tiredness and stress, then so be it, but with the overwhelming pressure to be young and stereotypically ‘beautiful’,  and the strong waves of misunderstandings and presumptions regarding youth and old age, is that making anyone happy? I don’t think so.