March 19, 2007

CAN SOMEBODY PLEASE LOOK THEIR AGE FOR A CHANGE? -- by Steve Nadis

In describing the environmental writer Bill McKibben, an article in today's Boston Globe called him "a youthful-looking 46." I have nothing against the guy and have never met him in person but judging from the pictures provided in the paper, he looks more or less like someone who's 46. In other words, he looks his age. And there's nothing wrong with that. Yet for some reason reporters always feel obligated to describe everyone as "youthful-looking" or "looking younger than the years." Of course, if everyone looks younger than their years, they actually look their age. So maybe we can finally stop this entrenched pattern of age deflation. Maybe people can start looking their age for a change. This I believe.
Posted by Snake at 08:56:02 | Permanent Link | Comments (9) |
Comments
1 - Let's see, if 40 is the new 30, then a youthful looking 40-something would actually be more like a 20-something; right? So all the youthful looking 40 year olds should be moving back in with their youthful looking 60-year old parents (who are like 40-year olds now), taking crap entry level jobs, and getting drunk every weekend.

But the worst part is the youthful looking 20-year olds, because if you follow this new math of ageing, they are actually more like 2 or 3 year olds, which means most of them are not potty-trained, much less employed, and I, for one, draw the line at changing the pull-ups on a 20-year old (even a youthful looking one).

By the way, Winona agrees with me. (Winona, honey--that's my watch. Yes, I saw you put it in your pocket. Please give it back. I don't care if 30 is the new 10, you still can't take my stuff. Winona? Winona!) (Comment this)

Written by: gatemouth at 2007/03/19 - 10:39:44
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2 - Interesting, Gatemouth, and possibly Celebrity Guest Comment-worthy. But if I keep doing that, I might as well hand the whole blog over to you and be done with it. By the way, is the above an explanation of "the new math"? I never got that before, but it's now starting to make sense... (Comment this)

Written by: Snake at 2007/03/19 - 10:44:18
3 - I agree! But more so and at both ends of the spectrum. It's getting harder and harder for me to tell the difference between who should legally be in the bar and who has a fake ID now that I'm in my early-late-twenties. And heck, those that look old enough to pass as twenty-one, it's possible that they might not even be old enough to be legally legal, right?!

... have I said too much? Pimpin' aint easy. (Comment this)

Written by: guttersnake at 2007/03/19 - 13:54:51
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4 - Well said, GS. Pimpin' ain't easy, nor should it be. (Comment this)

Written by: Snake at 2007/03/19 - 15:12:44
5 - I'm definitely from another generation because I see it as a case of the reporter complimenting his/her subject to stay in the subject's good graces in case the opportunity for another interview/article arises sometime in the future. (Comment this)

Written by: Oldroses at 2007/03/20 - 00:37:01
6 - every 1 used to say I just looked way younger than my age, except at 18,30&45, when I apparently 'jumped' forward, wrinkle-wise(?), only to get stuck there until the next cycle. I don't look forward to 60, but I'll pass for mid-40's 'til then. & I'm grateful for that.
Everyone's different, Snake.
Look at W. ... He's 29! (Heard they found him under an old bush in TX. 'bud-da bump!') (Comment this)

Written by: Marco Polo at 2007/03/20 - 02:29:04
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7 - Yes MP, your age does have a way of catching up with you--even for supposedly youthful points. I suspect you're right, too, OR--when it comes to so-called "journalism," flattery will get you everywhere. (Comment this)

Written by: Snake at 2007/03/20 - 09:44:31
8 - HEY I WAS BORN IN 1963
AND OK I CAN LIVE WITH MY AGE ,..AT ANY AGE I THINK

BY THE WAY MAY I BE CELEBRITY GUEST WRITER
I WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT HOW ACTRESS FAMKE JAHNSEN
LOOKS VERY MUCH HER AGE,

AND I THINK I SHOULD BE SPONSORED TO
INTERVIEW HER FOR THIS BLOG ...

WHAT YOU SAY CHIEF ..........????..=Z= (Comment this)

Written by: zardoz at 2007/03/20 - 18:24:01
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9 - Sounds like a deal, Z. If you get the interview, we'll definitely run it here at Call Me Snake. We've talked to a lot of luminaries of the years, but no movie stars yet. (Comment this)

Written by: Snake at 2007/03/20 - 21:40:38
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