50 is the perfect age

[zekko]

This has been in the news recently. A poll of Americans has them choosing 50 as the perfect age to be. By the way, check out the picture of Johnny Depp at 50 for more evidence that men age better than women:

http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/09/16/poll-50-is-the-perfect-age/

I'm not sure why people would choose such a comparatively old age to be. But what's odd to me is that men chose age 47, and women chose 53. So women would prefer to be older than men do. This strikes me as odd when you compare it to PUA Theory and how they tell you that a woman hits the wall at age 30, and become desperate to attract a good man at that point. I think one possible explanation is that at age 53, women no longer feel the pressure to compete, and are no longer expected to be a raving beauty.

I have a feeling that if they ran this poll on SoSuave, guys here would choose to be somewhere between 25-28, since the focus here is on banging young women 18-24. And because many guys over 30 here think it is "creepy" for them to try to hook up with women.

 

[Scaramouche]

Dear Zecko,
50 the optimum desirable age?....Nah somewhere round 35-38...

 

[SecondHalf]

Likely not many men in their 30's voted or were self conscious enough about their age to care.

Mid thirties was a great time.
If only I knew then what I know now, it would have been better.
Some of you young enlightened men are quite fortunate.

SH

 

[Atom Smasher]

50 is great because you start to gain some real common sense, or one might even say "wisdom". You start really not giving a crap about the things that used to worry you to death.

The only downside is that you start to realize that your body will from now on be on a slow decline unless you work to maintain it. In other words, no more freebies. You actively and purposefully maintain or else you decline.

In my mid-fifties, the shocking things I say to women have them eating out of my hand... things I wouldn't even dream of saying in younger years. In fact, I don't think a guy in his thirties can even get away with this stuff. It conveys an outrageous confidence that they're not used to.

The fifties is definitely a good time if you take care of your health. In my thirties and early 40s I was intelligent but massively confused about social skills. Now I'm only partially confused.

 

[HoneyHitter]

Likely not many men in their 30's voted or were self conscious enough about their age to care.

Mid thirties was a great time.
If only I knew then what I know now, it would have been better.
Some of you young enlightened men are quite fortunate.

SH

What'd you do different?

 

[zekko]

I think most guys here would answer this question through the filter of when can get the hottest women. Which is odd, considering DJs here supposedly don't put as much value on women as the average person. Meanwhile, the "normal" people out in the real world are just glad that they don't have to babysit their grandchildren anymore (see article).

Still, it seems odd that the people polled tend to pick such old ages. The main reason I wouldn't want to be in my 20s again is I wouldn't want to start building my finances from scratch.

 

[SteR]

What'd you do different?

Haha I always ask this. So many of the older guys on these boards say "Oh if I could go back in time there'd be so many things I would do differently.." and then never share the wealth!

Come on guys.. help out the young'uns please

 

[SecondHalf]

What'd you do different?

My point was with respect to game.

I've always had a bit of natural game, but assumed going AFC was a normal progression in a relationship for men (yep, raised by mother).

In my youth, I never realized my own value. Never really understood women or that nasty word hypergamy.

The knowledge in this site is what would have made life better back then.
Had I only worked on myself (all aspects) and viewed and treated all women as "accessories", my life would be quite different right now.

Hope this answers your question.

SH

 

[dasein]

I think the reason people claim to like being older in the U.S. is due to a culture that is sick and inconsistent in several ways. We are told in the U.S. to have an extended childhood today, but to take up our consumerist duties early on. Our society is one that wants to call people "children" into their twenties on the one hand in a disparaging way, and then expect them to become self-sufficient consumers on the other. This leads to all kind of misery. Get out there and borrow money to get an education, then take a crap job to pay back those loans and pay for a car, insurance, rent or mortgage. Move away from parents ASAP, though we will still think of you as a child. If you don't get out of your parents' house, you are a loser, and if you do, you are still just a kid.

We also have cultural double standards with respect to lifestyle and sex. You must start having sex fast or you are a loser, but if you make mistakes in that and end up with the wrong person or with kids you can't afford, you are a loser. Get out there and start living a work hard, party hard life right now, and then when you get nailed for DUI or smoking a joint by bloated, out of control law enforcement, you are a loser.

It takes people into their 30s to see all this cultural BS for what it is in the U.S., some never do and keep right on that social pressure gerbil wheel their whole lives. For lots of people, the 20s are an exercise in frustration due to getting penalized and restrained from doing what culture tells them to do. Then the 30s and 40s are financial nightmares due to the expense of kids. The first time that many people break the social conditioning, either see it for the lie it is, or get shed of all the bogus responsibilities conformance entails, is in their mid to late 40s, which may explain such head-scratching poll results.

 

[Atom Smasher]

Haha I always ask this. So many of the older guys on these boards say "Oh if I could go back in time there'd be so many things I would do differently.." and then never share the wealth!

Come on guys.. help out the young'uns please

Do I count as an "older guy"? I'm only 56, after all...

Here's my answer to you:

The opportunities that you see today (meaning "currently in life") seem like they will always be there, and can be taken advantage of tomorrow.

The reality is that seemingly steadfast opportunities have a habit of vanishing into the mist, never to return.

Look around you and seize the opportunities that present themselves while they're in front of you. No matter if the opportunity appears to be made of granite and is unmovable. Granite erodes, and in the context of this discussion it can easily erode overnight despite its solid appearance.

Take possession of your opportunities NOW. Assume they will be gone tomorrow.

This is probably the most significant lesson I've ever learned.

 

[zekko]

Haha I always ask this. So many of the older guys on these boards say "Oh if I could go back in time there'd be so many things I would do differently.." and then never share the wealth!

I've never been one of these "if I could go back, I'd do this differently" type of guys. I've read enough comic books and seen enough science fiction that when you start pulling at the threads of your life, the whole fabric of the future can come undone. The Butterfly Effect, in other words.

Like dasein points out with the cultural double standards: Maybe if I went back I could have more sex, earlier and more often. But then maybe I could have ended up with an illegitimate child or an STD, who can say? And I could have partied harder but ended up with a DUI or something (actually I don't think I could have partied any harder). There can be a thin line between supercool guy and loser.

The only thing I would say is I would have spent less, and saved and invested more. Hard to see the harm in that. I've done well along these lines, but I could have done better.

I think the reason people claim to like being older in the U.S. is due to a culture that is sick and inconsistent in several ways. We are told in the U.S. to have an extended childhood today, but to take up our consumerist duties early on. Our society is one that wants to call people "children" into their twenties on the one hand in a disparaging way, and then expect them to become self-sufficient consumers on the other. This leads to all kind of misery. Get out there and borrow money to get an education, then take a crap job to pay back those loans and pay for a car, insurance, rent or mortgage.

Good point. Maybe people like being 50 because it takes them that long to pay off all their debts lol.

Another thing is a phenomenon I experienced when I turned 30. It seemed to me that in my 20s there was a lot of pressure on to be a sexy, cool guy. And it seemed like when I turned 30, the pressure was off, there were no expectations on me anymore. If that makes any sense. The culture is mostly BS, and the media puts a lot of expectations on youth.

 

[SteR]

Do I count as an "older guy"? I'm only 56, after all...

Here's my answer to you:

The opportunities that you see today (meaning "currently in life") seem like they will always be there, and can be taken advantage of tomorrow.

The reality is that seemingly steadfast opportunities have a habit of vanishing into the mist, never to return.

Look around you and seize the opportunities that present themselves while they're in front of you. No matter if the opportunity appears to be made of granite and is unmovable. Granite erodes, and in the context of this discussion it can easily erode overnight despite its solid appearance.

Take possession of your opportunities NOW. Assume they will be gone tomorrow.

This is probably the most significant lesson I've ever learned.

Hmm, can you expand on this? What sort of opportunities are we talking about here? Work opportunities? Opportunities to travel? Girls? I need some examples

 

[evan12]

Sorry to tell you but most of their studies and pools are done primary to boost the confidence of women , they want to make sure women in all ages will feel confidant and sexy even if that require fake the reality .
I no longer believe these studies.

 

[MatureDJ]

All I can say is that whatever age one can retire early from is the best - because it's a wonderful feeling being retired!

 

[Victory Unlimited]

50 is the perfect age

Some of this perception may be due to the fact that age "50" isn't what it used to be. Due to the fact that our society celebrates and promotes perpetual youthfulness in OLDER people, this doesn't come as much of a surprise to me.

Think about it:

In women: The rise of the "Cougar Culture" (the ever-increasing acceptance and encouragement of older women's sexual freedom) and modern advances in all kinds of plastic surgery.

And in Men: Look no further than the fact that the more materialistically driven women in society become, the more attractive more financially "above-average" men they'll gravitate toward (the majority of these are more than likely OLDER, more well-established men)

Also, not to mention how much pop-culture's love affair with many male celebrities, musicians, and actors has seemed to have gone on much longer than it used to. In the movies, we need look no further than how SO MANY of the highest paid and most popular actors are now AT LEAST in their 50's or older:

• Bruce Willis
• Samuel L. Jackson
• Colin Firth
• Tom Hanks
• Liam Neeson
• George Clooney
• Johnny Depp
• Denzel Washington

...and the interesting thing is that at least half of the guys on this list are STILL considered to be "action stars" or "sex symbols" by a wide range of moviegoers.


And I'm old enough to remember when both of those categories used to be MOSTLY occupied by guys who had to be a helluva lot younger.

Just a thought.



V.U.

 

[zekko]

And in Men: Look no further than the fact that the more materialistically driven women in society become, the more attractive more financially "above-average" men they'll gravitate toward (the majority of these are more than likely OLDER, more well-established men)

That may be so, but I will say this: At 53, I have a feeling of freedom I didn't have in some past decades. I could retire now if I had to, although I plan to work a few more years. Knowing you can walk away from the rat race is a good feeling.

and the interesting thing is that at least half of the guys on this list are STILL considered to be "action stars" or "sex symbols" by a wide range of moviegoers.

I think men are discovering that if they take care of themselves, they can maintain a good aura of health (and thus attractiveness) a lot longer than previously thought.

And I'm old enough to remember when both of those categories used to be MOSTLY occupied by guys who had to be a helluva lot younger.

I remember there was a mild outcry that Sean Connery was too old to play James Bond at 53 when he came back to make Never Say Never Again. Connery was a lifelong tanner though, and had deep lines in his face, and they put heavy makeup on him to cover them up, which didn't look good. So I agree, the sex symbols that the media chose used to be younger. Although the May/December type romances among celebrities and among "normal" people were always around.

 

[zekko]

That's funny since Roger Moore is three years older than Connery and was still cranking out Bond films in his 50s...Octopu$$y was in '83 and Moore turned 56 that year.

You're right, I hadn't realized that before. In fact, Moore was 57 when he made his last Bond film, A View to a Kill. I was reading that there was some criticism of Moore being too old for that one, although I don't remember it at the time. I do remember people saying Sean Connery was too old for Never Say Never Again a few years earlier.

Maybe the difference was the Connery looked older than Moore. Which goes back to the discussion about how age matters less if you can maintain a youthful appearance.