If there’s one thing that aggravates the hell outta me, it’s when people assume I don’t know something or can’t do something because I’m only 18.
For the most part, there aren’t a ton of people who treat me like a 5 year old. Pretty much all my co-workers are at least twice my age but they seem more impressed by my young age than anything else. Family members usually consider me responsible.
But there are enough people that just don’t get it. I’m talking about:
Companies – ING Direct wouldn’t let me open a checking account until I was 18 even with an adult co-signer. None of the major car rental chains will rent you a car unless you’re at least 25 years old! Many hotels want someone at least 21 to check-in.
Random conservative adults – I usually lean left on most issues, but not all. I’ve heard comments like “Well most people are liberal when they’re young. Then they enter the real world and become a conservative.” Um…OK? I’ve always felt like my opinions were well thought out. I don’t expect everyone to agree with me, but to say that my feelings are “just because I’m young” is ridiculous.
The government – I can vote and drive a car, but a beer is simply too much to handle. I won’t get into the drinking age argument too much, but I just don’t understand it. Cigarettes are completely acceptable, but alcohol requires an extra 3 years of maturity? Sure…
Does your age ever annoy you? Anybody ever say the dreaded “Aren’t you a little young…?”
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I have always felt that most age requirements are unnecessary and are usually not thought out that well. I was 27 when I got married and on our honeymoon, I tried to make money by going to timeshare presentations (up to $200 for 90 minutes of our time!). Well, you have to be 28 in order to get the really good prizes – I still didn’t understand how I was mature enough to get married and then navigate to another country, but I couldn’t decide to buy a timeshare.