This is a really interesting topic - people still talk very little about age discrimination/prejudice, although it's extremely apparent in society (in both directions). So apologies if I write you a bit of a screed!
I suspect that the rigid age-grading in schools goes a long way towards teaching children (and eventual adults) that they're not meant to make friends with/sympathize with people who are too much older or younger than them. In general I've found that homeschooled children are more interested in talking with adults and more willing to mix with kids who aren't exactly their age.
For my part, when I was 18 and before I went to university, I had some casual friends who were 13. When I went to university I had a couple of friends who were 30 - and actually one who was probably around 40. Today I'm 35 and my youngest friends are probably in their early-mid 20s. My oldest friends are definitely 50+ and probably 60+?
Teenagers are an interesting topic. I remember being vaguely amused by the whole "emo" thing when I was in my early 20s, but the first thing that has struck me as really culturally baffling is the whole "purity culture" thing on Tumblr. I can't figure out if that's genuinely a phenomenon of the current generation of teenagers or it's just the chosen wank of the era, as it were. I've definitely found myself thinking recently about what I would do if someone asked me to proactively ensure the safety of minors in my online presence, which is not really something that I've considered before.
I suspect that 'purity culture' types would be unsettled by my discussing cross-generational friendships/interactions as a good thing, but I really do think they can be. (With obvious consideration of the potential for abuse and appropriateness given emotional maturity.)
no subject
I suspect that the rigid age-grading in schools goes a long way towards teaching children (and eventual adults) that they're not meant to make friends with/sympathize with people who are too much older or younger than them. In general I've found that homeschooled children are more interested in talking with adults and more willing to mix with kids who aren't exactly their age.
For my part, when I was 18 and before I went to university, I had some casual friends who were 13. When I went to university I had a couple of friends who were 30 - and actually one who was probably around 40. Today I'm 35 and my youngest friends are probably in their early-mid 20s. My oldest friends are definitely 50+ and probably 60+?
Teenagers are an interesting topic. I remember being vaguely amused by the whole "emo" thing when I was in my early 20s, but the first thing that has struck me as really culturally baffling is the whole "purity culture" thing on Tumblr. I can't figure out if that's genuinely a phenomenon of the current generation of teenagers or it's just the chosen wank of the era, as it were. I've definitely found myself thinking recently about what I would do if someone asked me to proactively ensure the safety of minors in my online presence, which is not really something that I've considered before.
I suspect that 'purity culture' types would be unsettled by my discussing cross-generational friendships/interactions as a good thing, but I really do think they can be. (With obvious consideration of the potential for abuse and appropriateness given emotional maturity.)