Enjoyment shouldn’t be age-restricted
By Eric Wilkins, Staff Writer
Last week, whilst navigating the hallways to class, my travelling companion and I encountered a pair of those wonderful cardboard tubes, usually left over from when you run out of wrapping paper. Without a second thought, we quickly snatched them up, briefly skirmished, and then headed up the nearby treacherous stairs, using the tubes as staffs for support, like a pair of young hobbits. With the air free of Smaug, it was fairly easy to see the expressions from passersby that greeted us on our journey. The looks we received ranged from bemusement, to indifference, and from one particularly grumpy fellow, disapproval.
That one look got me thinking: am I too old for this? Are cardboard tube sword fights too childish for a pair of 20-year-olds? After a deep and thoughtful 40 seconds, I came to the conclusion that they absolutely aren’t, and proceeded to imagine how much more awesome the tubes would look covered in tinfoil.
I suppose the point of that disturbingly pathetic anecdote is that there shouldn’t be an age limit on fun. Public perceptions of what is right and proper for certain stages of life shouldn’t have any bearing on what an individual chooses to do. If you enjoy it, do it. Our society seems to be plagued by imaginary barriers erected by a judgemental few; don’t let that stuffy bunch keep you from funning.
I was always brought up with the idea that drinking was an immature college activity and those who continue to down booze into their 40s simply failed to grow up. Partying drinkers over 40—or even 30—were supposedly immature boors. I didn’t bother questioning it. But now when I consider it, I have serious difficulty seeing a problem with drinking. If someone’s into their mid-life and his/her liver can still handle it, then why not? Go ahead and binge drink. Play beer pong until you can’t stand anymore. If that’s what you enjoy doing, don’t stop just because you’ve aged a few years.
Of course, the irony of this article is that there will be folks who regard this line of thinking as immature, and I will admit this is, for lack of better wording, a youthful way to look at things. But that’s how change comes about. Remember when video games were primarily for kids, teenagers, and college bums? The average gamer’s age has been estimated to be anywhere from 30 to 37 years in recent years. Video games aren’t viewed the same way anymore, so why can’t perceptions change about other things?
Knock down some fences. Smash through some boundaries. Don’t let perceived popular thought hold you back from indulging in some supposed immaturity.
Illustration by Ed Appleby,
