Experience is gained by age. Ask anyone over 50, and most will agree. The point is, I have seen more than a 25 year old (for example only), have had more life experience, and have done what they are doing now. Therefore, I am wise to what can happen as a result. Therefore, I am older, thus wiser because I have been there.

As one gets older, most learn this.

"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him."
—Proverbs 26:12

To me, wisdom must be demonstrated, not simply granted to someone because of their age. Some people simply go through life never learning from experience. Simple experience does not always develop into wisdom.

As for manners; its a daily effort to teach my kids manners but, they are getting pretty good at it. I'm still "treated" to the occasional belch at the table, but its becoming more of a rare event these days. Interrupting is becoming their biggest offence lately. Kids competing for attention tend to do that.

Are you a native Oklahoman? I suffered from culture shock when I moved here.

After viewing numerous posts today, I would say that age DEFINATELY does not equal wisdom.

sweetdaisy, I'm with you - it's been a looonnnnng day.

__________________
" You've Been Thunder Struck ! "

Gosh, Scribe sounds like MidTowner, the member that got permanently banned months ago. What he is replyng back to mranderson sounds just like what MidTowner would say.

As a child I unsuccessfully debated my parents about why I was disciplined for certain words or actions while great grandpa wasn't. I was reminded in short order of their expectations for my comportment. They admitted that certain behavior was aggregious, yet declined to concede that great grandpa's actions were worthy of such discipline.

What are you saying? That we have similar viewpoints and reasoned comments, or are you implying that I am MidTowner reincarnated?

A MidTowner reincarnate, but I won't tell the moderators. You are probably being watched.LOL

I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted. However, it's not to be. I am not the infamous MidTowner, nor have I met or even know this person.

Additionally, I do not believe that I have done or said anything — nor is it my intention to do anything — that merits banishment.

I may bluntly and sharply challenge comments and ideas, but I will not attack someone personally. For some, it's difficult to separate criticism of a point-of-view from a personal attack. Calling someone's statement ignorant, foolish or absurd is not the same as calling that person a stupid moron; the latter is a personal attack, the former is a criticism of a viewpoint.

It's not my intention to insult, but to try to correct misperceptions and outright falsehoods so others won't buy into them as well.

Other than explaining myself, I don't know how to prove that I am not who others claim that I am.

Midtowner is very active on another board.. I doubt he makes the time to respond. I believe he was temporarily banned and then decided to leave on his own.

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" You've Been Thunder Struck ! "

What about passing gas? Is this a loss of Generational manners? Or a loss of something else? I mean when your a kid, it's funny. When your on a date it's not funny. When your getting revenge on a friend or brother or sister it is funny.
When you get older, it's just a way of life but to your grandkids, it's funny.
Oh, I'm confused.

Now THERE is a thread. Passing gas. True. Nothing is worse than passing gas (I mean a REAL loud one) while you are in a high end restaurant on that first date... Well, maybe during an victory speech after you are elected to pubilc office.

I remember years ago when I was a salesman, working for my dad. We went in to a grocery store, and was on one of the aisles straightening up our products that were on the shelf. Dad looked at me and said, "Keith, I really need to pass gas real bad, and it is gonna be real rank, so you may want to prepare ahead of time and go over to the next aisle."

So, I went over to the other aisle, and could have sworn I was at the airport. When he passed that gas, it sounded like a helicopter...ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp pppppp, almost like setting off a whole row of Black Cat firecrackers . Shortly after, he came coming around the corner, laughing his head off. We proceeded to straighten items on the aisle we were on, when a couple of stockers from the store went over to the aisle we just came from.

One of the guys said," Oh my gosh, what is that smell? Something has died over here and must be decomposing.....get the manager, we need help . " So, shortly thereafter, the manager came over and was overcome by the odor. He had the two stockers start taking stuff off the shelves to see what had crawled up behind the shelf and died. My dad and I were laughing so hard, that we were crying . We could not tell if our eyes were watering from laughing so hard, or if our eyes were watering from the odor. What a Kodak moment. Did we admit to what we did? No way...it was one of dad's best customers.

"We could not tell if our eyes were watering from laughing so hard..."

So am I... So am I

Now THAT was a funny story, Keith!

Which brings me to the topic: Is it bad manners to find flatulence funny? Or is it just immaturity and poor behavior?

It depends on the people to whom you are directing the humor. I would not joke about it to a girlfriend I had not known long or in a serious political meeting.

Good one Keith!

A choice story indeed, Keith.

My maternal grandfather particularly enjoyed asking my sister and me to pull his finger, much to the consternation of mom and dad. Crass humor and little kids go hand in hand. It was a little (and sometimes big and stinky) bond we had with Poppa. The best part was knowing that both mom and dad were utterly horrified at what was taking place. But he was Poppa. Mom would say "Dad!!!" and he'd shoot her a look I want to perfect (the smile but daggers). We'd giggle.

Now that I think about it, he never "pulled" that trick without mom in the room. Most of the time it was in private, but walking toward the front door of a restaurant was always fair game. I guess it was sweet payback for something awful she did as a child. He laughed harder than I did. Sis and I thought the fart was funny. I can only assume he enjoyed watching my mom's face turn red.