Be a person...

[jennofay]

My credulity is a *bit* strained to imagine a 16-yo feeding himself on a regular basis by selling Linux boxen to local businesses, but that's not the first time that's happened.

might be difficult to believe, but i do believe that it is possible. i supported myself on a pizza hut salary (not much money... ) from when i was 15. granted, i had a little help from my parents...until i was about 16 ... when they decided that if i had a job i could pay for my own clothes, food, etc.etc.etc... so, i dont doubt that he could be doing this.

Jag's age isn't germane except when he offers opinions about stuff he has little experience with--like firearms ownership, or the morality of engaging in business--then insists they be given equal weight with the views of people who have been around those blocks a few times.

its unfair to give unequal weight to someones opinion because, as you said, you have 'been around those blocks a few times.' perhaps because you are older, you might have some more experience, seasoned views, etc towards certain topics, but everyone is different, with different opinions, and those opinions are ALL important. equally. thats what makes us work as a community. notice that none of this started until it was brought to the attention of the masses that others opinions were being unfairly tossed aside. if you didnt know how old jag was, if you were to assume that he was thirty-something, worked in an office 9-5, had a wife and kids, and still held those opinions, would they still hold less weight (in your mind) than your own? of course not.

the big problem to me is age discrimination. i have dealt with it for as long as i can remember. you may sit there and think that i am a naive 19-year old, that is your opinion. i am tired of people putting labels on others because they are younger. i was the assistant manager at the afore-mentioned restaurant, and was therefore the "boss" of many people older than me, including dham and jeni. at first no one took me seriously, because of my age (i started managing shortly after i turned 17). it took everyone some time, but eventually they all realized that just because i was younger in age didnt mean that i was just a joke. i had ideas and opinions, and good ones at that. i was completely capable of dealing with "real world" problems. thats all im trying to say. just dont look at people who are physically younger and cut them and their ideas/opinions/views down simply because of age. you may have been 'around those blocks a few times' more than us, but maybe there are some blocks weve visited that you havent. and thats what makes us all different. and all our opinions important. this is what makes us work as a community.