Now that I am older, perhaps I am wiser

The title is of course an allusion to my recent changing of digits in regard to how long I have inflicted the earth with my presence. It often amazes me how much importance people put into age...as if everyone who is 35 has a certain level of understanding or something. Or movie ratings..."PG-13"...now, I have met 8 year olds "mature" enough to handle the sex/violence/profanity that comes out of a PG-13 movie...and I have met 60 year olds who couldn't. That is such an artificial number...or the whole Rated R thing...seriously, many 15, 16, and 17 year olds are seeing more nudity at that age than they will the rest of their life put together, but they can't see it in the movies without their parent? How logical is that?
And many, many people have commented on the ludicrousness of being able to vote and/or join the military but not to drink because of your age. I personally find it hilarious that you can kill someone but not drink with them.
Why is the voting age 18 instead of...say...5? Because people picked a number. And that artificial benchmark, like the artificial bench marks of when you are mentally mature enough to see bikinis and the further one of when you are mature enough to see what's under the bikini will guide your life and the lives of your children and their children. They have become established in the national zeitgeist as meaningful. And the belief becomes the reality.
In truth, actual ages matter little. Some people "get it" when they are young, some "get it" when they are old and some...well, some never get it. Age is not some magical, mystical solution that gives people the intellectual capacity to understand previously difficult concepts or anything like that. It just...is. I am no smarter and no dumber today because a specific date passed...and I find it hard to believe anyone else is, either. I do, believe, however, the passing of that date brought the opening of some flicks I wanted to see, so I guess it had some value...